The Signature of All Things

 The Signature of All Things

Reviewed By  Tania Hawkins       November 11, 2013

 

Author  Elizabeth Gilbert

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ISBN:                 9781408850114
Publisher:         Bloomsbury
Release Date:    

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Born into a family of strong characters, Alma grows into a precocious child, just like her father.  Henry, her father is a renowned botanical explorer with a vast fortune.  How he got to this place in his life is a very interesting read.

We are drawn to the beginning of Henry’s career, where he establishes himself and his way of doing business…theft.  Stealing samples of plants from Kew Gardens and selling them to botanists and private collectors.  Henry eventually gets caught, and is sent to sea with Captain Cook on the HMS Resolution.  

From here we are then invited into the raising of Alma, which is interrupted slightly by the arrival of her adopted sister.  The two girls are absolute opposites and do not understand each other, nor do they wish to.

Alma’s thirst for knowledge, in particular botany and more specifically, moss, draws her closer to the mysteries of revolution.  When her mother passed on, Alma was expected to take her place by her father’s side, and assist with all his correspondence and running of the household. Eventually, Henry her father also passed on, and left the entire estate to Alma.  Finally, Alma could live her life as she pleased!

Alma gave everything to her sister in 1851 and sailed off to Tahiti. Then in 1854 Alma sailed to Holland and the home of her late mother.  Here she grew into her own, with the guidance of her Uncle.

This is an exceptional book with terrific botanical information and historical data. You get drawn into Alma’s life and her wondrous experiences. Another outstanding result from Elizabeth Gilbert.

Fiction