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At the Edge of the Orchard
“With impeccable research and flawless prose, Chevalier perfectly conjures the grandeur of the pristine Wild West . . . and the everyday adventurers—male and female—who were bold enough or foolish enough to be drawn to the unknown. She crafts for us an excellent experience.”
—USA Today
From internationally bestselling author Tracy Chevalier, author of A Single Thread, comes a riveting drama of a pioneer family on the American frontier
1838: James and Sadie Goodenough have settled where their wagon got stuck – in the muddy, stagnant swamps of northwest Ohio. They and their five children work relentlessly to tame their patch of land, buying saplings from a local tree man known as John Appleseed so they can cultivate the fifty apple trees required to stake their claim on the property. But the orchard they plant sows the seeds of a long battle. James loves the apples, reminders of an easier life back in Connecticut; while Sadie prefers the applejack they make, an alcoholic refuge from brutal frontier life.
1853: Their youngest child Robert is wandering through Gold Rush California. Restless and haunted by the broken family he left behind, he has made his way alone across the country. In the redwood and giant sequoia groves he finds some solace, collecting seeds for a naturalist who sells plants from the new world to the gardeners of England. But you can run only so far, even in America, and when Robert’s past makes an unexpected appearance he must decide whether to strike out again or stake his own claim to a home at last.
Chevalier tells a fierce, beautifully crafted story in At the Edge of the Orchard, her most graceful and richly imagined work yet.
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Reviews
A bit of a slow start, but I liked the way/format of the story.
By Cal Val
Decent book. Sadie was unearving and Molly was the antithesis. Book would be better names as ‘How bout dem Apples’
By NoBrainerToMe
Loved the analogies between the apple trees and the giant Sequoias and Redwoods of California. The characters were deeply flawed and interesting to follow on their journies.
By chuckleedee
I had trouble getting into this book. The main characters at the begging are not meant to be too likable, and I did not connect with the next character at first. I was just getting into it as it was ending. I have read several of her books, and like the others better. She is a very good author.
By Mike from GA
This held my interest so much that I didn’t even realize it was ending! But then it was finished - and I was so sad! I’m looking forward to a sequel!? It would be so easy to carry the story into England with the trees. Finish with the story of Robert (whom I loved!) and Molly and the babies! Did the trees, in fact, make the journey? How was the trip for Robert and Molly? Rough? Did the babies make it??? So many questions!! Please!! :-/ And Thank You! :-)
By xyztodd