The Sandalwood Tree, Elle Newmark
The Sandalwood Tree, Elle Newmark
List: $20.99 | Sale: $14.70
Club: $10.49

The Sandalwood Tree
A Novel

Author: Elle Newmark

Narrator: Justine Eyre

Unabridged: 11 hr 24 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 04/26/2011


Synopsis

In 1947, American historian and World War II veteran Martin Mitchell wins a Fulbright Fellowship to document the end of British rule in India. His wife, Evie, convinces him to take her and their young son along, hoping a shared adventure will mend their marriage, which has been strained by war.

But other places, other wars. Martin and Evie find themselves stranded in a colonial bungalow in the Himalayas due to violence surrounding the partition of India between Hindus and Muslims. In that house, hidden behind a brick wall, Evie discovers a packet of old letters, which tell a strange and compelling story of love and war involving two young Englishwomen who lived in the same house in 1857.

Drawn to their story, Evie embarks on a mission to piece together her Victorian mystery. Her search leads her through the bazaars and temples of India and the dying society of the British Raj. Along the way, Martin's dark secret is exposed, unleashing a new wedge between the couple. As India struggles toward independence, Evie struggles to save her marriage, pursuing her Victorian ghosts for answers.

Bursting with lavish detail and vivid imagery of Calcutta and beyond, The Sandalwood Tree is a powerful story about betrayal, forgiveness, fate, and love.

About Elle Newmark

Elle Newmark is an award-winning writer originally from Chicago whose books are inspired by her wide-ranging travels. Her novels include The Book of Unholy Mischief and Bones of the Dead. She and her husband, a retired physician, have two grown children and five grandchildren. They live in the hills north of San Diego.


Reviews

What I liked best about this book was the beautiful, descriptive writing . Just a few pages in and I was there in India seeing what Evie sees as she first arrives in India - flowers , trees ,the market , and the people . I was glad to be reading it on my kindle so I could easily look up the flowers......more

Goodreads review by Elle

I think The Sandalwood Tree is a humdinger of a story. Of course, I wrote it so I might be biased. It involves two love stories, 90 years apart, set in war-torn India. The research for this book was fascinating. We Americans do not ordinarily study Indian history (world history is usually limited to......more

Goodreads review by Helen

I had high hopes for The Sandalwood Tree as I love historical fiction set in India - and I'm pleased to say that it didn't disappoint me at all. This novel consists of two storylines, both of which take place during an important period of India's history. In 1947 we meet an American woman, Evie Mitch......more

Digital audiobook performed by Justine Eyre 3.5*** The blurb that put this on my TBR promised “Two love stories. 90 years apart.” That’s not quite what I got. But I did get a good historical fiction tale framed by the British leaving India as that country gained its independence. In 1947, Evie, her h......more