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The English Girl
Secrets, feuds, passion and turmoil in 1950s Arabia. The new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author, Katherine Webb.
Joan Seabrook, a fledgling archaeologist, has fulfilled a lifelong dream to visit Arabia by travelling from England to the ancient city of Muscat with her fiancé, Rory. Desperate to escape the pain of a personal tragedy, she longs to explore the desert fort of Jabrin, and unearth the treasures it is said to conceal.
But Oman is a land lost in time - hard, secretive, and in the midst of a violent upheaval - and gaining permission to explore Jabrin could prove impossible. Joan's disappointment is only alleviated by the thrill of meeting her childhood heroine, pioneering explorer Maude Vickery, and hearing first-hand the stories that captured her imagination and fuelled her ambition as a child.
Joan's encounter with the extraordinary and reclusive Maude will change everything. Both women have things that they want, and secrets they must keep. As their friendship grows, Joan is seduced by Maude's stories, and the thrill of the adventure they hold, and only too late does she begin to question her actions - actions that will spark a wild, and potentially disastrous, chain of events.
Will the girl that left England for this beautiful but dangerous land ever find her way back?
Joan Seabrook, a fledgling archaeologist, has fulfilled a lifelong dream to visit Arabia by travelling from England to the ancient city of Muscat with her fiancé, Rory. Desperate to escape the pain of a personal tragedy, she longs to explore the desert fort of Jabrin, and unearth the treasures it is said to conceal.
But Oman is a land lost in time - hard, secretive, and in the midst of a violent upheaval - and gaining permission to explore Jabrin could prove impossible. Joan's disappointment is only alleviated by the thrill of meeting her childhood heroine, pioneering explorer Maude Vickery, and hearing first-hand the stories that captured her imagination and fuelled her ambition as a child.
Joan's encounter with the extraordinary and reclusive Maude will change everything. Both women have things that they want, and secrets they must keep. As their friendship grows, Joan is seduced by Maude's stories, and the thrill of the adventure they hold, and only too late does she begin to question her actions - actions that will spark a wild, and potentially disastrous, chain of events.
Will the girl that left England for this beautiful but dangerous land ever find her way back?
448 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2016
66 people are currently reading
1281 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Webb
17 books734 followersI was born in Kent in 1977 and grew up in rural Hampshire before reading History at Durham University. History remains a passion, and I write character-led mystery dramas, often with historical settings. I love to explore the way past events can reverberate in the present, and I'm fascinated by the vast grey areas in human morality and behaviour.
My debut novel 'The Legacy' was voted viewers' choice for Best Summer Read on the Channel 4 TV Book Club in 2010, and was nominated for Best New Writer at the National Book Awards in the same year. Subsequently, 'The Unseen','A Half Forgotten Song' and 'The Misbegotten' were all Sunday Times Top Ten bestsellers, and my books have been translated into 24 languages around the world.
My debut novel 'The Legacy' was voted viewers' choice for Best Summer Read on the Channel 4 TV Book Club in 2010, and was nominated for Best New Writer at the National Book Awards in the same year. Subsequently, 'The Unseen','A Half Forgotten Song' and 'The Misbegotten' were all Sunday Times Top Ten bestsellers, and my books have been translated into 24 languages around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
March 2, 2016
This historical novel employs the now, rather tired, plot device of a dual time line to tell the story of Joan Seabrook in 1958 and Maude Vickery, an Edwardian explorer in the early 1900’s. Joan is a rather earnest young woman who longs for adventure and travel and whose imagination was inspired by her father’s tales of Arabia. Her brother is stationed in Oman and she manages to visit him, along with her rather dull fiancé, Rory.
One of the reasons that Joan is so eager to visit Daniel, who she worships, is to attempt to meet up with, the now elderly, Maude, who is her heroine. The first visit does not go well and Joan feels crushed, but gradually the two women strike up a wary relationship and Maude asks for her help in a task which could lead Joan into danger.
There was much I liked about this novel – the setting, in particular, was well written. However, as always with dual time frames, one is usually more engrossing than the other. Although most of the story involves Joan, I found the parts of the book which told Maude’s story more interesting. Although Joan was a sympathetic character, much about her did not seem to add up. She was a risk taker, as shown by her coming to Oman in the first place, and in becoming embroiled in Maude’s mission. However, her relationship with Rory, explained later in the book, just did not make sense to me from the start. She seemed unlikely to invest so much in such an unromantic relationship, when she was obviously a very passionate woman.
There are lots of plot twists, some good old-fashioned adventure, romance and an interesting set of characters. Some of the novel did seem a little like a creative writing exercise at times – a little soulless in parts. However, it was an accomplished and well written debut. I feel it would be a good beach novel – ideal for reading surrounded by sea and sand for full effect.
Rated 3.5
One of the reasons that Joan is so eager to visit Daniel, who she worships, is to attempt to meet up with, the now elderly, Maude, who is her heroine. The first visit does not go well and Joan feels crushed, but gradually the two women strike up a wary relationship and Maude asks for her help in a task which could lead Joan into danger.
There was much I liked about this novel – the setting, in particular, was well written. However, as always with dual time frames, one is usually more engrossing than the other. Although most of the story involves Joan, I found the parts of the book which told Maude’s story more interesting. Although Joan was a sympathetic character, much about her did not seem to add up. She was a risk taker, as shown by her coming to Oman in the first place, and in becoming embroiled in Maude’s mission. However, her relationship with Rory, explained later in the book, just did not make sense to me from the start. She seemed unlikely to invest so much in such an unromantic relationship, when she was obviously a very passionate woman.
There are lots of plot twists, some good old-fashioned adventure, romance and an interesting set of characters. Some of the novel did seem a little like a creative writing exercise at times – a little soulless in parts. However, it was an accomplished and well written debut. I feel it would be a good beach novel – ideal for reading surrounded by sea and sand for full effect.
Rated 3.5
March 10, 2016
DNF at 50% of the book. I tried but the story and the characters didn't work for me. The book sounded interesting, but in the end, I felt that I just didn't care enough about the characters or their plight to continue with the book.
October 23, 2021
"The English Girl" is the story of Joan, a well-situated, adventurous young lady and Maude Vickery, a well-situated, adventurous old lady who had her heyday in 1909. Their lives cross paths in Oman in 1958 when Maude manipulates Jane into helping her bring her (Maude's) carefully calculated revenge on a fellow explorer to an explosive conclusion.
