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Trade Wind

3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 · rating details · 1,048 ratings · 60 reviews

The scene is teeming Zanzibar just before the American Civil War, when the Isle of Cloves was a center of African slave trade. To it comes Hero Athena Hollis, a Boston bluestocking filled with self-righteousness and bent on good deeds.

Then she meets Rory Frost, a cynical, wicked, shrewd and good-humored trader in slaves. What is Hero to make of him (and of her feelings for

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Mass Market Paperback, 553 pages

Published March 1st 1985 by Bantam (first published 1963)

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Aug 20, 2008 Misfit rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, historical-romance, can-you-make-that-font-any-smaller

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is the story of Hero Athena Hollis, an extremely independent woman of the 19th century, vehemently opposed to slavery and all of society's injustices and determined to use her wealth to stamp them out. After Hero's father dies, she is invited to join her family in Zanzibar where her uncle is serving as the American Counsel. Hero's family always expected that she would marry her aunt's son by a first marriage, even though she is not sure she's in love with him.

While on voyage to Zanzibar du...more This is the story of Hero Athena Hollis, an extremely independent woman of the 19th century, vehemently opposed to slavery and all of society's injustices and determined to use her wealth to stamp them out. After Hero's father dies, she is invited to join her family in Zanzibar where her uncle is serving as the American Counsel. Hero's family always expected that she would marry her aunt's son by a first marriage, even though she is not sure she's in love with him.

While on voyage to Zanzibar during a huge storm, Hero is washed off the boat deck and presumed dead. However, another ship captained by the infamous slave trader Rory Frost pulls up their rigging out of the sea and finds a half drowned, bruised and battered Hero. Since Hero is such a bruised mess from her ordeal, Rory has no idea what a beauty she is until sometime after she has been returned to her family. To say more of the story than this would be revealing the entire plot, which I don't like to do.

M.M. Kaye's knowledge of the Far East shines through, as it does in all her books. She stays as historically accurate as she can, and pulls no punches when describing the customs of the Island, the slave trade, the cholera epidemic and more. And once again, Kaye is able through her books to remind us that the west and east are two different and completely disparate cultures and will never see eye to eye. One other lesson brought to home in this story is when Hero's eyes are opened to the fact that for all her good intentions, going barging in to another culture you know nothing about and trying to change them "for the better" to the more "civilized culture" is inherently wrong, and one should look to correct what is one own's back yard first before trying to change the world.

This was a wonderful tale and I had a hard time putting it down. Out of print, but readily available at my county library.

*******SPOILERS DISCUSSED****
I see some of the other reviewers on Amazon were distressed by the rape scene(s) towards the end of the book. While I do not condone rape under any circumstance, one must remember this was 19th century, in a remote island off the east coast of Africa, during a very turbulent time in that island's history. Kaye set the plot well leading up to the rape and Rory's actions, while not fully justified, did fit in with the story line. There were no graphic descriptions; everything was left to the reader's imagination, with no gratuitous sex at all. Rory showed remorse the next day and while those same reviewers felt that the second night was a rape, I did not get that at all. I was surprised at the vehemence of those reviewers who reacted so strongly and I'm glad I reserved judgment and read the book for myself. It's funny how so many of our soap opera heroes began as rapists after attacking the woman who would eventually become his true love and redeemed by Hollywood to become yet another super couple, yet people found this rape to be highly offensive. I don't get it. (less)

6 likes · like · see review

Oct 15, 2009 Hannah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, historicals, romances

Trade Wind is, bar none, my favorite book...period.

I first read it when I was 16 years old, and now I'm 46. Even after 15+ readings (I've lost count), I still love it. I always hesitate to recommend it to friends, because it's almost like my baby--I don't want people to think it's ugly.

It combines beautiful writing with in-depth factual information about the history and island of Zanzibar of the mid-1800's. The plot is well maintained throughout the book. Kaye's writing is both lyrical and stro...more

11 likes · like · see review

Jun 03, 2010 Juliana rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone

Recommended to Juliana by: Heather

Shelves: books-you-stay-up-too-late-reading

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 23, 2009 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-historical-fiction, doorway-setting

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Trade Wind is one of those delightful books that you can tell belongs to another decade, just from the sentence structure and style of storytelling. I couldn't quite tell while I was reading whether the historical setting was meant to be a device to advance the story, or whether the main characters' lives were an opportunity to write about the political and social situation in Zanzibar. Yes - Zanzibar.

Hero Athena Hollis (our heroine) is on her way to her uncle's family in Zanzibar when she manag...more Trade Wind is one of those delightful books that you can tell belongs to another decade, just from the sentence structure and style of storytelling. I couldn't quite tell while I was reading whether the historical setting was meant to be a device to advance the story, or whether the main characters' lives were an opportunity to write about the political and social situation in Zanzibar. Yes - Zanzibar.

Hero Athena Hollis (our heroine) is on her way to her uncle's family in Zanzibar when she manages to get tossed overboard in a storm and rescued by the despicable - yet dashing - captain of a slave ship. Once desposited with her relatives at the American Consulate, Hero, being a devout crusader against all manner of injustice, manages to embroil herself in dangerous local politics.

Amid all rebellion and intrigue, Hero must also make a decision about a husband. There's Clayton, her uncle's step-son, to whom she has been practically engaged for several years... and of course, Rory Frost, the dashing captain who is decidedly not suitable.

There's really no question about who Hero will ultimately end up with, though many readers will be horrified by her treatment at the hands of Captain Frost, who rapes her in response to the rape and subsequent suicide of his mistress - crimes laid at Clayton's feet.

It's Kaye's treatment of this rape that really unsettled me. The act itself was not described, and only aluded to in vague terms. But Hero seems to understand why he does it, is not overly perturbed, and after a discussion with Clayton, ends up at least partially blaming herself. (If she had slept with Clayton, he wouldn't have needed to rape Frost's mistress, and none of it would have happened...) She is upset with Clayton, but still willing to consider him as a potential husband. And she forgives Frost without him ever offering an apology - as if he had nothing to apologize for. Highly disturbing all the way around.

But despite all that, probably because of Kaye's skillful writing, it's difficult to be disturbed while in the middle of it all. I truly enjoyed the book, and was pleased by the ending, though it was certainly not without problems.

I've already put another of Kaye's historical novels on hold, and am awaiting it eagerly. (less)

1 like · like · see review

Aug 09, 2012 Shelley rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is one of my all time favorite books for historical fiction. I read it every year or two.

1 like · like · see review

Jul 16, 2012 Caitlin rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, 19th-century, africa

No doubt a lot of people will be able to enjoy this story. I enjoyed it myself for about 300 pages or so. It's adventurous and intriguing, although not as good as The Far Pavilions or Shadow of the Moon. There's just one sticking point that dropped this book down for me...

The reason for the one star isn't because of the quality of writing but because of a turn in the plot that made it difficult for me to stomach anything that came before or after it.

(view spoiler)...more No doubt a lot of people will be able to enjoy this story. I enjoyed it myself for about 300 pages or so. It's adventurous and intriguing, although not as good as The Far Pavilions or Shadow of the Moon. There's just one sticking point that dropped this book down for me...

The reason for the one star isn't because of the quality of writing but because of a turn in the plot that made it difficult for me to stomach anything that came before or after it.

(view spoiler)(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Jul 11, 2012 Helen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-novel

I did not enjoy this as much as Far Pavilions and Shadow of the Moon but I did enjoy it. This book is in part a prequel to Death in Zanzibar. I loved the description of the way Hero becomes intrigued with Zanzibar by the quote about "men whose heads do grow beneath their shoulders" or something like that. Is that a quote from Mandeville, I do not remember? The historical questions are very interesting in this book, I thought. I do not know if I totally agree with them but they certainly provoke...more

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Aug 01, 2011 Jan rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 06, 2012 Jodi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Trade Wind was an interesting look at the history of Zanzibar, taking place just before the American Civil War, when the island played a central part in the African slave trade. M.M. Kaye is a great writer, and any story she tells is well researched and plotted. Trade Wind, however, does not measure up with Kaye's monumental work, The Far Pavilions. To me, Trade Wind was a better-than-average romance novel, disguising itself as a work of historical fiction. Ironically, however, I wish it had con...more

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Jun 19, 2009 Teea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: drama-drama-drama

A different culture, different time period, different perspective. I found the journey these characters took fascinating and realistic. I would suggest the shortest version of the novel. I read a later version where Kaye added story lines from the original draft. I found the extra material added no new incite into the characters and actually made the story become lengthy and boring. Definitely choose the shorter version!

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Jun 06, 2013 Mackenzie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thought that this book was very good; however, I didn't fully enjoy this book til I read the post script form the author that revealed that most of the characters in this book are real people who lived on Zanzibar a hundred years ago. For example Salme, one of the important characters, was a real Arabian princess. So over all its a good book.

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May 02, 2011 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars

Kaye writes a fiction based on actual happenings on the island of Zanzibar. The story is about slave traders in 19th century; however, I felt she defined those who make judgements without in depth knowledge and those who speak with a forked tongue. An enjoyable read.

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Jun 16, 2011 Pbwritr rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Oh my goodness, what a thoroughly enjoyable and tantalizing book! Zanzibar in the mid-1800s! My only trepidation was that the slave-trader/kidnapper/murderer/rapist would end up with the female protaganist. Nevertheless, an absorbing read.

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Jan 02, 2010 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: all M.M. Kaye's fans

Shelves: bookmooch, hf-india, historical-fiction, read-2010, favorites

All the sea is not deep enough to wash away blood relationship.

What is written is written...

Visit those you love, though your abode be distant,
And clouds and darkness have arisen between you...

This is the extraordinary story of Hero Hollis and Rory Frost which is settled in Zanzibar. The author did a splendid work by describing the story of this not-well know island during slavery in the 19th century, showing the unfair game between France and England in order to profit of these workers.
For fu...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 01, 2011 Sharon A. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

I really wavered over my rating on this book. I loved most of it, really liked all of it, and let my mixed feelings about the controversial portions of this book lead.

This book had everything I loved about Far Pavilions with a couple of notable exceptions. It was political, with lots of background information, without getting bogged down in details like FP did. For me the biggest thing missing was a fleshed out romance. Rory and Hero end up together, but it's not really clear why, it's almost l...more

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Dec 20, 2009 Nancy added it

A splendid tale of love & death in a exotic locale. The scene is teeming Zanzibar just before the American Civil War , when the "Isle of Cloves" was aceenter of African slave trade.

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Mar 06, 2013 Martha Johnson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Pirates, Boston woman visiting relatives, Africa, diamonds -- it's all there in great historical romance detail. One of the very very best of its kind.

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Feb 11, 2013 Sarah Conner rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book in high school (40+) years ago. Loved it then and I am not sure I have read many books I liked as well in all the years that followed.

1 like · like · see review

Dec 11, 2009 Kitty rated it 2 of 5 stars

So I was desperate for something to read on the cruise. It wasn't even a decent bodice ripper, way too much politics and geography involved.

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Nov 22, 2010 Cheryl S. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, africa, historical-fict, romance

3.5 stars. Pretty good read although a little perdictable probably due to it being written 40 yrs ago and my having read a fair amount of this genre years ago.

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Jun 16, 2010 abi rafon marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: r-historical, historical-fiction, owned

bought this book few months ago but i havent read it yet. dont know when im going to start it. maybe on vacation.

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Jun 03, 2009 Heidi rated it 5 of 5 stars

The atmosphere and the characters haunted me for several days after I read it the first time.

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May 07, 2009 Whit marked it as to-read

I know I've read this... but it's been so long I don't remember it... time to re-read it!

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Mar 23, 2009 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am a fan of M.M. Kaye books. I have liked all of them that I've read.

1 like · like · see review

Jan 13, 2010 Sydney Young rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm actually listening to this, as it was recommended by a fellow book club member who is a travel agent. I am more than half way through and don't hate it, and will finish it.

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Dec 31, 2012 puppitypup rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This was one of the first romance novels I ever read. I still remember the characters.

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Mar 13, 2012 Elena rated it 1 of 5 stars

The book was good at the beginning but then there were too many unbelievable female characters. I couldn't finish it.

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Jun 30, 2009 Aja aka IReen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, another-time-and-place

What I learned from this book is that I dont want Cholera. Period

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Feb 01, 2011 Sariah rated it 3 of 5 stars

I hate to do this. I never do this. I'm giving up on this book. I haven't actually finished this book. I like what I've read so far, but I feel so bogged down in it and I'm just not getting anywhere. Hopefully I'll pick it up again after I've read some other books and I can give an actual review. Boo to me. :(

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Jun 22, 2009 Sadie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a good history/fiction. I need to read it again. love the author!!

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About M.M. Kaye

M. M. Kaye(Mary Margaret) was born in India and spent her early childhood and much of her early-married life there. Her family ties with the country are strong: her grandfather, father, brother and husband all served the British Raj. After India's independence, her husband, Major-General Goff Hamilton of Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Guides (the famous Indian Army regiment featured in The Far Pavi...more

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