In this extraordinary fiction debut—rich with love and betrayal, history and intellectual passion—two remarkable narratives converge on Easter Island, one of the most remote places in the world. It is 1913. Elsa Pendleton travels from England to Easter Island with her husband, an anthropologist sent by the Royal Geographical Society to study the colossal moai statues, and her younger … and her younger sister. What begins as familial duty for Elsa becomes a grand adventure; on Easter Island she discovers her true calling. But, out of contact with the outside world, she is unaware that World War I has been declared and that a German naval squadron, fleeing the British across the South Pacific, is heading toward the island she now considers home.
Sixty years later, Dr. Greer Farraday, an American botanist, travels to Easter Island to research the island’s ancient pollen, but more important, to put back the pieces of her life after the death of her husband.
A series of brilliant revelations brings to life the parallel quests of these two intrepid young women as they delve into the centuries-old mysteries of Easter Island. Slowly unearthing the island’s haunting past, they are forced to confront turbulent discoveries about themselves and the people they love, changing their lives forever.
Easter Island is a tour de force of storytelling that will establish Jennifer Vanderbes as one of the most gifted writers of her generation.
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I like the dual period pieces.
Although it is fictional, it gives a lot of historical facts and there certainly could be a sequel to the story!
Admittedly, I read this book for one reason and one reason only: I was on my way to Easter Island. I say this by way of acknowledging that from the beginning I was less interested in the story than I was in the setting. That said, I have an open mind and I was willing to be swayed.
Jennifer Vanderbes’s Easter Island is the story of Elsa Beazley …
This book jumped around a lot between times and different events which made it a little difficult to follow. But I liked the different stories. My only complaint is that the ending did not sufficiently provide closure for me. I don’t mind some ambiguity but I felt there was way to much in this book – maybe there were things I was “supposed” to get …
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It contained unexpected elements and taught me things about history. I particularly liked learning about the native Easter Islanders. The writing was engaging.
Truly an unexpected fascinating read with a surprising introduction to Darwin and botany, historic insights about Easter Island, through unique characters and collisions across time. Thoroughly engaging connections to women in science, anthropology and evolution, plus a great rendition of an unexpected aspect of historic fiction. Incredibly …
Learning about Easter Island was informative but the vehicle used of writing three different stories within the book was uninteresting. The best thing I can say about the book was that it increased my interest about Easter Island and I’ve done more research as a result.
Having visited Easter Island I was fascinated with this factually correct novel that follows the fictional lives of two women, one in modern times and the other in early 1900’s. It’s a provocative story and I loved reading it. Easter Island is such a mystery, and its inhabitants are so interesting. Loved it!
Loved this book. Makes me want to go to Easter island, makes me more aware of the plants around me. Great Read.
The science was made entertaining. The plot devices of the the different groups throughout history were terrific. The feminist expose of attitudes even in higher learning circles was dead on accurate for the “supposedly” progressive sixties and seventies. I did not want this book to end!
I did not even know where Easter Island is so learned a lot about the Island and its culture.