Themes: Oman and its 20th century history, revenge, ambition, exploration and adventure, bonds of family vs those of loyalty and emotion, deceit, the dubious role the British army played in the Middle East, soldiers, duty and sexuality (both female and male).
I've seen Katherine Webb novels around before. Fat, chick-litty looking things that give off the vibe of "I'm going to be wistful, delicately feminine and take at least a month and a half to read." I never had the urge to try one due to that, but when I found the audio book of "Das Versprechen der Wüste" (The English Girl) at a flea market, I thought, why not? Give it a go.
And I'm glad I did. It was way better done than I'd expected!
The descriptions of Oman, the British army enclave, Maude Vickery and her home, are so vivid that they capture your interest simply on their own. The character of Joan can be rather annoying at times, being as young and as hyper as she is. She reminds one of a cocker spaniel puppy. Pleasant, lively and adventurous, but not terribly bright and far too eager to chase any random ball she sees. And get herself into masses of trouble.
Maude Vickery, on the other hand, is a very intelligent, daring, mean old lady with a serious bone to pick. She easily could have made into an evil witch character...if she wasn't so well drawn, and armed with a fantastic, historically correct and utterly believable motivation for revenge. Despite, or perhaps due to, her grumpiness and manipulation, Maude is really the star of the novel.
The story is told in a braid style, jumping back and forth between Joan's story in the '50s, and Maude's story, in 1909. That can be a bit frustrating, especially when the high action in one strand of the braid gets intense....and then the narrative suddenly switches to the other strand. At about the middle of the story, you get the idea that it's very important to see each strand step-by-step in order to appreciate the entire concept, and the switching becomes more tolerable. I was surprised at how much adventure and high action there was. Certainly not something you'd guess by the look of the cover nor the blurb!
For what it is, this novel is done exceptionally well.
As far as the audio book (German version) itself goes, I have two criticisms.
1. The levels at which the two narratives were recorded were so different, that I had to turn up the volume to hear Maude's story and then got my ear blasted off when we went back to Joan's. That wasn't cool.
2. The reader for Joan (I think that was Anna Thalbach) is a good reader for narration, but she made Jane's speaking voice whiney, like a little child tugging on its mother's skirt and cry-begging for a chocolate, the whole time. That could have lead to Joan being more annoying than she'd be in print. (The reader for Maude, Gabriele Blum, was great.)
Themes: Oman and its 20th century history, revenge, ambition, exploration and adventure, bonds of family vs those of loyalty and emotion, deceit, the dubious role the British army played in the Middle East, soldiers, duty and sexuality (both female and male).
I've seen Katherine Webb novels around before. Fat, chick-litty looking things that give off the vibe of "I'm going to be wistful, delicately feminine and take at least a month and a half to read." I never had the urge to try one due to that, but when I found the audio book of "Das Versprechen der Wüste" (The English Girl) at a flea market, I thought, why not? Give it a go.
And I'm glad I did. It was way better done than I'd expected!
The descriptions of Oman, the British army enclave, Maude Vickery and her home, are so vivid that they capture your interest simply on their own. The character of Joan can be rather annoying at times, being as young and as hyper as she is. She reminds one of a cocker spaniel puppy. Pleasant, lively and adventurous, but not terribly bright and far too eager to chase any random ball she sees. And get herself into masses of trouble.
Maude Vickery, on the other hand, is a very intelligent, daring, mean old lady with a serious bone to pick. She easily could have made into an evil witch character...if she wasn't so well drawn, and armed with a fantastic, historically correct and utterly believable motivation for revenge. Despite, or perhaps due to, her grumpiness and manipulation, Maude is really the star of the novel.
The story is told in a braid style, jumping back and forth between Joan's story in the '50s, and Maude's story, in 1909. That can be a bit frustrating, especially when the high action in one strand of the braid gets intense....and then the narrative suddenly switches to the other strand. At about the middle of the story, you get the idea that it's very important to see each strand step-by-step in order to appreciate the entire concept, and the switching becomes more tolerable. I was surprised at how much adventure and high action there was. Certainly not something you'd guess by the look of the cover nor the blurb!
For what it is, this novel is done exceptionally well.
As far as the audio book (German version) itself goes, I have two criticisms.
1. The levels at which the two narratives were recorded were so different, that I had to turn up the volume to hear Maude's story and then got my ear blasted off when we went back to Joan's. That wasn't cool.
2. The reader for Joan (I think that was Anna Thalbach) is a good reader for narration, but she made Jane's speaking voice whiney, like a little child tugging on its mother's skirt and cry-begging for a chocolate, the whole time. That could have lead to Joan being more annoying than she'd be in print. (The reader for Maude, Gabriele Blum, was great.)
Read
April 28, 2016First I have to confess I LOVE Oman so this book could have failed badly as I have been to almost all the places in the book. Thankfully is succeeded beautifully especially in the descriptions of the desert...I know looking out onto the dunes that begin the Empty Quarter there is a peace I've experienced no place else...the vast emptiness fills you and makes you whole. Katherine Webb captured the essence of the landscape exquisitely between her two protagonists. It's a twisting story that takes you through secrets and hidden places...a beautiful read.
February 9, 2016
Absorbing story of secrets, adventure and love.
It's Oman in the 1950s and this story is set during the little known deployment of SAS troops to suppress an uprising against the British supported ruler.
Joan is a young woman who desperately wants be an archaeologist and is in Oman seeking to visit her heroine , Maude Vickery who in the 1900s independently explored the region.
The story works with two time frames, one of Joan and the other of Maud Vickery’s explorations in the 1900s.
Katherine Webb has obviously researched her subject well and her details of Oman and its landscape creates some very vibrant images.
Anyone expecting a lot of archaeology or military action will be disappointed, however the book isn' t. It gradually grips you as you see through Joan’s eyes a compelling, intense voyage of blooming independence, adventure and love.
I won’t spoil the story, but there’s some great twists that I didn’t see coming and despite being away from my normal genres the quality of the writing and the characters kept my attention throughout.
I’ll be looking out for other Katherine Webb titles as a result of reading this.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
It's Oman in the 1950s and this story is set during the little known deployment of SAS troops to suppress an uprising against the British supported ruler.
Joan is a young woman who desperately wants be an archaeologist and is in Oman seeking to visit her heroine , Maude Vickery who in the 1900s independently explored the region.
The story works with two time frames, one of Joan and the other of Maud Vickery’s explorations in the 1900s.
Katherine Webb has obviously researched her subject well and her details of Oman and its landscape creates some very vibrant images.
Anyone expecting a lot of archaeology or military action will be disappointed, however the book isn' t. It gradually grips you as you see through Joan’s eyes a compelling, intense voyage of blooming independence, adventure and love.
I won’t spoil the story, but there’s some great twists that I didn’t see coming and despite being away from my normal genres the quality of the writing and the characters kept my attention throughout.
I’ll be looking out for other Katherine Webb titles as a result of reading this.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
January 24, 2016
Wonderful book, review to follow nearer publication
January 6, 2024
Jau kopš bērnības The English Girl galvenā varone Joan ir bijusi kā apsēsta ar arābijas reģionu, tās šķietamo savvaļas maģiskumu, nepieradinātās tuksnešu vides skarbumu, kas galvenokārt nācis no Tūkstoš un vienas nakts pasakām papildinātas ar tēva fantāzijas pilnajiem stāstiem. Kad jau kā pieaugušai būdamai rodas iespēja doties uz Omanu ar ieganstu apciemot brāli militārā bāzē, gan ar pazīšanos un tēva kontaktiem tas ir iespējams, Džoanna šādu iespēju garām nelaiž.
https://poseidons99.wordpress.com/202...
https://poseidons99.wordpress.com/202...
April 3, 2019
Enjoyed this very much. Set near Salalah in the Persian Gulf where my uncle Peter was stationed with the RAF.
March 22, 2016
The English Girl is the sixth novel from Katherine Webb and unlike anything I have read from her before. I have been a fan of Katherine's books right from her first release, I adored The Legacy and The Unseen and reviewed the brilliant The Night Falling last year. For me this new book wasn't as good as her previous work but still a very interesting read.
Set in Oman, a country I would never have given any thought to and honestly I only have a vague notion as to where it could be on the world map, this book proved to be a slow, leisurely read gradually building the plot bit by bit to a conclusion I never expected nor saw coming. Joan Seabrook, a would be archaeologist, has recently arrived in Muscat, a hot, sticky, burning city, with her fiancée Rory. The government of the country is very strict they do not welcome foreign visitors but Joan is staying with the British foreign minister a man who had been at school with her father. Joan is keen to explore the city and its surrounding desert area but Muscat is not a city in which women should be wandering alone beneath the scorching Arabian sun. You would think Rory would be there to look after and protect her but it seems the heat is too much for him and he prefers to try and stay somewhat cool back at the residence. If Rory hadn't dealt with the heat this way then maybe Joan would never have fulfilled the ambition that came with her to this foreign, exhilarating country. That was to find her hero, explorer Maude Vickery – the first woman to traverse The Empty Quarter of the desert. If this encounter had never took place Joan would not be the woman she became by the end of the novel.
The author describes the country as 'clean, warm, entirely wholly other than life as she knew it. And Joan was just beginning to realise how very much she wanted life to be other than she knew it'. This trip would prove to be life changing for Joan in so many ways. When Joan finally gets to meet Maude she is sorely let down by what she sees and hears. The picture she had built up in her head of this pioneering woman who at such a young age travelled to the wildest parts of the Middle East to visit ancient civilisations is not what Joan expected or wanted. Maude is old and bitter living in a ramshackle house served by an old man who has been with her for years. The author does take us back in time to hear Maude's story right from her childhood in England through to her travels as she grows into a young woman. These sections were far more interesting than reading of Joan in Muscat in the late 1950's. Maude was a brave, inventive woman who knew what she wanted and would do anything at any cost to get it. She had led a rich and varied life which only begs the question what has led her to become so bitter and distant? What is she hiding that she refuses to tell Joan? Joan was just that bit gullible to believe that after so much longing to meet one's long time hero that everything could and would turn out to be a bed of roses. I felt she got so sucked in by Maude that she would do anything Maude asked of her no matter what danger that meant putting herself in.
Joan does grow in strength as the book progresses, she appeared a little lost at first still reeling from the loss of her beloved father some months before. It's obvious family relations are quite strained so when she hears her brother Daniel who is in the army is to be stationed nearby she jumps at the opportunity to visit him at his base. Joan soon learns he too is hiding something and her love for him makes her question just what is going on? I could tell what was going on and couldn't fathom how Joan could be so blinkered in this respect.
The story meanders on at a very slow pace for the majority of the book. We do learn of the history of the country and of the current internal conflict but it became a bit too detailed and confusing for me to keep up with all the factions and their reasons for fighting. One aspect where the author does excel is in her vivid, rich descriptions - be it the unforgiving desert, the bustling streets or the rancid, dangerous city jail I felt I was there with Joan as she navigates the problems presented to her by Maude or by her desire to visit Jebel Akhdar a mountainous oasis held strong by rebel forces. Time and time again Joan put herself in unnecessary danger and it made me dislike her. There were other powers at play and she just came across as a young innocent, silly young woman until her worth was finally proven.
The English Girl is very different from what Katherine Webb has written before. This book was extremely character driven and at times it suffered a bit because of this. I'm not saying the rest of Katherine's books were action packed but they did have plenty more twists and turns which kept me guessing and held my interest. Here the twists came in the very last quarter and up until this point I really was growing weary of the characters. Normally I fully engage with and love the main female protagonist in books I read but here Joan just didn't appeal to me. You could see she had an adventurous spirit about her yet at times she acted completely ignorant to what was going on around her particularly in relation fiancée Rory. I understand women were constrained at that time by the rules and conventions of society but you could say Maude never let that stop her. So why should Joan let it? At times I felt like I was in the desert myself wading through the sand trying to reach my destination as nothing really seemed to happen and the reader was trudging ever so slowly towards some sort of action. I came very close to giving up on this book something I normally never do. I always want to give the book and the author the best possible chance. I'm glad I did persevere with this one as the last quarter more than made up for what had proceeded it.
I was fully prepared to say this book really wasn't the one for me despite my love for this author's work. But thankfully and although it might sound weird the last quarter redeemed itself so much that I found myself looking at the entire book in a whole new light and finding things I had missed or paid scant attention to. In fact The English Girl was very cleverly written and there was plenty of clues dropped throughout but Katherine did a great job in pulling the wool over my eyes. Yes at the time of reading I nearly had had enough and my above comparison of wading through sand still stands as that was how I felt reading certain sections at the time but now on reflection I see Katherine Webb has written a deep, astute book that I didn't appreciate at the time. It became clear to me that Joan was like a pawn in a bigger game that she had no idea she was a part of. Maude was not the innocent little old lady she claimed to be and I did feel desperately sorry for Joan as the woman she had come to call her friend and her long term idol may not have lived up to her expectations.
With The English Girl I think Katherine Webb has written a book that she has wanted to write for quite some time. The research was impeccable rich in detail of time and place but just that little bit too much character driven for me. New readers to this author's work would do better to read some of Katherine's earlier books to get a flavour for her work. Old fans may be slightly disappointed like I was or else will totally embrace this book, none the less it hasn't put me off reading anything Katherine will publish in the future.
Set in Oman, a country I would never have given any thought to and honestly I only have a vague notion as to where it could be on the world map, this book proved to be a slow, leisurely read gradually building the plot bit by bit to a conclusion I never expected nor saw coming. Joan Seabrook, a would be archaeologist, has recently arrived in Muscat, a hot, sticky, burning city, with her fiancée Rory. The government of the country is very strict they do not welcome foreign visitors but Joan is staying with the British foreign minister a man who had been at school with her father. Joan is keen to explore the city and its surrounding desert area but Muscat is not a city in which women should be wandering alone beneath the scorching Arabian sun. You would think Rory would be there to look after and protect her but it seems the heat is too much for him and he prefers to try and stay somewhat cool back at the residence. If Rory hadn't dealt with the heat this way then maybe Joan would never have fulfilled the ambition that came with her to this foreign, exhilarating country. That was to find her hero, explorer Maude Vickery – the first woman to traverse The Empty Quarter of the desert. If this encounter had never took place Joan would not be the woman she became by the end of the novel.
The author describes the country as 'clean, warm, entirely wholly other than life as she knew it. And Joan was just beginning to realise how very much she wanted life to be other than she knew it'. This trip would prove to be life changing for Joan in so many ways. When Joan finally gets to meet Maude she is sorely let down by what she sees and hears. The picture she had built up in her head of this pioneering woman who at such a young age travelled to the wildest parts of the Middle East to visit ancient civilisations is not what Joan expected or wanted. Maude is old and bitter living in a ramshackle house served by an old man who has been with her for years. The author does take us back in time to hear Maude's story right from her childhood in England through to her travels as she grows into a young woman. These sections were far more interesting than reading of Joan in Muscat in the late 1950's. Maude was a brave, inventive woman who knew what she wanted and would do anything at any cost to get it. She had led a rich and varied life which only begs the question what has led her to become so bitter and distant? What is she hiding that she refuses to tell Joan? Joan was just that bit gullible to believe that after so much longing to meet one's long time hero that everything could and would turn out to be a bed of roses. I felt she got so sucked in by Maude that she would do anything Maude asked of her no matter what danger that meant putting herself in.
Joan does grow in strength as the book progresses, she appeared a little lost at first still reeling from the loss of her beloved father some months before. It's obvious family relations are quite strained so when she hears her brother Daniel who is in the army is to be stationed nearby she jumps at the opportunity to visit him at his base. Joan soon learns he too is hiding something and her love for him makes her question just what is going on? I could tell what was going on and couldn't fathom how Joan could be so blinkered in this respect.
The story meanders on at a very slow pace for the majority of the book. We do learn of the history of the country and of the current internal conflict but it became a bit too detailed and confusing for me to keep up with all the factions and their reasons for fighting. One aspect where the author does excel is in her vivid, rich descriptions - be it the unforgiving desert, the bustling streets or the rancid, dangerous city jail I felt I was there with Joan as she navigates the problems presented to her by Maude or by her desire to visit Jebel Akhdar a mountainous oasis held strong by rebel forces. Time and time again Joan put herself in unnecessary danger and it made me dislike her. There were other powers at play and she just came across as a young innocent, silly young woman until her worth was finally proven.
The English Girl is very different from what Katherine Webb has written before. This book was extremely character driven and at times it suffered a bit because of this. I'm not saying the rest of Katherine's books were action packed but they did have plenty more twists and turns which kept me guessing and held my interest. Here the twists came in the very last quarter and up until this point I really was growing weary of the characters. Normally I fully engage with and love the main female protagonist in books I read but here Joan just didn't appeal to me. You could see she had an adventurous spirit about her yet at times she acted completely ignorant to what was going on around her particularly in relation fiancée Rory. I understand women were constrained at that time by the rules and conventions of society but you could say Maude never let that stop her. So why should Joan let it? At times I felt like I was in the desert myself wading through the sand trying to reach my destination as nothing really seemed to happen and the reader was trudging ever so slowly towards some sort of action. I came very close to giving up on this book something I normally never do. I always want to give the book and the author the best possible chance. I'm glad I did persevere with this one as the last quarter more than made up for what had proceeded it.
I was fully prepared to say this book really wasn't the one for me despite my love for this author's work. But thankfully and although it might sound weird the last quarter redeemed itself so much that I found myself looking at the entire book in a whole new light and finding things I had missed or paid scant attention to. In fact The English Girl was very cleverly written and there was plenty of clues dropped throughout but Katherine did a great job in pulling the wool over my eyes. Yes at the time of reading I nearly had had enough and my above comparison of wading through sand still stands as that was how I felt reading certain sections at the time but now on reflection I see Katherine Webb has written a deep, astute book that I didn't appreciate at the time. It became clear to me that Joan was like a pawn in a bigger game that she had no idea she was a part of. Maude was not the innocent little old lady she claimed to be and I did feel desperately sorry for Joan as the woman she had come to call her friend and her long term idol may not have lived up to her expectations.
With The English Girl I think Katherine Webb has written a book that she has wanted to write for quite some time. The research was impeccable rich in detail of time and place but just that little bit too much character driven for me. New readers to this author's work would do better to read some of Katherine's earlier books to get a flavour for her work. Old fans may be slightly disappointed like I was or else will totally embrace this book, none the less it hasn't put me off reading anything Katherine will publish in the future.
February 28, 2016
I loved this book. It transported me instantly to another time and place I really didn't want it to end. It is a dual time novel . The early years are about the life journey of Maude Vickerey that Joan has admired and befriended on her visit to Oman.The later years are Joan's own adventure story. Both women are independent, crossed in love with a passion for wide open spaces fifty years apart in time. The narrative flows smoothly and is Katherine Webb's best read so far. I would like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this advanced copy.
November 23, 2016
Katherine Webb's the Englisch Girl or in German "Das Versprechen der Wüste" takes place in Oman in 1958 and 1909. It is an incredible journey through the desert and the Arabian heat, written in an amazing style. Webb's description of the desert touches the reader deeply for they are very true. The main character Joan is at first a very shy and fearful person that doesn't have a lot of self confidence. Throughout her journey you can see her develop an incredible strength. The book includes a lot of tragedy and Webb really shows you her characters suffer. The book needs almost three quarters to get to the really thrilling parts but I didn't bother for I am a reader that loves a lot of detail and I also think especially Joan needs time to develop.
The only thing I thought was a little sad is that somewhere in the middle a photo with Joan and Maude Vickery in it is taken. Webb mentions Maude's weird facial expression that Joan discovers that when she finally gets the photo. But she does not tell what the expression is in the end. I really thought she would but maybe she left it to the reader's fantasy.
Anyway I loved the story and Katherine Webb's style of writing and although I've been to the desert of Oman already, the book made me long for another journey. I highly recommended it to anyone who loves watching a person grow over itself.
The only thing I thought was a little sad is that somewhere in the middle a photo with Joan and Maude Vickery in it is taken. Webb mentions Maude's weird facial expression that Joan discovers that when she finally gets the photo. But she does not tell what the expression is in the end. I really thought she would but maybe she left it to the reader's fantasy.
Anyway I loved the story and Katherine Webb's style of writing and although I've been to the desert of Oman already, the book made me long for another journey. I highly recommended it to anyone who loves watching a person grow over itself.
February 21, 2017
I received a copy of this book for free through a giveaway at Goodreads.com.
I have really mixed feelings about this book... I'm disappointed with the "twists" which were too easy to see coming, but I loved the major part of the story (and I can't say which is which without possibly ruining other people's enjoyment!).
This book could have easily turned into a travel guide to Oman - but it's far from it. The cultural elements, along with the historical setting(s), make it an immersive read.
I also enjoyed Katherine Webb's writing style.
I have really mixed feelings about this book... I'm disappointed with the "twists" which were too easy to see coming, but I loved the major part of the story (and I can't say which is which without possibly ruining other people's enjoyment!).
This book could have easily turned into a travel guide to Oman - but it's far from it. The cultural elements, along with the historical setting(s), make it an immersive read.
I also enjoyed Katherine Webb's writing style.
January 12, 2019
Historical novel set in Oman - beautiful scenery and atmosphere, impressive knowlegde about the history and culture of Oman, exciting story about the first female explorer to cross The Empty Qarter (Rub' al Khali, desert) - fictional but based on Gertrude Bell - whom I have been reading about for hours since finishing the book. I am such a fan of novels taking place in the Middle East. Thanks Webb - you are such a cool author.
June 18, 2016
I absolutely love Katherine Webb, but this was not her best. Enjoyable and interesting characters as always but somehow lacking and slightly flat compared to the tight grip on me that her previous books have had.
January 3, 2018
An appealing read, divided between two timelines. Its biggest success is its depiction of Oman, particularly its deserts.
September 19, 2017
Det var en meget drøy start før den ble bra, men så ble den ganske bra også da!
November 27, 2017
----GERMAN REVIEW----
Klappentext
Oman 1958: Voller Erwartungen bricht die britische Archäologin Joan Seabrook mit ihrem Verlobten Rory in die arabische Welt auf. Endlich wird sie ihr großes Idol, die betagte Entdeckerin Maude Vickery, treffen. Doch die Ankunft ist ernüchternd: Das Land befindet sich im Krieg, Maude reagiert abweisend und auch Rory zieht sich zunehmend von Joan zurück. Erst der britische Kommandant Charles Elliot nimmt sich ihrer an und legt ihr die prächtige Welt des Orients zu Füßen. Bis sie ein folgenschweres Versprechen gibt. Ein Versprechen, das Joan mitten hineinzieht in die gefährlichen Geheimnisse der Wüste …
Meine Meinung
Eine von steilen Felswänden eingeschlossenen Bucht, das glitzernde Blau des Meeres und eindrucksvolle orientalische Gebäude sind das Erste, das Joan Seabrock bei ihrer Ankunft in Maskat erblickt. Die Hauptstadt des Oman ist genauso faszinierend, wie sie es sich in ihren Träumen ausgemalt hat! Doch ihr großes Idol, die Abenteurerin Maude Vickery, welche sie hier zu treffen verhofft, stellt sich als weit weniger glamourös heraus. Ebenso ernüchternd ist es, dass Joan sich aufgrund des im Land herrschenden Krieges nur begrenzt in der Stadt aufhalten darf. Ein Besuch ihres geliebten Bruders, welcher für Großbritannien im Oman kämpft, scheint gleichermaßen unmöglich.
Die Verzweiflung, die Joan gleich zu Beginn ihrer Reise überkommt, ist also gut nachvollziehbar. Trotzdem gibt sie nicht auf, ein Umstand der mir sehr gefallen hat. Ihre Hartnäckigkeit wird schließlich belohnt, denn Maude Vickery taut in ihrer Gegenwart zusehends auf und rekrutiert Joan für ein gefährliches Unterfangen. Hier beweist die junge Frau erneut ihren Tatendrang und großen Mut. Doch überkamen mich mit vorranschreitender Handlung immer mehr Zweifel beim Lesen: Joans waghalsige Aktionen gehen viel zu glatt über die Bühne und irgendwann schüttelte ich nur noch den Kopf. Vieles empfand ich als sehr unrealistisch, besonders in Anbetracht der Zeit und des Landes in welchem der Roman angesiedelt ist. Auch mit guten Kontakten zu hochrangigen Politikern und Militärbossen, wäre es Joan niemals möglich gewesen gewisse Dinge zu tun und damit ohne Konsequenzen durchzukommen. Ihre Unterfangen waren aber nicht nur wirklichkeitsfremd, sondern auf 600 Seiten leider auch recht mager gestreut. Diese Umstände haben der Geschichte massiv die Spannung geraubt. Ebenso enttäuscht war ich, dass die Protagonsitin in privaten Belangen sehr naiv daher kommt und ihre Abgeklärtheit von einem auf den anderen Moment wie weggewischt war. Die seichte Liebesgeschichte der jungen Britin war für mich deshalb absolut vorraussehbar.
Hinzu kam, dass besonders im Mittelteil des Buches die Handlung nur so dahinplätscherte. Schließlich legte ich den Schmöker öfter mal bei Seite und laß dazwischen anderes, weil ich ansonsten wohl abgebrochen hätte. Gerettet wurde die Story meiner Meinung nach durch die Rückblenden, welche Maude Vickery in ihrer Jugendzeit begleiten. Diese Frau wurde absolut faszinierend gezeichnet: Schon zu Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts hat sie als erste das Rub-al-Chali - das Leere Viertel, die größte Sandwüste der Welt durchquert. In Briefen erzählt sie dem Leser und ihrem besten Freund von ihren spannenden Abenteuern auf der ganzen Welt und besonders im Nahen Osten. Sie ist unbeugsam, starrsinnig und unglaublich ehrgeizig! Ihr Lebensweg wurde allerdings von einem schweren Rückschlag gezeichnet, weshalb sie im hohen Alter immer noch voller Wut und Enttäuschung ist. Sie wirkt auf Joan und auch auf mich als sehr verschroben, und doch war sie mir sofort sympathisch. Im Nachwort der Autorin erfährt man, dass ihre Figur an die britische Historikerin Gertrude Bell angelehnt ist.
Fazit
Kathrine Webbs angenehmer Schreibstil brachte mir die Schönheit des Nahen Ostens sehr gut näher. Leider kommt auf den fast 600 Seiten aber kaum Spannung auf und auch Joan als Protagonistin konnte mich nicht vollauf überzeugen. Einzig der besondere Charakter von Maude Vickery rettete mir diesen literarischen Ausflug in die Wüste des Omans. Für mich reichen schwache 2 Pflanzentöpfchen leider nicht für eine Leseempfehlung.
© BookBlossom
Vielen Dank an den Diana Verlag für dieses Rezensionsexemplar!
Klappentext
Oman 1958: Voller Erwartungen bricht die britische Archäologin Joan Seabrook mit ihrem Verlobten Rory in die arabische Welt auf. Endlich wird sie ihr großes Idol, die betagte Entdeckerin Maude Vickery, treffen. Doch die Ankunft ist ernüchternd: Das Land befindet sich im Krieg, Maude reagiert abweisend und auch Rory zieht sich zunehmend von Joan zurück. Erst der britische Kommandant Charles Elliot nimmt sich ihrer an und legt ihr die prächtige Welt des Orients zu Füßen. Bis sie ein folgenschweres Versprechen gibt. Ein Versprechen, das Joan mitten hineinzieht in die gefährlichen Geheimnisse der Wüste …
Meine Meinung
Eine von steilen Felswänden eingeschlossenen Bucht, das glitzernde Blau des Meeres und eindrucksvolle orientalische Gebäude sind das Erste, das Joan Seabrock bei ihrer Ankunft in Maskat erblickt. Die Hauptstadt des Oman ist genauso faszinierend, wie sie es sich in ihren Träumen ausgemalt hat! Doch ihr großes Idol, die Abenteurerin Maude Vickery, welche sie hier zu treffen verhofft, stellt sich als weit weniger glamourös heraus. Ebenso ernüchternd ist es, dass Joan sich aufgrund des im Land herrschenden Krieges nur begrenzt in der Stadt aufhalten darf. Ein Besuch ihres geliebten Bruders, welcher für Großbritannien im Oman kämpft, scheint gleichermaßen unmöglich.
Die Verzweiflung, die Joan gleich zu Beginn ihrer Reise überkommt, ist also gut nachvollziehbar. Trotzdem gibt sie nicht auf, ein Umstand der mir sehr gefallen hat. Ihre Hartnäckigkeit wird schließlich belohnt, denn Maude Vickery taut in ihrer Gegenwart zusehends auf und rekrutiert Joan für ein gefährliches Unterfangen. Hier beweist die junge Frau erneut ihren Tatendrang und großen Mut. Doch überkamen mich mit vorranschreitender Handlung immer mehr Zweifel beim Lesen: Joans waghalsige Aktionen gehen viel zu glatt über die Bühne und irgendwann schüttelte ich nur noch den Kopf. Vieles empfand ich als sehr unrealistisch, besonders in Anbetracht der Zeit und des Landes in welchem der Roman angesiedelt ist. Auch mit guten Kontakten zu hochrangigen Politikern und Militärbossen, wäre es Joan niemals möglich gewesen gewisse Dinge zu tun und damit ohne Konsequenzen durchzukommen. Ihre Unterfangen waren aber nicht nur wirklichkeitsfremd, sondern auf 600 Seiten leider auch recht mager gestreut. Diese Umstände haben der Geschichte massiv die Spannung geraubt. Ebenso enttäuscht war ich, dass die Protagonsitin in privaten Belangen sehr naiv daher kommt und ihre Abgeklärtheit von einem auf den anderen Moment wie weggewischt war. Die seichte Liebesgeschichte der jungen Britin war für mich deshalb absolut vorraussehbar.
Hinzu kam, dass besonders im Mittelteil des Buches die Handlung nur so dahinplätscherte. Schließlich legte ich den Schmöker öfter mal bei Seite und laß dazwischen anderes, weil ich ansonsten wohl abgebrochen hätte. Gerettet wurde die Story meiner Meinung nach durch die Rückblenden, welche Maude Vickery in ihrer Jugendzeit begleiten. Diese Frau wurde absolut faszinierend gezeichnet: Schon zu Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts hat sie als erste das Rub-al-Chali - das Leere Viertel, die größte Sandwüste der Welt durchquert. In Briefen erzählt sie dem Leser und ihrem besten Freund von ihren spannenden Abenteuern auf der ganzen Welt und besonders im Nahen Osten. Sie ist unbeugsam, starrsinnig und unglaublich ehrgeizig! Ihr Lebensweg wurde allerdings von einem schweren Rückschlag gezeichnet, weshalb sie im hohen Alter immer noch voller Wut und Enttäuschung ist. Sie wirkt auf Joan und auch auf mich als sehr verschroben, und doch war sie mir sofort sympathisch. Im Nachwort der Autorin erfährt man, dass ihre Figur an die britische Historikerin Gertrude Bell angelehnt ist.
Fazit
Kathrine Webbs angenehmer Schreibstil brachte mir die Schönheit des Nahen Ostens sehr gut näher. Leider kommt auf den fast 600 Seiten aber kaum Spannung auf und auch Joan als Protagonistin konnte mich nicht vollauf überzeugen. Einzig der besondere Charakter von Maude Vickery rettete mir diesen literarischen Ausflug in die Wüste des Omans. Für mich reichen schwache 2 Pflanzentöpfchen leider nicht für eine Leseempfehlung.
© BookBlossom
Vielen Dank an den Diana Verlag für dieses Rezensionsexemplar!
June 16, 2023
This story has all kind of stories in one. A slow start, an English girl with her fiancé staying with friends in Oman. She has a dream to follow her heroine, having adventure but is also a young woman in a time when woman are just not expected it allowed to do many things. The story goes back and forth between the past which is Maude's story (the heroine) and the present ( '60s) Joanne's story (the English girl). Joanne's dream becomes reality when she meets Maude, but it first comes with disappointment and frustration of not having more freedom as a woman and a foreign woman. Meeting Maude will create a way to make her first steps into a different world, a world where she is in her own and one she makes decisions based on her dreams, desires and safe world she only knows from home. Not having much life experience, Joanne trusts people and the decisions she rather easily takes, will have consequences for the future. Not only hers.
June 14, 2021
This is my 2nd attempt at reading this book and I would have failed again if it weren't for my 50 book challenge. It was very slow reading till about 75% of the way in when all hell broke loose and I couldn't put it down. The main issue I have is there was only one likeable character in the whole book and he was barely in it. Even in the last 1/4 I couldn't get passed how unpleasant all the main characters were.
February 16, 2018
I really enjoyed this book about two very strong women of different generations linked by a love of Arabia and exploration. My husband and his family have had connections to Oman and I gained new Insight into this fascinating country.
September 14, 2021
Kind of a weird plot..but not too bad.
September 23, 2023
In the beginning I wasn't sure about this book, but it turned out to be wonderfully written and in the end I very much enjoyed the story, characters and everything in between!
May 21, 2025
Ikke min sjanger, men denne ble veldig spennende utover! Likte den ca 3,5 stjerner godt.
August 6, 2023
funfact : czytałam inna książkę o tytule angielka ale nie ma jej na goodreads ; wniosek ze tamta była zajebista ale o tej się nie wypowiem
May 25, 2020
Nice easy read.
April 5, 2016
I am a huge fan of Katherine Webb and was very excited when I got an early copy of this book!
Set over two time periods, The English Girl tells the story of Joan and Maude and their travels and experiences in Arabia. Joan has travelled to Arabia with her fiance Rory to experience and explore Arabia, a country she has been fascinated by since a child. She also hopes to meet her idol, Maude which she does and assists Maude with an unusual request. Maude, a famous and experienced explorer in her day, travels to Arabia to try and become the first person to cross the Empty Quarter but is apparently beaten to it by a family friend.
I really enjoyed this book. The descriptions of Arabia were amazing and made you feel as if you were there watching the story unfold. I immediately wanted to jump on a plane and go visit if myself. I also found the history and politics of Arabia very fascinating and loved that it was based on real events, a personal favourite thing of mine.
The characters were well done with two strong female leads which was great to see. I really cared about the characters and what happened to them, although I couldn't warm to Maude who I felt was a highly dislikeable character which I think was the author's intention as it ties into the story. I also liked the character of Salim and how fiercely determined he was about his cause.
The only thing that let this book down was its pace. There are some hugely descriptive passages where nothing much happens which can be a bit off putting and which I found myself skim reading through. The descriptions were very beautiful and often relevant to the story but it did make it hard to read at times, especially when dipping in and out of.
The ending was brilliant with a twist I didn't see coming. I would definitely recommend this book to others, particularly Kate Morton or Kate Mosse fans who would definitely enjoy it.
Huge thanks to the publishers and netgalley for the chance to review this book.
Set over two time periods, The English Girl tells the story of Joan and Maude and their travels and experiences in Arabia. Joan has travelled to Arabia with her fiance Rory to experience and explore Arabia, a country she has been fascinated by since a child. She also hopes to meet her idol, Maude which she does and assists Maude with an unusual request. Maude, a famous and experienced explorer in her day, travels to Arabia to try and become the first person to cross the Empty Quarter but is apparently beaten to it by a family friend.
I really enjoyed this book. The descriptions of Arabia were amazing and made you feel as if you were there watching the story unfold. I immediately wanted to jump on a plane and go visit if myself. I also found the history and politics of Arabia very fascinating and loved that it was based on real events, a personal favourite thing of mine.
The characters were well done with two strong female leads which was great to see. I really cared about the characters and what happened to them, although I couldn't warm to Maude who I felt was a highly dislikeable character which I think was the author's intention as it ties into the story. I also liked the character of Salim and how fiercely determined he was about his cause.
The only thing that let this book down was its pace. There are some hugely descriptive passages where nothing much happens which can be a bit off putting and which I found myself skim reading through. The descriptions were very beautiful and often relevant to the story but it did make it hard to read at times, especially when dipping in and out of.
The ending was brilliant with a twist I didn't see coming. I would definitely recommend this book to others, particularly Kate Morton or Kate Mosse fans who would definitely enjoy it.
Huge thanks to the publishers and netgalley for the chance to review this book.
February 22, 2016
Having read and reviewed several of Kate Webb's previous novels, when the chance to read this came up I was keen to find out what it offered. As my five star rating suggests, it certainly didn't disappoint.
The book is told via two distinct time frames. The first being in the 1890s and early 1900s and the second being the late 1950s. Having said that, the book actually opens in 1939 when Joanie Seabrook and her brother develop a love of Arabia, which they get from their father who weaves a real sense of mystery through his stories.
It is 1958 when Joan and her fiancé, Rory arrive in Muscat, Oman. Daniel, her brother is a soldier, serving in the region. The Novel soon had me reaching for my atlas. It was great to discover that many of the places mentioned are real, something which I have grown to expect from the previous books by this author.
Is it an accident that Joanie meets up with the rather eccentric and reclusive Maude Vickery? Or will this become a more serious part of the story-line? Maude provides the late 1800s part of the story.
Maude's stories about her experiences as an early explorer awaken a real desire in Joan to visit places such as Nizwa and beyond. How will she get the chance to explore in this male dominated, war-torn region?
The background to which this story of loves and betrayals is set is closely related to real historical events. This is what makes this such an enchanting book for me.
If you like historical fiction which is closely related to real events, you will probably enjoy reading this book.
My thanks to Netgalley and Orion, the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book is told via two distinct time frames. The first being in the 1890s and early 1900s and the second being the late 1950s. Having said that, the book actually opens in 1939 when Joanie Seabrook and her brother develop a love of Arabia, which they get from their father who weaves a real sense of mystery through his stories.
It is 1958 when Joan and her fiancé, Rory arrive in Muscat, Oman. Daniel, her brother is a soldier, serving in the region. The Novel soon had me reaching for my atlas. It was great to discover that many of the places mentioned are real, something which I have grown to expect from the previous books by this author.
Is it an accident that Joanie meets up with the rather eccentric and reclusive Maude Vickery? Or will this become a more serious part of the story-line? Maude provides the late 1800s part of the story.
Maude's stories about her experiences as an early explorer awaken a real desire in Joan to visit places such as Nizwa and beyond. How will she get the chance to explore in this male dominated, war-torn region?
The background to which this story of loves and betrayals is set is closely related to real historical events. This is what makes this such an enchanting book for me.
If you like historical fiction which is closely related to real events, you will probably enjoy reading this book.
My thanks to Netgalley and Orion, the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2016
I have read all of Katherine Webb's books, and was looking forward to this, I wasn’t disappointed.
This is the story of two women, Maude Vickery and Joan Seabrook, who meet in Oman in 1958.
Joan has come to Oman, following the death of her father, to see her brother, Daniel, a soldier, and to meet her idol, the explorer Maude.
In a parallel story set around 1908, Maude’s story unfolds, showing how she came to arrive in Oman and to cross the Empty Quarter, the first European woman to do so.
The women seem to become friends, and Joan takes many risks to help Maude, and in doing so, finds the inner strength to address the challenges in her life.
Maude whose life had been changed forever by her experiences in the desert, is by far the more interesting character, and I was sorry not to find more of what happened after 1908.
Both women are betrayed in various ways by the men in their lives, and how they come to terms with this forms a large part of the story.
Joan is able to move on, but Maude could never forgive, and this coloured the rest of her life.
I was fascinated by the setting, I know very little of Arab countries and their politics, and had not realised that there was a war in which the British were involved in the 1950s, when oil was just being discovered, and all the European powers wanted a share.
I loved the descriptions of the barrenness and dangerous beauty of the desert, and of the Arab towns.
Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
This is the story of two women, Maude Vickery and Joan Seabrook, who meet in Oman in 1958.
Joan has come to Oman, following the death of her father, to see her brother, Daniel, a soldier, and to meet her idol, the explorer Maude.
In a parallel story set around 1908, Maude’s story unfolds, showing how she came to arrive in Oman and to cross the Empty Quarter, the first European woman to do so.
The women seem to become friends, and Joan takes many risks to help Maude, and in doing so, finds the inner strength to address the challenges in her life.
Maude whose life had been changed forever by her experiences in the desert, is by far the more interesting character, and I was sorry not to find more of what happened after 1908.
Both women are betrayed in various ways by the men in their lives, and how they come to terms with this forms a large part of the story.
Joan is able to move on, but Maude could never forgive, and this coloured the rest of her life.
I was fascinated by the setting, I know very little of Arab countries and their politics, and had not realised that there was a war in which the British were involved in the 1950s, when oil was just being discovered, and all the European powers wanted a share.
I loved the descriptions of the barrenness and dangerous beauty of the desert, and of the Arab towns.
Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
March 26, 2016
I was really looking forward to this novel and was hungry to read it but this is not a novel to read in haste but to take your time over. I slowed down after a few chapters, deliberately taking in each and every fact and character decision for later events weave together in such a way, you’d be wise to pay attention to gain the full consequences of those early chapters.
The setting from the heat of the sands to the isolation of women and the sweltering temperatures building up to war is shockingly good. In a culture and time that few of us understand, this forms a panoramic and human picture of Oman at a time of great upheaval. The detail is exquisite but never reads like a history book. Even more impressive when Katherine explains her research books. How she has woven fact and fiction so seamlessly together, making the characters and their troubles so central has to be applauded. I am in awe of this novel as there’s so much to it yet it’s always through the eyes of Both Maude and Joan and their dealings with the men in their lives and their place in the desert society how we learn of such a fascinating world.
I was there with Joan and Maude every step of the way, hidden in their desert clothes, behind their wish to do and explore more and the mysteries that the desert brought. The final reveal was a culmination of so much history and was very satisfying. I felt every grain of sand, every worry and every hot stone as they clamored to find their way in the aptly named empty quarter.
A novel shining like the jewel in the desert crown.
The setting from the heat of the sands to the isolation of women and the sweltering temperatures building up to war is shockingly good. In a culture and time that few of us understand, this forms a panoramic and human picture of Oman at a time of great upheaval. The detail is exquisite but never reads like a history book. Even more impressive when Katherine explains her research books. How she has woven fact and fiction so seamlessly together, making the characters and their troubles so central has to be applauded. I am in awe of this novel as there’s so much to it yet it’s always through the eyes of Both Maude and Joan and their dealings with the men in their lives and their place in the desert society how we learn of such a fascinating world.
I was there with Joan and Maude every step of the way, hidden in their desert clothes, behind their wish to do and explore more and the mysteries that the desert brought. The final reveal was a culmination of so much history and was very satisfying. I felt every grain of sand, every worry and every hot stone as they clamored to find their way in the aptly named empty quarter.
A novel shining like the jewel in the desert crown.
June 22, 2016
This is a multi-layered story that is a gripping adventure story set in Oman in the late 1950s, as well as a coming-of-age tale as Joan learns how to take control of her own life. Interspersed and entwined with both strands is Maude Vickery, an Edwardian female explorer like Gertrude Bell, whose own experiences of the desert have had profound consequences on her life.
With secrets, love and betrayals set against an exoticised background rife with sexism amongst other -isms, there's a lot going on here but Webb holds it all together well. The writing is smooth and fluent and the pages turn easily as we're keen to get to the heart of the characters and book. A superior piece of story-telling that is simultaneously an intelligent read.
With secrets, love and betrayals set against an exoticised background rife with sexism amongst other -isms, there's a lot going on here but Webb holds it all together well. The writing is smooth and fluent and the pages turn easily as we're keen to get to the heart of the characters and book. A superior piece of story-telling that is simultaneously an intelligent read.
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