Scent of Cloves

by Norah Lofts

Julia Ashley was born to a life of dramatic twists and tragedy. Saved from Cromwell’s Irish massacres by her nurse, saved from starvation by a Dutch sea captain… Her future and any possible lasting happiness depended entirely on a ‘glove marriage’ to a man who was no more than a name.

The Dutch East Indies, in the seventeenth century, were lands of legendary riches; of ‘nutmeg princes;’ of fortunes and family empires built on barbaric plantations and slavery. And amid the extravagance, the cruelty, the bizarre customs, perhaps the strangest events of all were the curious weddings that
sent girls half-way around the world to husbands they had never seen.

Julia, brave and stoical with a stormy and turbulent history behind her, took her ‘glove’—of yellow, pearl-sewn silk—and began the journey to the island of Rua, to a land of seeming paradise where nothing was exactly as it appeared.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Gothic, Ireland, Asia, 17th Century

296 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Norah Ethel Robinson Lofts Jorisch (27 August 1904–10 September 1983) was a 20th century best-selling British author. She wrote over fifty books specialising in historical fiction, but she also wrote non-fiction and short stories. Many of her novels, including her Suffolk Trilogy, follow the history of a specific house and the residents that lived in it.

Lofts was born in Shipdham, Norfolk in England. She also published using the pseudonyms Juliet Astley and Peter Curtis. Norah Lofts chose to release her murder-mystery novels under the pen name Peter Curtis because she did not want the readers of her historic fiction to pick up a murder-mystery novel and expect classic Norah Lofts historical fiction. However, the murders still show characteristic Norah Lofts elements. Most of her historical novels fall into two general categories: biographical novels about queens, among them Anne Boleyn, Isabella of Castile, and Catherine of Aragon; and novels set in East Anglia centered around the fictitious town of Baildon (patterned largely on Bury St. Edmunds). Her creation of this fictitious area of England is reminiscent of Thomas Hardy's creation of "Wessex"; and her use of recurring characters such that the protagonist of one novel appears as a secondary character in others is even more reminiscent of William Faulkner's work set in "Yoknapatawpha County," Mississippi. Norah Lofts' work set in East Anglia in the 1930s and 1940s shows great concern with the very poor in society and their inability to change their conditions. Her approach suggests an interest in the social reformism that became a feature of British post-war society.

Several of her novels were turned into films. Jassy was filmed as Jassy (1947) starring Margaret Lockwood and Dennis Price. You're Best Alone was filmed as Guilt is My Shadow (1950). The Devil's Own (also known as The Little Wax Doll and Catch As Catch Can) was filmed as The Witches (1966). The film 7 Women was directed by John Ford and based on the story Chinese Finale by Norah Lofts.

Reviews

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lofts is a deeply unfashionable writer who people in the know keep saying should be rediscovered. ~Katherine Edgar

Little did I know when I began reading Scent of Cloves, the highs and lows I would feel. With a touch of Jane Eyre, some dismal times from Bleak House and a bit of the horror concerning slavery as seen in Roots, Julia Ashley’s world was often brutal at times.

She was the only child of a noble couple who died in Cromwell’s purge during the 1600s. Her childhood was erratic. By the time she was 15, her hand was given in marriage, by proxy, to a man halfway around the world. Her seven month voyage would carry her to the Dutch East Indies to meet her husband. Nothing, and I mean nothing, prepared her (or me!) for her life on Rua.

This was a gritty story and one I was sucked into. Loft’s lack of glamorizing the exotic setting made it feel very real. The characters and the storyline were tied in knots. Cruelty and gentleness showed up in the most unusual places. And as much as I didn’t like certain reminders of Julia’s long-ago world, it made for a wicked but auspicious tale.

I felt like I have been taken through a wringer.

[Claude · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable historical novel that takes the reader from Ireland to Indonesia via Amsterdam, at the time of Cromwell. The first novel by Norah Lofts I have read, but certainly not the last one. Interesting characters, good story-telling that gets you involved right away.
I found the end a bit weak, which is why I didn't give it five stars.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Norah Lofts is my favorite author and she proves it over and over as I re-read her books and continue to admire her masterful insights into the human heart and its complex motivations. She is considered a writer of historical fiction, and she is, but her books go way, way beyond pleasant little stories in historical settings. She uses historical detail to be sure, and I feel her backgrounds are accurate as well as interesting, entertaining and enlightening. However, it is her expositions behind the plots that I find so intriguing for their incisiveness and clarity into the souls of her characters, to whom, no matter in what time period, I can so relate!
THE SCENT OF CLOVES is no exception. It tells the story of a young girl rescued first by an Irish servant fleeing from the forces of Oliver Cromwell and next by a kindly Dutch sea-captain, who finally (after many adventures which just seem inevitable rather than adventurous,) ends up married to the severely mentally handicapped heir to a "Nutmeg Prince" in the Spice Islands of Indonesia.
A breath taking plot to say the least, but it is her moral dilemmas which she faces with such courage and resolve that lift this book far above the realm of this genre.

[~☆~Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to get this book mixed up with her other book about the spice islands. This one is a little too unbelievable for me.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

First half was a 5, but the ending was a bit contrived. And yet the story of Maire's escape and saving of the protagonist as a babe was Cromwell century perfect. Also the Dutch sections and the entire voyage and adult life on that island had some of the best period descriptions and timely sensibilities that I've read for that part of the world or a tropical island environment as it was experienced 3 centuries ago.

Few revisionists dithers at all here, Norah Lofts could have been writing a hundred years or more before she actually did write this one. It's not as good as some of her others in plotting, but one of the best in natural world and dialect nuance.

[C.P. Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia Ashley, the child of English Royalists, narrowly escapes death as an infant when Cromwell attacks, then again from starvation at the age of eight. After years in an orphanage, a "glove" (proxy) marriage to the son of a merchant in the Dutch East India Company seems like a godsend. But she soon discovers dark secrets beneath the beauty and spices of a small Indonesian island....

A lovely, clean historical novel in which romance plays just one part in a larger story and apparent clichés twist into something other. Highly recommended.

[Spitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned about the Dutch nutmeg trade in the Western Indies in the 17th century. Very interesting.

[Dana Heffington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining

Easy and entertaining read. Nice for escape on a summer afternoon with feet up and a nice cold glass of iced tea

[Wynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite by NL. Think tropical scenes and lost loves.

[Beverly Stotz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! Was swept away from the beginning with the life of little Julia. It was a very imaginative plot! This book is a great escape!

[Bilqis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up as one of my library's 'blind date with a book', and I am so glad that I did! It follows Julia from warring England to exile in Ireland, to adoption in Holland, and eventually, to marriage in the Dutch East Indies.

The story is part coming of age, mystery, thriller, and romance. While it was mostly set on the tropical island of Rua, it had a definite gothic feel with the story of Pieter.

I haven't read much Dutch historical fiction, but I have enjoyed those that I have read. I was also surprised how the writing style felt fresh and modern despite being written in 1957.

I gave this 4.5 stars and consider it a hidden gem, one that I would never have picked up had it not been part of the 'blind date' scheme.

[Laura Willyard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audible of this book. the narration was good. and the book started out good, held my interest. However, the last quarter of the book was disappointing, and the ending was terrible. It seemed as if the author did not know how to end it, and added odd twists and turns to the plot that I had a very difficult time following. Bizarre is how I would describe the ending. I expected better from such a well know author.

[James McLellan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery, love, intrigue

A trip that takes you from a civil war, to a rescue of a child who becomes a woman that fears life itself. She is ruthlessly manipulated after being sent against her will as a proxy bride. Even under the desperate circumstances she finds love but returns it to save an inflicted young man. lasting love is hers at last as she defies her manipulators.

[Squeaky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A disjointed novel from English massacre to Dutch orphanage to Dutch island colonies... I read it through, since the time period was interesting and life in Holland and on the islands was new to me.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

It finished too soon. Very strange story. Thoroughly enjoyed. I want to know what happens next.

[Preeti · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Baolan Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is totally cool.

[Franziska Self Fisken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this 50 or 60 years ago. Reread it. Enjoyable and interesting.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a tragic childhood where her high born family were slaughtered due to war, a lucky escape with a servant then rescue by a merchant who takes her to Amsterdam to live with him and his wife, then after he dies she is put in a home and later a company that arranged "glove marriages" in the Dutch East Indies, Julia Ashley's life has been one long upheaval and now she is scared and has to undergo a journey to begin a new life with an arranged marriage to a man she will not meet until the wedding day.
But that is far from the worst of the story, the man involved, Julia's husband to be is by 17th century standards a simpleton and she has been tricked into this position by the father who wishes to keep up a facade of respectability and standing in his own little kingdom but his machinations and planning has an even darker side than Julia could ever have imagined and to survive this brutal new land she has to use her own cunning to escape with her life.
A sweeping epic story full of adventure and drama.
A wonderful and involved historical tale with great characters ensure that this a real page turner.

[☆Ruth☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant historical romance, which would have benefitted from more period detail and better character development. However it was a well-written story and an enjoyable read for a cold, winter's evening.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this the first time but a re reading. And the magic was gone.