Virgin Earth

Tradescant #2

by Philippa Gregory

John Tradescant the Younger, gardener of Charles I, travels to the New World and the Colony of Virginia in an effort to escape the chaos of the British Civil War, only to find that more conflict awaits him at his destination.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, 17th Century, Romance, British Literature, Gardening

567 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

DR PHILIPPA GREGORY studied history at the University of Sussex and was awarded a PhD by the University of Edinburgh where she is a Regent and was made Alumna of the Year in 2009. She holds an honorary degree from Teesside University, and is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff. Philippa is a member of the Society of Authors and in 2016, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Historical Fiction Award by the Historical Writers’ Association. In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Platinum Award by Neilsen for achieving significant lifetime sales across her entire book output. In 2021, she was awarded a CBE for services to literature and to her charity Gardens for the Gambia. and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

She welcomes visitors to her site www.PhilippaGregory.com.

Philippa's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/PhilippaGregoryOfficial

Reviews

[Heidi (can’t retire soon enough) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love most of Gregory's books, but this is simply my favorite of hers... and there's not one reference to King Henry or any of his wives...

To experience what the new world was like for the early settlers is amazing-- Gregory brings early American history to life with both English and Native American characters... and you get a sense of how we began to pillage our natural resources from the beginning.

[~Sofia~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Virgin Earth is the second installment in Gregorys Tradescant duology, written about the somewhat elusive Tradescant gardeners to the royals. The Tradescants, being that of John and John Junior Tradescant, who have a lot to be accountable for, in today's plants and trees in the Uk.

Let me start by saying that this very novel is one of the greatest reasons I love Historical Fiction as a genre. Gregory is remarkable at writing about history, and the reason why I love it so, is that at the end of every book of hers, you are much more knowledgeable before you started reading it. I come away from these books retaining so many historical facts. As much as I would love to take her books as gospel obviously there is much fiction entwined into these novels to make them more enjoyable and entertaining, however I spend majority of my time back and forth from Wikipedia to see if ' did that really happen?', most of the time it did. However, as hard as it is sometimes is I have to refrain from Google so as not to ruin the characters story.

I found this book remarkably relevant to this moment in time, as this book focuses on the time period of the Civil War, documenting the demise of Charles 1 through his gardeners eyes. I am not so familiar with this part of history, however with the current state of affairs in Britain right now,( I dare not say the dreaded B word), I did find it all most relevant. Are we not a country divided?

Gregorys writing as always is an absolute pleasure to read. I am a true fan of hers and will continue to preorder and impatiently await her new novels, I just find that she transports you to a time long ago and brings to life these fantastic historical characters. The way she weaves a story around them in utterly astounding and sometimes you have to remind yourself that majority is fiction.

I would highly recommend this book, the characters seem true and relate-able, if your fascinated with battles and monarchy this will entertain you. This novel is also based around the beginnings of Virginia and a large chunk focuses on the Native American tribes and how they lived. It really is an enjoyable history lesson.

If you love history like me then you will simply adore Philippa Gregory like many of her adoring fans, myself included.

[Diana Pauksta · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked The Other Boleyn girl, so I thought this would be a good, fast read. The first 1/3rd was mildly interesting. I was hoping the character development would continue, but it abruptly stopped when she started focusing several chapters on the Royalists vs. Parliamentarians. It didn't really seem pertinent to the main story...if there was a main story. Gregory could have removed the entire middle of the book and saved readers from a 650+ page book that ended up being a waste of time (in my opinion). It was really challenging to read this novel because I was waiting for it to pick up again. It never really did. Characters that seemed like they would get an interesting treatment were put aside. Even John Tradescant was underdeveloped, in my opinion. There was a frustrating unbelievable lack of response or emotion from some characters and annoying, drawn-out, ok-we-get-it overdramatic responses from others. One of my least favorite novels, ever.

[Alexandra Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed Earthly Joys, being from a male perspective (Gregory's characters are usually female) and with so much about the gardening trade and history of the time, it was a refreshing and interesting change. I expected to like this sequel equally (or maybe even more, for the main character surely goes off to Virginia; exciting!)

Nope. It was dull as dishwater. I was hopeful in the first third. Disappointed in the second third. Bored as hell in the third third. The dealings of Charles I and then the Commonwealth are interesting historically, but they were just laid out so blandly in the book. There were chunks of text that made me feel like I was at school, which is unusual with Gregory. I don't find the time period or even academic chunks of text dull in general, but the way the bland facts were interspersed rather heavily with the listless human drama really look the shine off them.

