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Daniel
This edition is no longer available. Please see 'The Disenchanted Soldier' for the latest version on this story.
Libby was fascinated by the stories surrounding Daniel, by this man who looked down at her from the aged black and white photos on the walls some seventy years after his death. His story seemed inextricably linked to pioneering New Zealand and she wanted to know more.To know what he was really like: his hopes, his dreams, his desires and his secrets. She was certain there were secrets.
It’s 1863 when 21 year old Daniel, a trained soldier embarks on an adventure of a lifetime, in pursuit of a new life, of land, and to shrug off his past. Crossing the oceans to New Zealand to fight an unknown enemy, Daniel wins a medal for his efforts. Yet, he is soon disillusioned by war, by its violence and cruelty, its emptiness changes his life forever. Eventually, he finds happiness and heartache in equal measure with his great love, Emma, a young Prussian girl, building their life together in Foxton.
Libby was not disappointed. Daniel’s story was more than she had hoped for – a life of adversity and sadness, of success and happiness. His legacy is unforgettable.
Libby was fascinated by the stories surrounding Daniel, by this man who looked down at her from the aged black and white photos on the walls some seventy years after his death. His story seemed inextricably linked to pioneering New Zealand and she wanted to know more.To know what he was really like: his hopes, his dreams, his desires and his secrets. She was certain there were secrets.
It’s 1863 when 21 year old Daniel, a trained soldier embarks on an adventure of a lifetime, in pursuit of a new life, of land, and to shrug off his past. Crossing the oceans to New Zealand to fight an unknown enemy, Daniel wins a medal for his efforts. Yet, he is soon disillusioned by war, by its violence and cruelty, its emptiness changes his life forever. Eventually, he finds happiness and heartache in equal measure with his great love, Emma, a young Prussian girl, building their life together in Foxton.
Libby was not disappointed. Daniel’s story was more than she had hoped for – a life of adversity and sadness, of success and happiness. His legacy is unforgettable.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2011
34 people want to read
About the author
Vicky Adin
13 books247 followersVicky Adin is the author of the New Zealand Immigrant Collection, a set of six suspenseful family historical fiction stories about overcoming the odds and three dual-timeline family sagas about finding your roots in The Art of Secrets series.
Five of Vicky's books are recipients of the Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion - a reader's award for excellence.
https://www.bragmedallion.com/award-w...
She is a family historian in love with the past.
Like the characters in her stories, she too is an immigrant to New Zealand, arriving a century after her first protagonists, and ready to start a new life.
Born in Wales, she grew up in Cornwall until aged 12. Her family emigrated to New Zealand, a country she would call home. Vicky draws on her affinity for these places, in her writing. Fast forward a few years, and she marries a fourth-generation Kiwi bloke with Irish, Scottish and English ancestors and her passion for genealogy flourishes.
The further she digs into the past, the more she wants to record the lives of the people who were the foundations of her new country. Not just her own ancestors, but all those who braved the oceans and became pioneers in a raw new land. Her research into life as it was for those immigrants in the mid-to-late 1800s and early 1900s gave her enough material to write for many years about the land left behind and the birth of a new nation.
Her first book, The Disenchanted Soldier, is the most biographical of all her books, inspired by her husband’s great-grandfather. For the rest, while the history of the time is accurate, the characters are fictionalised to fit with the events and happenings as they occurred.
Vicky holds an MA(Hons) in English, is a lover of art, antiques, gardens, good food and red wine. She and her husband travel throughout New Zealand in their caravan and travel the world when they can. She hopes younger generations get as much enjoyment learning about the past through her stories, as she did when writing about it.
For more information, visit her website http://www.vickyadin.co.nz
If you have any questions, email vicky@vickyadin.co.nz
Five of Vicky's books are recipients of the Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion - a reader's award for excellence.
https://www.bragmedallion.com/award-w...
She is a family historian in love with the past.
Like the characters in her stories, she too is an immigrant to New Zealand, arriving a century after her first protagonists, and ready to start a new life.
