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The Fever Tree
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 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 small pox 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 - when we need it the most - fear can blind us to a truth.
433 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
269 people are currently reading
7602 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer McVeigh
3 books281 followersI graduated from Oxford University in 2002, and went on to work in film and publishing before leaving my day job to do an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. The Fever Tree was a Richard & Judy Bookclub Pick. My second novel, Leopard at the Door, will be published by Penguin in 2017. I live in London with my husband and our three young children.
Praise for The Fever Tree
“There is nothing more exciting than a new writer with a genuine voice. I loved it.” - Julian Fellowes, Creator of Downton Abbey
“A gripping story, vividly written. I found myself thinking of its scenes long after I had turned the last page.” Kim Edwards, bestselling author of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter
“A beautifully written novel of great feeling – I loved it.” - Rachel Hore, bestselling author of A Place of Secrets
“A compelling read with a Gone with the Wind feel to it. I was hooked.” - Katharine McMahon, bestselling author of The Alchemist’s Daughter
“A magical, bewitching tale of loss, betrayal and love.” - Vogue
Praise for The Fever Tree
“There is nothing more exciting than a new writer with a genuine voice. I loved it.” - Julian Fellowes, Creator of Downton Abbey
“A gripping story, vividly written. I found myself thinking of its scenes long after I had turned the last page.” Kim Edwards, bestselling author of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter
“A beautifully written novel of great feeling – I loved it.” - Rachel Hore, bestselling author of A Place of Secrets
“A compelling read with a Gone with the Wind feel to it. I was hooked.” - Katharine McMahon, bestselling author of The Alchemist’s Daughter
“A magical, bewitching tale of loss, betrayal and love.” - Vogue
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,019 reviews
September 10, 2016
1.5 1880's South Africa provides an intriguing historical background. This would make a lovely costume drama, provided an actress could bring forth any admirable qualities in the heroine. I've rooted for flawed characters, or at least been curious about them, but Frances is impossible. She is self-absorbed, misreads every situation, puts no effort into improving/adapting to her surroundings, makes increasingly dumb decisions, and is otherwise dull & one-dimensional.
May 10, 2015
FROM THE BLURB
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.
"In London she was caged by society. In South Africa, she is dangerously free."
MY COMMENTS
This is by far one of the most intriguing, evocative, and thrilling historical fictional tales I have ever read about the British colonial past in South Africa. Admittedly, I have not read many British novels on the subject, but instead read hordes of non-fictional historical accounts of the era. Like all historical fiction, this novel explores the less-familiar parts of history and brings it to life in a gripping, honest and dignified way.
When I started out the novel, I became apprehensive. It promised to be a sleazy historical romance disguised as historical fiction, and I was slowly becoming livid with myself for not checking up properly on the book. I mean, with a to-read-list the size of Mount Olympus and most of it not even listed on GR, how much time was I willing to spend on something I would not enjoy ?!
With this mindset in place, my first mental notes on the book began with the question: So what if this London girl’s money talked and hers just said goodbye, after her wealthy father’s death? He was bankrupt. She was useless, spoiled, entitled, unprepared for life on her own, with a disjointed affinity for wealth and prestige being the most important part of any life in England. A ‘monstrosity’, she was. Just like her father’s roses.
Then she boarded a ship, sailing for South Africa, with a marriage proposal in hand from a man she despised. On board she has the hots for a promising tycoon in the making, she can smell the money on him from a continent away and life promises her nirvana if she can only get him into her bed. She does irresponsible things to attract his attention, just like a real predictable romance in which the heroine is her helpless gorgeous self with beauty to compensate for the lack of brains. These actions would have all romance-groupies rile in excitement and annoy the living daylights out of serious readers.
It was at this point that I totally lost it with the book, as well as myself. How could I have missed the signs? I just lost a few valuable hours of my life. Isn’t it true that the predictable ending would follow a few amorous, salacious, adventures and a few rolling waves over the ship to make it more interesting?
No.
1880. In the vast, arid Karoo region of South Africa, a Fever Tree was planted. It was totally out of place.
Greed, small pox and scandal walked hand in hand with the footnotes in history. And this is where this story turned on me and had me losing many hours of sleep finishing the book and then rate it five stars.
An African saga, equal to “Gone with the Wind”?
Goodness YES! YES! YES!
Another “Out of Africa”?
Mmmm....perhaps. Equal in ambiance, but much more outstanding in truth and integrity.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for historical fictionadas!
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.
"In London she was caged by society. In South Africa, she is dangerously free."
MY COMMENTS
This is by far one of the most intriguing, evocative, and thrilling historical fictional tales I have ever read about the British colonial past in South Africa. Admittedly, I have not read many British novels on the subject, but instead read hordes of non-fictional historical accounts of the era. Like all historical fiction, this novel explores the less-familiar parts of history and brings it to life in a gripping, honest and dignified way.
When I started out the novel, I became apprehensive. It promised to be a sleazy historical romance disguised as historical fiction, and I was slowly becoming livid with myself for not checking up properly on the book. I mean, with a to-read-list the size of Mount Olympus and most of it not even listed on GR, how much time was I willing to spend on something I would not enjoy ?!
With this mindset in place, my first mental notes on the book began with the question: So what if this London girl’s money talked and hers just said goodbye, after her wealthy father’s death? He was bankrupt. She was useless, spoiled, entitled, unprepared for life on her own, with a disjointed affinity for wealth and prestige being the most important part of any life in England. A ‘monstrosity’, she was. Just like her father’s roses.
”They grew in a controlled environment, protected, mollycoddled, grafted onto the stronger roots of other plants so they could survive; deviations from their true form in nature. They might be highly decorative, you said, bred for dazzling colors, but essentially they were monstrosities.”So what if she could paint, play piano and embroider? Why would it not safe her from her narcissism and entitlement? Neither did her beauty safe her. No marriage proposals were stacking themselves up in her drawing room. Family did not want to be associated, or accept responsibility, for her. She had all the reasons in the world to feel abandoned and blame her father for her calamity.
Then she boarded a ship, sailing for South Africa, with a marriage proposal in hand from a man she despised. On board she has the hots for a promising tycoon in the making, she can smell the money on him from a continent away and life promises her nirvana if she can only get him into her bed. She does irresponsible things to attract his attention, just like a real predictable romance in which the heroine is her helpless gorgeous self with beauty to compensate for the lack of brains. These actions would have all romance-groupies rile in excitement and annoy the living daylights out of serious readers.
It was at this point that I totally lost it with the book, as well as myself. How could I have missed the signs? I just lost a few valuable hours of my life. Isn’t it true that the predictable ending would follow a few amorous, salacious, adventures and a few rolling waves over the ship to make it more interesting?
No.
1880. In the vast, arid Karoo region of South Africa, a Fever Tree was planted. It was totally out of place.
"The tall stump of a quiver tree, black against the fading light, stood alone on the veldt as if it were the cloaked outline of a figure watching the house. In a drought they self-amputated, Edwin had told her, constricting their branches until they became so dry they dropped off. Then they drew water down into the depths of their trunk and waited for the rains."Francis Irvine had a few lessons lying in wait for her upon her arrival in Cape Town. She was an intelligent girl, but did not realize that the world was a lot more complicated than she ever thought. She would learn that nobody else but herself is responsible for her own happiness. Only she could make those choices.
Greed, small pox and scandal walked hand in hand with the footnotes in history. And this is where this story turned on me and had me losing many hours of sleep finishing the book and then rate it five stars.
Francis: ”What merit do I have outside in the real world where people live and die? Where there is disease and corruption? What purpose do I have? You offered me a world of truth. Can you blame me if I shrank from it? I had no familiarity with the truth. It terrified me. I thought it would destroy everything that I was.”It would take a devastating drought, a scandalous overture of cruelty and human failures in the diamond mines of Kimberley, to bring her to the crossroad in her life, where she will be forced to take the road less traveled and survive it all. Somewhere along that chosen road, a salubrious rain will change everything for the Fever Tree.
An African saga, equal to “Gone with the Wind”?
Goodness YES! YES! YES!
Another “Out of Africa”?
Mmmm....perhaps. Equal in ambiance, but much more outstanding in truth and integrity.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for historical fictionadas!
May 14, 2013
It's basically The Painted Veil, except Africa instead of China, small pox instead of cholera. And you get a little taste of the evil ways of the British Empire. It kept me reading until 2am two nights in a row, the writing was strong, the characters shifty--I just love when I don't know whom to trust, because that feeling just rings so wonderfully true to life. Not perfect, but fun historical fiction....
March 30, 2012
Lights! Camera! Action!
I read a book, but it felt like a film. An epic that should really be seen on a big, big screen.
The opening scenes are set in England in the later years of Queen Victoria’s reign. Frances had been a cherished only daughter but her father’s sudden death has left her destitute. And now she is faced with a stark choice; she could become a virtual servant in her aunts household, or she could accept a proposal from a man she doesn’t love.
Frances chooses marriage.
The next scenes are set on board ship, as Frances travels to join her future husband in South Africa. She forms friendships other young women, travelling for very different reason, and she forms a passionate relationship with a man. He is charming, attractive, and terribly immoral.
And so we come to the scenes in South Africa.
Frances had expected to live in the city, to live a comfortable life and to enjoy a certain status as the wife of a doctor. But her husband has been posted to a remote outpost where he must try to keep the smallpox epidemic away from the diamond mines.
Frances struggle to cope with a life she had not expected, and she finds herself torn between two men, between her head and her heart.
She makes some terrible decisions, does some terrible things, quite oblivious to the consequences of her actions …
I wanted to shake her: she had such a wonderful spirit, but she was so, so unthinking. She needed to grow up. And maybe she would …
Her story was rather predictable, but it had so many wonderful details, so many twists and turns, that it really didn’t matter.
Times and places were brought to life quite wonderfully.
I learned much that I didn’t know. About the Victorian charity that sent young women to the colonies to do good and worthwhile works. About the harsh conditions on the diamond fields, and the appalling ways in which native workers were abused and exploited. About the struggles of doctors and nurses to stop the spread of terrible diseases …
I saw the darkness and the beauty of South Africa.
And I read a story that said so much about human relationships, about Victorian society, and about the history of a country. All held together with fine storytelling, elegant prose, and wonderful clearsightedness.
There were a few wrong notes, a few interesting angles under-explored, a few characters under-developed. The story still worked though.
The ending was dramatic – melodramatic even – but it was right.
And it would work beautifully on screen. I can see that closing montage in my head …
I read a book, but it felt like a film. An epic that should really be seen on a big, big screen.
The opening scenes are set in England in the later years of Queen Victoria’s reign. Frances had been a cherished only daughter but her father’s sudden death has left her destitute. And now she is faced with a stark choice; she could become a virtual servant in her aunts household, or she could accept a proposal from a man she doesn’t love.
Frances chooses marriage.
The next scenes are set on board ship, as Frances travels to join her future husband in South Africa. She forms friendships other young women, travelling for very different reason, and she forms a passionate relationship with a man. He is charming, attractive, and terribly immoral.
And so we come to the scenes in South Africa.
Frances had expected to live in the city, to live a comfortable life and to enjoy a certain status as the wife of a doctor. But her husband has been posted to a remote outpost where he must try to keep the smallpox epidemic away from the diamond mines.
Frances struggle to cope with a life she had not expected, and she finds herself torn between two men, between her head and her heart.
She makes some terrible decisions, does some terrible things, quite oblivious to the consequences of her actions …
I wanted to shake her: she had such a wonderful spirit, but she was so, so unthinking. She needed to grow up. And maybe she would …
Her story was rather predictable, but it had so many wonderful details, so many twists and turns, that it really didn’t matter.
Times and places were brought to life quite wonderfully.
I learned much that I didn’t know. About the Victorian charity that sent young women to the colonies to do good and worthwhile works. About the harsh conditions on the diamond fields, and the appalling ways in which native workers were abused and exploited. About the struggles of doctors and nurses to stop the spread of terrible diseases …
I saw the darkness and the beauty of South Africa.
And I read a story that said so much about human relationships, about Victorian society, and about the history of a country. All held together with fine storytelling, elegant prose, and wonderful clearsightedness.
There were a few wrong notes, a few interesting angles under-explored, a few characters under-developed. The story still worked though.
The ending was dramatic – melodramatic even – but it was right.
And it would work beautifully on screen. I can see that closing montage in my head …
October 27, 2018
The inspiration for "The Fever Tree", set in colonial South Africa in the 1880s, was a medical scandal involving an actual outbreak of smallpox in the diamond mines. For corrupt economic reasons, the news of the epidemic was hushed up and thousands died.
The story begins in England as Frances Irvine's father is dying, leaving a mountain of debts. Frances, raised in a wealthy family, could play the piano and paint, but did not have any income-generating skills. She had two choices--become a nurse for her unpleasant aunt's children, or marry a distant cousin who she disliked. She chose marriage, and traveled by boat to South Africa to join her doctor husband who was inoculating people against smallpox at a remote clinic. During her voyage she met a seductive, ambitious diamond trader. Frances is young and inexperienced, unable to clearly see the good and bad qualities in each man.
The descriptions of the South African landscape and weather were wonderful. The people lived close to the earth where drought or illness had devastating consequences. The conditions in the diamond mines were heartbreaking where there was no regard for the safety of the native laborers.
We see the prejudice against the Irish and the Jews, the plight of Victorian women, and the exploitation of the miners through Frances' eyes. She is a spoiled, self-centered young woman who matures through her experiences. Danger and misunderstandings also drive the plot. Frances' predicaments and her husband's quest for human rights provided a good vehicle to highlight the tragedy of the smallpox epidemic. It could have been prevented by prompt vaccination and quarantine.
