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The Disorder of Longing — Natasha Bauman
A remarkable woman's quest for real love, rare orchids, and true freedom.
In 1890s Boston, young Ada Caswell Pryce is beginning to realize that she is not a good wife. Beautiful, strong-willed, and nostalgic for her days at university, Ada drinks wine with her housekeepers, sneaks out for midnight horseback rides along the Charles River, gives feminist books to her ladies? maid, and allows coarse, unfamiliar men to kiss her hand. Her husband, Edward--a rich man whose gentlemanly hobbies include the relentless pursuit of rare orchids and the practice of tantric sex--is intent on curbing Ada?s wild behavior and turning her into a proper wife and mother.
When Edward first comes home with a crate of orchids, Ada thinks he is bringing her a gift, a peace offering during an unhappy time in their marriage. Little does she know how much these strange-looking flowers will change her life. Ada's continued refusal to conform brings out the darkest side of Edward's personality. Desperate to escape, Ada forms inappropriate alliances with the African-American and Brazilian orchid hunters who work for her husband. With their help, she secretly flees Boston for the adventure, pleasure, and danger of Brazil.
Set in Victorian Boston, on the high seas of the Atlantic, and in the jungles of Brazil this is a panoramic, sexy debut novel for fans of Michel Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White.
In 1890s Boston, young Ada Caswell Pryce is beginning to realize that she is not a good wife. Beautiful, strong-willed, and nostalgic for her days at university, Ada drinks wine with her housekeepers, sneaks out for midnight horseback rides along the Charles River, gives feminist books to her ladies? maid, and allows coarse, unfamiliar men to kiss her hand. Her husband, Edward--a rich man whose gentlemanly hobbies include the relentless pursuit of rare orchids and the practice of tantric sex--is intent on curbing Ada?s wild behavior and turning her into a proper wife and mother.
When Edward first comes home with a crate of orchids, Ada thinks he is bringing her a gift, a peace offering during an unhappy time in their marriage. Little does she know how much these strange-looking flowers will change her life. Ada's continued refusal to conform brings out the darkest side of Edward's personality. Desperate to escape, Ada forms inappropriate alliances with the African-American and Brazilian orchid hunters who work for her husband. With their help, she secretly flees Boston for the adventure, pleasure, and danger of Brazil.
Set in Victorian Boston, on the high seas of the Atlantic, and in the jungles of Brazil this is a panoramic, sexy debut novel for fans of Michel Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White.
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