Karen (retired Bookseller) read & reviewed; Where in All the World is a captivating novel, inspired by the life of Gertrude Edith Watt, a young spirited New Zealand woman who fell in love and married a British adventurer Ewart Grogan. Their life in Victorian Britain and Africa deteriorates due to Grogans actions and betrayal. The novel is rich in details of place and history. Fascinating characters, drama and plenty of tension meant I was completely absorbed in this well researched novel.
Harriet Watson dreams of a life beyond the Canterbury plains of 1890s New Zealand. When a celebrated English explorer sets his sights on her, she is swept into a grand romance and a far greater deception.
Determined to make a name for himself, Curtis De Courcey undertakes a perilous expedition across Africa, returning a hero to claim Harriet as his bride. But as whispers of scandal and cruelty gather, Harriet finds herself isolated, controlled and increasingly aware that true happiness may lie far from the direction she was seeking.
From the Rakaia hills to the drawing rooms of London, through the wilds of East Africa and the brutal heart of the Congo Free State, Where in All the World traces one woman's journey through betrayal, resilience and self-discovery. Faced with the violence of empire and the constrictions of Victorian marriage, Harriet must summon extraordinary courage to reclaim her life — and her freedom.
Vanessa Croft
Historical fiction
Paperback, 384 pages
H: 234mm W: 153mm