The Fever Tree - Hardcover

McVeigh, Jennifer

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1444814494 ISBN 13: 9781444814491

Publisher: Ulverscroft Ltd, 2013

Synopsis

The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh is a critically acclaimed novel set in nineteenth century South Africa.

1880. South Africa. A country torn apart by greed.

Frances Irvine, destitute in the wake of her father's sudden death, is forced to abandon her life of wealth and privilege in London and emigrate to the Cape.

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 rumour 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 greed 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.

Torn between passion and integrity, she makes a choice 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 powerful love story about how - just when we need it the most - fear can blind us to a truth.

'Place and people come alive in this book... a gripping story' Kim Edwards, author of The Memory Keeper's Daughter

'I loved it. It's a beautifully written novel of great feeling' Rachel Hore, best-selling author of The Place of Secrets

'Engrossing, emotionally poised and elegantly written - I absolutely loved it' Vanora Bennett, author of The People's Queen

'There is nothing more exciting than a new writer with a genuine voice. I loved it' Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey

'A compelling read with a Gone with the Wind feel to it - I was hooked' Katharine McMahon, author of The Alchemist's Daughter

'A skilled unfolding of a woman's struggle with desire, class divide and disease in 19th Century South Africa' Financial Times

'McVeigh's attention to the material culture of South Africa that really fascinates: no object is too small to attract her notice, and through accumulation such objects become evocative and strangely moving - well worth reading' TLS

'An epic story of love, deception and courage' Patricia Wastvedt, author of The German Boy

'A bewitching tale of loss, betrayal and love' Vogue

'Epic, enchanting, emotional and engrossing' Easy Living 'Must-read of the Month'

'An unforgettable journey into a heart of darkness: romantic and tragic, a tale of honour and redemption, it leaves wide vistas of a harsh yet beguiling landscape shimmering in the imagination long after the last page is turned' Deborah Lawrenson, author of The Lantern

'All the delicious elements of a romantic classic, seasoned by evocative prose and keen moral commentary. Gobble it up and then shelve it next to the Brontė sisters' Hillary Jordan, best-selling author of Mudbound

Jennifer McVeigh graduated from Oxford University in 2002 with a First in English Literature. She went on to work in film, television, radio and publishing, before giving up her day job to write fiction. She has travelled across East Africa and South Africa, often in off-road vehicles, driving and camping along the way. The Fever Tree is her first novel.

About this title

Review:

There is nothing more exciting than a new writer with a genuine voice. I loved it (Julian Fellowes creator of Downton Abbey )

A beautifully written novel of great feeling (Rachel Hore, author of A Place of Secrets )

A gripping story, vividly written - I found myself thinking of its scenes long after I had turned the last page (Kim Edwards, Author Of The Memory Keeper's Daughter )

An epic story of love, deception and courage (Patricia Wastvedt, author of The German Boy )

A compelling read with a Gone with the Wind feel to it - I was hooked (Katharine McMahon author of The Alchemist's Daughter )

Engrossing, emotionally poised and elegantly written... I absolutely loved it (Vanora Bennett author of The People's Queen )

Bewitching tale of loss, betrayal and love (Vogue )

Epic, enchanting, emotional and engrossing (Easy Living 'Must-read of the Month' )

The Fever Tree is a skilled unfolding of a woman's struggle with desire, class divide and disease in 19th Century South Africa... the journey, like the landscape, is thrillingly huge: one of love, self-knowledge, human and political self-respect. Frances treads out every step - a naive and intriguing character who brings alive a momentous - and appalling - part of history (Financial Times )

The subterfuges and instability of the diamond industry are engrossing, but it is McVeigh's attention to the material culture of South Africa that really fascinates: no object is too small to attract her notice, and through accumulation such objects become evocative and strangely moving... The Fever Tree is well worth reading (TLS )

Fever Tree serves up all the delicious elements of a romantic classic, seasoned by evocative prose and keen moral commentary. Gobble it up and then shelve it next to the Brontė sisters (Hillary Jordan, bestselling author of Mudbound )

From the Back Cover:

'Epic, enchanting, engrossing. A glorious read' Easy Living

'I loved it'Julian Fellowes, Creator of Downton Abbey

1880, South Africa - a land torn apart by greed...

Frances Irvine, left penniless after her father's sudden death, is forced to emigrate to the Cape. In this barren country, she meets two very different men - one driven by ambition, the other by his ideals. When the rumour of a smallpox outbreak sends her to the diamond mines, she finds a ruthless world of greed and exploitation, of human lives crushed in the scramble for wealth and power. But here - at last - she sees her path to happiness. Torn between passion and integrity, she makes a choice that has devastating consequences...

'A skilled unfolding of a woman's struggle with desire, class divide and disease in 19th Century South Africa. The journey is thrillingly huge'Financial Times

'Engrossing, evocative and moving'The Times Literary Supplement

'A bewitching tale of loss, betrayal and love'Vogue

About this edition

• Publisher: Ulverscroft Ltd
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1444814494
• ISBN 13: 9781444814491
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 496