It is 1859, the early days of Empire and malaria is rife in India. Botanist Merrick Tremayne, sets off on a journey to Peru, with his friend and colleague Sir Clements Markham, to search for the calisaya cinchona tree, which yields quinine, the only treatment for malaria. Funded by the mighty East India Company, the first global business superpower, they make for New Bethlehem village, in Caravaya, known to be cinchona tree country and where Merrick’s grandfather explored before him, intending to take cuttings. But it is forbidden to take this plant and they need to be secretive, pretending to be trading coffee instead.
This is where the story morphs into magical realism, as they arrive at the village built on strange glass cliffs made of blue obsidian. There are pollen lamps, babies abandoned on the altar, a line of salt ‘border’ which cannot be crossed, mysterious unseen warriors the other side, exploding trees, and the Markayuq, stone statues which move, said to be left by the Inca. They meet Raphael, the local priest who has some strange qualities himself, but Merrick is drawn to him unsure whether he is friend or foe.
I don’t usually read literary magical realism, although I enjoyed the writing, and the characters, and the sheer quirkiness of the book. I can never quite accept that you can resolve a story by simply inventing an outcome, and saying ‘there we are it’s magic.’ But if you liked ‘The Watchmaker of Filigree Street’, which is her other book, I’m sure you will enjoy this. It’s certainly well put together and makes a change from psychological thrillers...
