The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd
September 03, 2017
Published October 2017 by Blackstone Audiobooks
"An incredible story of dangerous and hidden friendships, ambition, betrayal, and sacrifice.
The year is 1739. Eliza Lucas is sixteen years old when her father leaves her in charge of their family's three plantations in rural South Carolina and then proceeds to bleed the estates dry in pursuit of his military ambitions. Tensions with the British, and with the Spanish in Florida, just a short way down the coast, are rising, and slaves are starting to become restless. Her mother wants nothing more than for their South Carolina endeavor to fail so they can go back to England. Soon her family is in danger of losing everything.
Upon hearing how much the French pay for indigo dye, Eliza believes it's the key to their salvation. But everyone tells her it's impossible, and no one will share the secret to making it. Thwarted at nearly every turn, even by her own family, Eliza finds that her only allies are an aging horticulturalist, an older and married gentleman lawyer, and a slave with whom she strikes a dangerous deal: teach her the intricate thousand-year-old secret process of making indigo dye and in return -- against the laws of the day -- she will teach the slaves to read.
So begins an incredible story of love, dangerous and hidden friendships, ambition, betrayal, and sacrifice.
Based on historical documents, including Eliza's letters, this is a historical fiction account of how a teenage girl produced indigo dye, which became one of the largest exports out of South Carolina, an export that laid the foundation for the incredible wealth of several Southern families who still live on today. Although largely overlooked by historians, the accomplishments of Eliza Lucas influenced the course of US history. When she passed away in 1793, President George Washington served as a pallbearer at her funeral.
This book is set between 1739 and 1744, with romance, intrigue, forbidden friendships, and political and financial threats weaving together to form the story of a remarkable young woman whose actions were before their time: the story of the indigo girl. "
This book is truly touching. To be honest I was amazed at how beautiful the cover was and I had not expected to enjoy this book as much as I had by simply reading the summary. However, Eliza is an inspiration for women by utilizing her tact, wit, emotional complexity, and intelligence in a historical "man's world."
I love historical fiction specifically because, with the right author, I can actually be transported into different periods in history, different cultures, and socioeconomic statuses. But The Indigo Girl exceeded all expectations. Not only was Eliza excellently executed as a character, but the many other characters were equally well fleshed-out and complex. The characters, together with the thought-provoking plot, made this one book that will sit with the reader for much longer than it took to complete.
Overall, I look forward to recommending this book to friends in the future once it is published.
(I read this ARC for free through NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback)
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