The story begins in England as Frances Irvine's father is dying, leaving a mountain of debts. Frances, raised in a wealthy family, could play the piano and paint, but did not have any income-generating skills. She had two choices--become a nurse for her unpleasant aunt's children, or marry a distant cousin who she disliked. She chose marriage, and traveled by boat to South Africa to join her doctor husband who was inoculating people against smallpox at a remote clinic. During her voyage she met a seductive, ambitious diamond trader. Frances is young and inexperienced, unable to clearly see the good and bad qualities in each man.
The descriptions of the South African landscape and weather were wonderful. The people lived close to the earth where drought or illness had devastating consequences. The conditions in the diamond mines were heartbreaking where there was no regard for the safety of the native laborers.
We see the prejudice against the Irish and the Jews, the plight of Victorian women, and the exploitation of the miners through Frances' eyes. She is a spoiled, self-centered young woman who matures through her experiences. Danger and misunderstandings also drive the plot. Frances' predicaments and her husband's quest for human rights provided a good vehicle to highlight the tragedy of the smallpox epidemic. It could have been prevented by prompt vaccination and quarantine.
June 25, 2013
Rating Clarification: 1.5 Stars
Would have been an epic, awesome read in the hands of another author (M.M. Kaye comes immediately to mind). As it is, McVeigh managed to make what could have been a great story trite, with one-dimensional characters, a lackluster romance and an ending that the highly unlikable heroine didn't deserve.
Don't been swayed by comparisions to Gone with the Wind, The Painted Veil or Out of Africa. This isn't in the same league. Set your sights lower (and stick to a library copy), and you might enjoy this.
Or not.
Would have been an epic, awesome read in the hands of another author (M.M. Kaye comes immediately to mind). As it is, McVeigh managed to make what could have been a great story trite, with one-dimensional characters, a lackluster romance and an ending that the highly unlikable heroine didn't deserve.
Don't been swayed by comparisions to Gone with the Wind, The Painted Veil or Out of Africa. This isn't in the same league. Set your sights lower (and stick to a library copy), and you might enjoy this.
Or not.
March 20, 2012
After her formerly-wealthy father dies penniless, Frances Irvine must travel from England to South Africa to marry a man she doesn't love. Adapting to life in a strange new country is demanding, particularly as her doctor husband is often absent due to his fight against a potential smallpox epidemic. Brought up in luxury, Frances must resign herself to life with little money and lots of hard work.
I'm a sucker for anything set in the Victorian period with a woman as the main protagonist, so was pleased to receive a proof copy of this book to review from Waterstones. And I was really looking forward to reading it too, but now that I'm finished I feel quite disappointed.
I almost felt I'd read it before, as the plot, the characters and their actions were so similar to other novels I've read. The only really new aspect of this book for me was the setting in the African diamond mines, and while that was interesting and unusual, I didn't feel it was enough to sustain my interest.
I was reminded to an extent of Somerset Maugham's "The Painted Veil", but also found similarities with many other books set in the Victorian period with many of the events being all-too-predictable. I didn't really warm to Frances as a heroine as she seems to lack self-awareness, but only long enough to make the plot work. I could (and did) predict the ups and downs of her romantic relationshps before they happened.
This would be a good book for anyone who hasn't read much of this kind of thing before, as there would be enough to get swept up in. However, for those (like me) who have drunk from this well before, there isn't enough there to make it an enjoyable read.
I'm a sucker for anything set in the Victorian period with a woman as the main protagonist, so was pleased to receive a proof copy of this book to review from Waterstones. And I was really looking forward to reading it too, but now that I'm finished I feel quite disappointed.
I almost felt I'd read it before, as the plot, the characters and their actions were so similar to other novels I've read. The only really new aspect of this book for me was the setting in the African diamond mines, and while that was interesting and unusual, I didn't feel it was enough to sustain my interest.
I was reminded to an extent of Somerset Maugham's "The Painted Veil", but also found similarities with many other books set in the Victorian period with many of the events being all-too-predictable. I didn't really warm to Frances as a heroine as she seems to lack self-awareness, but only long enough to make the plot work. I could (and did) predict the ups and downs of her romantic relationshps before they happened.
This would be a good book for anyone who hasn't read much of this kind of thing before, as there would be enough to get swept up in. However, for those (like me) who have drunk from this well before, there isn't enough there to make it an enjoyable read.
January 18, 2016
Won via Goodreads First Reads.
I wasn't sure what to think when I first started this book.
Frances did not appeal to me at all and she is the main character.
A couple chapters in I was frustrated by her - she opted for paints and an easel over essentials she was told she'd need for her new life. She couldn't understand Edwin's frustration at her when she arrived with no material, no sewing machine.
The whole ship journey got to me too - because this is where we meet William. William is a foul character and I know Frances lived a sheltered and naive life but really? Did she really think he was god's gift to man? So his actions on the Cape finally jolted her a little, but she still longed for him even though on the ship... Well, you should read it, it may be a spoiler if I say.
I liked the conservation messages subtly strewn throughout the text - they highlight the dangers that Africa still faces today in terms of everything being wiped out.
"Were there ever lions here?"
"Reitz's father shot the last one thirty years ago..."
I loved the imagery. I could feel my skin drying, blistering, burning. And the descriptions of small pox were quite horrific. I could taste the fetid water, smell the spilled blood, feel the dust coating everything.
I received a copy of this for free via Goodreads First Reads.
I wasn't sure what to think when I first started this book.
Frances did not appeal to me at all and she is the main character.
A couple chapters in I was frustrated by her - she opted for paints and an easel over essentials she was told she'd need for her new life. She couldn't understand Edwin's frustration at her when she arrived with no material, no sewing machine.
The whole ship journey got to me too - because this is where we meet William. William is a foul character and I know Frances lived a sheltered and naive life but really? Did she really think he was god's gift to man? So his actions on the Cape finally jolted her a little, but she still longed for him even though on the ship... Well, you should read it, it may be a spoiler if I say.
I liked the conservation messages subtly strewn throughout the text - they highlight the dangers that Africa still faces today in terms of everything being wiped out.
"Were there ever lions here?"
"Reitz's father shot the last one thirty years ago..."
I loved the imagery. I could feel my skin drying, blistering, burning. And the descriptions of small pox were quite horrific. I could taste the fetid water, smell the spilled blood, feel the dust coating everything.
I received a copy of this for free via Goodreads First Reads.
June 8, 2013
Frances is difficult to like. Her character is flawed (which is great) but also flat, which makes the flaws hard to forgive and/or understand.
The story reminds me very much of The Painted Veil (the movie version) but, sadly, not as good. The writing tries too hard to be deep and evocative when, instead, it just feels forced.
The story reminds me very much of The Painted Veil (the movie version) but, sadly, not as good. The writing tries too hard to be deep and evocative when, instead, it just feels forced.
September 30, 2016
26 SEP 2016 - Wish me luck. This book has been described as a combination of Out of Africa (Yes!) mixed with Gone With The Wind (No!). I detest Gone With The Wind. So, I am hoping for a lot of Out of Africa and absolutely no Gone With The Wind.
30 SEP 2016 - Dear Frances, Please put on your big-girl panties and deal with the cards life has dealt you. A not-for-me book.
