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1666: England’s saffron industry is booming…but wealth creates jealousies……
1666: England’s saffron industry is booming…but wealth creates jealousies……
In 1666, England’s saffron industry is booming, with the spice fetching a staggering £4 per pound―rivalling gold. Fabian Smith, the sensible second son of a Holborn poulterer, has sacrificed his dreams of adventure for family duty. But when the Great Fire claims his father and his reckless brother plunges them into debt with a ruthless conman, their home―and freedom―hang in the balance.
Desperate to save his family, Fabian hatches a daring plan: steal the fortune they need. His target? The wealthiest saffron grower in Saffron Walden. Disguised and determined, he arrives just in time for the harvest, only to discover that the townsfolk are far more cunning than he expected.
As danger closes in, Fabian must navigate treachery and his own heart, racing against time to save everything he holds dear.
London
London at the time of the Great Fire….this book is so good you are going to feel the heat. London is ablaze and the city’s temper is rising. The chaos, the people, the city as its destroyed from within – its heart-breaking to see. Experiencing it in the novel is gut wrenching at times.
Saffron Walden
Medieval Saffron Walden was at the heart of England’s crocus-growing trade; the spice and the bright yellow colouring these purple flowers produced gave the town its name. There are many half-timbered houses from that time you can see in the village.
Destination/location: London, Saffron Walden Author/guide: T. L. Mogford Departure Time: 1666
Back to Results1938: A bittersweet story of love between two women, nested in an artful exploration of language, history, and power.
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