A Wigwam for a Goose's Bridle

Hannah Kent is quite possibly the most talented writer of our time. I’ve always loved Coleridge’s definition of prose being words in their best order, but poetry being the best words in their best order. Although Devotion appears to be prose, by this definition it is poetry. Kent has a way with words that is uniquely beautiful and soul-touching.

In 19th century Prussia, Hanne has never felt she fully belongs. A child of nature, attuned to beauty in a way her Old Lutheran community will never understand, 15 year old Hanne is not ready to become an adult, marry and have children. She meets Thea, a kindred spirit, and discovers love in various forms. The community migrates to Australia for religious freedom, but six months at sea will mean not everyone makes it to Adelaide alive and well.

This book is actually difficult for me to review as I loved the writing immensely, but aspects of the story did not work for me. The blurb made it quite clear that, as a consequence of something that happens at sea, Thea and Hanne will not be able to be together. I was of course unsurprised this would happen given the historical and religious context, but I did not expect the actual reason and the way the novel would deal with it. In fact, I was quite confused for a while in the second part of the book when I assumed I was reading about a fever dream, then realised I was not.

From a lesser writer, I might have stopped reading, but when Kent works magic with her words you are compelled to read on. This book is indeed an exquisite tragedy.