The Indigo Girl

A Novel

By: Natasha Boyd

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

In this incredible story of ambition, betrayal, and sacrifice, an extraordinary sixteen-year-old girl in Colonial South Carolina defies all expectations to achieve her dream.

The year is 1739. Eliza Lucas is sixteen years old when her father leaves her in charge of their family’s three plantations in rural South Carolina and then proceeds to bleed the estates dry in pursuit of his military ambitions. Tensions with the British, and with the Spanish in Florida, just a short way down the coast, are rising, and slaves are starting to become restless. Her mother wants nothing more than for their South Carolina endeavor to fail so they can go back to England. Soon her family is in danger of losing everything.

Upon hearing how much the French pay for indigo dye, Eliza believes it’s the key to their salvation. But everyone tells her it’s impossible, and no one will share the secret to making it. Thwarted at nearly every turn, even by her own family, Eliza finds that her only allies are an aging horticulturalist, an older and married gentleman lawyer, and a slave with whom she strikes a dangerous deal: teach her the intricate thousand-year-old secret process of making indigo dye and in return—against the laws of the day—she will teach the slaves to read.

So begins an incredible story of love, dangerous and hidden friendships, ambition, betrayal, and sacrifice.

Based on historical documents, including Eliza’s letters, this is a historical fiction account of how a teenage girl produced indigo dye, which became one of the largest exports out of South Carolina, an export that laid the foundation for the incredible wealth of several Southern families who still live on today. Although largely overlooked by historians, the accomplishments of Eliza Lucas influenced the course of US history. When she passed away in 1793, President George Washington served as a pallbearer at her funeral.

This book is set between 1739 and 1744, with romance, intrigue, forbidden friendships, and political and financial threats weaving together to form the story of a remarkable young woman whose actions were before their time: the story of the indigo girl.

©2017 Natasha Boyd (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Maarleveld characterizes Eliza so well that listeners will feel they know her, and understand her complex emotions and struggles to succeed in a man’s world. Her excellent reading enlivens a large cast…Pacing is spot on.” - Booklist

“….fully transports the listener to a different time and place.” - AudioFile

You must read The Indigo Girl

This book was really incredible! I️ live in the area it is based upon, and this book has greatly increased my curiosity of the early history of the area. The author brought the characters to life in such a beautiful way!! I️ felt like I️ went back in time to that era. Her descriptions of the landscape and the plantation life was so interesting. I️ would love to see this book made into a major motion picture!!! It would rival “Gone With The Wind” I️ can’t wait to listen to it again!!! I️ was so sorry for it to end!!

My Best “Read”

Since my vision is deteriorating, I have turned to audibles selections to enjoy literature. The Indigo Girl was wonderfully entertaining and enlightening as to the history of Charleston, one of my favorite areas. That said, the author created a story based on fact and allowed a look at the role of women of the time period. The loves of Eliza, the difficulty of some plantation owners who respected and cared for their slaves, the disrespect for intelligent resourceful women held by many.. even other women of the time period. All woven together into a story that will challenge you to hold onto your emotions. The reader interprets the writing superbly and I will look for other stories that she performs. I so obviously recommend this novel.

Not so much on history. Long on romance blather.

At first I thought the subject matter was going to be more on history as the summary states. It unfortunately was as more like 'gazing into his limpid pools" type novel with a weird over use of romance novel adjectives. ..rewritten PC history of the colonial south.

Master and Slaves

The story is based on letters of a real and celebrated woman who brought indigo to the south. Though she was a product of her time and in many ways a progressive woman, she was still just another person who built her life and fortune on the backs of enslaved people. This is nothing to celebrate or admire. All her hand wringing about her friendship with the black slave Ben does not mitigate what she was.

No redeeming quality to the story of her life...

Makes me want to play with Indigo!

This was such an enjoyable book. I loved learning more about the life of Eliza Lucas and her accomplishments. Such an amazing story. I wish there was more written about the lives of the slaves who passed on their knowledge and magic. (Not here in this book, but in general. It's not easy to find information about the people who helped Eliza with the indigo in real life.) I plan to travel to SC this summer to attend an indigo workshop and learn more about the plant Eliza loved.

Amazing! Perfect to listen to on walks.

such a fascinating novel about a fascination woman. Eliza Lucas (later Pinkney) is a woman who should be mentioned in history texts. Her story of strength, intelligence, ambition, and more, were uncommon for women at this time. Everywhere she went, both men and women attempted to "put her in her place", but she refuses to just sit down and let life happen to her...she wants to be a part of everything, and through the cultivation of indigo, she find s her purpose. I love how much of the book is historically accurate, and that her actual letters were used. I 100% recommend this novel...

amazing

highly recommend. very intuitive historical embellishment of the truth. a story to get lost in.

Enjoyed the Narration, Story - less so

The story dragged on a bit and felt a bit predictable at certain points. I still finished the story through. It was just a lackluster experience. I did particularly enjoy the narrator and the use of rich vocabulary through the book.

Wonderful Story

The Indigo Girl is an amazing story! Having just been in the Charleston area made it even better. The story, history, and narration make this one of my all time favorite books. Hope you enjoy it as well.

I wish the opening and ending were flipped

I read this for my book club. The opening gave too much away for me and the ending was something I wish I read at beginning. My girlfriends loved the book but it wasn’t my favorite to be honest. I think if my reco on the beginning and ending were a reality I think I would probably have loved the book...

Couldn’t stomach the ‘good’ girl idea

It maybe the context of BLM but I found it difficult to stomach a story about a ‘good white girl’ who of course wouldn’t be cruel to her black slaves, the plantation owner being blameless - apart from the fact that the cruel overseers were employed by them. I didn’t read the whole book so maybe I would have become more convinced had I continued. I just found it hard to stomach.

A parody of white girl privilege

I cannot believe that this book is so tone-deaf and not an SNL sketch. The white saviour protagonist (slave owner) cannot seem to understand that the black man she has a crush on wants nothing to do with her because HE DOESN'T WANT TO DIE. Also, several times says that the slaves have more freedom than her because she is a woman. It's so unbelievably unaware and self-pitying it truly seems like the worst example of white girl privilege. It's a real shame because Eliza Lucas seems like a very interesting person and a great topic for historical fiction.

Slow and Unbelievable

Book was slow and concentrated too much on tenuous imagined relationships. I realise historical fiction requires the author to fill in, but felt that, for example, in the relationship with Ben, the author imagined too much and too far using the sensibilities of a 21st Century mind - not using what should have been an 18th century mind. The author then scampered over much of the rest of her life in a frustrating epilogue! All in all it fell between two stools - neither being a rounded fictional novel, nor achieving historical accuracy despite claims to have used words from collected letters.

Incredible story, beautifully told

I was completely captivated and so moved by this incredible story. Stunning to think so much is true.

Beautiful

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Based on true facts made it so much more interesting. Beautifully narrated. Sad when I came to the end.

Excellent

I was amazed to find that this was based on historical events . I had read books by this author previously and found them a bit to raunchy . But I thought I would give Indigo Girl a try as I enjoy periodicals. I am so glad I did .

Loved it

A beautiful story. I was rooting for Eliza from the beginning. What an amazing girl she was for her time even by todays standards.

Excellent

Very enjoyable read, really enjoyed the narrator. Listened to it while waiting for my next credit. Thanks audible

Stumbled across this absolute gem of a book

I was looking for something to listen to before my next credit came available and thought I'd give this a try. Turns out to be the best book I've read this year.

a real page turner...intrigue, romance, action....

couldn't put this one down it was so enjoyable, and amazing to think it was based on true fact...historical drama at its best