The Pearler's Wife
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4.0 • 53 Ratings
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- $15.99
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
From the high seas to the deep seabed, from the latticed verandahs of Buccaneer Bay to the gambling dens in Asia Place, The Pearler’s Wife is a stunning debut, inspired by a small yet pivotal moment in Australian history.
A distant land. A dangerous husband. A forbidden love.
It is 1912, and Maisie Porter stands on the deck of the SS Oceanic as England fades from view. Her destination is Buccaneer Bay in Australia’s far north-west. Her purpose: marriage to her cousin Maitland, a wealthy pearling magnate – and a man she has never met.
Also on board is William Cooper, the Royal Navy’s top man. Following a directive from the Australian government, he and eleven other ‘white’ divers have been hired to replace the predominantly Asian pearling crews. However, Maitland and his fellow merchants have no intention of employing the costly Englishmen for long . . .
Maisie arrives in her new country to a surprisingly cool reception. Already confused by her hastily arranged marriage, she is shocked at Maitland’s callous behaviour towards her – while finding herself increasingly drawn to the intriguing Cooper.
But Maisie’s new husband is harbouring secrets – deadly secrets. And when Cooper and the divers sail out to harvest the pearl shell, they are in great danger – and not just from the unpredictable and perilous ocean . . .
'An appealing tale of forbidden love and the perils of an unfamiliar land' Herald Sun
'Dhand's compelling debut explores racism, homosexuality and social class, with a hefty dose of romance thrown in' Sunday Times, Perth
Customer Reviews
Lovely story
Really enjoyed the story learning a little about the hard times in early Australia. Felt the story ended quite abruptly.
An excellent read
It was an intriguing read with unanswered questions, secrets and various twists near the end. As well as a strong main character though they are flawed at times requiring guidance towards the right choices and actions to be taken at times.
The Pearlers Wife
As a born and bred West Australian, this book allowed me into the lives of the North West Australians and the Asiatic and indigenous peoples, and of how terribly difficult their lives were in a very harsh environment, in the early days of the white settlement and pearling industry up north.
This book was beautifully written and was a real page turner, that I couldn’t wait to pickup and move myself back into that era. Highly recommend for a great read!