The Fair Botanists: Could one rare plant hold the key to a thousand riches?

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The present day might have rubbed off the edges and introduced more modern landmarks but this is an Edinburgh stuck in time.

Again, I know that's not necessarily true to the era, so maybe I'm being unfair - but I find the more I like a book the more I am enjoying the characters, the more harshly I judge them. It’s about an early female photographer – a fictional one but she is based on a real-life character. And of course, I greatly enjoyed reading about botany and Elizabeth's artistic and Belle's perfumer interests as all of these are my own, too. 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.

In that there are echoes that reverberate today into the way women are treated by our culture in the process of rape cases.

I am struggling to say which genre this is, not a mystery or a romance, too light hearted to be literary fiction so I am leaving it at historical fiction. I’m not aware of how much experience Ms Sheridan has with writing in the present tense, but over time one learns that certain recountings of past events need to be written in past tense to maintain the flow of the story.Both Belle and Elizabeth have great character arcs, and their friendship helps them both develop as individuals. Famous author, Sir Walter Scott, has more of the spotlight, entrusted with organizing the itinerary for the King’s visit to Edinburgh. Historical characters are name-dropped or flat-out appear as players in the story; specific dates and addresses are given; the minutiae of 1820’s Edinburgh are clearly understood. I love when you smell, touch and clearly see in your inward eye – quoting one of my favourite Romantic poets, Wordsworth - what the words narrate and describe.

Which I lived in for half of my life, and for me it was a nostalgic look back to my adolescent and early adult years. This is the early days of the Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh and various people are interested in the flowers and plants for various reasons. Cmo os decía, la trama tiene lugar en Edimburgo, y son varios los acontecimientos que le añaden interés a la historia.I found her kindness towards her late husband’s cousin, the eccentric Lady Clementina, very touching. Enough plot (but not too much), interesting characters, a good mix of the real history and fun diversions.