Clare Avery: A Story of the Spanish Armada

"Clare Avery: A Story of the Spanish Armada" by Emily Sarah Holt is a historical fiction set in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and the time of the Spanish Armada, which tells the tale of Clare Avery and her family as they navigate the religious and political conflicts of the time. The novel combines fictional characters with actual historical events to create a lively depiction of 16th-century England, and opens in the dead of winter in Cornwall, introducing Clare and her family, mainly her grandfather, John Avery. As the housekeeper Barbara takes care of Clare, the narrative examines subjects of family loss and the obligations they have, and shows Clare's childhood innocence as she plays contrasted with the serious context of coming family and social change. The stage is set for Clare's development and the challenges she will face in the story through everyday interactions and conversations about family, responsibility, and religion.