Description
Set in London, Java, Sumatra, Penang, Malacca and Singapore, this historical novel takes the form of two diaries of Sir Stamford Raffles two wives: Olivia and Sophia. When Raffles sets sail from the cold, damp confines of Georgian London to make his name and fortune in the tropics, he takes with him his new wife, Olivia, a raffish beauty with a scandalous past. She infatuates both his closest friend, a poet, and one of his bitterest rivals, a soldier. Raffles sees what is going on, but he turns a blind eye or so hopes Olivia. After Olivia s death, and back on leave in London, Raffles, a man once again in need of a wife, makes a practical marriage. Sophia, no beauty, but curious and intelligent, embraces the opportunity of an exciting life abroad. Marriage brings her great joy but also great sadness. Her life with Raffles becomes a catalogue of loss: of their children, of their possessions, of their savings. And all the while, Raffles, driven and talented, manoeuvres at the centre of global networks of power, trade, politics and diplomacy. His scheming culminates, to his eventual glory, with the founding of a new trading post: Singapore. Olivia && Sophia provides a fascinating fictionalised biographical sketch of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles through the eyes of the two people closest to him.
About the Author
British author Rosie Milne is the author of Holding The Baby and How To Change Your Life, both Pan Macmillan. Rosie is a stringer for The Telegraph and a frequent contributor to other UK newspapers and magazines. She divides her time between London and Singapore. Sales Handles: Similar books in the market: Glendinning, Victoria Raffles and the Golden Opportunity (Profile, 9781846686047). UK public relations agency handling publicity for this title. UK agent has already received interest in a film adaptation.
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