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| In the Shade of the Almond Trees |
Today I am taking part in a virtual book tour for In the Shade of the Almond Trees: A Novel
by Dominique Marny via France Book Tours.Synopsis
In the aftermath of World War I, a family estate hangs in the balance.
For generations, the Barthelemy family tended to the olive trees of Restanques, a sprawling property in Cotignac whose olive oil and almonds were as incredible as the countryside that produced them. But all that changed when war came to France. Robert Barthelemy never returned from the trenches, and without him, the farm is beginning to die. His widow has lost the will to live, and only the fierce efforts of their daughter, Jeanne, have kept the creditors at bay.
Jeanne is spending an afternoon at home with the family's grim financial statements when a handsome stranger appears on the front steps. His name is Jerome Guillaumin and he is a brilliant botanist about to embark on a journey around the globe. From the moment they meet, Jeanne is struck by feelings she never thought possible: feelings that could save her life or destroy everything she has ever known.
My review
This novel is set in the
years directly after the First World War and as well as beautiful descriptions of
it’s Provencal setting and the olive and almond tree orchards, that conjured up
perfect pictures in my mind, there was lots of historical interest added in as
well. From the seedy back street life in the docks of Marseille to the
perceived ‘comfortable’ life of the wealthy land owners, albeit those who were
struggling to survive in difficult times, to the lives and background stories
of their workers, the olive and almond pickers, the farm hands and the serving
staff. We are shown a snippet of the real Provence of the period and this all
added to the story for me, making it a very enjoyable read.
I really warmed to the
character of Jeanne, a strong and independent woman who despite her young age
takes on the task of running the family estate, pretty much alone. A young lady
in her position should have been concentrating on finding herself a husband and
starting a family, however she has a lot of responsibility resting on her
shoulders and is unable to give in to her passions, unlike her mother and her
brother.
Throughout the novel, a
varied cast of characters comes and goes, but not all the visitors arriving at
their door are genuine, some are only out to make the most of their situation,
but can Jeanne know who can be trusted? Is her love for her family estate and
her ideas for it’s future enough to keep it going? I for one had my fingers
crossed for her from quite early on.
This would be an ideal book
for readers who enjoy historical fiction set in France.
About the author
Dominique Marny
was raised in a family
that loved art, literature, adventure, and travel.
In addition to being a novelist,
she is a playwright and screenwriter,
and writes for various magazines.
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In the Shade of the Almond Trees: A Novel
is available in paperback and ebook format and links to Amazon can be found below.
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