The Invincible Miss Cust: She wasn’t going to allow her aristocratic family to hold her back

317 pages Sourcebooks publisher October 4,2022 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Aleen Cust has big dreams. And no one—not her family, society, or the law—will stop her.

Born in Ireland in 1868 to an aristocratic English family, Aleen knows she is destined to work with animals, even if her family is appalled by the idea of a woman pursuing a veterinary career. Going against their wishes but with the encouragement of the guardian assigned to her upon her father’s death, Aleen attends the New Veterinary College in Edinburgh, enrolling as A. I. Custance to spare her family the humiliation they fear. At last, she is on her way to becoming a veterinary surgeon! Little does she know her biggest obstacles lie ahead.

The Invincible Miss Cust is based on the real life of Aleen Isabel Cust, who defied her family and society to become Britain and Ireland’s first woman veterinary surgeon. Through Penny Haw’s meticulous research, riveting storytelling, and elegant prose, Aleen’s story of ambition, determination, family, friendship, and passion comes to life. It is a story that, even today, women will recognize, of battling patriarchy and an unequal society to realize one’s dreams and pave the way for other women in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

MY THOUGHTS

Based on fact this is a fictional story. I learned a lot from it and could not tell when the facts ended, and the fiction began. The book was so seamlessly written, it blended into a most fascinating story.

Aleen Cust was born into an aristocratic family in 1868 in Ireland. She knows at a young age she is destined to work with animals, she has a love for the outdoors, horses and dogs. At this time in history women are certainly forced to keep up appearances, especially daughters of the aristocrats.

When the only one who understands her, her shining star, her father passes away the family returns to England and her mother and siblings do not accept her, what they call foolish whim to study and become the first woman veterinarian surgeon. She becomes estranged from her family though she doesn’t stop trying to stay in touch, but she will never be accepted by them again.

The book had my emotions on a roller coaster, so many good and positive things happening but this was a very forward thinking and determined woman when women were not to be this way according to society. There were dark times for her as well, so much discrimination and so many with sexist attitudes. She was able to do hands on training with a male veterinarian surgeon and learn a lot.

The book covers a long period of time, there is the ups and downs of the terrors of the war. I was really impressed with Miss Cust and for her standing her ground and all she put up with to become the first female veterinarian surgeon.

I found it quite interesting reading about her studies and hands on training she did. Nothing and no one held her back. Despite what seemed like unsurmountable odds she did it and gave the encouragement to other woman to realize their dreams as well.

Pub Date 04 Oct 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

THE AUTHOR

Penny Haw is the author of The Invincible Miss Cust, a work of historical fiction based on the life of Britain and Ireland’s first woman veterinary surgeon; The Wilderness Between Us, winner of the WFWA 2022 Star Award in the general category; and a children’s book called Nicko, The Tale of a Vervet Monkey on an African Farm. Her second work of historical fiction, The Woman at the Wheel is inspired by the life of Bertha Benz, the wife of “father of the automobile”, Carl Benz. It will be published by Landmark Sourcebooks in October 2023. Before turning to fiction, Penny was a journalist and columnist with bylines in many of South Africa’s leading newspapers and magazines. She lives near Cape Town, South Africa.

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