The Signature of All Things

The Signature of All Things (2013) by Elizabeth Gilbert. From the author of "Eat, Pray, Love" comes this unexpected novel, about a family named Whittaker and their far-flung interests in botany in the middle of the 19th century. The novel begins with Henry, a low-class boy in London, who rises to become the  patriarch of the family. But Henry is really only the prelude to Alma, his daughter and only naturally born child. Alma is a homely girl (she looks like her father), but smart as a whip. The family transfers to America, where Henry grows rich and where Alma grows rich in the knowledge of botany. Eventually, she makes it her life's work to study mosses, and becomes an expert in the field. She also develops, independently, the theory of evolution. This is a book that starts slowly, but gradually gains momentum until it becomes hard to put down. Alma's adventures are so extraordinary that I found myself fascinated with a novel that I had at first taken to be rather boring. All in all, it gets a high recommendation from me. Grade: A-