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Tree of Gold
On her way to her wedding the heroine meets the only man she will ever love, but they are rivals in the silk industry that made Lyon the City of Silk.
657 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 1986
45 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Rosalind Laker
80 books191 followersA pseudonym used by Barbara Øvstedal.
Barbara Øvstedal was an author previously writing under the pseudonym Barbara Paul and Barbara Douglas. She wrote a few books under this pseudonym but later changed to Rosalind Laker when Barbara Paul gained recognition. Her many books include The Sugar Pavilion and To Dance with Kings.
Barbara Øvstedal was an author previously writing under the pseudonym Barbara Paul and Barbara Douglas. She wrote a few books under this pseudonym but later changed to Rosalind Laker when Barbara Paul gained recognition. Her many books include The Sugar Pavilion and To Dance with Kings.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 3, 2011
Probably my favorite book of all time. I have lost count on how many times I've read it. It made me fall in love with the Napoleonic time period.
February 13, 2017
This is an intriguing story of two people in love, but never able to act on that love, and determined to remain true to their obligations despite their hearts. It also gives a good insight into the cutthroat competition in the silk business centered in Lyon, and how it was nearly destroyed during the radical phases of the French Revolution.
It is also a fascinating view of the Napoleonic era from the point of view of the French citizens. I have read several novels touching to a greater or lesser extent on the wars, but always from the English soldier's point of view. This is the first one I have read to depict the battles of Ciudad Rodrigo and Waterloo from the French side, and to try to show how and why so many of the French people loved Napoleon, and were repeatedly ready to rally to his call.
It is also a fascinating view of the Napoleonic era from the point of view of the French citizens. I have read several novels touching to a greater or lesser extent on the wars, but always from the English soldier's point of view. This is the first one I have read to depict the battles of Ciudad Rodrigo and Waterloo from the French side, and to try to show how and why so many of the French people loved Napoleon, and were repeatedly ready to rally to his call.
August 2, 2022
Tree of Gold
Very well-written and multi-layered. For me the best part was the detailed depiction of all the processes of silk production, from breeding the silkworms to the finished product. Rosalind Laker has evidently done some serious research.....she also narrates how the Jacquard Loom was introduced, and there is a great deal of information about the actual process of silk weaving. The process of dyeing is also touched upon. For me this was almost more interesting than the love-story, although that is the plot! It hinges upon a feud between two families of silk producers in Lyons, the centre of French silk production, but I won't go into that here.
Another strand is the harrowing description of what a battlefield is like, especially for non-combatants who get caught up in it....the novel is set during the Napleonic Wars. I recoommend this highly.
Very well-written and multi-layered. For me the best part was the detailed depiction of all the processes of silk production, from breeding the silkworms to the finished product. Rosalind Laker has evidently done some serious research.....she also narrates how the Jacquard Loom was introduced, and there is a great deal of information about the actual process of silk weaving. The process of dyeing is also touched upon. For me this was almost more interesting than the love-story, although that is the plot! It hinges upon a feud between two families of silk producers in Lyons, the centre of French silk production, but I won't go into that here.
Another strand is the harrowing description of what a battlefield is like, especially for non-combatants who get caught up in it....the novel is set during the Napleonic Wars. I recoommend this highly.
July 19, 2020
Interesting story line around silk production during Napoleon's time with romance that spans years between opposing rivals for the silk market.
April 19, 2016
Tree of Gold by Rosalind Laker is an interesting love story that happens in Lyon, the "Silk capital" of France in between French revolution and Battle of Waterloo.
A young woman, only daughter of a Lyoness silk manufacturer, Gabrielle Roche is on her way to her wedding with silk farmer Emile Valmont, when her carriage collides with an hearse. The deceased is her family's long time enemy and once competitor. Nicolas Devaux, son of the competitor, has come back to Lyon to bury his father and to open their business in Lyon again after ten years, after they had to flee Lyon after the revolution. Gabrielle's brother Henry is not happy about it, Gabrielle and Nicolas fall for each other from the first sight. But Gabrielle still geting married and Nicolas opens his fathers business.
Years go by, many things happen in France, in Lyon, in Roche and Devaux family, but Gabrielle and Nicholas still love each other, even thought they can not have each other.
When Napoleon goes war against England, Nicolas has to go to the war, he begs Gabrielle to go with him, but she cant. She has her fathers business to run and then she gives birth to her son and when she loses her husband, she loses her will to live, until she is forced to go back to Lyon to the business. One fateful letter hurls Gabrielle into action to find Nicolas in Portugal, but her timing is unfortunate and their destiny takes them to England, where they just miss their chance to be together.
After Gabrielle finally gets back to France to her son, Napoleon is on his second war campaign. And Nicolas is back to join the army again. This time they go together.
