Blue Camellia

by Frances Parkinson Keyes, G. Hurel (translator)

"To build a great empire from the pioneer land of Louisiana took a faith and a will as difficult to possess as a blue camellia. In this, one of Frances Parkinson Keyes' finest novels, determined men and valiant women wrest from the land a mighty tradition. The story of Brent and Mary Winslow is an epic of America. In a coutnryside rich with a French, Indian, and Negro heritage, the couple endure incredible hardships to become its foremost citizens. It is in the second generation, in the tragic story of their beautiful daughter Lavinia - torn between two men - that the family learns to endure, to again grow, and to find the blue camellia. 'Francis Parkinson Keyes a ther story telling best... a love story accented by a colorful background.'"
~Washington Post

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Novels, Southern

319 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Frances Parkinson Keyes was an American author who wrote about her life as the wife of a U.S. Senator and novels set in New England, Louisiana, and Europe. A convert to Roman Catholicism, her later works frequently featured Catholic themes and beliefs. Her last name rhymes with "skies," not "keys."

Reviews

[Carol, She's so Novel ꧁꧂ · Rating 5 out of 5]

My parents were great fans of Frances Parkinson Keyes' work & owned a number of her books. I remember enjoying some of them, others not so much.

I think this one might be my favourite one so far & I'm now keen to read/reread others I own.

Brent & Mary Winslow are working hard, but struggling as farmers in Illinois. A chance reading of a glowing report of life farming in the Mississippi Delta, sends Brent off to investigate & he ends up going 'boots & all' & he moves his wife & young daughter Lavinia & bids on some land. Brent becomes a passionate experimenter with trying to develop a hardier strain of rice. This becomes his all consuming passion & he is often unaware of what is going on with his wife & daughter.

I think all the FPK books (with the possible exception of her murder mysteries) centre around a strong, attractive & charming woman & this is no exception. The change from the book being Mary's story to Lavinia's is handled seamlessly. Lavinia is indeed a complex character with a lot of flaws. What in the time this book was set (Late nineteenth, early twentieth century) would have been seen as selfishness would now be seen as an intelligent, capable woman wanting to live her own life.

Three points that didn't cause me to lower my book rating.

🪭Secondary character Jonathan Frant really gave me the ick. I wanted to jump into the pages of the book & slap him! I'm taking the view that FPK was giving us as readers the respect to make up our own minds, but to me he was a ruthless predator.

🪭There is a prolonged scene of animal cruelty, which FPK presents without judgement but I found hard going.

🪭Like my favourite author Georgette Heyer FPK heavily researched her books (in this case for fourteen years) & like GH at her worst, in this case FPK didn't want to waste a single bit! Fortunately it only rarely slowed the story down.

& the blue camellia was presented as the unobtainable dream. I was curious enough to Google - & it is unobtainable no longer.

This one was the prettiest.

https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...

[Fátima Linhares · Rating 3 out of 5]

- Oui. Flex Primeaux étail le seul homme que j'aie jamais aimé. Je l'aimais de tout mon coeur, de toute mon âme; en moi, il ne reste plus d'amour pour un autre.

Um triângulo amoroso que acabou mal, muito mal. Por isso é que três são um multidão. Gostei desta leitura, apesar de me poderem ter passado pequenos detalhes ou pormenores, mas em linhas gerais percebi a história. Este livro não é uma obra-prima, mas considerando que peguei em três livros, sendo um deles da minha querida tia Agatha, e só me apeteceu continuar com este, mostra o quanto o meu entusiasmo com as leituras anda pelas ruas da amargura. A ver se entretanto altero este estado de coisas.

[Lynette Lark · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took the author 14 years to write this book! It's a novel about real people and real-life events (like most novels that I love are), and it's about rice! Brent is a farmer in Louisiana who not only grows rice in a wet Louisiana prairie but he also cross-breeds varieties and uses bees to pollinate his "Frankenstein" creations all in an attempt to get the most beautiful and most hardy plants he can grow. Of course, it takes most of his life to do this and without realizing it, he neglects his wife and daughter. His wife is the understanding little woman but the daughter becomes a little embittered. This book was published in 1957 and it covers a time span from 1886 until the early 1900s and besides rice, there are love interests, family issues, and wonderful Cajun culture. Having spent time in Louisiana when I was very young, it's not a place one can easily forget. It's incredibly "colorful" in so many ways. And this book manages to describe the amazing cultural microcosm in exquisite detail. There is one chapter near the end of the book where I cried because unrequited love is the worst heartbreak there is sometimes.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The one novel I've so far found to be an authentic story of the life on the prairies of Louisiana. Loved every word because within its pages are the founding of my hometown, surrounded - of course - by rice fields.

