Green Gold

While slow at times, this book ended up being a really good read.

Using a fictional journal of explorer John Jeffrey, author Gabriel Hemery brings us into a world where botany explorers searched for “green gold” - natural treasures that wealthy patrons would flock to. The inclusion of official letters and meeting minutes, which are actual contemporary records, tends to bog down the story. I also didn’t like the bouncing back between the present day and the exploration, circa 1850-1853. The real treasure here is the parts that make up Jeffrey’s journal, although it is nearly midway through before we really start to get a sense of Jeffrey’s personality and relationships. Before that it tends to focus more of scientific facts that come off as dry, though clearly well-researched and descriptive.

It isn’t until his relationship with Lily-Wokas, a Native American woman, that the story really gets interesting. The ending was just perfect.

This is a slow burn of a read, something to take your time over and enjoy.

Told by using the journal (fictional) and letters to and from the explorer John Jeffrey, the author Gabriel Hemery takes you back to a time when botany explorers searched for natural plant treasures that the wealthy would flock to see, plants and seeds from distant lands.

These journals and letters were found by a woman during her internship and she realised the interest and importance of the documents and this is where the story begins, as she starts to read and piece together the life of John Jeffrey.

I loved the descriptive writing, bring the wildness of the environment to life, along with the love and tragedy that befell Mr Jeffrey. A real adventure in the written form. Marvellous.

I would like to thank the NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book for free and this is my honest and unbiased review

Green Gold: The Epic True Story of Victorian Plant Hunter John Jeffrey by Gabriel Hemery is based on thorough research on behalf of the author. John Jeffery was a young Scotsman who was hired to travel to the “New World” to identify and collect seeds from species of trees, and other plants, as yet unknown in Great Britain. Like most of the early explorers Jeffery endured many hardships due to both weather and terrain in order to reach the west coast of North America, his assigned area for study and collection.
Hemery describes both Jeffery's trials and tribulations as well as the development of society during the mid 1800s in a newly settled, and mostly unknown wild territory. This reviewer appreciated the way Hemery described the Indigenous people with both dignity and respect, while describing their culture, life styles and habits. John Jeffery lived an amazing life of adventure and discovery.
This novel will be of especial interest to historians, botanists and geologists.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.