The Fair Botanists: Could one rare plant hold the key to a thousand riches?

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Observing this unfolding spectacle is newly widowed Elizabeth Rocheid who arrives in the city to live with her late husband’s aunt and start to build a new solitary life. So it's hardly surprising that she creates fantastic female characters in this book, from courtesan Belle Brodie who is passionate about the use of plants in perfumery (or perhaps I should say potions), to recently widowed botanical artist Elizabeth Rocheid relying on the kindness of her late husband's relatives, to blind Mhairi MacDonald who works for an Edinburgh whisky distiller. In addition to this dire lack of characterization, the plot (such as there is one), is spread far too thinly across the characters, and there wasn’t very much of it to begin with. It is however mainly about two women fighting for their independence - Elizabeth, recently widowed and living with her late husband's elderly aunt, and Belle, a courtesan who is the illegitimate child of gentry and has a strong interest in perfumery. What develops from here is a tale of identity (plants and people), status, money, plans and love, death, theft and passions, alongside a visit to Edinburgh from the king, George IV.

Cmo os decía, la trama tiene lugar en Edimburgo, y son varios los acontecimientos que le añaden interés a la historia. It is a time when Enlightenment is in force, a time when peoples ideas are changing, people are becoming more vociferous. The bloom of the agave serves as the plot's centerpoint and I thought it gave the story great momentum with what each character planned in relation with the plant. McNab has more to lose than most, Elizabeth wants to capture the rare event with her art, and Belle… well, she is seeking the missing ingredient for a perfume so powerfully mystical it will secure her future.Description of the Enlightenment city and what was life back then made me picture it all in vivid colours and I was happy to recognize the historical figures, events and places our guide told us about, as well as to learn new facts about Edinburgh's botanic garden which I saved in my bucket list for the next visit to Scotland.

As head gardener William McNab, Regis Keeper Robert Graham, seed merchant Mrs Dickson, eminent botanist Lady Liston and Belle Brodie all await the flowering with bated breath it makes for a brilliantly complicated affair of hidden motives, blackmail and secret shenanigans. The cast of compelling characters is led by two charming heroines, Elizabeth and Belle, and include illustrious historical figures you’ll be delighted to meet in Sheridan’s lively portrayals.These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. It's a beautifully written historical adventure, with feisty and memorable characters, secrets, a dash of romance, plenty drama and is such a satisfying read. This lends itself to making the story of Belle and Elizabeth believable, fun, enjoyable and a little risque (in its 18th century setting).