The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh-Review and Giveaway

The Fever Tree
by Jennifer McVeigh
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: April 2013

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

In London she was caged by society.

In South Africa, she is dangerously free.

Frances Irvine, left destitute in the wake of her father’s sudden death, has been forced to abandon her life of wealth and privilege in London and emigrate to the Southern Cape of Africa. 1880 South Africa is a country torn apart by greed. In this remote and inhospitable land she becomes entangled with two very different men—one driven by ambition, the other by his ideals. Only when the rumor of a smallpox epidemic takes her into the dark heart of the diamond mines does she see her path to happiness. But this is a ruthless world of avarice and exploitation, where the spoils of the rich come at a terrible human cost and powerful men will go to any lengths to keep the mines in operation. Removed from civilization and disillusioned by her isolation, Frances must choose between passion and integrity, a decision that has devastating consequences. The Fever Tree is a compelling portrait of colonial South Africa, its raw beauty and deprivation alive in equal measure. But above all it is a love story about how—just when we need it most—fear can blind us to the truth.

•••••••••••••••••••

Using simple words to describe a masterpiece is difficult, but I will try. The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh is a masterfully written story of a young “Victorian” age girl in England, whose father is a self-made businessman. He created an industry of furniture making and became very wealthy.

Typical of this era, women were kept in a “bubble” of social acceptability and “protected” from the day to day transactions of life. The only talents needed by the wealthy women were how to dress, who to talk with, all that silly inconsequential stuff. So, is it any wonder they were unable to survive if anything happened to their father/husband keepers?

This is the setting for Frances Irvine, daughter of the previously mentioned furniture and businessman. It seems he is of Irish decent and so not “acceptable” to the wealthy English society members. He met and married one such wonderful lady, who was promptly disowned by her family. She sickened and died when Frances was a young girl. In keeping with the times her father raised her with tutors and a governess that taught her the world pretty much revolves around only her. She was once offered marriage by a young doctor that her father let spend some time in his household when the doctor was a boy of sixteen.

When her father dies, she is left without resources and assumes her uncle will take her in. She fails to recognize that she is not wanted by her family on her mother’s side. Her father’s sister will take her in as a nurse for her children, but Frances feels this is totally beneath her and does not wish to live in Manchester or as an employee of her aunt. Her choice, if given one, would be to live with her mother’s family. The rest of the story revolves around her “arranged” marriage to Dr. Matthews, now living in South Africa, near the diamond mines.

This is the place where I have to stop now…to explain more would give away just too much.

As I said earlier, this is a masterpiece. If I were to compare it, I would have to use a story like … The Thorn Birds. Yes, it’s that powerful and more. If someone doesn’t make this into a mini-series for TV, they’ve missed the opportunity of a lifetime. To write something this powerful and compelling as your first novel is so incredible. This novel is one you really mustn’t miss, if you like historical stories at all. It’s well written, the characters are so real and the story twists and twists…and for me the very best is the magnificent ending (although I would have liked a bit more). One caution, don’t expect to be able to put this down easily. I started it in the morning and finished it the next morning (around 2:30am). Just couldn’t stop reading.

It’s an epic ladies! Get a glass of your favorite beverage, park yourself in a comfortable place and enjoy, I did! And I will again…this is one that I’ll re-read (maybe I’ll be able to take it slower…about the third time).

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Georgianna

_______________

Follow: Website/ Goodreads/ Facebook/ Twitter

Jennifer graduated from Oxford University in 2002 with a First in English Literature. She went on to work in film, television, radio and publishing, before leaving her day job to do an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. She graduated in 2011 with a Distinction.

She has travelled in wilderness areas of East Africa and Southern Africa, often in off-road vehicles, driving and camping along the way. The Fever Tree is her first novel.

__________________

Penguin Publishing is offering a paper copy of THE FEVER TREE to one lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not registered, please register using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Giveaway is OPEN to USA only.

4. Giveaway runs from January 29 to February 1, 2014