Virgin Earth: A Novel (Tradescant Novels)

by Philippa Gregory

Book Overview

In this enthralling, freestanding sequel to Earthly Joys, New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory combines a wealth of gardening knowledge with a haunting love story that spans two... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743272536
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 661 Pages
• Weight: 1.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 1.7" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

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Review of VIRGIN EARTH by Phillippa Gregory

This is one of the best novels I have ever read. It is well written and easy to read. I could hardly put it down. It has romance, but is not trashy. It is a historically accurate, gripping narrative.

The characters come fully alive!

I have read most of Philippa Gregory's books now on print. She has the ability to narrate the story vividly as if watching a film. One can close one's eyes and smell the earth, feel the cold air, experience the gardener's awe and reverence as he watches nature's gifts. Additionally, her depiction of characters, far from superficial, captures their very core. Each of them comes fully alive as the story develops, sometimes in the most unexpected ways. The reader can readily identify with the psychological make-up and the "hidden agenda" that each character brings forth. Each evening as I sat to read I felt I was visiting familiar faces, familiar stories. Virgin Earth's characters all speak to our humanity, our yearnings, our values, our passion, our fears, our disappointments, our strengths and weaknesses. In the process, we get a "slice of life" as it was back in 17th century England. For plant lovers, it might be a good idea to have a reference botanical source to look up some of the plant species described in the book. It would deepen the learning and the delight.

Great Background Setting for her Characters

This is historical fiction at its finest. It is the second volume in the two volume set on the Tradescant family. They live in post-Elizabeth England when the Civil War is about to break out. While this story concerns the life of John Tradescant the Younger and his troubles observing the court of King Charles I. His observations convey to the reader what life as a low level observer must have been like during those times at that place. John then leaves his wife in England while he travels to Virginia where he has another love in the form of an Indian girl. I find the background of the book well researched and well written so that you indeed get a feeling for the way life was in those times. To a certain extent I did not like John. He was torn between two women and unfair to either. He was torn between two Governments and chose to switch his loyalties quickly when trouble appeared.

American botany and Civil War

Wonderful enunciation of the colonists' hardships and the natives' oppression A sequel to the stellar 'Earthly Joys', looking at John Tradescant the Younger exploring Virginia and collecting plants helped by a delightful native American girl. On his return to England, the Civil War is brewing and he feels trapped into choosing sides. In a marvelous twist for a "hero", he shows real cowardice and tries to bury his memories by fleeing the country, looking to make a new life as a colonist in America. The account of his terrifying hardships is amazing, as are the different descriptions of the life of the natives. A *very* good sequel.

This book cannot be praised enough

Virgin Earth, the sequel to the simply wonderful Earthly Joys, is nothing less than amazing. It tells the story of John Tradescant, Jr, a man haunted by the fame of his famous gardener father, a man who just lost his wife to the plague, and who has left his two little children to go plant hunting in Virginia. The book goes back and forth between Virginia and England, painting vivid pictures of England during its Civil War, and also of America during its savage beginnings. The lives of King Charles, Cromwell, the natives and settlers in Virginia, as well as John himself all intertwine, making this book one of the most elegant and compelling historical novels I have ever read!