The Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine. I bought this book at Waterstone's in Winchester, England on my trip. I have wanted to read this for quite awhile as was unable to find a copy. Waterstone's Books in England has so much we do not have as far as Royal fiction and non. I was really excited to come by several of Barbara Erskine's early works in brand new covers. I bought Lady of Hay and Child of the Phoenix.
I have never read anything by Erskine before, but now I'm converted. She's a wonderful author. I started the book at 10 p.m. the night before we left for home and didn't put it down until 1:30 a.m. You know it's good when I can actually stay awake that late. I just have not been able to put this book down. It's 725 pages, but what a story about reincarnation and redemption.
Joanna Clifford a young University student in Edinburgh volunteers to be hypnotized in a regression project for two professors. She is excited about this new age trend. She regresses all the way back to the late 12th century as Matilda De Brasoe the wife of the Marcher Baron of Abergavnney Wales, William De Brasoe. Her regression is so traumatic that the professors feel compelled to have her forget all about it. When she wakes up she is convinced that she was unable to be hypnotized, and has no memory of Matilda.
Flash forward 15 years and Joanna Clifford is a very successful journalist for a Woman's magazine. She loves interesting projects to report on. She has a nice car, nice flat and very handsome boyfriend who she is on and off with. An interest in reincarnation and regression by the public has given Jo an opportunity to volunteer herself to do a major story on it.
She is very sceptical about the subject and is out to prove that it's all just a hoax or in your mind. She is regressed back to being Matilda again and it's all so amazing that everyone involved is interested in Matilda's story so Jo keeps going back to be regressed, and the story becomes more and more complex not only involving her past life, but affecting her present life as well. Matilda had three men in her life that were madly in love with her, her husband (a creep), her lover ( a coward), and her King ( a maniac). The regressions start taking a major toll on her emotional well being as well as physical. Jo begins to realise that these three men have followed her 800 years into the present day to settle their own scores with her, each other, and themselves.
What a literary ride this book is. You won't be able to put it down!!!! I am now very anxious to read Erskine's Child of the Phoenix. Look on Amazon for used copies if you cannot find a new one or Ebay. It's worth finding and reading.
