T.L. Mogford – The Plant Hunter (Literature Review)

T.L. Mogford’s debut release, The Plant Hunter is a gem of historical fiction.

1867 is a tough year for Harry Compton. While his flair for botany and cultivation has landed him a position at one of King’s Road’s elite florists, he never really sees himself as anything more than a good salesman.

All that changes one fateful night when he is forced to flee England with nothing more than the clothes on his back and a mysterious map that apparently leads to the location of the “icicle tree” – a beautiful specimen from the East.

Leaving behind his homeland and everything of the life he worked so hard to create, Harry joins forces with the wife of a distant cousin to travel the dangerous waters of the Yangtze River in search of fame and fortune.

I love historical fiction so was excited to get into The Plant Hunter – a book which critics and readers alike are showering with praise even though it’s only recently been released. But with such a book, it is hard to put aside high expectations.

As it turns out, I needn’t have been worried because The Plant Hunter – in my opinion – lives up to the hype.  From the first page I had a feeling that this was going to be a book I enjoyed, and I was right. It had me hooked until the very end. Part historical fiction, adventure story with a slight romantic subplot thrown in, I couldn’t put it down.

Despite loving the genre, I have found that some writers of historical fiction tend to overdo it when it comes to providing the reader with enough historical detail that they can really sink their teeth into a story while also writing an intriguing plotline. For me, this book achieves an almost perfect balance of the two.

T.L. Mogford’s writing style is incredibly engaging, and for the most part, the novel is very well written. The characters were dynamic, with wit and charm that made them really come alive. So too, the scenes Mogford described of both 1800s China and England were vibrant so I, as a reader, could really immerse myself in the novel without being bombarded by unnecessary detail.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a historical novel I enjoyed as much as T.L. Mogford’s The Plant Hunter. If you’re looking for an engaging read that will keep you enthralled until the very last page, give this one a go.

The Plant Hunter is out now through Allen & Unwin (Wellbeck). Visit their website to find out more about this book and others in their catalogue.