Wednesday 6 July 2016

The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh

 

  Another (short) book review
The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh. A novel starting in London society but mainly set in 1880's South Africa. Frances Irvine is left penniless when her father dies and faces a choice of living as a maid  with an aunt or marrying Edwin a distant cousin who is a doctor in South Africa.
She chooses the latter and boards ship to make the long journey with the " ladies middle class emigration society".
The story ranges from diamond mines to a smallpox hospital and The Karoo -one hundred and fifty thousand square miles of barren landscape. Because of a man she met on the ship and the conditions Edwin has chosen for them she is unhappy and hopelessly out of her depth.
 I guess this is two steps up from a romance story but as it based on factual background I learned some of the  history of South Africa and the lives of immigrants.
I'm pleased to say it has a proper happy ending!

You can read lots more reviews [HERE]

Thanks for comments about everything on the last post

Back later in the week
Sue

MOVED

The blog here has now finished please add my new blog to your list instead                               You will find it here at    ...