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Based on historical documents, including Eliza’s letters, this is a historical fiction account of how a teenage girl produced indigo dye, which became one of the largest exports out of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.
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Fascinating story based on historical documents and letters written by Eliza Lucas in the mid eighteenth century.
The narrator was excellent. Although it took a little for me to get used to her assuming a man’s voice. I’m not sure I would have made it through a written version – there is a lot of description and a lot of the main character experiencing the same emotion over and over. I did really enjoy the story, though. I learned a little about SC history and the place of women in colonial times. I could imagine there were people who were sympathetic to the slave’s predicament and who considered them friends. An open-minded and independent woman would be such a tough thing to be in that era. In many ways it wasn’t just slaves, but women who were men’s property. Great story and even better because it was based on a real person.
One of my favorite books
I enjoyed learning about life at this time. Some of the story was predictable, but enjoyable.
I loved how Natasha Boyd took me to a time and place I had no prior knowledge of. It really impressed me how she wrote about her struggles and concerns as well as the perspective of the slaves at the time. I had no idea how Indigo changed the lives of the people in the deep south. I really enjoyed this book and was sad to see it end.
Horrible, terrible description of plantation life and description of South Carolina
Based upon a true story, this was a gem of a story about a young girl, put in charge of her family’s land and accounts while her father went off to further his military and political career. Eliza was an amazing women with unusual ambition, ahead of her time, and someone with compassion who questioned slavery in a time and place where that was not the norm. I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction.
Excellent book about a little known story. Indigo brought the South a fortune but unfortunately they needed workers to work the fields. This story tells of one of the first plantations to try to make the crop profitable.
Interesting story about a woman trying for recognition
A lot of information about how women and slaves were treated at the time And just about the times in general. Well written. Enjoyed it.
Historical fiction.
Slow getting started, but lovely overall
Interesting characters that I wanted to know more about.
I read for entertainment so I do remember the stories for long. However this book has stuck with me.
Loved this book. The main character was very strong and the story fascinating. Rewarding to learn she really existed and the threa of the story is based on her life and accomplishments. Great read.
I really enjoyed this book. After reading I wanted to learn more about the main character. I thought this was an excellent book and have recommended it too many.
So informative and engaging. Why have we never heard of this woman?
I really enjoy historical fiction. This was such a good book with great characters based on actual people who lived in that era. Truly a fascinating book!
What a brilliant historical novel — I couldn’t put it down and read well past 3AM on two consecutive nights! Talk about a satisfied fatigue!
Improbably, a fifteen year old daughter is left on SC plantation in the 18th century, responsible for it and two other plantations owned by her father. Her father, determined to increase his standing among the British government, needs his daughter to raise more profit from the plantations.
Elizabeth, Miz Eliza to the slaves devoted to her, is determined to produce indigo, never before made in the colony, but commonly made in the West Indies. Trial and error and a deliberately fouled batch move Eliza to become only more obdurate, and will not give up on her dream.
The Indigo Girl is a powerful story with an amazingly strong female lead character and a supporting cast of friends, villains and yes, a tremendously shameful historical fact, slaves.
The Indigo Girl, a detailed historical novel by Natasha Boyd, is based on the life of Eliza Lucas Pinckney, the young woman who changed agriculture in South Carolina by developing indigo as a major export. Left in charge of her father’s plantations in 1739, the fiercely independent sixteen-year-old doggedly bucks 18th century social conventions regarding women’s place in society—and the overbearing attitudes of the men who are supposed to help her—to cultivate indigo.
Boyd expertly weaves history, romance, intrigue, political unrest, and social injustice into her well-written story. Her inclusion of actual letters Eliza wrote to friends and family lends credibility to the narrative, and breathes life into this forgotten historical figure. Readers of historical fiction will love this book.