A Great Act of Love

By: Heather Rose

Narrated by: Anna Popplewell

'A captivating story of love and adventure, thrumming with secrets' Lucy Steeds, author of The Artist

'Moves elegantly back and forwards in time, and across the world from Paris and London to
the Antipodes . . . beautifully written' Sunday Times

'A compelling tale . . . blends historical fiction with high adventure and romance' Guardian

'Like a fine vintage of champagne, this novel is complex, layered, and delicious' Kate MacIntosh, author of The Champagne Letters

Caroline examines a stolen map. And there she finds it, at the edge of the Western Hemisphere, a black mark at the 30th latitude smaller than a flea: Norfolk Island. Her Aunt thinks she's a fool for wanting to follow her father to the other side of the world. He is no longer the man who taught Caroline about philosophy, apothecary and dreamt of returning to the France of his childhood. He is a convicted murderer, mad, deported, condemned. But, when she understands that Caroline is determined, her Aunt has one piece of advice: she must leave her past behind and invent a new story.

In 1839, Caroline lands in Van Dieman's Land, a young widow of means with a boy in her care. In this insular colony of exiles and opportunists, no-one talks too much about their past. Caroline leases a run-down cottage and abandoned vineyard and, on this island of extreme seasons and wild beauty, she embarks on a fearless enterprise to reclaim her father, create champagne, and rewrite her family's legacy.

Travelling from Paris to Edinburgh, London, New York and to Tasmania, The Great Act of Love is an epic story of hope and self-invention.©2026 Heather Rose

Critic reviews

Like a fine vintage of champagne, this novel is complex, layered, and delicious. The intoxicating mix of family drama, historical details, and strong female characters makes this the perfect pairing for book clubs (Kate MacIntosh, author of THE CHAMPAGNE LETTERS)

Blends historical fiction with high adventure and romance . . . Based on a real-life family discovery, the book is a compelling, complex tale set in the 1830s Van Diemen's Land

'A captivating story of love and adventure, thrumming with secrets' (Lucy Steeds, author of THE ARTIST)

Moves elegantly back and forwards in time, and across the world from Paris and London to
the Antipodes, inspired by elements of her own family's history. It is a beautifully written account of a woman's attempts to reinvent herself and rescue those she loves

Set in the wild, untamed beauty of 1840s Van Diemen's Land . . . sweeping, richly detailed and immersive. Epic in scope yet intimate at heart, Caroline's journey through danger and adversity is inspiring and utterly captivating, making it impossible not to root for her