Born in Wales, she grew up in Cornwall until aged 12. Her family emigrated to New Zealand, a country she would call home. Vicky draws on her affinity for these places, in her writing. Fast forward a few years, and she marries a fourth-generation Kiwi bloke with Irish, Scottish and English ancestors and her passion for genealogy flourishes.
The further she digs into the past, the more she wants to record the lives of the people who were the foundations of her new country. Not just her own ancestors, but all those who braved the oceans and became pioneers in a raw new land. Her research into life as it was for those immigrants in the mid-to-late 1800s and early 1900s gave her enough material to write for many years about the land left behind and the birth of a new nation.
Her first book, The Disenchanted Soldier, is the most biographical of all her books, inspired by her husband’s great-grandfather. For the rest, while the history of the time is accurate, the characters are fictionalised to fit with the events and happenings as they occurred.
Vicky holds an MA(Hons) in English, is a lover of art, antiques, gardens, good food and red wine. She and her husband travel throughout New Zealand in their caravan and travel the world when they can. She hopes younger generations get as much enjoyment learning about the past through her stories, as she did when writing about it.
For more information, visit her website http://www.vickyadin.co.nz
If you have any questions, email vicky@vickyadin.co.nz
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 30, 2014
This book is an historical novel with the author basing it her own Adin family history.It is a good portrayal of the last six generations of Vicky's family,linked between England and New Zealand.
The story is told by Daniel and Emma Adin (1842-1926)and Libby Adin a woman who married into the Adin family in modern times.
Libby has often looked at the portrait of Daniel on the wall of the New Zealand family home ,wondering who he was and about his history.She talks to his remaining family.
As an immigrant from England I could readily find this book fascinating, as I too have felt the pull as Vicky did ,when going back to search for my own roots.
The story melds seamlessly between then and now.It is a wonderful story of love,endurance,loss and triumph during the difficult time of settling and building New Zealand.
The historical facts were spread throughout the story so well I think it would be a great way for people who know nothing about this country to read . Perhaps the younger generation could learn from it as well.
The bibliography and time-line along with photos are very helpful to the reader too.
An enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone.
31May
I thought I would add here that an older mature member of the family was eagerly awaiting his turn to read this book.He really enjoyed it too and commented how much he enjoyed all the historical information within the book.He rates it well and would recommend it suitable for the men too.
The story is told by Daniel and Emma Adin (1842-1926)and Libby Adin a woman who married into the Adin family in modern times.
Libby has often looked at the portrait of Daniel on the wall of the New Zealand family home ,wondering who he was and about his history.She talks to his remaining family.
As an immigrant from England I could readily find this book fascinating, as I too have felt the pull as Vicky did ,when going back to search for my own roots.
The story melds seamlessly between then and now.It is a wonderful story of love,endurance,loss and triumph during the difficult time of settling and building New Zealand.
The historical facts were spread throughout the story so well I think it would be a great way for people who know nothing about this country to read . Perhaps the younger generation could learn from it as well.
The bibliography and time-line along with photos are very helpful to the reader too.
An enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone.
31May
I thought I would add here that an older mature member of the family was eagerly awaiting his turn to read this book.He really enjoyed it too and commented how much he enjoyed all the historical information within the book.He rates it well and would recommend it suitable for the men too.
August 15, 2014
I won this book on goodreads. It is the true story of Daniel Adin written in story format which made it easy to read.
Daniel was born in England and in 1863 hops in a ship to come to New Zealand. What brave bunch of people to move to another country, where you knew no one and life was tough. As soon as Daniel hoped off the ship he was signed up to fight in the Maori wars. The white people decided to take the land off the Maori's. Daniel was ill at ease with the fighting, but did his job.
After his time in the army he moves to Foxton and live the rest of his life there. He started working in the flax factory, they used the flax to make rope and then moved on to working for the council in the ditch digging department. He was a likeable man and got on with all he met.
