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The Fair Botanists

Could One Rare Plant Hold the Key to a Thousand Riches?

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The Fair Botanists

By: Sara Sheridan
Narrated by: Cathleen McCarron
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About this listen

The Fair Botanists is a bewitching and immersive story for fans of Jessie Burton, Sarah Perry and The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock.

Could one rare plant hold the key to a thousand riches?

It's the summer of 1822, and Edinburgh is abuzz with rumours of King George IV's impending visit. In botanical circles, however, a different kind of excitement has gripped the city. In the newly installed Botanic Garden, the Agave Americana plant looks set to flower - an event that only occurs once every few decades.

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. As she settles into her new home, she becomes fascinated by the beautiful Botanic Garden which borders the grand house and offers her services as an artist to record the rare plant's impending bloom. In this pursuit, she meets Belle Brodie, a vivacious young woman with a passion for botany and the lucrative, dark art of perfume creation.

Belle is determined to keep both her real identity and the reason for her interest in the garden secret from her new friend. But as Elizabeth and Belle are about to discover, secrets don't last long in this Enlightenment city....

And when they are revealed, they can carry the greatest of consequences.

©2021 Sara Sheridan (P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
Historical Historical Fiction Fiction Romance England
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What listeners say about The Fair Botanists

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A Georgian delight

Organic perfume is my profession so interested to hear of a shared passion by the main characters.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Characters, story and narration

I loved it. Sometimes I wish these historical empowering stories about women didn’t end in them getting married… however, I guess in a way it stays true to the time period and I guess it sounds like she was happy with her marriage!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Highly enjoyable

Terrific tale weaving the growth of New Town Edinburgh with the new botanical gardens and a few very special women. Nicely narrated. I can’t wait for my next visit to Edinburgh to walk the streets and think of the characters. Highly recommended if you like scent, plants, history and Scotland in general.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Lovely story

Enjoyable story about women and their friendship in the 1800’s. Moving and interesting story, really enjoyed it.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Really interesting premise for a novel.

This was a really intriguing read and held my attention all the way through. I like the pace and tone of the narration. It’s hard to find a novel that isn’t following the same formula as all the others and this was a refreshing change.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

I tried but I just couldn’t stick with it

I found it hard going with all the excessive descriptions and the narration just felt off. I gave up in the end.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Mmmm, OK, not fantastic

I don't think I dedicated enough chunks of listening time to this book initially, to fully absorb myself in it. There are a lot of characters, not particularly well drawn and parts of the story were confusing and lacking in depth.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Shades of Tulip Fever - a good read

Good historical romance - enjoyable and brilliant narration. Absorbing and some good characters - worth a credit

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Cringey narrator

Story was interesting enough but the narrator had a really toe-crawling way of emphasising points which spoiled it for me. I live in Edinburgh, so knowing the locations made me enjoy it more than I probably would have done otherwise.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Skilled and appealing narration

A story of dedication, class and gender hierarchy, ingenuity, friendship, Edinburgh and botany. Unexpectedly engaging.

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