Weekend Cooking: The Jam Maker by Mary-Lou Stephens

 

Recently I went to hear Australian author, Mary-Lou Stephens, talk about her latest book, The Jam Maker. I knew I was keen to read it as soon as possible. 

We sometimes have a tendency to romanticise the past, but the reality is that for many it was a bleak, hand to mouth existence, especially if you were poor, and if you were a girl. Harriet Brown is twelve years old when her hair was cut off, and she sent to work at the George Peacock and Sons jam factory. However, Mr Peacock would not hire girls, so Harriet has to pretend to be a boy and becomes Harry. On her first day at the factory, Harry meets Henry Jones, who is also a label paster, but not for long. Henry Jones is ambitious and determined to better himself. Harry and Henry become close friends for the next four years, and more importantly, beyond.

Harriet and her family live in Wapping, a stinking and disease ridden tenement near the docks of Hobart Town. Her father and brothers get intermittent jobs, but nothing permanent so the family relies on Harriet's regular income to make ends meet. After 4 years Harriet can no longer stand being Harry and announces she is quitting. She is horrified when her mother announces that if she isn't going to work she must be married and arranges a marriage to the much older widower, Mr Sprott.

In many ways, this is a lucky break for Harriet. Mr Sprott treats her well, and with him she learns the business of Sprott's Jams, both in terms of making the jams but also in keeping the books etc. Harriet also designs the pretty labels which help Sprott's Jams become a success. Along the way, she is joined by a jam maker named Ruth and another lady named Nelly, who in effect become her found family.

However, life is cheap in the late 1800s, and soon Harriet finds herself caught up in a situation that spirals out of control very quickly and which leaves her powerless, until she can take matters into her own hands.

Mary-Lou Stephens very cleverly weaves several stories through this book. The main focus is Harriet and her friends, and the jam that they make. However, we also hear the story of Henry Jones and his amazing wife Alice, as he rises through the ranks from label paster, to international business tycoon, earning the nickname of Jam Tin Jones along the way. The story starts in 1874 and goes through until the 1920s and so we get to see many historically significant events through the eyes of our characters such as the Boer War, Federation in 1901, the death of Queen Victoria, and WWI and it's aftermath. We also witness things like the start of mechanisation and cold transport exportation of products. 

One of the things that makes Sprott's Jams a success is that they do unusual flavours, and all through the book there are jams referenced such as four berry jam, pear jam with Christmas spices, cherry and almond, pear and cinnamon and so many more. 

I love how Stephens very deftly connected all of her books together. They are not a series, so no need to stress about reading in order, but there is just a section here or there or a name, that just draws everything together nicely. 

I have read and enjoyed all three of Mary-Lou Stephens historical foodie novels set in Tasmania, but this is her best yet and was a 5 star read for me. When I went to see her speak a few weeks ago, she did say that her next novel will not be foodie, but that the one after might be! I will be waiting in anticipation for whatever comes next. 

As an interesting aside, to me at least. Robert and I went to Tasmania a few years ago, and we were wandering around the docks area when he told me that his father worked for Henry Jones & Co in South Africa, which does show the global reach of Henry Jones. He did tell me a story when I mentioned that I was reading the book. His dad worked in the vegetable canning part of Henry Jones. Any cans that didn't pass quality control were sold to the staff at a discount price but they didn't have any labels on them. The kids therefore had to learn to read the codes on the can so they knew what was going to be inside the cans before they opened them. 

Mary-Lou Stephens mentioned that there is an art hotel in the buildings that still bear the company name now. We went to dinner in a fun restaurant in the buildings which I posted about here. In that post I also mentioned that one of Mary-Lou Stephens previous books inspired us to visit the Huon Valley where I had one of the best toasted sandwiches I have ever had.

At the author event, Mary-Lou was also giving away recipe cards with different jam recipes on it. On one side there is a recipe for Apple and Blackberry Jam and on the other is Raspberry and Vanilla Jam. I am very keen to make the raspberry jam, but I currently have a lot of lemon curd, so I will need to use that before I make a batch of this jam!

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews, Foodies Read hosted at Based on a True Story and the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge which I host.

Weekly meals

Saturday -  Out for dinner
Sunday - Ratatouille with couscous and sausages
Monday - Chicken and Mushroom Bake
Tuesday - Spanish Tuna Pasta Bake
Wednesday - Sticky meatballs with rice and broccoli (new)
Thursday - Pork Nachos
Friday -  Takeaway

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page