[Sergio · Rating 3 out of 5]

La scrittrice statunitense Frances Parkinson Keyes [1885-1970], autrice di questo romanzo pubblicato nel 1957 non è molto nota da noi ed io devo la sua conoscenza a qualche suo romanzo tradotto da Mondadori nella ormai introvabile collana tascabile “I Libri del Pavone” e acquistato dal babbo nei primi anni ’60: questo romanzo che assomiglia un po’ nell’argomento ad altri lavori letterari più noti come “Via col Vento” di Margaret Mitchell e “Louisiana” di Maurice Denuziere, racconta le difficoltà e gli ostacoli incontrati dalla famiglia di Brent Winslow che si lascia convincere a trasferirsi in Louisiana dove la coltivazione del riso sembra dare migliori possibilità per la sua famigliola assillata da ristrettezze economiche e in questo impegno spenderà la sua vita raggiungendo infine la stabilità economica e sociale sognata per tutta la vita.
Ma il romanzo è anche la storia della figlia Lavinia divisa tra due uomini molto diversi tra loro che ne condizioneranno la vita e le scelte.
Qualitativamente inferiore ai due romanzi succitati, “Camelia Blu” è una lettura che si fa apprezzare e gradire ma che manca di quel “quid” qualitativo che separa un buon romanzo da un capolavoro.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frances Parkinson Keyes had six top 10 bestsellers between 1945 and 1957. I have read them all. Blue Camellia was #5 in 1957. Most of her novels are historical fiction written in the style of women writing for women readers, though almost every book has at least one strong female character who defies convention. She produced over 40 novels in her career and I am happy that I did not have to read all of them.

The River Road was my favorite with Blue Camllia as a second favorite. It is based on the history of rice cultivation in Louisiana. The story begins when Brent Winslow decides to buy land in Louisiana. He and his wife Mary are the children of Illinois settlers, they are farming people in the late 1800s and have just survived a brutal winter which left Brent bedridden for weeks with pneumonia.

The story of their move with a nine-year-old daughter, the possibly shady land auction in Louisiana (which turned out fine) and their assimilation into what was essentially a rural Creole population, is good reading. Lavinia, the daughter, becomes a tomboy and runs wild with the Creole children but grows up to be an extremely self-willed and competent woman. Brent Winslow plants, works hard, studies and develops the best variety of rice in the area.

Most everyone prospers, there are joys and sorrows, Lavinia suffers great loss and heartbreak, but it all comes out well. I've concluded that Keyes' work covers numerous lesser known aspects of American life in the early 20th century. Her research was thorough including her habit to spend extensive periods of time in the locales about which she wrote. She indulges in that wordy style of her times but it reads smoothly while she makes you care deeply about her characters.

[Muriel Schwenck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read this since I was about 20. I remember it as a great tragedy. Women in Keyes novels usually suffer a great deal from an unfortunate love, and this is one of her best. Great descriptions of landscape, gardening, rice farming, Cajun life and cooking. And camellias!
Highly recommended.

[Jennifer Flett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as a whole. It is set in southern US at a time and place I know very little about, so I can't comment at all on its accuracy. However, from the Author's Note, I see she did a lot of research to make it as accurate as possible. She did not howevever mention speaking to any African-Americans which shows in the very patronising way in which they are written about and of. Set 20 years post-civil war (and post slavery), it would be understandable to read of the inherant racism of the time. However what I hadn't expect was the patronising way in which people are spoken about suggesting they were very happy to serve and generally shown as not being capable of much more.

Basically, be aware of this when reading. It is a good story, well written and historically interesting but also gives a good insight into the cultural racism at the time it was written.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

No sé qué decir de este libro. Es una historia con mucho trasfondo, pues nod habla de la vida (de forma secundaria) de uno de los modificadores de arroz más importantes que se han conocido a través de la polinización cruzada, modificando así planta de arroz para mejorar su resistencia a las fuertes tormentas.

Pero como dije, esto fue de forma secundaria, pues se centra más que nada en la vida de la hija de éste: Lavinia. Se nos muestra de vida desde que se mudan a un poblado sin mucha urbanización, pasan los años y se puede ver el crecimiento tanto de la muchacha, cómo del este pueblo.

A veces Lavinia me sacaba de quicio, pero sé que era de esperarse su comportamiento, pues era en su época adolescente, y obviamente tenía que cometer errores; pero era inevitable querer darle un zape y decirle "no seas estúpida".

El final me partió el corazón, porque perdimos a muchos personajes, y en un punto pensé que ya no tenía sentido, pero la escena final me dió tanta paz que lloré. 😭

Si bien no fue mi favorito de este año, se ganó un lugarcito en mi cora.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a strong novel, now somewhat dated by its treatment of blacks and silence on the legacy of racism in south Louisiana, but redeemed by the extensive research it displays in the accounts of the accents and patois of the Cajun people, the customs and music thereof, the history of rice growing in the region, and the detailed accounts of what all went into settling the region around the turn of the 20th century. I also liked the fact that the main protagonist, Lavinia, is a strong and capable woman who develops and grows in confidence and independence as the story unfolds. It drags a little in places, as do most novels of any length, but I found it an enjoyable and rewarding read.

