A Respectable Trade

Set in 1787 Bristol, this novel follows Josiah Cole, a small-time trader eager to rise in the city's bustling merchant class, as he enters into an arranged marriage with Frances Scott to secure his future. Frances, leveraging her social connections, becomes immersed in the world of Bristol’s trade, which includes sugar, rum, and the slave economy. Renowned author Philippa Gregory vividly explores a tumultuous period marked by desire, societal change, and the devastating impact of greed.