The King's Garden is for those who love 18th century France. We follow teenager Jeanne Beauchamps, who lives at a provincial chateau, during the reign of Louis XV, and wants more from her life. The reader is swept from the French countryside to Paris, ending on a tropical island, which is a new French colony and offers a totally different life and society. Jeanne finds herself quickly in love with the noble botanist, Dr. Philibert Aubriot and her idealistic dreams of her future are intruded on by a chevalier adventurer, Vincent de Cotignac. Finding that her romantic views of her perfect future are not turning out, she is able, despite these two men, to build a life for herself in Paris, and when circumstances put her on a tropical island, she does not whimper and whine but dives into life in this strange new land. This offers a view, outside French royalty, into the regular lives of French civilians which is refreshing from most novels about this time period.
The King's Garden is on an epic scale, offering adventure and romance and historical insights of life in France and its colonies. Being written by popular French author, Fanny Deschamps, I think gives it such a unique perspective. I really can't compare it to anything else, yes, the story of one woman caught between two men has been done before as has a young woman making her way in the world. But it is the historical perspectives, that most English language authors are not able to capture or maybe because it dares to deal with common everyday people and not royalty, that sets it apart.
This is a very large book that for me got weighed down at times, whether this is due to the translation I can't say. In my research, this seems to be the only title from the well respected and popular author, translated into English, which is a shame since I have heard her other titles are actually better. To give an idea of the popularity of this novel in France check out this Jeanne Beauchamps' doll http://www.galsgalore.com/Gene/La_Bougainvillee/la_bougainvillee.htm Sorry for that brief interruption and back to the review. Even at the times when it bogged down it still had that power to compel me on to know what would happen next. Also, for me personally, it did get a bit too romancey at times, with the triangle between Aubriot and Cotignac (a Rhett Butleresque type, so you can guess who Aubriot is). I still found myself liking Cotignac, and his character is the most dimensional with Aubriot much less so, which I feel was intentional of the author since it was evident to the reader which man was Jeanne's real match. I don't want to imply that Jeanne's character is not well rounded, she certainly has substance and you care and root for her as she matures and discovers herself and what real love is. This is classic enjoyable escapism historical fiction.
If you are looking for a book that delves into the French courts, or Marie Antoinette, then this will disappoint. If you want a story about 18th century life from the regular folk, their trials and tribulations and loves and joys, this is what you want.
The King's Garden is on an epic scale, offering adventure and romance and historical insights of life in France and its colonies. Being written by popular French author, Fanny Deschamps, I think gives it such a unique perspective. I really can't compare it to anything else, yes, the story of one woman caught between two men has been done before as has a young woman making her way in the world. But it is the historical perspectives, that most English language authors are not able to capture or maybe because it dares to deal with common everyday people and not royalty, that sets it apart.
This is a very large book that for me got weighed down at times, whether this is due to the translation I can't say. In my research, this seems to be the only title from the well respected and popular author, translated into English, which is a shame since I have heard her other titles are actually better. To give an idea of the popularity of this novel in France check out this Jeanne Beauchamps' doll http://www.galsgalore.com/Gene/La_Bougainvillee/la_bougainvillee.htm Sorry for that brief interruption and back to the review. Even at the times when it bogged down it still had that power to compel me on to know what would happen next. Also, for me personally, it did get a bit too romancey at times, with the triangle between Aubriot and Cotignac (a Rhett Butleresque type, so you can guess who Aubriot is). I still found myself liking Cotignac, and his character is the most dimensional with Aubriot much less so, which I feel was intentional of the author since it was evident to the reader which man was Jeanne's real match. I don't want to imply that Jeanne's character is not well rounded, she certainly has substance and you care and root for her as she matures and discovers herself and what real love is. This is classic enjoyable escapism historical fiction.
If you are looking for a book that delves into the French courts, or Marie Antoinette, then this will disappoint. If you want a story about 18th century life from the regular folk, their trials and tribulations and loves and joys, this is what you want.
