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    The Indigo Girl: A Novel
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    The Indigo Girl: A Novel
    Unavailable
    The Indigo Girl: A Novel
    Ebook402 pages6 hours

    The Indigo Girl: A Novel

    By Natasha Boyd

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    In this incredible story of ambition, betrayal, and sacrifice, an extraordinary sixteen-year-old girl in Colonial South Carolina defies all expectations to achieve her dream.

    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    Based on historical documents, including Eliza’s letters, this is a historical fiction account of how a teenage girl produced indigo dye, which became one of the largest exports out of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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBlackstone Publishing
    Release dateJul 2, 2018
    ISBN9781455137176
    Unavailable
    The Indigo Girl: A Novel
    Author

    Natasha Boyd

    Natasha Boyd is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling and award-winning author of contemporary romance, romantic comedy, and historical fiction. After hearing one of Eliza Lucas’s descendants speaking about Eliza’s accomplishments, the need to tell her story became so overwhelming that it couldn’t be ignored, and so The Indigo Girl was born. It was long-listed for the Southern Book Prize, was a SIBA Okra Pick, and a Texas Lariat Award winner. Natasha lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

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    Reviews for The Indigo Girl

    4/5

    131 ratings9 reviews

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    • 5/5
      An intelligent young woman is left in charge of her father's plantations in South Carolina while her father pursues his military pursuits. As her ambitions grow, she must fight the disapproval from her own family and her own family.What I especially loved about this novel is how it is based on reality. Eliza did refuse to conform to society. She did learn to produce indigo dye, when everyone save for a few people, said she wouldn't be able to. I love the references to her letters that are the basis for the narrative.The fictional characters add dimension to Eliza's story and how they interact with each other. The story does have an an abrupt ending, but beyond that it has an enjoyable flow. The author does an excellent job of creating the atmosphere of the time.For any reader who enjoys novels based on history, this is a must read.I received a free copy from NetGalley for review purposes.
    • 5/5
      I knew I wanted to listen to Natasha Boyd's new novel, The Indigo Girl, when I heard it was based on a true story.Boyd has blended fact and fiction to tell the story of Eliza Lucas Pinckney. Eliza was a sixteen year old girl in 1739 when she was left in charge of the family's plantations in South Carolina, while her father pursued his military career. Determined to offset the mortgages and debt on the properties, she envisioned growing indigo on the land. Previous attempts at this crop in The Colonies had failed, but Eliza is sure she can succeed.What a story! Eliza is curious, ambitious, intelligent, outspoken and defiant, choosing to try and follow her heart, beliefs and conscience while still navigating the ways and mores of the time period. (And staving off her mother's attempts to have her married!) She is a woman far ahead of her time in terms of both age, ambition and temperament. Boyd has shaped her characterization of Eliza from actual letters and documents that have survived the centuries. Many passages from those documents are read/written into the book. Her internal dialogue lets the reader see the pressure, turmoil and strength of this young woman.Boyd has done a first rate job in capturing the time period through both setting and dialogue. I always enjoy the verbal parrying of 'polite' society in this time period. The descriptions of the plantations painted vivid mental images. I was fascinated by the actual planting and harvesting of indigo. This time period includes slavery in the South. Again, Eliza's thoughts and actions defy what she has grown up with. Historical details surrounding the politics of the time also play into the plot.I chose to listen to The Indigo Girl and I'm so glad I did. I just find books come alive for me when I listen. The reader was Saskia Maarleveld and she was a wonderful choice. I could easily imagine Eliza speaking from the light, 'younger' tone Maarleveld used. She also created believable voices for the male characters, lowering and roughening her voice. Her diction is clear and easy to understand, with a slight English accent.The Indigo Girl was such a great read/listen. I'm still in awe of that fact that this is a true story. I enjoyed the author's notes at the end. Here's a fun fact for you - President George Washington was a pall bearer at Eliza's funeral. Those of you who love history and historical fiction, you're going to want to pick this one up. Definitely recommended.
    • 5/5
      Eliza's father leaves her to run the family's South Carolina plantations. If the plantations fail, Eliza, her mother and younger sister will be forced to move back to Antigua. If the plantations succeed, Eliza may be freed from the prospect of marriage. When Eliza risks the success on Indigo, she encounters many challenges and betrayals. I really enjoyed this book. I did not realize until the epilogue that it was based on historical figures. Eliza is certainly a heroine, a feminist years before the movement. I thought that Eliza's interaction with societal norms was fascinating. Particular her thoughts on slavery, and how that set her apart from her peers. Overall, a book well worth reading!
    • 3/5
      Melodramatic, but interesting... I didn't believe the relationship between Eliza and Ben could have existed; as noted by the author, she fictionalized the friendship because of a reference in a letter by EPL. I gave it 3 stars because it made me want to discover more about Lucas and her cultivation of indigo, I've ordered a book of her letters from Forgotten Books. I love reading the original letters of historical figures because, of course, they are authentic and not an author's interpretation.
    • 4/5
      Eliza Lucas was a real person who at the age of 16 took over her family's plantation in 1739 when her father went to Antigua. I enjoyed reading this historical fiction novel and was pleased to learn at the end that it is largely based on fact; indeed, her actual letters are used throughout the story. The book was a bit slow in places, and I tired of the fictional relationship between Eliza and a fictitious slave, only because it seemed to slow the book down and draw away from what astounding things Eliza was accomplishing. I learned a good deal about indigo and how it is harvested. I always knew that indigo at one time was a very important South Carolina crop, but I did not know that a young woman was responsible for that. It seems that today she is finally being recognized more for what she accomplished.
    • 5/5
      I know the story wasn't 100% accurate, as clearly stated by the author in the end, nevertheless I still think the author captured the story of Eliza remarkably well. The story was written based on historical documents and letters and after reading this I admire Eliza's independence, strong-will, perseverance, and pure heart. She knew what she wanted and she overcame societal expectations and gender biases. She was clearly a woman ahead of her time. The history was inspiring and I was keened to look it up after finishing this. Also it was a fun trivia to learn that the state flag of SC has a blue background because of the history of indigo, and that George Washington was one of the pallbearers in Eliza's funeral.
    • 5/5
      I was very much intrigued by the story telling. Very captivating. I was on edge about her and Ben and if there was love between them. Her mother who blamed her action for not marrying. Indeed her mother was blind by not seeing that Eliza was a true entrepreneur. Eliza was a entrepreneur despite the challenges and raised to the occasion by not giving up on her dreams. The hidden love between her and Charles was portrayed beautifully and made me wonder many times about them. Charles being a true gentleman and confidant who believed in her and her success. "Never ever give up on your dreams, you success might be closer than you think."
    • 3/5
      Historical fiction based on the life of Eliza Lucas, a real person of history and a key contributor to the development of indigo crops in the American south in the mid-1700’s. At the age of sixteen, her father put her in charge of the family’s plantations while he returned Antigua. The family owned slaves and Eliza is portrayed as a kind person with strong opinions against slavery. The author has done research about the life of Eliza Lucas, using excerpts from her actual letters during this period. In the Afterword, Boyd clarifies what parts were fabricated.

