The Book of Secrets (Picador)

In a creaking old house, in the Far North of New Zealand, lives an old woma n called Maria, who some call the 'witch of Waipu.' It is more than fifty y ears since she has lived as part of the community. Maria is descended from a line of strong women who have followed the fierce and charismatic preache r, Norman McLeod, across the world. McLeod and a group of crofters set off from Ullapool in the Highlands of Scotland in 1817, headed towards Nova Sco tia. The crofters had been dispossessed from their homes following 'the cle arances' by their landlords, after the battle at Culloden. After nearly forty years at Cape Breton, in Nova Scotia, some of the settle rs moved on to Australia, looking for more fertile land and easier living. In all, they built six ships: the "Margaret", "Highland Lass", "Gertrude", "Spray", "Breadalbane" and "Ellen Lewis" McLeod, by this time, was recogniz ed as a great leader, but his attitudes were harsh, particularly towards wo men who had opinions of their own. Some people wanted to follow him to the ends of the earth, but others chose to stay behind. Disaster struck in Australia, when three of McLeod's sons died of typhoid within six weeks of each other. McLeod petitioned Governor Grey for land in New Zealand, and a settlement in Waipu was established in 1853.

Product Info

ISBN: 0330271407

ISBN-13: 9780330271400

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Year: 1988

Type: Used

Binding: Softcover

Seller Info

InfinityBooksJapan

Address: 1F Komagata Heights Bldg Tokyo,

Website: https://www.infinitybooksjapan.com

Country: Japan