The book didn't seem to know where it wanted to go either. SPOILERS AHEAD.

First J (John's son and now main protagonist) is in Virginia, having a very interesting time with an underage native girl. I was hoping he'd stay there quite a bit longer or there'd be more about the Powhatan tribe, but needs must when the devil vomits in your kettle; after a month's romp in the jungle wearing nothing but a deer-hide thong J has to return home.

When he gets there he finds his father is dead (and does not seem massively bothered) and some strange woman he's never met living in his house and looking after his kids. Not wanting to love another woman (even though he's sworn his hand to the 13 year old Powhatan girl in Virginia) he decides that for the good of the kids they can marry.
Poor Hester, for some reason, can't resist J's charms and falls for him, despite their marriage being only for convenience. J doesn't seem to feel the same way for a while, though he also has no intention of going back to claim his child fiancee. Smooth move, J.

Meanwhile the Kingdom is falling apart, Charles is stirring his mess, and the people and parliament are rising up against him. Despite the sense of bravery and duty his father has tried to instil in him for some hundreds of pages in the previous book, J decides he's had enough of it and he's going to run away and live in Virginia. He asks Hester and the kids to come with him, suddenly deciding they're now important, but they refuse. No one needs scurvy, the flux, starvation or to be scalped by an Native American added to their list of woes, I guess.

Being the nice, considerate man he is, J leaves anyway. When in Virginia he makes a hash of trying to build his own house and live off the land. He's pretty godamned bad at it. So bad that the watching Powhatans (his discarded teen love included) covertly bring him food (which he promptly soils himself with).
In despair and destitution J makes some sort of mad venture in a canoe and wakes up in the Powahatan village. The natives scorn him for being, frankly, disgusting, but eventually he wins some of them to his side, including his much-jilted lady, Suckahannah. She admits she still loves him and gives her mighty, bare chested adonis husband the boot.
J learns the Powhatan ways and becomes a brave, with the unlikely name of Eagle. He lives in some sort of sexy utopia where he does nothing but screw, farm and hunt. I feel this guy is getting off lightly whilst his estranged English wife is solely providing for their children back in war-torn England.

The Powhatan, not feeling too kindly about the white man pushing them back day by day on their own land, mount a war band against the bulk of the Virginian settlers. Unable to attack his own people (even though he's sworn that the Powahatan are his people) he chickens out and is thus looked upon in great shame. So not only can he not remain faithful to a woman, or look after his children, he is also useless to both nations as he can't make up his mind who he is for.

The Virginians, having fortifications, hunting dogs, muskets, and not much else to do, launch a pursuit of the Powhatan, driving them into swamp lands.
Unimpressed with her husband's turncoat ways, Suckahannah wants nothing to do with him. Treated as a sort of bumbling clown, J decides he's had enough and forsakes the natives to go home. Because that's just his way.

We keep thinking J may go back to Virginia. That we may hear more of the brave Suckahannah, her wily children, and her buff and raven haired ex. Instead we're treated to umpteen pages of historical misdeeds blockily put down in between Johnnie's (J's son) caterwauling about supporting the crown and blistering to be off at war.

Johnnie gets his wish and comes back with a bitchin' scar. Frances, J's other kid, is now a fair maiden and marries their ageing family friend. Hester continues to pine in plain-faced silence. There's no spark between her and J for the rest of the book. By this point I didn't care.

The king gets the chop and Cromwell sets himself up as leader. Yep, yep, that's all well and good, but do we have to have 'this war, that war,' for the rest of the book without really checking in much on the intricacies of the characters anymore? I love history, but I've got to be honest, that's not my main reason for reading this books - the characters are.

Sick of living in a world where he feels justice is turned upside down, Johnnie, in a rather over-dramatic turn of events, drowns himself in the lake behind the family house.

Gutted, J returns to Virginia to see what has become of his abandoned 'people', only to learn his ex wife and super-fine native friend are dead, and the Powhatan are generally locked up inside what we would think now as a rather poor 'reservation'.
Unable to think of any way to help them, he just leaves. Thanks for rounding that off with a resounding THUMP.

