UK Publishing Date: 6 Aug 2015. 336 pages.
Historical fiction really isn’t my thing. I’d much rather read a factual account of real events that have taken place. So when I started reading this book I had no idea what it was about. I was quite surprised when I realised that “Landfalls” tells a dramatised version of the 1785 voyage of a French fleet seeking riches and new discoveries. And even more surprised when I realised that I was really enjoying it.
While the substantive facts of the story are based on real historical journey, much of the heart of this book belongs to Naomi Williams and her beautiful descriptions of the voyages to the new worlds. I suggest that you don’t google the La Pérouse expedition until you’ve read the book because there will be spoilers that will change the way you approach what you read.
The characters are wonderful. Technicolour, larger than life and make the story the epic that it is. The four year journey is filled with joy and grief as the crew encounter all sorts of obstacles on their travels. Aside from the usual Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci stories I had never read anything about the other explorers of the time so it was interesting to get a feel for what they went through. The voyages may not necessarily have been that successful but you really get a sense of the trailblazing nature of the undertaking.
Supplied by Net Galley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
You can get the book here: Landfalls
Categories: 4 Stars Book Review
angelnet69
Prolific reader, enthusiastic theatre and movie-goer and ex-Olivier Awards judge who spent twenty years working in the music industry in London. Sharing my house with a gorgeous cockapoo called Harry who has taken over completely.
I love sharing my favourite books with friends - nearly always spoiler-free as I hate reading a synopsis of the whole book in other reviews.
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