Overview

In 1739, Eliza Lucas and her family are in danger of losing everything. Hearing how much the French pay for indigo dye, Eliza believes it's their salvation. But thwarted at every turn, even by her family, Eliza finds her only allies in an aging horticulturalist, a 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 develops an incredible story of romance, intrigue, hidden friendships, threats, ambition, betrayal, and sacrifice, based on historical documents and Eliza Lucas' own letters.

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9781455137138

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Reviews

This is a fascinating piece of historical fiction...The narrator offers a wonderful interpretation of the character: smart and mature beyond her years-but still a teen-dumped with a ton of responsibility but without the authority of a man in a man's world. She gives the character a lot of nuance: cultured and educated, a little prissy, innocent and then angry as her innocence is stripped away by betrayal and slavery's worst secrets. -- Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust The Indigo Girl was such a great read/listen. I'm still in awe of that fact that this is a true story...Those of you who love history and historical fiction, you're going to want to pick this one up. Definitely recommended. -- A Bookworm's World A lively historical novel...Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this peek into Colonial life. The novel also works as a YA crossover and should be of interest to SC history teachers. -- Jill Hendrix, Fiction Addiction (Greenville, South Carolina) Natasha Boyd's writing is a delight to read. Her beautifully written book The Indigo Girl draws attention to the accomplishments of one of my favorite women in colonial history. -- Margaret F. Pickett, author of Eliza Lucas Pinckney The Indigo Girl is one of the best historical fiction books of 2017. I listened to The Indigo Girl on CD narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. It was brilliant! Saskia Maarleveld is a seasoned narrator...Her voice was made to read stories. She gives a voice to each character, making them stand out. I was so enraptured in the story, the minutes flew by...I absolutely recommend this on audio. -- To Read or Not Read blog (audio review) This fictional account...unfolds through Saskia Maarleveld's first-person narration...There are moments of girlishness that seep into Maarleveld's tone when the main character reminisces about her childhood, but Eliza's steadfast determination is conveyed clearly through Maarleveld's emotional intonations. Fear, frustration, and excitement are believably depicted throughout the story...However, there's also a romantic tone in Maarleveld's voice that fully transports the listener to a different time and place. -- AudioFile [An] excellent historical novel...Boyd has crafted a captivating novel of Southern colonial history. -- Publishers Weekly An outstanding example of historical fiction...Through Eliza's strong internal voice and excerpts from actual letters, Boyd effortlessly brings this character to life. Readers will love discovering the amazing story of a virtually unknown girl who changed the course of history. -- Booklist (starred review) Without preaching or judging, the narrative integrates the politics of gender inequality, race, and class into Eliza's quest for confidence and allies...Boyd's first historical novel captivates on every level, refreshingly crafting the eighteenth-century world of real-life Eliza Lucas Pinckney. -- Library Journal (starred review) Saskia Maarleveld reads with a touching sincerity that brings Eliza to life....Recommended for libraries wishing to enrich their historical fiction collections by including a story about a notable colonial woman. -- Library Journal (audio review) 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 (starred audio review) Boyd excels in her descriptions of coastal South Carolina and its climate, in the intricacies of eighteenth-century colonial society and in her strong characters. Her information regarding indigo production adds interest to the narrative. Eliza is an engaging heroine, both compelling and realistic... This is a solidly researched and well-crafted story. -- Historical Novels Review Boyd paints a vivid portrait of a young woman entrepreneur's defiant and revolutionary spirit...A riveting narrative about a woman who defied convention to become one of the country's first women entrepreneurs. -- Foreword Reviews Eliza is an admirable and interesting character, faith-filled and courageous. She becomes even more flesh-and-blood-real because Boyd includes actual excerpts from her writing. -- Missourian (Columbia, Missouri) A tale of incredible romance, intrigue, friendship, and sacrifice proving that, above all, we are all thread together in a complicated, yet beautiful human tapestry. -- Barnes&Noble.com The Indigo Girl is a perfect example of why I adore historical fiction. Natasha Boyd has really outdone herself with her latest novel. With completely immersive writing, she brings to life the story of an exceptional young woman. -- Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Virginia) Pinckney's legacy as an entrepreneurial innovator and challenger of societal norms is brought vibrantly to life in Natasha Boyd's historical novel...[and] breathes new life into an absorbing true account of one of South Carolina's preeminent historical figures...We owe much to Natasha Boyd for this welcome opportunity to hear from Eliza once more. -- Post and Courier (Charleston, South Carolina) Outstanding...An absolutely wonderful read that will even occasionally bring a tear to one's eye. Recommended for anyone's reading list. -- New York Journal of Books If you love historical fiction, this book should be on your fall reading list....It is based on historical documents and the real-life Eliza Lucas. -- Southern Living

