This is a tale of a disgraced woman, a secret mission and the quest to find tea in C19th China. As I have a fascination about anything to do with China I did think this book would appeal to me and it did up to a point.
We follow our two lead characters Robert Fortune and Mary across the seas to another land and new adventures. Mary has been disgraced in London as she has had a child out of wedlock and Robert, her brother in law, seeks to get rid of her to a faraway place.
Robert is off to China in search of tea plants and others he can sell back in London and he takes Mary with him albeit under duress as Mary cannot stand him.
Once we reach China the author completely captures the sounds, sights and smells for the reader and it does feel at times that her descriptive narrative can overtake the story and we sometimes loose the characters. This is a real shame as we do not get to know the backgrounds of both Robert and Mary fully and so cannot grow to love them as people.
Please don't get me wrong though as this is a good read and I did enjoy the most of it as it turns out to be a love story at the very heart of it all. Following the two of them into the very heart of China at this dangerous time and seeing it all through the eyes of Mary and learning how she copes so far from home is a delight. She seems to be able to take most things in her stride even fighting pirates!
Would I recommend this book? Yes I would as the way the author invokes the feel of China at this time is a real delight.
I fear your blog is going to be quite damaging for both my bank balance and my bookshelves! You write really good reviews.
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