The Fair Botanists is a bewitching and immersive story for fans of The Miniaturist , The Doll Factory and The Signature of All Things .
The Fair Botanists is a bewitching and immersive story for fans of The Miniaturist, The Doll Factory and The Signature of All Things.
The Fair Botanists is a bewitching and immersive story for fans of The Miniaturist , The Doll Factory and The Signature of All Things .
The Fair Botanists is a bewitching and immersive story for fans of The Miniaturist, The Doll Factory and The Signature of All Things.
'Hugely enjoyable'
Ambrose Parry'Dazzling, original and full of wonderful characters'Katie Fforde'Seductive and sensual'Essie Fox'Historical fiction at its best'Frances QuinnCould one rare plant hold the key to a thousand riches?It's the summer of 1822 and Edinburgh is abuzz with rumours of King George IV's impending visit. In botanical circles, however, a different kind of excitement has gripped the city. In the newly-installed Botanic Garden, the Agave Americana plant looks set to flower - an event that only occurs once every few decades. When newly widowed Elizabeth arrives in Edinburgh to live with her late husband's aunt Clementina, she's determined to put her unhappy past in London behind her. As she settles into her new home, she becomes fascinated by the beautiful Botanic Garden which borders the grand house and offers her services as an artist to record the rare plant's impending bloom. In this pursuit, she meets Belle Brodie, a vivacious young woman with a passion for botany and the lucrative, dark art of perfume creation. Belle is determined to keep both her real identity and the reason for her interest the Garden secret from her new friend. But as Elizabeth and Belle are about to discover, secrets don't last long in this Enlightenment city. And when revealed, they can carry the greatest of consequences . . . 'Perfectly paced, romantic and full of intrigue. A truly wonderful story' Victoria Hawthorne'Evocative and sumptuously imagined. Not since Perfume has a book had such a strong sensory impact on me. A feast for the senses... I was intoxicated! Dazzling' Celia Reynolds'There's no enlightenment without enlightening women, and Sara Sheridan gives us two great ones to reckon with in Belle and Elizabeth. The Fair Botanists gives us a glimpse into the complex life of 1820s Edinburgh with joyous female characters at the heart of the story' Annie Garthwaite'Sprinkled with deliciously tantalising scandal and intrigue, and colourful, engaging characters. A sheer joy to read' Sue Lawrence“A seductive, sensory romp through Georgian Edinburgh. Hugely enjoyable. Highly recommendedThere's no enlightenment without enlightening women, and Sara Sheridan gives us two great ones to reckon with in Belle and Elizabeth. The Fair Botanists gives us a glimpse into the complex life of Edinburgh in the 1820's with joyous female characters at the heart of the storyDazzling, original, full of wonderful characters and so interesting! Anyone who's ever looked at a flower will love it as much as I do.Historical fiction at its best, full of atmosphere, with beautifully drawn characters and a thoroughly intriguing storyWhat a setting and cast of characters! This seductive and sensual novel comes from a writer at the height of her powers. Captured my senses, and my heartThe cinematic prologue had me instantly hooked, as did the world of botany, perfume, potions and intrigue. Sara's characters are wonderfully drawn, the writing is so evocative, and sumptuously imagined. Not since Patrick Suskind's Perfume has a book had such a strong sensory impact on me. I was intoxicated! A feast for the senses... The Fair Botanists is dazzling.Perfectly paced, romantic and full of intrigue, The Fair Botanists is a truly wonderful story where women take centre stage. The writing is exquisite.Sprinkled with deliciously tantalising scandal and intrigue, and colourful, engaging characters. A sheer joy to read”
Sheridan creates an evocative, enjoyable portrait of 1820s Edinburgh and of two women determined to lead independent lives. Sunday Times
Completely enchanting and fascinating . . . a rollicking and immensely readable tale . . . Sheridan succeeds in what very few have attempted before; in imagining early 19th century Edinburgh as a genuine if imperfect city of enlightenment, a thrilling, optimistic and romantic landscape where science flourishes, beauty is created, wrongs are righted, possibilities are infinite, and women can begin to dream, at last, of how it might feel to be free. Scotsman
A novel which challenges literary expectations about the perspectives from which major events and authors might be seen and interpreted. It knocks predictable conventions of perspective off kilter. It refocuses attention to priorities that are often neglected or oppressed - the experiences, perspectives and judgements of women. It's engagingly written, compelling, lucid and surprising, with a memorable cast of characters and a social vision of an Edinburgh caught up in the Hanoverian ascendancy, which it has never completely left behind. The National, Scotland
Lush, seductive and scandalous, this is a gorgeous read.
Daily MailAn absolute treat for fans of historical fiction and rich storytelling.
Red MagazineA vibrant mix of history, romance and mystery
I PaperLush, seductive and scandalous, this is a romantic tale of two intriguing women and their evolving friendship.
PsychologiesWith a cast of colourful characters, there's much to enjoy here.
ChoiceThe storyline is compelling, the pace perfect, and the characters consistently engaging, but what made this a stand-out book for me was the quality and quantity of the research, and the skilful way that this is interwoven throughout the narrative.
Buzz MagazineSara Sheridan, already one of the Scotland's finest historical fiction writers, excels herself in The Fair Botanists. A glorious and jaunty journey through 1820s Edinburgh, I fell in love with this book, its feisty women and luscious plants from the very first page.
-- E.S. ThomsonSara Sheridan is a Glasgow-based writer of over 20 books including a cosy crime noir mystery series set all over 1950s Britain and several historical novels based around real-life events in the late Georgian and early Victorian period. Her novel The Fair Botanists, an intrigue set in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh at the time of George IV's visit to the city in 1822, was Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 2022. She has also written non-fiction and children's picture books. Sara has been named one of the Saltire Society's 365 most influential Scottish women, past and present.
X @sarasheridanInsta @sarasheridanwriter'Hugely enjoyable' Ambrose Parry 'Dazzling, original and full of wonderful characters' Katie Fforde 'Seductive and sensual' Essie Fox 'Historical fiction at its best' Frances Quinn Could one rare plant hold the key to a thousand riches? It's the summer of 1822 and Edinburgh is abuzz with rumours of King George IV's impending visit. In botanical circles, however, a different kind of excitement has gripped the city. In the newly-installed Botanic Garden, the Agave Americana plant looks set to flower - an event that only occurs once every few decades.When newly widowed Elizabeth arrives in Edinburgh to live with her late husband's aunt Clementina, she's determined to put her unhappy past in London behind her. As she settles into her new home, she becomes fascinated by the beautiful Botanic Garden which borders the grand house and offers her services as an artist to record the rare plant's impending bloom. In this pursuit, she meets Belle Brodie, a vivacious young woman with a passion for botany and the lucrative, dark art of perfume creation.Belle is determined to keep both her real identity and the reason for her interest the Garden secret from her new friend. But as Elizabeth and Belle are about to discover, secrets don't last long in this Enlightenment city. And when revealed, they can carry the greatest of consequences . . . 'Perfectly paced, romantic and full of intrigue. A truly wonderful story' Victoria Hawthorne 'Evocative and sumptuously imagined. Not since Perfume has a book had such a strong sensory impact on me. A feast for the senses... I was intoxicated! Dazzling' Celia Reynolds 'There's no enlightenment without enlightening women, and Sara Sheridan gives us two great ones to reckon with in Belle and Elizabeth. The Fair Botanists gives us a glimpse into the complex life of 1820s Edinburgh with joyous female characters at the heart of the story' Annie Garthwaite 'Sprinkled with deliciously tantalising scandal and intrigue, and colourful, engaging characters. A sheer joy to read' Sue Lawrence
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