Silver Nutmeg

by Norah Lofts

Book Overview

Married to one man - loving another - her infidelity rocked an empire... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B000EKE4GC
• Release Date: January 1947
• Publisher: Doubleday & Company
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.

Customer Reviews

INTRIGUING ROMANTIC HISTORICAL FICTION...

This is a work of romantic historical fiction about the spice island of Banda in the then Dutch East Indies and the Dutch spice princes who, having enslaved its native population, inhabited it, making a fortune from nutmeg. This is the story of one such spice prince, Evert Haan, a handsome and single-minded man, who rose from his obscure, impoverished Dutch origins, to become master of all he surveyed and incredibly rich. Living like an eastern potentate, all he lacked was a suitable and beautiful Dutch bride to grace his home, his table, and his bed. When his half-brother, Piet Odshoorn, a ship's captain having business on Banda, regales Evert with the story of how a fine Dutch family of Evert's childhood, the van Goens, has become impoverished, Evert is all ears. It appears that the van Goens' patriarch, having committed suicide after an unfortunate business venture, has left his family to fend for itself. When Piet remarks upon the beauty of one of its daughters, Annabet, Evan quickly decides that she is to be his bride and entrusts Piet with the unenviable task of arranging a glove marriage. When Piet returns to his native Holland, he reluctantly goes to pay his respects to the van Goens and execute his mission. To his immense surprise, Piet later finds the proposal accepted on behalf of Annabet by Mevrouw van Goens, the matriarch of the family. On the day that the proposal is accepted, he meets Annabet and discovers why the proposal had been accepted with such alacrity. It seems that Annabet's looks have been fearfully ravaged by illness. There is simply nothing left of her beauty. When Annabet arrives in Banda, she finds herself immediately rejected by the astonished Evert. In fact, Evert immediately sets out to rid himself of her by any means necessary, consulting with the wily Shal Ahmi. Leaving his problem in the hands of Shal Ahmi, Evert leaves Banda, planning to return after what he believes will be Annabet's murder. Instead, upon his return, he finds a beautiful, newly restored Annabet and promptly falls in love. Yet, Annabet, in the interim, has managed to give her heart to a dashing young Irishman, Christy Ayrton, a man with whom her husband conducts some illicit business. Still, Annabet tries to be a good wife to Evert, who senses that, while he may have possession of her body, he does not have her heart, causing him be become wild with jealousy. In the meantime, the Island of Banda abounds with intrigue, as conflicts arise between the English and the Dutch over the precious nutmeg. This results in heightened hostilities that ultimately lead to battle and a conflagration and native uprising that threaten to consume the Island. Annabet finds herself at a cross-road, caught in the cross-hairs of Shal Ahmi. Not even he, however, could divine what the fates had in store. This is an intriguing work of romantic historical fiction by renowned author, Norah Lofts. Those who enjoy the romantic historical fiction genre will like th

INTRIGUING ROMANTIC HISTORICAL FICTION...

This is a work of romantic historical fiction about the spice island of Banda in the then Dutch East Indies and the Dutch spice princes who, having enslaved its native population, inhabited it, making a fortune from nutmeg. This is the story of one such spice prince, Evert Haan, a handsome and single-minded man, who rose from his obscure, impoverished Dutch origins, to become master of all he surveyed and incredibly rich. Living like an eastern potentate, all he lacked was a suitable and beautiful Dutch bride to grace his home, his table, and his bed. When his half-brother, Piet Odshoorn, a ship's captain having business on Banda, regales Evert with the story of how a fine Dutch family of Evert's childhood, the van Goens, has become impoverished, Evert is all ears. It appears that the van Goens' patriarch, having committed suicide after an unfortunate business venture, has left his family to fend for itself. When Piet remarks upon the beauty of one of its daughters, Annabet, Evan quickly decides that she is to be his bride and entrusts Piet with the unenviable task of arranging a glove marriage. When Piet returns to his native Holland, he reluctantly goes to pay his respects to the van Goens and execute his mission. To his immense surprise, Piet later finds the proposal accepted on behalf of Annabet by Mevrouw van Goens, the matriarch of the family. On the day that the proposal is accepted, he meets Annabet and discovers why the proposal had been accepted with such alacrity. It seems that Annabet's looks have been fearfully ravaged by illness. There is simply nothing left of her beauty. When Annabet arrives in Banda, she finds herself immediately rejected by the astonished Evert. In fact, Evert immediately sets out to rid himself of her by any means necessary, consulting with the wily Shal Ahmi. Leaving his problem in the hands of Shal Ahmi, Evert leaves Banda, planning to return after what he believes will be Annabet's murder. Instead, upon his return, he finds a beautiful, newly restored Annabet and promptly falls in love. Yet, Annabet, in the interim, has managed to give her heart to a dashing young Irishman, Christy Ayrton, a man with whom her husband conducts some illicit business. Still, Annabet tries to be a good wife to Evert, who senses that, while he may have possession of her body, he does not have her heart, causing him be become wild with jealousy. In the meantime, the Island of Banda abounds with intrigue, as conflicts arise between the English and the Dutch over the precious nutmeg. This results in heightened hostilities that ultimately lead to battle and a conflagration and native uprising that threaten to consume the Island. Annabet finds herself at a cross-road, caught in the cross-hairs of Shal Ahmi. Not even he, however, could divine what the fates had in store. This is an intriguing work of romantic historical fiction by renowned author, Norah Lofts. Those who enjoy the romantic historical fiction genre will like th

Wonderful fantasy

This book is great for older children and even adults! It is an enthralling story about a young boy and girl. It teaches respect for other people's points of view.