[Twila Forsyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good, a little disappointing at the end, but that could be from being written in a different time where everything was not so graphic.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first France Parkinson Keyes book. I enjoyed it. The milieu was very well recreated. I came to care about the characters. I will read more by her.

[Gena Lott · Rating 4 out of 5]

An epic story of the coming of age in Louisiana. Very well written.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historical fiction

[Allison Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked her writing style, but it took 3/4 of the book for it to get moving. Cool that it is based on a true story though!

[Val Robson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first discovered Frances Parkinson Keyes as an author after a trip to New Orleans as a student aged about 20. I fell in love with the area and culture when and enjoyed the couple of books I managed to get hold of. I'm now approaching retirement end of life and have more time for reading so am thrilled to have read Blue Camellia as I loved it so much and am looking forward to reading a lot more of Frances Parkinson Keyes' books. The wonders of the Internet these days means I can get them easily too.

Blue Camelia is a charming story set in the late 19th century of a couple, Brett and Mary, move from the harsh climate of Illinois to the milder but wetter one of Louisiana. Their daughter, Lavinia, is only 7 when they move and they start pretty much from scratch in a newly created town building up a business farming rice. Lavinia is the main focus of the book but there are many other characters, especially the local Cajun population.

Frances Parkinson Keyes has a wonderful talent of making the reader feel not just part of the story but of the times and culture that she sets her books in. You always learn so much about the local history and about many other things - in this case about the cultivation of rice which I found surprisingly interesting. Her books make me want to go back to New Orleans and explore more of the surrounding area. How wonderful to live in those times with the lovely homes, horse and buggies and relative simplicity of life with a strong adherence to traditions and religious observance.

[Carrie Dalby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read in a long time that got me mad at the characters: like stop-reading-for-while-upset, but evoking the emotions in a reader is a good thing. The passionate distaste alone might merit a fourth star, but I didn't REALLY like it. It was painful at times to read, but yes I had to keep reading. Train wreck!
This is NOT a romance (this cover edition was updated to fit in with the 1970ish Gothic romance craze, while it was originally published in 1957, according to copyright.) I'd categorize it as Southern Gothic/family saga, and historical, of course. Well researched, interesting look into life in southern Louisiana in 1887-1910. The "Cajun" dialect was difficult to read, but it did strongly flavor the characters.
Bonus: Lavinia Winslow (one of the main characters) helped me understand why a critique partner hates one of my characters in the Gothic series I'm working on because of similar choices. Great to know, though an uncomfortable lesson to learn. ;)

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend gave me a copy of this that she found at an estate sale. One evening, I pulled it off and began reading...I really enjoyed this book which is told on a grand scale. It is about the life of one family who moves to Louisiana to find a better life in the late 19th century. I was particularly drawn to the Cajun characters with their simple, yet deep faith and traditions. It was very interesting to learn about the way life was in Louisiana for a farmer starting out...The main characters were very fleshed out and at times highly irritating but you end up admiring their tenacity and fortitude. The female characters, in particular, were very noble and my favorite character was Mother Anne, a Catholic Cajun mother of 7, who as Keyes describes her, is neither beautiful or educated, but a hardworking and loving mother to her family.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was published in 1957 and took place in the late 19th century. I have read it at least twice before. It was the story of a family who moved from Illinois to Louisiana and became involved in rice growing. The characters were portrayed as fairly typical for that era and they were my least favorite aspect of the book with the exception of the Cajun characters. I found them very lively and real. Without exception, I found the Winslows annoying and flat.

The subject matter was the most interesting feature of this book. I enjoy reading about the south, especially New Orleans, Louisiana. This is even more true since visiting New Orleans 3 years ago. The writer's attention to detail is very strong and her descriptions are some of the book's strengths. I enjoyed reading about the rice growing industry and the cajun culture.

[Susannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing work, a story so skillfully crafted that its social anachronisms seem charming and quite forgiveable in the context of their time. Powerful and based loosely on historical facts, the story of a woman who found her own way in life and carved a niche for herself that, instead of rejecting family and society, carefully selected the finest yields and stoutest promise, enfolded a heart full of love and wisdom with the best portions of her heritage and fortune to triumph over her personal nightmarish tragedy and make a life well lived.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story, though not an unusual one. Pretty much the same "woman falls in love with a man she can't have" sort of story, but I liked the setting very much and the ending pleased me, as it was not the expected one.

[Pdswhite · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that I have read all of Ms. Keyes books. And although they were all read about 40 years ago the first time, I have reread many of them. This was not my most favorite of them. And the reason I know that is that the plot does not stand out for me or the characters.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells of the beginning of the city of Crowley and the surrounding Acadia Parish. This book is fiction but I'm sure there are facts there. Makes me think of my ancestors and how they lived in the 1800's.

[Gaile]

Dis remember

[Dawn Galland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knew about this book since I was young but had never read it. It was a very good book. I'm from the area around Crowley so could relate to the area and the people.