30 SEP 2016 - Dear Frances, Please put on your big-girl panties and deal with the cards life has dealt you. A not-for-me book.
September 17, 2016
Ok, so this is just going to be more of a thought dump, filled with spoilers so readers beware.
This book kept being compared to The Painted Veil, which I loved so I was really excited. And for a long time I was convinced it was almost exactly like The Painted Veil (maybe even too much?) Frances is forced to marry a doctor (Edwin) who works in a exotic, unknown location where there is an epidemic he is working to eradicate. In this case it was South Africa. Meanwhile Frances is in love with another charismatic, charming man (William) who she develops a relationship with. Now I was convinced that William was supposed to be the "other" guy and he was really a scoundrel that would seduce Frances and then leave her. I never trust a charming man. And when they get to South Africa and William tells her he can't marry her because his uncle won't let, him, I was further convinced I was right. I thought she would go marry Edwin and the spoiled, idle English girl would learn how to live in this harsh, unknown land, grow as a person and learn to love Edwin.
But they spent months together and Edwin wasn't becoming more likable and Frances continued to love William. Then they moved to Kimberley and this is where things turned on its head for me.
William came back into the picture and rather than spurning her he actually seemed to care about what happened to her. Maybe he wasn't the scoundrel I thought?
And Edwin revealed that Frances' father and uncle had asked him to marry her. Had he never loved her from the beginning? Because nothing she had done since they married would make a person want to fall in love with her. She was becoming insufferable in her idleness.
And was Edwin the good guy I had thought he would be revealed to be? Was he risking the livelihood of an entire country by trying to convince everyone there was smallpox when everyone else said there wasn't?
Who was I supposed to believe??? Did the author mean to confuse the reader, like Frances was confused? If so, brava, well done.
I won't give any more away except for saying and mostly pleased with the way things played out. I could have wished for a little more developed ending, but whatever, it was still good. Frances really had to hit rock bottom in order to learn to change and she wasn't a particularly likable character a lot of the time, but I appreciated McVeigh's depiction of how hard it is to change as a person.
Other than all of that, McVeigh is an incredible writer. She paints a vivid picture of every setting with incredible detail. I was very impressed.
This book kept being compared to The Painted Veil, which I loved so I was really excited. And for a long time I was convinced it was almost exactly like The Painted Veil (maybe even too much?) Frances is forced to marry a doctor (Edwin) who works in a exotic, unknown location where there is an epidemic he is working to eradicate. In this case it was South Africa. Meanwhile Frances is in love with another charismatic, charming man (William) who she develops a relationship with. Now I was convinced that William was supposed to be the "other" guy and he was really a scoundrel that would seduce Frances and then leave her. I never trust a charming man. And when they get to South Africa and William tells her he can't marry her because his uncle won't let, him, I was further convinced I was right. I thought she would go marry Edwin and the spoiled, idle English girl would learn how to live in this harsh, unknown land, grow as a person and learn to love Edwin.
But they spent months together and Edwin wasn't becoming more likable and Frances continued to love William. Then they moved to Kimberley and this is where things turned on its head for me.
William came back into the picture and rather than spurning her he actually seemed to care about what happened to her. Maybe he wasn't the scoundrel I thought?
And Edwin revealed that Frances' father and uncle had asked him to marry her. Had he never loved her from the beginning? Because nothing she had done since they married would make a person want to fall in love with her. She was becoming insufferable in her idleness.
And was Edwin the good guy I had thought he would be revealed to be? Was he risking the livelihood of an entire country by trying to convince everyone there was smallpox when everyone else said there wasn't?
Who was I supposed to believe??? Did the author mean to confuse the reader, like Frances was confused? If so, brava, well done.
I won't give any more away except for saying and mostly pleased with the way things played out. I could have wished for a little more developed ending, but whatever, it was still good. Frances really had to hit rock bottom in order to learn to change and she wasn't a particularly likable character a lot of the time, but I appreciated McVeigh's depiction of how hard it is to change as a person.
Other than all of that, McVeigh is an incredible writer. She paints a vivid picture of every setting with incredible detail. I was very impressed.
April 16, 2013
The setting of The Fever Tree is intriguing—South Africa during the late eighteenth century diamond mining bonanza. Jennifer McVeigh has done a splendid job of recreating this period, and is at her best in describing the landscape and wildlife of this rugged country, the sub-human conditions of mining and difficulty of farming in the period and medical details related to this eradication of smallpox. The book is worth reading for these elements, and the plot concludes with a tidy yet tear-producing finale.
Nonetheless, the novel is marred in numerous respects. Anachronistic language—the adjective “creepy” as well as contemporary expressions such as “And your point is?” and “I don’t do disapproval”—make a reader stop short, as does the cluelessness of Frances Irvine, the lead character, who displays an unseemly amount of poor judgment. The story also borrows heavily from Gone with the Wind, with a sexy scoundrel of a leading man, William Westbrook, who could be Rhett Butler’s younger brother. There is even a scene where Frances stalks William in a house of ill repute. (Hello, Belle Whatling.)
Most disturbing, however, is the gratuitious casting of William and his vile mining-magnate cousin as Jewish, which made me extremely uncomfortable. I wish I could ask the author, “and your point is?”
Nonetheless, the novel is marred in numerous respects. Anachronistic language—the adjective “creepy” as well as contemporary expressions such as “And your point is?” and “I don’t do disapproval”—make a reader stop short, as does the cluelessness of Frances Irvine, the lead character, who displays an unseemly amount of poor judgment. The story also borrows heavily from Gone with the Wind, with a sexy scoundrel of a leading man, William Westbrook, who could be Rhett Butler’s younger brother. There is even a scene where Frances stalks William in a house of ill repute. (Hello, Belle Whatling.)
Most disturbing, however, is the gratuitious casting of William and his vile mining-magnate cousin as Jewish, which made me extremely uncomfortable. I wish I could ask the author, “and your point is?”
May 18, 2013
When I first saw the cover of The Fever Tree I was blown away and I have to say that each of the different are equally as stunning as this one which is the edition that I read. So I was so excited when this was selected for my book club's book of the month.
I love reading about South Africa so as soon as I saw this one I knew I had to read it. It isn't very common to find a lot of historical fiction set in South Africa so this one was a rare treat and shows that there are more and more authors adopting the theme of historical fiction set there as well as other places in Africa which is a nice change. I think Africa as a whole is a great place to write about and offers that sense of adventure many readers are looking for as well as reading about somewhere new and different.
Beginning in England in the 1880's we're introduced to our main character Frances and her soon to be husband Edwin and follow the circumstances that lead to these two distant cousins to marry, immigrate to South Africa and begin their lives together in a tumultuous time in the country's history.
I thought that the plot was very good. I loved the various settings in the novel. From Frances's childhood home in England to the month long boat trip to Capetown and finally living in South Africa I was completely enthralled with the story. I loved how realistic the places were, the plot, and the characters all turned out to be and I loved how the author aptly captured the time period and the ruggedness of the country.
I loved how this was not only a journey spanning continents but a personal journey for Frances as she comes to terms with her fathers death, being offloaded into a one sided marriage, being forced to move to a new country, falling in love with a man who wasn't her husband, betrayal and forgiveness. Frances definitely wasn't the easiest character to love. She's deeply flawed and self centered and definitely not prepared for living off the land in South Africa and having to learn to do the things she once had servants back in England for. However despite her selfishness towards her husband and others I felt for her. She truly was a victim of circumstances beyond her control in a lot of ways but I for one didn't agree with her affair before marrying Edwin.
Edwin was a great character but I wish we knew more about him. I wish the author would write a second book but this time telling the story from his point of view. He was a hard worker and a political man but he loved the people regardless of colour his duties as a doctor made him see everyone as equals. I loved how strong he was and he did have to put up with a lot but he made his own mistakes as well. The fact that the characters were battling their own demons made them very lifelike and that what really got to me.
The depictions of how hard life was for everyone during this time in the country's history was amazingly vivid and I felt as if I were watching the tale unfold on the big screen. There was a lot of corruption, greed and betrayal happening not just with the main characters but with the powers that be in the country overall. I really enjoyed this glimpse into the past and am so glad that the author wrote such a wonderful piece of historical fiction.
Ultimately The Fever Tree was a story of love, loss and forgiveness and showed both characters coming into their own and learning to put differences aside and truly grow as individuals and as a couple even if fate hadn't dealt them the best hand.
Overall, I absolutely loved The Fever Tree and it's now one of my favourite books not only of 2013 but of all time. For me The Fever Tree was the whole package with great realistic characters, vivid descriptions and a unique back drop that is not often found in this genre. The writing swept me off my feet and the author's writing was fresh and new. I have to say that for this being the author's debut novel I am totally blown away and I can only hope and cross my fingers that the author continues to write historical fiction set in Africa because she has a real gift for it and you can tell there was a lot of research that had gone on in the writing process and it really paid off and I can see myself re-reading this time and time again in the future. It's just one of those stories that really resonated with me.
I would highly recommend this novel to all fans of historical fiction who are looking to read about a time and place that is under-represented in the genre and looking for something new and the author is definitely a fresh new voice in the genre.
I love reading about South Africa so as soon as I saw this one I knew I had to read it. It isn't very common to find a lot of historical fiction set in South Africa so this one was a rare treat and shows that there are more and more authors adopting the theme of historical fiction set there as well as other places in Africa which is a nice change. I think Africa as a whole is a great place to write about and offers that sense of adventure many readers are looking for as well as reading about somewhere new and different.
Beginning in England in the 1880's we're introduced to our main character Frances and her soon to be husband Edwin and follow the circumstances that lead to these two distant cousins to marry, immigrate to South Africa and begin their lives together in a tumultuous time in the country's history.
I thought that the plot was very good. I loved the various settings in the novel. From Frances's childhood home in England to the month long boat trip to Capetown and finally living in South Africa I was completely enthralled with the story. I loved how realistic the places were, the plot, and the characters all turned out to be and I loved how the author aptly captured the time period and the ruggedness of the country.
I loved how this was not only a journey spanning continents but a personal journey for Frances as she comes to terms with her fathers death, being offloaded into a one sided marriage, being forced to move to a new country, falling in love with a man who wasn't her husband, betrayal and forgiveness. Frances definitely wasn't the easiest character to love. She's deeply flawed and self centered and definitely not prepared for living off the land in South Africa and having to learn to do the things she once had servants back in England for. However despite her selfishness towards her husband and others I felt for her. She truly was a victim of circumstances beyond her control in a lot of ways but I for one didn't agree with her affair before marrying Edwin.
Edwin was a great character but I wish we knew more about him. I wish the author would write a second book but this time telling the story from his point of view. He was a hard worker and a political man but he loved the people regardless of colour his duties as a doctor made him see everyone as equals. I loved how strong he was and he did have to put up with a lot but he made his own mistakes as well. The fact that the characters were battling their own demons made them very lifelike and that what really got to me.
The depictions of how hard life was for everyone during this time in the country's history was amazingly vivid and I felt as if I were watching the tale unfold on the big screen. There was a lot of corruption, greed and betrayal happening not just with the main characters but with the powers that be in the country overall. I really enjoyed this glimpse into the past and am so glad that the author wrote such a wonderful piece of historical fiction.
Ultimately The Fever Tree was a story of love, loss and forgiveness and showed both characters coming into their own and learning to put differences aside and truly grow as individuals and as a couple even if fate hadn't dealt them the best hand.
Overall, I absolutely loved The Fever Tree and it's now one of my favourite books not only of 2013 but of all time. For me The Fever Tree was the whole package with great realistic characters, vivid descriptions and a unique back drop that is not often found in this genre. The writing swept me off my feet and the author's writing was fresh and new. I have to say that for this being the author's debut novel I am totally blown away and I can only hope and cross my fingers that the author continues to write historical fiction set in Africa because she has a real gift for it and you can tell there was a lot of research that had gone on in the writing process and it really paid off and I can see myself re-reading this time and time again in the future. It's just one of those stories that really resonated with me.
I would highly recommend this novel to all fans of historical fiction who are looking to read about a time and place that is under-represented in the genre and looking for something new and the author is definitely a fresh new voice in the genre.
May 29, 2013
Frances Irvine's father has passed away leaving her with many debts and little else, forced to choose between a life of certain unhappiness as a nurse to her aunt's five children or marriage to a man she dislikes, she chooses marriage and travels to South Africa where her fiancé, Dr. Edwin Matthews, is inoculating diamond mine workers against smallpox. Faced with a grim future in a loveless marriage in a brutal and foreign place, Frances struggles to adjust to her new life.
Frances's situation is compelling, few options besides nurse-maid, governess and wife were available to women during the 1800s. While she's not the most sympathetic protagonist, it's hard not to feel badly for her, especially given the way she was raised. She has no practical skills beyond playing the piano and speaking French, what could she do well besides look pretty, she can barely think for herself. Frances was lost once she left London and society.
I can see why readers have drawn a parallel to Gone With the Wind. Frances reminded me of Scarlett, both needing someone to shake a little sense into them. I enjoyed this story and loved the brutal landscape and harsh reality of life in South Africa. I liked the way the author threaded the politics and Imperialism of the period into the story. I would have liked to see a little more character development in some of the supporting characters. There were a few little details that had me questioning how accurately the portrayal of the period was going to be but they turned out to be somewhat unimportant.
I liked the conflicts McVeigh highlighted in this novel, the rich and powerful diamond mine owners versus the less fortunate miners and diggers, man versus nature, the rational versus the passionate. There was a thread of deception and misperception and the sometimes harsh consequences of both errors in thinking. I enjoyed this novel, the pacing was good, the conflicts were interesting and the conclusion was satisfying. I have to say it was a bit more romantic that I usually like but the romance was reflected in the rest of the story and tied it all together well. I think fans of historical romance will be happy to read this, fans of historical fiction will find a lot to like as well.
(I received an Advanced Reader Copy free through the Amazon Vine program. Thank you, Amazon Vine.)
Frances's situation is compelling, few options besides nurse-maid, governess and wife were available to women during the 1800s. While she's not the most sympathetic protagonist, it's hard not to feel badly for her, especially given the way she was raised. She has no practical skills beyond playing the piano and speaking French, what could she do well besides look pretty, she can barely think for herself. Frances was lost once she left London and society.
I can see why readers have drawn a parallel to Gone With the Wind. Frances reminded me of Scarlett, both needing someone to shake a little sense into them. I enjoyed this story and loved the brutal landscape and harsh reality of life in South Africa. I liked the way the author threaded the politics and Imperialism of the period into the story. I would have liked to see a little more character development in some of the supporting characters. There were a few little details that had me questioning how accurately the portrayal of the period was going to be but they turned out to be somewhat unimportant.
I liked the conflicts McVeigh highlighted in this novel, the rich and powerful diamond mine owners versus the less fortunate miners and diggers, man versus nature, the rational versus the passionate. There was a thread of deception and misperception and the sometimes harsh consequences of both errors in thinking. I enjoyed this novel, the pacing was good, the conflicts were interesting and the conclusion was satisfying. I have to say it was a bit more romantic that I usually like but the romance was reflected in the rest of the story and tied it all together well. I think fans of historical romance will be happy to read this, fans of historical fiction will find a lot to like as well.
(I received an Advanced Reader Copy free through the Amazon Vine program. Thank you, Amazon Vine.)
April 16, 2013
When a book advertises itself as the next "Gone With The Wind" or "Out of Africa", it's usually because it's very derivative. That is the case with this book. You're not going to get anything new from this novel. It begins by following the well trod path of the gently reared Victorian girl left penniless by the deaths of her hitherto wealthy father. Sound familiar yet? Hang on. On a voyage to a forced marriage in South Africa, the obligtory charming seducer puts in his appearance. This, of course, leads to the heroine's fall. Ho Hum.
The interest in this book lies not with the well known trip down the path to scandal and ruin but with an insight into the ruthless beginnings of the Kimberly diamond industry. A scandalous cover-up attempt of an outbreak of smallpox in the diamond fields is based on fact and known as "one of the greatest scandals in British medicine."
The descriptions of the dusty, dry African interior are evocative and far more interesting than the romantic betrayals suffered by the heroine. In the end, all is resolved as expected.
The interest in this book lies not with the well known trip down the path to scandal and ruin but with an insight into the ruthless beginnings of the Kimberly diamond industry. A scandalous cover-up attempt of an outbreak of smallpox in the diamond fields is based on fact and known as "one of the greatest scandals in British medicine."
The descriptions of the dusty, dry African interior are evocative and far more interesting than the romantic betrayals suffered by the heroine. In the end, all is resolved as expected.
January 21, 2013
This is a historical romance - yep it is!!
Plenty of fallling in love with all the wrong people and angst and doubt and pride and prejudice!
However, behind all that is a rather beautiful story of the South African diamond mines. A doctor tries to assist the black labourers against a smallpox outbreak whilst the owners deny the presence of the disease in order to maximise profit. The young woman of the novel is swept out to the veldt from a privileged life in London. She has no idea how to live, be useful or function in a world so brutal and without the same moralities as Victorian England. She finds her view of the world and men challenged repeatedly until she finally starts to grow up.
This story is not demanding and is predictable in places, but the setting and the back stories keep the reader keen.
Plenty of fallling in love with all the wrong people and angst and doubt and pride and prejudice!
However, behind all that is a rather beautiful story of the South African diamond mines. A doctor tries to assist the black labourers against a smallpox outbreak whilst the owners deny the presence of the disease in order to maximise profit. The young woman of the novel is swept out to the veldt from a privileged life in London. She has no idea how to live, be useful or function in a world so brutal and without the same moralities as Victorian England. She finds her view of the world and men challenged repeatedly until she finally starts to grow up.
This story is not demanding and is predictable in places, but the setting and the back stories keep the reader keen.
June 25, 2013
You can read my whole review here: http://mysistersbookkeeper.blogspot.c...
To be honest. I almost abandoned this book 50 pages in. The beginning was not interesting and I also felt that there were parts missing. For example, in the first chapter, Frances' father is alive but in the second chapter, he's already been dead for a week or two. There wasn't enough emotion from Frances regarding her father's death and her dilemma of going to marry her distant cousin who lives in Africa or live with her aunt and be a nursemaid. There were times that I felt like I was walking in to the middle of a conversation and I was supposed to have heard the beginning (this happened throughout the book). But I was curious to see where the story was going. It picked up a little after she got on the boat but it didn't really pick up until she got to Africa. Her life in South Africa and the life of diamond miners was quite interesting. The author portrays the stark life in South Africa but also the beauty that can be found in nature. They story was a somewhat typical romance story but set in a different location. I did find the characters unlikable at times. Frances' cousin is a doctor in South Africa and he expects Frances to quickly abandon the lifestyle that she has always known and adapt quickly to an impoverished life in South Africa. I felt this was extremely unlikely as a girl who has always had everything done for her to decide, hey no problem I can cook, clean, and do laundry? I understand that she needed to grow up and stop being selfish but that couldn't happen quickly. Frances herself was unlikable because she was quite selfish at times. In summary, it was an interesting story that had some flaws.
To be honest. I almost abandoned this book 50 pages in. The beginning was not interesting and I also felt that there were parts missing. For example, in the first chapter, Frances' father is alive but in the second chapter, he's already been dead for a week or two. There wasn't enough emotion from Frances regarding her father's death and her dilemma of going to marry her distant cousin who lives in Africa or live with her aunt and be a nursemaid. There were times that I felt like I was walking in to the middle of a conversation and I was supposed to have heard the beginning (this happened throughout the book). But I was curious to see where the story was going. It picked up a little after she got on the boat but it didn't really pick up until she got to Africa. Her life in South Africa and the life of diamond miners was quite interesting. The author portrays the stark life in South Africa but also the beauty that can be found in nature. They story was a somewhat typical romance story but set in a different location. I did find the characters unlikable at times. Frances' cousin is a doctor in South Africa and he expects Frances to quickly abandon the lifestyle that she has always known and adapt quickly to an impoverished life in South Africa. I felt this was extremely unlikely as a girl who has always had everything done for her to decide, hey no problem I can cook, clean, and do laundry? I understand that she needed to grow up and stop being selfish but that couldn't happen quickly. Frances herself was unlikable because she was quite selfish at times. In summary, it was an interesting story that had some flaws.
July 17, 2013
The Fever Tree has been well received by critics and is being promoted as part of the UK’s prestigious Richard and Judy Book Club. I can see why! This is a beautifully written book – moving, compelling, engaging. It swept me away to the Africa of the nineteenth century, and while the romance elements are wonderful, this is so much more than a romance.
The author’s impeccable research and thoughtful, sensitive approach to the subject matter shines through to create a book that has, as the review on the cover suggests, ‘a Gone With the Wind feel about it’.
