In Barclay’s sprawling and adventurous sequel to Web of Dreams
, the book’s heroine, Jenny Corvill, marries—but her happiness is short-lived. Jenny, in defiance of 19th-century social custom, runs her family’s tartan-weaving business, and Ronald Armstrong, once the master dyer at the Corvill family factory, admires her skills. Upon their wedding, Jenny’s brother Ned makes Ronald the factory manager. Local society leaders, Ned and his wife, Lucy, don’t concern themselves with business. Ned pursues gentlemanly interests, while socialite Lucy simply gets up to mischief. When she forms a strong attachment to Jenny and Ronald’s daughter, Heather, a chain of tragic and life-changing events result. The story moves from the Corvills’ home in the Scottish borders to London and Australia, where a neglected and unfulfilled Ronald goes on business and stays in order to find himself. Though the book’s plot is at times predictable, Barclay’s storytelling skills keep the pages turning, even if the characterizations, particularly of Lucy and Jenny, are too black and white to really satisfy. (Apr.)