Back at home there's some more political uprising and the King, New King Charles II, comes back to the throne. There's quite a bit of dithering with the main characters in between these political events again, mostly complaining loudly at each other. Poor old uncle dies, leaving Frances a widow. Perhaps a handsome suitor will come? Nope, there's no time. There's only time for a decidedly rushed and shoddy ending which left me feel empty inside and not at all bothered as to how the main characters may end up in the future. Guh.

I normally like Gregory's books. They're escapes. Sensationalist and sultry, but with a nice smattering of historical realism to back it up. And usually the balance of interesting characters and history is well done. They're not quite bodice rippers, these yarns, and they're not academic essays - but they grip you nonetheless. Its a shame this one has faltered so badly for me.

[Lanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read "Earthly Joys", I took this one with me on a 14 hour plane ride thinking I would really enjoy it. Not so much. The characters made me mad, there was way less gardening and way more war, and it just wasn't what I expected it to be. Furthermore, the ending was terrible. Had I been at home, I might have thrown the book against the wall. Not wanting to get thrown off the plane, I had to force myself not to.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both of these books, Earthly Joys and Virgin Earth, about the Tradescant family in 17th century England were absolute page turners for me. I learned a great deal about English history of which I was unaware, and Gregory filled in many unknowns for me through exellent story-telling. I'm a true Gregory fan (amongst thousands of others, to be sure!)

[B the BookAddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really informative about England 1638 onwards, Charles I (what a self absorbed monarch he was), the English civil war, about Virgina US and, of course, about the Tradescant gardens. It's a real shame that the Tradescants were swindled out of their three generation's heritage by Elias Ashmole and their original Rarities museum is now know as Ashmoleum Museum at Oxford. 3.75★

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The history was fascinating but the main character is a schmuck

[Wendy Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second and final book in the series of John Tradescant and his son - gardeners to King Charles I. It’s not just a fabulous book, full of strong, believable characters and vivid, beautiful descriptions of the many plants, trees and flowers that they discovered and planted, it’s also a really interesting history lesson!

I got so caught up in this family’s story that I then went on to read more about them and their legacy. Chances are that we all have, or have seen, some of their plants at some time and I personally find that quite exciting (sad middle aged woman’s review right here 😉)

And besides all that it’s a fab story! What more could you want?

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sequel to Earthly Joys, and I must say I liked it much better. John Tradescant (the main character from Earthly Joys) has died and his son, John has taken over the family business of gardening for the king. He travels to the New World three times to bring back rare plants to England. I was disappointed with the way he treated his wife Hester. She is so good and patient with him, and he just takes him for granted. I was also disappointed with his affair with Suckahanna, a Powhatan woman when he was in Virginia. At least John was able to make up his own mind with his relationship to the king unlike his father. I was saddened to hear about the death of his son and how in the end John lost his entire inheritance to Elias Ashmole. As always, Philippa Gregory bases her books on historical events and this book follows the reign of King Charles the Last and the major wars faught during his time as king. The Tradescants were a real family and there are a few varieties of plants named after them today.

While I was reading this book, I planted my bulbs for next spring, and I thought about how hard the Tradescants worked in their gardens removing all of the stones from the soil. I sure could have used their help with all the stones in my garden. I also thought about how they transplanted to many plants - even large, mature trees. Kind of fascinating!

[Kathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a follow-up to EARTHLY JOYS, but it is a stand-alone. At 660 pages, it was much too long, alot could have been cut without taking away from the story. I disliked John, but appreciated all the women in his life -- in both worlds.

I read the print version, paperback. At the beginning, John is referred to by just his initial, "J" to distinguish him from his father. In that type font, the J resembles an I, which made comprehension difficult at times. I was glad when his name was spelled out after John Sr. died.

[Gabi Ionescu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sequel to Earthly Joys, the story of John Tradescant the Younger, botanist and royal gardener to King Charles I of England, a first hand witness of the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate and the Restauration.

As England descends into civil war, John finds his loyalties in question, his status an ever-growing danger to his own family. Fearing royal defeat and determined to avoid serving the rebels, John escapes to the royalist colony of Virginia, a land bursting with fertility that stirs his passion for botany.

Only the native American peoples understand the forest, and John is drawn to their way of life just as they come into fatal conflict with the colonial settlers. Torn between his loyalty to his country and family and his love for a Powhatan girl who embodies the freedom he seeks, John has to find himself before he is prepared to choose his direction in the virgin land.

I am usually a great fan of Philippa Gregory's books, however this was a bit of a drag for me, I just couldn't get into it. I think it was because I simply did not like the main character. Also, it could have easily been edited down by a half of its current length without any compromise to plot, character development, historical background or atmosphere. It is extremely repetitive and I found myself just skimming through long sections in order to reach something the author had not already covered.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so hope there will be a third Tradescant book in this series! This book, Virgin Earth, is a stand-alone novel, but reading Earthly Joys, I think, is advisable in order to imbed yourself into the Tradescant family in the 1600s.

Philippa Gregory’s books are huge thank goodness!

Virgin Earth dives deeper into this gardening family, gardeners for the king and queen. And the descriptions of the flowers, the beautiful vines, what they go through to perfectly design the gardens with foreign plants and trees in the midst of a civil war in England to either seat the king or parliament as government is breathtaking! Many plants are brought back from expeditions to Virginia, where John meets the Powhatan Tribe on his first trip, and discovers much more than tobacco and unknown plants.

A solidly written novel that feels almost modern, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Almost as good as the first book in this series. I loved every minute of it, except for Johnnie's insane, unfathomable behavior. Seriously, some of the stuff he does and believes makes no sense to me at all and it made the book feel weird because it all seemed so unlikely. I only wish there had been a better ending for our characters, but the true history of these people is depressing AF.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a historical fiction fan. I have read some of Philippa Gregory's bestsellers, and I've liked them, but not loved them. Books like The Other Boleyn Girl are what I call "pop historical fiction," and while they can be enjoyable, historical fiction purists typically find them disappointing. That's why I was surprised to enjoy Virgin Earth as much as I did. I didn't just like this book, I loved it!

Gregory's research about England and colonial America during the reign of King Charles I laid a fine background for a novel about a gardener to the king, John Tradescant, and the struggle for survival in an era where conflicting loyalties were not welcomed.

I also greatly appreciated the author's knowledge of plants (of which I have a little myself), and the love of botany that the main character shares with the reader.

Virgin Earth is a stand-alone sequel to an earlier release called Earthly Joys. I'm definitely going to put that novel on my TBR list. There is so much to enjoy about Virgin Earth, it is exciting, historical and definitely a page-turner. It is right up there with the works of Edward Rutherfurd and Sharon Kay Penman.

[Ari Apa · Rating 2 out of 5]

So boring.

[Frances M-H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually enjoy Philippa Gregory's books! I listened to this on audio and was connected to the characters and wanting to find out what happened all the way through. I enjoyed learning about this period of time and felt that I understood a lot more about the civil war and early settlements in Virginia by the end, although I found the ending a bit of an anti climax I'm still giving it 5* as I took away such a vivid picture in my mind of this period. I read this second book of the 'two part' series about the Tradescent gardeners without having read the first but this didn't matter, although I'd like to read the first one now!

[Jon James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this - a very readable story.
I especially enjoyed the author's psychological profile of John Tradescant, the lead character, as 'a man of few certainties'.
Similarly to when I read Victoria Hislop, I enjoy learning about the relevant historical period and find myself regularly diving onto the web to learn more.
There is one problem however, which is the danger, to my mind, of seamlessly blending fact and fiction. While harmless in this context I am sure, applying this technique in works such as The Crown, makes me decidedly uneasy.

[Jane Cathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Gregory book completed . I do enjoy being transported to the 1600’s . She writes so well that I feel like I’m living back in time . Love reading about utilizing the land and the plants and herbs that help with healing and aiding in survival. I’m not sure how closely this historical perspective is but I thoroughly enjoyed it all the same . I’d love to read more about the Tradescant gardeners so I will look into this further. The historical perspective is always interesting.

[Gintarė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knyga apie vyrą, kurio gyvenimas yra susijęs su augalais, kuris kuria karališkuosius sodus, gyvena neramiais laikais. Kadangi jis dirba karaliui, tampa sunku, kurią pusę pasirinkti kare ir nusprendžia keliauti į Ameriką ir įsikurti ten. Knygos pradžia pasirodė labai įdomi, bet po to tapo vangesnė, nuobodesnė. Nuolat erzino pagrindinis veikėjas, kuris nežinojo, ko nori iš gyvenimo, mėtėsi nuo vieno sprendimo prie kito. Pabaiga išvis netikusi.

[Laura Bulan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank goodness it's finally over.

[Kathy Dagg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not like the main character...what an indecisive fool! Liked the plants aspect and the history of 1600 England. Do not think I'll bother with the sequel.

[Sian Witch reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

not my fave by the author but still brilliant

[Michelle Ferrara · Rating 3 out of 5]

ugh, john

[Kaitie Blalock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot get enough of this author’s books. This one was very interesting, with main characters that I wasn’t already familiar with in history. Can’t wait to read more of her books.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you enjoy Phillipa Gregory's historic fictions, you will enjoy this one. This is technically a sequel to her book Earthly Joys, but I never read Earthly Joys and I don't think you miss anything - they are described as 'free standing.' The book takes place during the early to mid 1600's during a period of civil war in England. A royal gardener, John Tradscant, sets off to the royal colony in Virginia in an attempt to escape not only war-torn England but also to escape some tragedy in his personal life. The book goes back and forth between Virginia and England and the main character goes back and forth between his love for England and the new world - back and forth between his loyalty to the King and his disgust with the King - back and forth between is feelings for two women.... Frankly, this guy got on nerves at times! The book is rather long, but held my interest and I particularly liked the historic detail on the Virginia colony as well as this time period in English history. If you enjoy gardening, you will appreciate all the botanic references - and there are a lot of them!

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was magnificent. It was hard at first because I really didn't like the main character - he left his wife and children without a backwards look in the middle of a civil war to run away to Virginia, live with Indians and marry an Indian girl who was really too good for him and who realized it in the end. But he learned and went back and the whole civil war was fascinating. I had read many books about this period before and always romantically liked the Stuarts. Kingship is romantic, and the beheaded king, his exiled son, the flamboyant Charles II, all really appealed to me and Cromwell just seemed like no fun what with eliminating the Maypoles and Christmas celebrations and all. But seeing it from the point of view of ordinary families just trying to live their lives while people struggled and fought and killed for power, for ideals, for money, for position, for sport, gave me a whole new insight. Highly, highly recommend. You don't have to have read the first book in the series to enjoy this one but the first book was so good too, and established the family so well, that I don't see why you wouldn't.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sequel to Earthly Joys.
Living in the time of civil war when the goals are so confused is reflected in Tradescant the Younger's life. In 1633, Tradescant acquired Scarlet Runner Beans sent from Virginia, and started growing them at Oatlands as an ornamental plant for their flowers.
His own travels to America began with Charles I sending him in 1637 "to gather all rarities of flowers, plants, and shells." He made two more trips to the Virginian colony in 1642 and 1654. Around these three trips the author created a connection to a native wife and a personal anguish over what was being done to the endemic people by the British colonials.
Tradescant had a virtual monopoly on plants introduced from the colonies since he brought back or bought up seeds from travelers for 90 new plants.

The book ends with Tradescant & his English wife anguishing over bequeathing their collection to Elias Ashmole. Why they are upset with sellers remorse I do not know since the Ashmolean collection in Oxford still retains Tradescant's collections nearly intact.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sequel to Earthly Joys by Philippa Gregory more than its prequel, mostly, I think, because I identified with John Tradescant II better than John Tradescant I in seeing both sides of everything, making it hard to make a decision and stick with it. I also enjoyed learning about the Powhatan people and their ways and reminding myself of the cruelty of America's first immigrants.

I wish John Tradescant II had learned to show more affection to Hester. Perhaps their similar characters made it hard to grow their relationship deeper. John Tradescant III seemed unstable in his reasoning, particularly having grown up while England was at war, and it seemed fitting that he drown himself. I wish, too, that John Tradescant II had been able to leave The Ark and the rarities room and the gardens to Frances, who had so longed to be a Tradescant gardener and might have been able to with the changing times. What an unsatisfying ending to a lifelong struggle to not only simply stay afloat, but also leave a legacy!

[Elizabeth Nesbit-comer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the perspectives in this story. John Transcendant takes you from a waring England to the settlers in Virgina and even over to the side of the natives as he tries to find a place in the world where he fits. My favorite part of the book was his time with Suckhanna and the Powhatan. Just the descriptions of this big clumsy man over dressed in the heat trying to make his way through the forest while Suckhanna moved gracefully like a deer made the experience a worth while read. The joys of gardening and finding new plants in unknown areas of the world make me itch for spring so that I may begin my own garden. I also learned a bit more about English history and the role of the first King Charles and his follies that brought about his beheading to that of his son King Charles the second after many failed attempts by the country to survive as free people without a royal overseer.

All in all a long but very worthwhile read.