The Quality of Mercy

In this historical novel set in 1767, Sullivan, an Irish fiddler, escapes his involvement in a piracy trial and journeys to a small Yorkshire village to honor a friend's memory, while others, including Erasmus Kemp—a ship owner’s son with ambitions in the coal industry—and passionate anti-slavery advocates, navigate complex personal and political conflicts. Against the backdrop of burgeoning industries and contentious issues like slavery, the story explores themes of justice, power, and mercy, weaving together diverse characters and their intertwined destinies with depth and historical insight.