This story is full of love, tragedy, history and silk. Even if is marked that this book has 388 pages, it's much longer and its highly enrapturing.
A young woman, only daughter of a Lyoness silk manufacturer, Gabrielle Roche is on her way to her wedding with silk farmer Emile Valmont, when her carriage collides with an hearse. The deceased is her family's long time enemy and once competitor. Nicolas Devaux, son of the competitor, has come back to Lyon to bury his father and to open their business in Lyon again after ten years, after they had to flee Lyon after the revolution. Gabrielle's brother Henry is not happy about it, Gabrielle and Nicolas fall for each other from the first sight. But Gabrielle still geting married and Nicolas opens his fathers business.
Years go by, many things happen in France, in Lyon, in Roche and Devaux family, but Gabrielle and Nicholas still love each other, even thought they can not have each other.
When Napoleon goes war against England, Nicolas has to go to the war, he begs Gabrielle to go with him, but she cant. She has her fathers business to run and then she gives birth to her son and when she loses her husband, she loses her will to live, until she is forced to go back to Lyon to the business. One fateful letter hurls Gabrielle into action to find Nicolas in Portugal, but her timing is unfortunate and their destiny takes them to England, where they just miss their chance to be together.
After Gabrielle finally gets back to France to her son, Napoleon is on his second war campaign. And Nicolas is back to join the army again. This time they go together.
This story is full of love, tragedy, history and silk. Even if is marked that this book has 388 pages, it's much longer and its highly enrapturing.
April 27, 2016
Rosalind Laker has a formula that just works really well, take a historic setting, add in a woman that works in a very specific trade and mix in some romance with a dash of drama. It works well and I enjoy it every time. You get to experience some history, you get to learn something about said specific trade and you get to snuggle up with a bit of romance. Tree of Gold fits that mold perfectly with a setting in Napoleonic France, Gabrielle Roche and her family's silk house and the dashing Nicolas Devaux who is also the son of her father's greatest enemy.
I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction and/or romance novels (not the supermarket or bodice ripper segment), you will love it! For fans of Rosalind Laker, you will love it!
I feel I should mention that I somehow managed to snag a free copy of this book in exchange for a review, little does the publisher know I am a huge fan of Rosalind Laker which somehow makes me feel guilty about the aforementioned snagging and yet also not at all, a book addict will do what needs to be done and no other book lover should be able to find a fault in that!
I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction and/or romance novels (not the supermarket or bodice ripper segment), you will love it! For fans of Rosalind Laker, you will love it!
I feel I should mention that I somehow managed to snag a free copy of this book in exchange for a review, little does the publisher know I am a huge fan of Rosalind Laker which somehow makes me feel guilty about the aforementioned snagging and yet also not at all, a book addict will do what needs to be done and no other book lover should be able to find a fault in that!
May 27, 2016
*I received a free ARC of Tree of Gold from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review*
Standard historical romance formula. Boy meets girl. They pretend to hate each other at first, but secretly find themselves falling madly in love with each other. A series of unfortunate obstacles keeps them apart for the majority of the novel, but they end up having their happily ever after. It's a cute story, it's just that I've read it 20 times already. The thing that I really like about this novel, though, is that the heroine is a strong character who works for a living and even becomes the owner of a silk company in a male-dominated world. She is able to roll with the punches and compete with her contemporaries for royal appointments.
Standard historical romance formula. Boy meets girl. They pretend to hate each other at first, but secretly find themselves falling madly in love with each other. A series of unfortunate obstacles keeps them apart for the majority of the novel, but they end up having their happily ever after. It's a cute story, it's just that I've read it 20 times already. The thing that I really like about this novel, though, is that the heroine is a strong character who works for a living and even becomes the owner of a silk company in a male-dominated world. She is able to roll with the punches and compete with her contemporaries for royal appointments.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2018
I received free copy of Tree of Gold from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not realize that this is reissue of the older book. Regardless, I really enjoyed the story and the writing, which are engrossing, fresh and relevant. I enjoyed reading about the place and time the story took place, renowned Lyons silk industry during the Bonaparte rule and Napoleonic wars. I loved main heroes, Gabrielle and Nicholas, their impossible love story and their struggles during troubling and changing times. This book will appeal to historical fiction lovers.
August 6, 2016
This was a very good historical fiction. It gave plenty of details and interesting bits about the time period and also had well developed, likeable characters.
**I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a review**
**I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a review**
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August 11, 2009Think I read it??
November 5, 2011
Eh. That's all I can say. Eh.
July 2, 2013
Entertaining historical novel about a woman who longs to make a mark in the silk industry in Lyon, France.On her wedding day, she meets the love of her life, the son of a rival silk firm.
October 5, 2015
This is a tale of two French silk making families in the vein of Romeo and Juliet. It is set in Napoleonic France and is a romantic novel.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews