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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sophisticated, Superb Historical Fiction,
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This review is from: Trade Wind (Hardcover)
M. M. Kaye, the author of two of my favorite historical novels, "The Far Pavilions" and "Shadow of the Moon," does not disappoint with "Trade Wind." Unlike her other books, which are set in India, this tale is told against the languid, sensuous, often savage beauty of 19th century Zanzibar - a lawless island paradise off the coast of East Africa.Hero Athena Hollis, a lovely Boston bluestocking with a long list of good intentions and a self-appointed mission to abolish slavery, visits her diplomat uncle and his family who are stationed in Zanzibar. In transit, there is a violent storm at sea and the unfortunate Hero is swept overboard only to be rescued by Captain Rory Frost, disreputable scoundrel, privateer, slave trader, etc.. She is eventually returned to the bosom of her family, unscathed, but with a tremendous dislike of the Captain and his chosen profession. This epic romance is chock-full of adventure and excitement - international politics, the slave trade, Arabian sultans and princesses, revolution, pirates, natural disasters, espionage and intrigue. Ms. Kaye's research, as always, is impeccable. Her characters are subtly developed, three dimensional and very believable. The love story is quite unique - outwardly the couple does not seem to be a "match made in heaven." However, the chemistry does work and the romance provides some unusual twists to the plot. There is a rape scene, as some reviewers have mentioned, but I don't think rape has been romanticized here. There is violence in the novel, as this is a historically accurate piece, about a place that has a violent history. The rape is not gratuitous nor is it graphic. The episode adds rather than detracts from the plot. I was captivated by "Trade Wind" and apart from the spellbinding saga, I learned much about the history of the strange, lovely island called Zanzibar. Highly recommended.
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thank god I got rid of expanded cable...,
By Pennie A Parker (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Trade Wind (Mass Market Paperback)
I've had this book sitting in my book shelf since 1981 and I've never read it. Why? Well cause everyone keeps saying "it's not as good as 'Far Pavilions'". They're right of course, but I have not looked at 'Far Pavilions' in a long time. And since I dropped the ridiculously expensive cable package I've been reading more books. Thus I turned my attention to 'Trade Wind' and what an enjoyable read I found. Its style compares more to her mysteries rather than to her famous best-seller. Ms. Kaye gathered up a fascinating history of Zanzibar about slave trading, the Sultan from Oman and his feuding children, an attack by pirates on the American Consulate, and a grisly account of a cholera epidemic in which 20,000 people perished. She includes social commentary on the westernization of the uncivilized world, the duplicity of the French regarding slavery and her trademark scenery descriptions. I'm so glad I finally picked up this book.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent...not a "romance novel",
By Amazonbombshell (USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Trade Wind (Hardcover)
Wow. Please ignore the front and back covers, which will have you convinced that this is an all-sex-all-the-time romance novel, or even one of those interesting and worthy historical romances, a la Bertrice Small.
TRADE WIND, as it happens, is more along the lines of an adventure novel, featuring a smart but somewhat naive heroine (named Hero!), drama on the high seas, political plots, good intentions leading to unexpected consequences, an intriguing good guy/bad guy, and plenty of action. And, oh yeah, there's a little bit of romance in there, too. It builds slowly, gradually -- in fact almost imperceptibly -- and it's never graphic. The fact that it happens (finally!) is satisfying, but one leaves with the impression that just a bit more detail would have been nice! Still, I can't fault the book on much; it was perfectly enthralling the whole way through.
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