      I enjoyed learning about this lesser known person of history. Eliza Lucas is portrayed as a strong woman, able to handle significant responsibilities in an age when women were not believed to be capable of logical reasoning. The main drawbacks have to do with the portions that are fabricated. We are privy to Eliza’s inner thoughts, which sound more modern than the 1700s. The slavery issue seems to be glossed over in the attempt to highlight Eliza’s achievements.
    • 5/5
      THE INDIGO GIRL by Natasha BoydIn South Carolina in 1736, 16 year old girls were expected to be sweet, compliant and marry well. Eliza Lucas was anything but the normal Low Country girl. She was intelligent, educated and ambitious. Eliza was left to run to her father’s three plantations while he pursued his military career and jeopardized the family’s wealth and position. When her family faced financial ruin it was left to Eliza to coerce an arrogant, incredulous male “consultant” and to befriend the family’s slaves to help her discover how to produce indigo dye all while discouraging suitors for her hand (and property). Her solution – teach the slaves to read (illegal) if they helped her. Well researched and well written, the 5 years Eliza Lucas Pinckney ran her father’s plantations did not save her family’s lands but did secure South Carolina’s place in world trade and provided the fledgling United States with two astute politicians. Eliza’s actual letters to her friends, father and lawyer are interspersed throughout.5 of 5 stars

      1 person found this helpful