Kate Grenville's A Room Made of Leaves is on sale in stunning hardback on the 6th August. A rich and detailed narrative based on the real life story of the remarkable Elizabeth Macarthur. Inspired by letters and documents connected to the entrepreneur and pioneer John Macarthur and Elizabeth, his wife. Providing a fresh and refreshing insight in to the life, thoughts and feelings of Elizabeth, a figure whose achievements were until recently silenced by history.
This exciting new book is the first from Kate Grenville in a decade, and what a story this is! Elizabeth is headstrong and wilfull in nature, but learns to become small in order to not be observed. However, when her husband takes a role in Australia, and she must travel to an unknown continent, Elizabeth needs to discover a strength that she had never imagined. This is a unique insight into a key family in Autralia's history.
It is 1788. Twenty-one-year-old Elizabeth is hungry for life but, as the ward of a Devon clergyman, knows she has few prospects. When proud, scarred soldier John Macarthur promises her the earth one midsummer’s night, she believes him.
But Elizabeth soon realises she has made a terrible mistake. Her new husband is reckless, tormented, driven by some dark rage at the world. He tells her he is to take up a position as Lieutenant in a New South Wales penal colony and she has no choice but to go. Sailing for six months to the far side of the globe with a child growing inside her, she arrives to find Sydney Town a brutal, dusty, hungry place of makeshift shelters, failing crops, scheming and rumours.
All her life she has learned to be obliging, to fold herself up small. Now, in the vast landscapes of an unknown continent, Elizabeth has to discover a strength she never imagined, and passions she could never express.
Inspired by the real life of a remarkable woman, this is an extraordinarily rich, beautifully wrought novel of resilience, courage and the mystery of human desire.
We're excited to shout about this brillian novel and we hope that you'll love this book as much as we do.
Please find below the dates and details of our Ambassador Book Buzz, as well as the links to our ambassador's blogs. Please show them some #BookLove and see what they had to say about A Room Made of Leaves.
6th August: Rachel Read It
7th August: Motley Reviews
10th August: The Northern Reader
11th August: Over The Rainbow Book Blog
12th August: What Do I Read Now
Comments (46)
Fiona K - 10th September 2020
I love novels based on historical people and events, and this sounds like a great read.Jennifer R - 10th September 2020
I'm really excited & can't wait to read this book xxTracey H - 10th September 2020
I love real life based stories and this sounds like a fascinating readSandra F - 10th September 2020
Sounds great I like era books the cover is enticingMark W - 9th September 2020
There is something both joyous and important in discovering women's role in history . A history that aside from grand figures has largely been ignored. This sounds wonderful and the cover design is stunning .Charlotte C - 9th September 2020
This book sounds really interesting, its the sort of thing I love to read!Patricia A - 8th September 2020
Sounds like a book I would enjoySusan B - 8th September 2020
History is fascinating no matter if presented in a fiction or non-fiction book. Love the sound of this one.Theresa T - 7th September 2020
This book sound lovely, it's also so pretty and would make an awesome gift for a book loverMichael O - 6th September 2020
Looks a great read for the autumn nightsMichelle S - 5th September 2020
The book looks greatGlenys W - 4th September 2020
I would love to read this book, I think the cover is terrificSia M - 3rd September 2020
What a lovely cover! I’m so excited to try this book!Louise C - 2nd September 2020
I'm really looking forward to reading this bookAoibhin M - 1st September 2020
Sounds absolutely beautiful - can't wait to readSarah M - 28th August 2020
Love that cover!Alex M - 26th August 2020
Friends moved to Sydney lately so I'd love to read thisAnita H - 22nd August 2020
Looks interesting and am going on holiday soon so it’d be good to takeLinda H - 21st August 2020
I love Kate Grenville's writing and always look forward to her latest novel ... this one sounds as though it won't disappoint!Jacqui G - 20th August 2020
The cover alone makes this a book you want to delve into.MARIA R - 20th August 2020
Oh looks like a brilliant book! cannot wait to read it!Claire T - 20th August 2020
this sounds like a really interesting story !Michelle L - 20th August 2020
I love books based on historical facts. This sounds like a read I would enjoyAmy Louise B - 20th August 2020
This sounds really interesting - I love historical novels so will keep an eye out for this one!Sarah B - 20th August 2020
Love the sound of this one!Susie W - 19th August 2020
I am much more a fan on non-fiction, so with the book being based around a real-life story, it makes it much more appealing to me.Lisa F - 19th August 2020
What a gorgeous cover! This sounds right up my street!Alyson H - 19th August 2020
Love this cover!Andrea H - 19th August 2020
Love the cover but also want to read as an Aussie myself!Helen E - 19th August 2020
I am looking forward to reading this intriguing sounding bookLaura P - 18th August 2020
I lived in Australia for a year and know Sydney well so I love reading books set there!fiona w - 18th August 2020
If the cover is anything to go by this will be a good readClaire F - 18th August 2020
I love historical novels so this sounds perfect for meAnnabel G - 18th August 2020
Looks like a great readSheena B - 17th August 2020
I have always enjoyed Kate Grenville booksMegan K - 16th August 2020
This sounds like just my kind of read!Linda M - 14th August 2020
I would love to learn more about the history of Australia, having found out that ancestors emigrated there!Sally C - 14th August 2020
Wow, this book looks amazing!Jenny M - 13th August 2020
I am going to recommend this to my Mum as I think she would love this, and I would love to read it too.Lisa A - 13th August 2020
The book and cover look really interesting, I love books about Australia as I used to live there.Stefan I - 12th August 2020
What a fantastic book cover, but I will definitely not judge it only by this. I am sure it is very special insideMarion G - 12th August 2020
This book looks absolutely fascinating.Jo S - 11th August 2020
Sounds like such an interesting story.Natalie B - 11th August 2020
This looks so unique and intriguing xxGerri T - 10th August 2020
This book sounds well worth reading. I love this period of history and her story is very similar to 9ne of my ancestors who emigrated to New Zealand as a contemporary. The cover is very attractive as well.Gill W - 10th August 2020
This book sounds perfect for me. I love anything based on real life and with my son living in Australia I love to delve into any Australian history.Leave A Reply
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