"If you love historical fiction, this book should be on your fall reading list....It is based on historical documents and the real-life Eliza Lucas. -- ""Southern Living"" Outstanding...An absolutely wonderful read that will even occasionally bring a tear to one's eye. Recommended for anyone's reading list. -- ""New York Journal of Books"" Pinckney's legacy as an entrepreneurial innovator and challenger of societal norms is brought vibrantly to life in Natasha Boyd's historical novel...[and] breathes new life into an absorbing true account of one of South Carolina's preeminent historical figures...We owe much to Natasha Boyd for this welcome opportunity to hear from Eliza once more. -- ""Post and Courier (Charleston, South Carolina)"" The Indigo Girl is a perfect example of why I adore historical fiction. Natasha Boyd has really outdone herself with her latest novel. With completely immersive writing, she brings to life the story of an exceptional young woman. -- ""Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Virginia)"" A tale of incredible romance, intrigue, friendship, and sacrifice proving that, above all, we are all thread together in a complicated, yet beautiful human tapestry. -- ""Barnes&Noble.com"" Eliza is an admirable and interesting character, faith-filled and courageous. She becomes even more flesh-and-blood-real because Boyd includes actual excerpts from her writing. -- ""Missourian (Columbia, Missouri)"" Boyd paints a vivid portrait of a young woman entrepreneur's defiant and revolutionary spirit...A riveting narrative about a woman who defied convention to become one of the country's first women entrepreneurs. -- ""Foreword Reviews"" Boyd excels in her descriptions of coastal South Carolina and its climate, in the intricacies of eighteenth-century colonial society and in her strong characters. Her information regarding indigo production adds interest to the narrative. Eliza is an engaging heroine, both compelling and realistic... This is a solidly researched and well-crafted story. -- ""Historical Novels Review"" 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 (starred audio review)"" Saskia Maarleveld reads with a touching sincerity that brings Eliza to life....Recommended for libraries wishing to enrich their historical fiction collections by including a story about a notable colonial woman. -- ""Library Journal (audio review)"" Without preaching or judging, the narrative integrates the politics of gender inequality, race, and class into Eliza's quest for confidence and allies...Boyd's first historical novel captivates on every level, refreshingly crafting the eighteenth-century world of real-life Eliza Lucas Pinckney. -- ""Library Journal (starred review)"" An outstanding example of historical fiction...Through Eliza's strong internal voice and excerpts from actual letters, Boyd effortlessly brings this character to life. Readers will love discovering the amazing story of a virtually unknown girl who changed the course of history. -- ""Booklist (starred review)"" [An] excellent historical novel...Boyd has crafted a captivating novel of Southern colonial history. -- ""Publishers Weekly"" This fictional account...unfolds through Saskia Maarleveld's first-person narration...There are moments of girlishness that seep into Maarleveld's tone when the main character reminisces about her childhood, but Eliza's steadfast determination is conveyed clearly through Maarleveld's emotional intonations. Fear, frustration, and excitement are believably depicted throughout the story...However, there's also a romantic tone in Maarleveld's voice that fully transports the listener to a different time and place. -- ""AudioFile"" The Indigo Girl is one of the best historical fiction books of 2017. I listened to The Indigo Girl on CD narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. It was brilliant! Saskia Maarleveld is a seasoned narrator...Her voice was made to read stories. She gives a voice to each character, making them stand out. I was so enraptured in the story, the minutes flew by...I absolutely recommend this on audio. -- ""To Read or Not Read blog (audio review)"" Natasha Boyd's writing is a delight to read. Her beautifully written book The Indigo Girl draws attention to the accomplishments of one of my favorite women in colonial history. -- ""Margaret F. Pickett, author of Eliza Lucas Pinckney"" A lively historical novel...Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this peek into Colonial life. The novel also works as a YA crossover and should be of interest to SC history teachers. -- ""Jill Hendrix, Fiction Addiction (Greenville, South Carolina)"" The Indigo Girl was such a great read/listen. I'm still in awe of that fact that this is a true story...Those of you who love history and historical fiction, you're going to want to pick this one up. Definitely recommended. -- ""A Bookworm's World"" This is a fascinating piece of historical fiction...The narrator offers a wonderful interpretation of the character: smart and mature beyond her years-but still a teen-dumped with a ton of responsibility but without the authority of a man in a man's world. She gives the character a lot of nuance: cultured and educated, a little prissy, innocent and then angry as her innocence is stripped away by betrayal and slavery's worst secrets. -- ""Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust"""

Author Information

Natasha Boyd is an internationally bestselling and award-winning author of contemporary romantic Southern fiction and historical fiction. She holds a bachelor of science in psychology and also has a background in marketing and public relations. After hearing one of Eliza's descendants speaking about Eliza's accomplishments, the need to tell her story became so overwhelming that it couldn't be ignored. Hence, The Indigo Girl was born. Boyd also started an Instagram account to document the research she accumulated; visit @eliza.the_indigo_girl for more information. Saskia Maarleveld is an experienced voice-over actress and Earphones Award-winning narrator. Raised in New Zealand and France, she is highly skilled with accents and dialects, and many of her books have been narrated entirely in accents other than her own. In addition to audiobooks, her voice can be heard in animation, video games, and commercials.

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