Seek A New Dawn/Winds Of Fortune

by E.V. Thompson

Emily Boyce, daughter of a pretentious Cornish parson, incurs her father's wrath by falling in love with young Sam Hooper, a copper miner on Bodmin Moor. So when the moorland mines fail, her father ensures that Sam goes to seek a new life in South Australia. Emily is not to be thwarted, however, and when her father dies suddenly, she finds herself free to go to Australia and hunt down Sam. Her search takes her first to the Copper Triangle, then to the magnificent Flinders Ranges and, finally, to the beautiful Adelaide Hills. In the meantime, Sam has met with an ageing prospector who is to change the course of the young couple's lives...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical

1024 pages, Paperback

First published January 11, 2001

About the author

Ernest Victor Thompson was born in London and spent nine years in the Navy before joining Bristol police. He moved to Hong Kong, then Rhodesia and had over 200 stories published before returning to England in 1970 to become a full-time award-winning writer.

He settled in Cornwall, living at Idle Cottage in Sharptor.

He wrote 42 historical novels, mostly set in Cornwall, beginning with 'Chase the Wind' in 1977, a book that was voted the best historical novel of the year, with detectives Churchyard and Hawke two of his main characters.

He was awarded the MBE in the 2012 New Years' Honours list for services to literature and the community in Cornwall. He was also a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedd (Gorsedh Kernow). This is an individual honoured for significant contributions to the Cornish language, culture, or heritage.

He also wrote the Scottish historical epic 'Homeland' in 1991 under the pseudonym James Munro.

He died peacefully, with his wife, Celia, and two sons, Nathan and Luke, by his side, at his home in Launceston, Cornwall, on 19 July 2021, shortly after his 81st birthday.

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

A looooong story! Verbose and predictable for the most part but interesting setting since I've lived in Adelaide and was familiar with the place names.

[Gemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was lovely. An easy read with a pleasant storyline. I would say the book is historical fiction and follows the lives of a handful of characters.

[Val Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found Seek a New Dawn a good read and it helped you realise just how hard it would be travelling to a new country and making new townships. Believable main characters are gently weaved together to make a story of love and new life down under.



i have now started Winds of Fortune but at the moment think it may appeal to the male audience?....... I will persevere but finding it hard going.......[don't know if I finished this!].

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

The themes in this book remind me much of Gwen Bristow's historical romance Calico Palace, one of my all-time favorites. Mining, emigration and romance in Seek a New Dawn take us from Cornwall to Adelaide, Australia, which, thanks to this novel, is now on my "places I want to visit" list.

[Fi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed all of E.V. Thompson's books but felt this wasn't one of his best as it was a bit more 'lightweight' than most. However, it was still well worth reading - particularly for the background on mining both in SW England & in Australia.

[Annette Summerfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice easy read.

[Alice Simms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant book I love the way E.V.Thompson made everything come together at the end