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Title: The Secret Mandarin
Author: Sara Sheridan
Narrator: Ana Clements
Format: Unabridged
Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
Language: English
Release date: 11-23-17
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Genres: Fiction, Historical
Publisher's Summary:
A disgraced woman. A faraway land. A forbidden love...
An unforgettable tale set in Victorian London and 1840s China from a shining, young historical talent.
Desperate to shield her from scandal, Mary's brother-in-law, the ambitious botanist Robert Fortune, forces her to accompany him on a mission to China to steal tea plants for the East India Company. But Robert conceals his secret motives - to spy for the British forces, newly victorious in the recent Opium War.
His task is both difficult and dangerous - the British are still regarded as enemies by the Chinese, and exporting tea bushes carries the death sentence. In these harsh conditions, Mary grieves for her London life and the baby she has been forced to leave behind while her fury at Robert intensifies.
As their quest becomes increasingly treacherous, Robert and Mary disguise themselves as a mandarin and manservant. Thousands of miles from everything familiar, Mary revels in her new freedom and the Chinese way of life - and, when danger strikes, finds unexpected reserves of courage.
The Secret Mandarin is an unforgettable story of love, fortitude and recklessness - of a strong woman determined to make it in a man's world and a man who will stop at nothing to fulfil his desires.
Critic Reviews:
"A truly sumptuous, action-packed Oriental adventure that might just be our favourite historical romance of the year." (Daily Record)
"An enchanting story that draws you in...perfect for whiling away the hours on a rainy day." (Closer)
"If you like mystery, history, love and adventure then this book is for you!" (Scottish Home & Country)
Members Reviews:
Not a good Book
I did not like the characters in this book Robert (Mary's brother-in-law) was a bully. He only thought about himself and his
plants. Mary lacked any kind of inter strength or at times, intelligence. I was not impressed with this book at all. Story
line was ok and it could have been a great book but the lack of a good story line and characters made the book dull and
very boring. I ended up skipping about 5 chapters just to finish the book.
Good reading, will look for more from this Author
Good reading , will look for more from this Author.
A Surprising Journey Into the Past
I didn't buy The Secret Mandarin from Amazon; I picked it up on a discount table at a local newsagent. It is worth much more than it cost.
It is set in the 1800's and although it begins in England most of the tale takes place in a hostile China. This is a work of fiction based on a real life character, a botanist no less, but you don't need an interest in botany to be carried away on this adventure.
The story is written in the first person and although our narrator is touted to be a carefree and adventurous woman, the voice is conservative. This is a small criticism and is outweighed by a strong and authentic story line, the author clearly having done her research.
If you read to escape the every day and want to be transported to another time and place, this book will do it for you.
"Factional" account of plant hunting in China
It's loosely based on the story of Robert Fortune, but it's also a lot of fun and interesting. If you don't get too worried about the fictional elements that make this a very accessible book, than the backdrop of the plant-hunting expedition is quite engaging.
