The Olive Tree

By: Carol Drinkwater

Narrated by: Carol Drinkwater

Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

The Olive Tree charts Carol Drinkwater's colourful and often dangerous journey in search of the routes that olive cultivation has taken over the centuries. Set during a springtime Mediterranean that is evocative and perennial, it is above all a tale of our time.

Troubled by challenges her own South of France farm is experiencing - attack by a virulent pest, the premature ripening of the trees' fruits - Carol realises new approaches to farming are becoming essential. Traditional customs have been set aside while the use of excessive chemicals is putting the harvests of her crops (and others) at risk. Changing patterns within the world's climate demand urgent action.

Carol's quest takes her south through Spain - now the home of more olive trees than anywhere else on earth - Morocco, Algeria and Italy before she finally returns to her farm. As a woman travelling alone, she is frequently vulnerable and never more so than in Algeria where, on her arrival, terrorist bombs are exploding, devastating the capital. Determined not to give up, Carol accepts the support of a network of beekeepers who guide her across troubled territories.

Through her travels and vivid, sometimes unlikely encounters, Carol confronts some of the critical issues of our time - land-care and the harsh realities of diminishing water reserves - and ends her momentous journey in the company of olive growers whose vision for the future is remarkable and ingenious.

©2009 Carol Drinkwater (P)2009 WF Howes Ltd

tough to follow and listen to

This book seems to be more of a memoir than a story about olive trees. Drinkwater weaves in so much flotsam that its tough to follow the story. Moreover, while I love her English accent, her narration is so high energy, that it is difficult to listen to.

2 of 5 people found this review helpful

A travelog par excellence

A spectacular performance by Carol Drinkwater. An extreemly well written book brought to life with naration by the actress herself. By travelling the length and breadth of the Medditteranean the author placed herself into some dangerous situations which, thankfully, she extricated herself unharmed but wiser.
For the armchair traveller this volume, and its predecessor "The Olive Route", are rivetting.
One hopes that the author will find time to add to her trilogy and that Audible will include any further works in their catalogue

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Escape into Carol's world of rennovation & olives

Having recently converted my partner to listening to audio books I had searched for these books for some time to no avail. I am so pleased that Audible have now included the Carol Drinkwater trilogy to their collection.

I spent many months reading her books and disapearing into her world of renovating an old run down property on an olive farm, I'm pleased that I can now listen to her story again and introduce my partner to it.

You can really feel you are there with her, discovering there is still life in the farm and enjoy her success, after great effort, in producing her own olive oil.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Captivating reading - brilliant!

This book had me enthralled from the start and I didn't want to stop listening to it, in fact, I was rather sad when it was finished! A very well written book narrated by the author who happens to have a really good voice for the spoken word, bringing the story to life. It was as if I was really there with her on her travels. If you like to hear about travels and life in other countries then you shouldn't be disappointed with this book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful