From Amazon:

Joseph and Harriet Blackstone emigrate from Norfolk to New Zealand in search of new beginnings and prosperity. But the harsh land near Christchurch where they settle threatens to destroy them almost before they begin. When Joseph finds gold in the creek he is seized by a rapturous obsession with the voluptuous riches awaiting him deep in the earth. Abandoning his farm and family, he sets off alone for the new gold-fields over the Southern Alps, a moral wilderness where many others, under the seductive dreams of 'the colour', are violently rushing to their destinies. By turns both moving and terrifying, it is a story of the quest for the impossible, an attempt to mine the complexities of love and in the process discover the sacrifices to be made in the pursuit of happiness.

RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to Jillbe. Enjoy!

Received safely in the post today, thanks so much. Looking forward to reading this one, going onto mount TBR etc.

Oops, just realised that I have read this one already, now sending onto cassiopaeia, won on BCUK Extra Live Swap, enjoy:0)

Received in the post today, many thanks jillbe.

This is very gripping story about emigration to New Zealand in the 1860s. It portrays the difficulties encountered by the emigrants who had little understanding of the new environment they were taking on, as it bore no resemblance at all the what they has left behind at home. The details of the mine workings and everyday life during the Gold Rush were fascinating, as well as the hazardous journeys these men undertook in their search for gold. The characters were well written and even though you couldn’t always feel you understood their mindset, they were interesting and gave a lot of food for thought. Only the Maori woman Pare, jarred a little, the narrative didn’t really need her, and it wouldn’t have harmed the story to leave her out. There was one part just over halfway that dragged a little, other than that a good read.

Reserved for teachie.

RELEASE NOTES:

BCUK bookswap, sending to teachie.

Wow this arrived quickly! Thanks Cassiopaeia a wishlist book.An interesting story about the goldrush in New Zealand, which I new nothing about. It was a hard life for those early settlers made even more so by a loveless marriage and a husband who cared more for his mother than his wife.

This is going into a trade with GateGypsy in Canada

This arrived safely today, Teachie! Thanks so much! Y'know, I bought this book for another bookobsessor for an exchange or something similar, and thought it sounded so darn good, I had to put it on my wishlist. Thank you again.