Each word is carefully chosen; each sentence and paragraph expertly crafted. This is literature; this is the very beauty of storytelling encapsulated on the page. The characters are so vivid they leap off the pages at you, and I loved the development of the protagonist, Frances, from naïve child to wise and loving woman. The love story is wonderful, and I defy any reader not to love the ending.
Readers of my book Burning Embers will no doubt recognise, on reading The Fever Tree, quite why it speaks to me so much. There is a wealth of parallels: the setting of wild Africa; the protagonist alone in the world having lost her father; her naivety and sheltered upbringing put to the test under the blazing hot sun; the romance that begins aboard a ship; the need to unravel the layers of characters to understand their deepest secrets… And, of course, the fever tree itself, the acacia, features in my own book and is similarly on the cover.
Could I give this book six stars out of five, I would. A wonderful, intelligent debut novel and, I hope, the first of many by this author.
The author’s impeccable research and thoughtful, sensitive approach to the subject matter shines through to create a book that has, as the review on the cover suggests, ‘a Gone With the Wind feel about it’.
Each word is carefully chosen; each sentence and paragraph expertly crafted. This is literature; this is the very beauty of storytelling encapsulated on the page. The characters are so vivid they leap off the pages at you, and I loved the development of the protagonist, Frances, from naïve child to wise and loving woman. The love story is wonderful, and I defy any reader not to love the ending.
Readers of my book Burning Embers will no doubt recognise, on reading The Fever Tree, quite why it speaks to me so much. There is a wealth of parallels: the setting of wild Africa; the protagonist alone in the world having lost her father; her naivety and sheltered upbringing put to the test under the blazing hot sun; the romance that begins aboard a ship; the need to unravel the layers of characters to understand their deepest secrets… And, of course, the fever tree itself, the acacia, features in my own book and is similarly on the cover.
Could I give this book six stars out of five, I would. A wonderful, intelligent debut novel and, I hope, the first of many by this author.
April 28, 2013
I know it's a good book when I'm thinking about it for days after.
It seems to have divided opinion however and I can see why. The beginning is very slow and a little far fetched at times, I couldn't identify with Frances at first and I was worried I'd made a mistake purchasing this. It was all very cliche, Daddy's little rich girl virgin daughter sets off to marry suitable doctor, a marriage of convenience rather than love (snore), we've all heard that story before.
But suddenly she sets sail as a second class passenger and in walks, William Westbrook. People criticized the author for not giving us a 'likeable' heroin. I loved how spoiled Frances was and how she made poor decisions, humiliated herself and her reputation. I loved it. Too often we have the noble, strong women who even though they've lived sheltered lives miraculously know what to do in any given situation. Frances falls head over heels in lust right under the noses of some important people. Haven't we all been there? That guy who we thought we were destined to be together with yet 'fate' kept you apart (when actually he couldn't ever really make the commitment). The ending was beautiful however, she tied up the ends very well and very creatively.
This book should have been a five star had it not been for the author's laboured attempts to set the scene. Historically it seemed fairly spot on but I would advise her not to try too hard and not to alienate the reader, a lot of historial fiction writers make this mistake. But if this is her first novel i'm excited for the next.
It seems to have divided opinion however and I can see why. The beginning is very slow and a little far fetched at times, I couldn't identify with Frances at first and I was worried I'd made a mistake purchasing this. It was all very cliche, Daddy's little rich girl virgin daughter sets off to marry suitable doctor, a marriage of convenience rather than love (snore), we've all heard that story before.
But suddenly she sets sail as a second class passenger and in walks, William Westbrook. People criticized the author for not giving us a 'likeable' heroin. I loved how spoiled Frances was and how she made poor decisions, humiliated herself and her reputation. I loved it. Too often we have the noble, strong women who even though they've lived sheltered lives miraculously know what to do in any given situation. Frances falls head over heels in lust right under the noses of some important people. Haven't we all been there? That guy who we thought we were destined to be together with yet 'fate' kept you apart (when actually he couldn't ever really make the commitment). The ending was beautiful however, she tied up the ends very well and very creatively.
This book should have been a five star had it not been for the author's laboured attempts to set the scene. Historically it seemed fairly spot on but I would advise her not to try too hard and not to alienate the reader, a lot of historial fiction writers make this mistake. But if this is her first novel i'm excited for the next.
April 11, 2013
This was one of those kind of books that I could not put down in the last one hundred pages. It made me cry towards the end. I was so involved with the character that I wanted to shake her and say don't do that. It is the story of a very young woman who is raised as the nearly top of British society until the age of about 19 when her only living parent, her father, dies leaving her a bankrupt estate with little to no choices in her life. Out of necessity she agrees to marry a young Irish doctor who had been helped out by her father at an earlier time. She does not want to marry him but her wealthy mother's family does not want her and her only other choice is to become a nursemaid to her aunt's children. So she follows her husband to be down to South Africa. What an adventure it all turns out to be. South Africa of the nineteenth century is brutal. This is the time of Cecil Rhodes and the great discovery and exploitation of the diamond mines. So the author thrusts this naive young woman into a highly charged difficult situation... as the reader you can just read and observe her choosing passion over stability, and fantasy over the obvious facts. Her adventure proves far more harrowing than expected. The pages are well-written, characterizations are excellent and the plot thickens and thickens. I hope there is a sequel because I think there is more story here to tell.
April 30, 2013
Frances is a wealthy and spoiled young woman who is orphaned after her father loses all his money in a bad investment. After his death, she has to choose between an unwelcome marriage or becoming a nursemaid to her aunt's children. She chooses the marriage and leaves London and her former privileged life for marriage to her cousin, a poor, but principled doctor in South Africa. The idea is good, the setting is interesting. The historical aspects seem to have been fairly well researched. The writing felt a little forced at times and I had a terrible time liking Frances at all. She spends 98% of her story waving her hands around helplessly, complaining about her poverty and doing absolutely nothing to adapt to her new life. Only after she loses everything (through a Biblical series of calamities brought on by her own bad choices) her desperation to not return to London (and the nursemaid job) as a failure finally prompts her to change. Then, miraculously, everything turns out perfectly for her in the end. I really despise characters who can't adapt. I also don't like books with unrealistic endings, unless they've been sort of unrealistic all along and we've grown to expect it. The only thing missing from the neatly wrapped up ending of this tale was the demise of the villain. We don't actually know what happened to him...
June 25, 2013
I needed to give this a proper review. I have to say that I totally enjoyed this book! Frances Irvine is a young woman with no means of surviving after her father dies. In act of desperation she marries a distant cousin Edwin, who means to be a doctor amongst the diamond fields in South Africa. With no choice she joins her husband there and finds that the brutality of life in South Africa is too much bear. Witnessing the poverty, cruelty and the greed of the diamond miners who will stop at nothing to get their prize she blames her husband for bringing her to this barren land. This is a novel rich in descriptions about life in South Africa during this period. Sometimes it is hard to read about the brutality of this land and the people who often caused it. I enjoyed this book because it also had it's moments of tenderness and determination within it's pages and I totally rooted for Frances' survival. Interesting info. at the back of the book as well.