At the age of 40 he met a very young woman and they spent the next 45 years together. They had 7 children and got on well. Life wasn't easy with floods and fire but they stood strong through the trials and joys of life.
Foxton on the West Coast of the North Island. Its a place you drive through on the way to somewhere else. I enjoyed finding out more about this small NZ town and I would like to stop next time we are up that way and have a look around and maybe go to the Cemetery to say hi to Daniel.
Daniel was born in England and in 1863 hops in a ship to come to New Zealand. What brave bunch of people to move to another country, where you knew no one and life was tough. As soon as Daniel hoped off the ship he was signed up to fight in the Maori wars. The white people decided to take the land off the Maori's. Daniel was ill at ease with the fighting, but did his job.
After his time in the army he moves to Foxton and live the rest of his life there. He started working in the flax factory, they used the flax to make rope and then moved on to working for the council in the ditch digging department. He was a likeable man and got on with all he met.
At the age of 40 he met a very young woman and they spent the next 45 years together. They had 7 children and got on well. Life wasn't easy with floods and fire but they stood strong through the trials and joys of life.
Foxton on the West Coast of the North Island. Its a place you drive through on the way to somewhere else. I enjoyed finding out more about this small NZ town and I would like to stop next time we are up that way and have a look around and maybe go to the Cemetery to say hi to Daniel.
July 19, 2014
This book brought New Zealand history alive for me .Thank you Vicky for taking the time to write the book and make it available to read through Goodreads.
It has been written in an interesting manner with the present day character recording the history of their earliest NZ ancestor , as well as aspects of the present family. I felt it worked well and records an excellent history of the family.
I particularly liked the inclusion of significant NZ milestones such as the Maori Wars the volcanic eruption and women winning the right to vote.
I have friends and family wanting to read this book now.
It has been written in an interesting manner with the present day character recording the history of their earliest NZ ancestor , as well as aspects of the present family. I felt it worked well and records an excellent history of the family.
I particularly liked the inclusion of significant NZ milestones such as the Maori Wars the volcanic eruption and women winning the right to vote.
I have friends and family wanting to read this book now.
July 20, 2015
I was privileged to receive this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you so much for the opportunity.
It has been a real eye opener to me in New Zealand history, particularly in relation to the Maori wars, which the average NZer knows so little. In that regard it shocked me to learn of the unjust brutality against the Maori.
Daniel's story is reflective of a lot of men (and women) who immigrated to NZ at that time. NZ was young and still finding itself as a nation and this story very much reflects that.
It has been a real eye opener to me in New Zealand history, particularly in relation to the Maori wars, which the average NZer knows so little. In that regard it shocked me to learn of the unjust brutality against the Maori.
Daniel's story is reflective of a lot of men (and women) who immigrated to NZ at that time. NZ was young and still finding itself as a nation and this story very much reflects that.
May 25, 2014
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway, and couldn't wait to read it.
I loved the story, the characters and the way it was written. This book is a 4 3/4 stars, so rounded up to 5.
This book is also, a book of social comment on the period in which these people lived - with votes for women, the first world war and the harshness of live in rural New Zealand.
A BIG thank you to the author, for offering this book and allowing us to read this family story.
I loved the story, the characters and the way it was written. This book is a 4 3/4 stars, so rounded up to 5.
This book is also, a book of social comment on the period in which these people lived - with votes for women, the first world war and the harshness of live in rural New Zealand.
A BIG thank you to the author, for offering this book and allowing us to read this family story.
May 23, 2014
What a fascinating read. The author depicts NZ history in a very accurate but also intriguing way; leaving you wanting to read more and understand more of our countries history, our ancestors an dhow they lived
Add a bit of romance, friction and adventure and you have a brilliantly balanced historical novel.
Daniel is a great read for both men and women alike
Add a bit of romance, friction and adventure and you have a brilliantly balanced historical novel.
Daniel is a great read for both men and women alike
June 9, 2014
Great read, Very interesting to read about the pioneer days in NZ
January 11, 2016
It was a very interesting historical book
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews