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The Fever Tree

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The Fever Tree

By: Jennifer McVeigh
Narrated by: Harriet Kershaw
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About this listen

Selected for The Richard and Judy Book Club 2013

A compelling portrait of colonial South Africa as well as the life of women near the turn of the century.

South Africa, 1880 - a country torn apart by greed. Frances Irvine, destitute in the wake of her father's sudden death, is forced to abandon her life of wealth and privilege in London and emigrate to the Cape. In this remote and inhospitable land, she becomes entangled with two very different men: one driven by ambition, the other by his ideals.

Only when the rumour of a smallpox epidemic takes her into the dark heart of the diamond mines does Frances see her path to happiness. But this is a ruthless world of greed and exploitation, where the spoils of the rich come at a terrible human cost, and powerful men will go to any lengths to keep the mines in operation.

©2012 Jennifer McVeigh (P)2012 Audible Ltd Fiction Historical Fiction

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Critic reviews

“ The Fever Tree is a skilled unfolding of a woman's struggle with desire, class divide and disease in 19th Century South Africa... the journey, like the landscape, is thrillingly huge: one of love, self-knowledge, human and political self-respect. Frances treads out every step - a naive and intriguing character who brings alive a momentous - and appalling - part of history.” ( Financial Times)
"There is nothing more exciting than a new writer with a genuine voice. I loved it." (Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey)
Most relevant  

What made the experience of listening to The Fever Tree the most enjoyable?

The Narrator had a very clear voice that was pleasant to listen to.She changed her tone and accent for the different characters and that made it easy to follow. The observant descriptions made me feel like I was there, in England, on the boat and in South Africa.
I learnt allot about some history and lifestyles that I hadn't known much about.
I particularly found the smallpox information interesting and loved the descriptions of the flora and fauna and hardship of he veldt.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mariella, She was so real and vibrant, ready to take on the world.

What does Harriet Kershaw bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

The sounds of the characters and the environment.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definately, I listened to it on a long car journey and then kept listening through the night when I arrived!!!.

Any additional comments?

I would love to listen to more of Jennifer and Harriets Work

Dust and degradation for English Rose in SA Mines

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What a fantastic book. It grabbed my full attention from the beginning and then I could not wait to hear the whole story.

One of my top 10 excellent

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A story that ranges from the sophisticated drawing rooms of 1880s London to the squalor of the diamond mining camps of South Africa. The flame haired heroine is on a journey to discover her true nature and destiny, and which of two contrasting men she will spend her life with. Keeps you guessing to the end.

Doesn’t pull its punches

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I was sceptical about this book. I liked the sound of the blurb, seemed like the kind of book I would normally enjoy with some historical content, travel and interesting women but the reviews got me worried. However, the book was quick to get into, enjoyed the characters and interesting back drop of Victorian South Africa. Understand what people mean about the story not being as strong as perhaps it could have been however, overall, a really enjoyable easy listen.

Enjoyable read

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The narrator's Boer accent was poor and the Dutch pronunciations anglicised but overall she did a good job.
The plot is excellent and the writing style very good but I doubt that there was such universally callous treatment of blacks. Many whites also lost their lives to pit collapses and disease.

Good but grim

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I tend to prefer a male narrator but have to say that Haariet Kershaw does an excellent job with this story. The story itself is not unique, but the setting in South Africa with some of the historical details and descriptions of the hardship endured by all but the most wealthy was interesting. The main character is a little frustrating .. you sometimes feel she has reaped what she has sowed, but all in all well worth a listen.

Good tale, well narrated

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Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Listening was an act of perseverance. I kept waiting for the heroine to get her act together. Nearly gave up several times.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The locations were beautifully described, but the main character was incredibly frustrating and so difficult to like. She took far too long to get her act together.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

Yes I would go to see it.

Any additional comments?

Somehow, aside from wanting to shake the main character, I am drawn to this book and will probably listen again. And moan again.

Frustrating Heroine

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Excellent audible read, very clear reader and a very enjoyable book. This was recommended by a friend who read it on her kindle, but I was very happy to have it via audible. Thank you

The Fever Tree

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If you could sum up The Fever Tree in three words, what would they be?

cinematic, historical, interesting

What does Harriet Kershaw bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

The narration was easy flowing and easy to listen to, except Harriet's pronunciation of some basic South African words, mainly velt (pronounced felt) and kopje, grated on me, Frances might have been English but I'm fairly sure she wouldn't have mispronounced these basic, commonly used words which are not said as they are written. Her South African accent was passable so it's a real shame that she didn't research some of these few words as their correct pronunciation would have made her performance great as overall the narration made the character come alive.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definitely.

Any additional comments?

I picked this book because of the South African setting, having lived there for many years I have fond memories of the velt and the diversity of the people. Jennifer McVeigh has portrayed this, the incredibly harsh beauty of the landscape and the intensity of the weather and people, very well.

This book is also historically fascinating, it depicts the lives not only of the immigrants , the Boers and the locals of that time period but also the history of the diamond mining in Kimberley which shaped South Africa and it's people. Knowing some of the local history already I was keen to confirm and get a better understanding of the period that this book is set in and after some research I stumbled upon the following

link:http://www.jennifermcveigh.com/for-readers-book-clubs/history ,

where I read that 'Joseph Baier' was indeed based on Cecil Rhodes as I suspected. The story itself seems to be based on the diaries of a young doctor which Jennifer McVeigh found in the British Library and even though this book is work of fiction, much of the back story seems to be based on well researched history.

I found the characters likeable, but at times frustrating. Frances's character seems to encompass the naivety I would imagine in a young woman of the era, the desires that sway her and the mistakes she makes are believable.

A very enjoyable listen

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I enjoyed this book and although others disliked I enjoyed the narration.
Life as a woman in Victorian England was very restricted and they were governed by men as in this story Frances's male relatives. Thus choices made as a result were not ones freedom of choice would have brought. Having said that I think the character of Frances is such that she would not have moved and subsequently developed as a person had they not been so.
The journey starts in England and moves to South Africa and to the reality of what life was like for the diamond miners at the time.
I found the story interesting and also to see Frances change and develop. The two men in her life are very different characters and I enjoyed getting to know both.
The book is about choices Frances made some not so wholesome and some more so. I enjoyed reading about the Smallpox epidemic and looked up Smallpox as a result learning alot.
I enjoyed the book overall and if you wish a historically interesting read I would recommend it.

A darker/hidden Victorian England/African Diamonds

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