August 6, 2013
I actually started reading this wonderful novel on holiday in Sri Lanka. The Fever Tree would make a fantastic film as not only is it beautifully written, it's also extremely visual. I can already see it on the big screen. The African scenes in particular are stunning and very moving. You could smell Africa, taste it, and certainly feel it. The pace is terrific, and there's lots of tension.
I have re-read The Fever Tree and on a second read I actually enjoyed it even more. So much of how we feel about any book depends on where we are in our own lives. Books I enjoyed ten years ago I would find less satisfying now and vice versa. For example, love stories, as such, appeal to me less than they used to. Nowadays I enjoy historical books set in unusual locations, just like this one. Give it a go, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
I have re-read The Fever Tree and on a second read I actually enjoyed it even more. So much of how we feel about any book depends on where we are in our own lives. Books I enjoyed ten years ago I would find less satisfying now and vice versa. For example, love stories, as such, appeal to me less than they used to. Nowadays I enjoy historical books set in unusual locations, just like this one. Give it a go, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
May 27, 2012
3.5 Set in the latter part of Queen Victoria's reign, this is the story of Francis a young woman ill equipped to handle the circumstances in which she finds herself. I actually found this part of the story rather cliched, and although I had some sympathy for her I found the decisions she made irritating. The historical aspects of this novel I loved knowing so little about this before I started reading. South Africa in its Colonial period, the diamond mines, Kimberly and Cape Town, the Boers and the small pox epidemic that threatened the diamond mines. Francis does redeem herself in my eyes by the end of the book, and I found the ending to be extremely well done.
June 24, 2013
I loved it. Jennifer McVeigh did such a wonderful job with her female protagonist. I was fully invested in her life, to the point where I was yelling at her through the book. The descriptions of Africa, from the cities to the diamond mines to the countryside were magnificent. I could picture everything. This book evoked a whole mess of emotions in me; from horror to glee, from relief to exasperation, and from happiness to a deep sadness. Recommend.
October 25, 2019
There are really not any characters in this novel that are likable. They are extremely stereotyped. I could not wait to finish this book-Thank Goodness it is done.
April 18, 2018
I loved this one. Imagine the Painted Veil but set in South Africa, and instead of cholera you have smallpox. Then imagine Scarlet O’Hare from Gone With the Wind – she’s our main character, Frances. Spoiled, idle, bad judgement, and at times you will want to beat her with a brick stick. Then imagine the scenery and scope of Out of Africa. There you go, you have the Fever Tree.
Frances is forced into marriage to Edwin, and her perception of him is so skewed from the beginning. He won me over from the beginning, and I really didn’t like Frances for how she viewed him and treated him. Instead, our stupid heroine falls for the man about town, William. Ugh, William. As a warning, I did have a bit of a “consent” issue with her and William, but Frances apparently didn’t and falls quite in love with him for years. There’s a lot of covering up of a smallpox epidemic to benefit the diamond trade, and Edwin seems to be the only good guy in South Africa at times (if only our heroine would wake up and smell the roses!). Frances does eventually hit rock bottom, and thank God she did! It was nice to see her served a bit of humble pie in the end, and she grows as a character. You do get a HEA, but by the time you do, your heart is just beat up for both Frances and Edwin.
I will say, I’d really like to know more about Edwin. He was truly a selfless doctor, but I couldn’t tell if he was perhaps in love with the Sister at the hospital. We are never in his head or get his viewpoint, and I would have actually preferred his viewpoint over Frances’. I would highly recommend this book.
Frances is forced into marriage to Edwin, and her perception of him is so skewed from the beginning. He won me over from the beginning, and I really didn’t like Frances for how she viewed him and treated him. Instead, our stupid heroine falls for the man about town, William. Ugh, William. As a warning, I did have a bit of a “consent” issue with her and William, but Frances apparently didn’t and falls quite in love with him for years. There’s a lot of covering up of a smallpox epidemic to benefit the diamond trade, and Edwin seems to be the only good guy in South Africa at times (if only our heroine would wake up and smell the roses!). Frances does eventually hit rock bottom, and thank God she did! It was nice to see her served a bit of humble pie in the end, and she grows as a character. You do get a HEA, but by the time you do, your heart is just beat up for both Frances and Edwin.
I will say, I’d really like to know more about Edwin. He was truly a selfless doctor, but I couldn’t tell if he was perhaps in love with the Sister at the hospital. We are never in his head or get his viewpoint, and I would have actually preferred his viewpoint over Frances’. I would highly recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2020
I loved this story of South Africa during the late 19th century. Couldn't put it down really. I'd give it a 4.5.
June 13, 2018
Pop Sugar 2018-Advanced-A Book with the same first or last name as you.
Jennifer McVeigh writes fantastic descriptions of South Africa, even in horrifying situations you can feel the atmosphere. This is the first book I've read by her and I am now a fan.
I've been reading some reviews that are very hard on Frances and the choices that she made. I don't disagree with those, but I do feel the book showed great growth in her character. I do feel she was still working to redeem herself as the book closed, but she had definitely turned a corner. I like that she was human and was at least working to right her wrongs.
Jennifer McVeigh writes fantastic descriptions of South Africa, even in horrifying situations you can feel the atmosphere. This is the first book I've read by her and I am now a fan.
I've been reading some reviews that are very hard on Frances and the choices that she made. I don't disagree with those, but I do feel the book showed great growth in her character. I do feel she was still working to redeem herself as the book closed, but she had definitely turned a corner. I like that she was human and was at least working to right her wrongs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2014
Beautiful, powerful, mesmerizing....
From England to South Africa. From wealth to poverty. From being happy and content to being unhappy and resentful.
Frances had no choice but to move to South Africa after her father died. She was left with nothing and definitely didn't want to live with her aunt to be a nursemaid or to be treated like help instead of family. She had to accept Edwin's proposal. Things happened in between her marriage to Edwin, though, that made her second guess her decision to marry him and to move to South Africa.
THE FEVER TREE is written in a beautiful, descriptive style. The storyline held my interest because of the lifestyle, the setting, the period in history, and definitely because of the characters. You will feel sorry for Frances and really dislike Edwin and William.
Ms. McVeigh has an elegant writing style that immediately pulled me in. THE FEVER TREE is a book about family, class distinction, making decisions, and a love that endures...find out what this enduring love is as you turn the pages in this haunting, unforgettable read.
You will be able to put yourself in Frances' shoes and feel her despair with her life, her decisions, and her surroundings simply because of the amazing way Ms. McVeigh details every sentence and situation.
You will be able to vividly see every detail because of Ms. McVeigh's amazing imagery and feel what Frances and the other characters are feeling because of her writing skill. The description of the African landscape is stunning. You will feel the dust in your clothes and the bleakness of the dry land.
THE FEVER TREE is truly a sultry book you won't want to put down and one you will remember long after you turn the last page.
THE FEVER TREE is a beautiful combination of historical fiction and a passion for life, for causes, and dreams. Don't miss this mesmerizing debut novel. 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher in return for an honest review.
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