Echoes from the Oasis by A.R. Tirant
In early 1900 on the island of Mahe in the Seychelles, women were confined to specific roles and expectations, and custom and traditions prevailed with reverence. But, 16 year old Anna, being passionate, nature-loving and rebellious, wanted more out of life. She had different desires and bigger dreams… The book tells the emotional and dramatic…
In early 1900 on the island of Mahe in the Seychelles, women were confined to specific roles and expectations, and custom and traditions prevailed with reverence. But, 16 year old Anna, being passionate, nature-loving and rebellious, wanted more out of life. She had different desires and bigger dreams…
The book tells the emotional and dramatic story of Anna’s younger years. Forbidden love brought joy and meaning to her life, but it was quickly followed by a dreadful smallpox epidemic that brought tragedy to Mahe’s Victoria hospital where Anna worked. Would she survived the ordeal ? Louis agonised and prayed… fate did lend a hand, and after months of separations they were finally reunited. Surely all will now be fine for them ?
Meanwhile in the background, the threatening atmosphere of a dark and closely guarded secret – witchcraft practices – has the islanders of this close-knit Catholic community shivering in fear, but it is the arson, murder and rape rearing its ugly heads that were more frightening.
Suddenly, in a dramatic twist of fate, Anna’s life was turned perilously upside down… Will she be able to overcome that new drama and survived the First World War at the same time ?
“Beautiful, well written”
Five Star Review on Amazon By David Sinon
From the minute I started reading the book, I did not want to put it down. Beautiful, well written, captured the essence of the islands. It took me back to my childhood days which made me nostalgic as well as confirmed and made me relive what was once told to me by my elders. A must to be read by any Seychellois descendants. Well done Rosie Tirant
About the Author
Rosie Tirant-Longhurst, aka A.R. Tirant, was born in the Seychelles in November 1958, the daughter of a policeman and the eldest in a family of four brothers and four sisters. She grew up on the northern coast of Mahe island, in the tiny seaside village of Beau-Vallon. Her working life started in 1975 as a nurse at Mahe’s Victoria Hospital, followed thereafter by a career in the Hotel Industry. She emigrated to England in 1995 and now lives in West Sussex with her husband. She has two grown-up sons and a granddaughter.
Rosie wasn’t born with a pen in her hand, far from it. Life growing up was hard and strict. The home comforts we all now take for granted were but a dream for the young girl whose days were divided between household chores, cooking, cleaning and looking after her young siblings. Water for all the household use had to be carried from a stream, with one hand holding a pail on her head, and the other keeping a second pail from spilling.
Education only happened because it was the one way of getting some rest during the daytime, even if the chores still had to be done by the light of a coconut oil lamp. They were difficult times… times when she would lean against the pillar of the outdoor kitchen waiting for dinner to cook in the large black pots, staring at the tropical skies and marvelling at the diamond beauty of the scattering of stars above, and all the while wishing for a different life…
‘Echoes from the Oasis’ is her debut novel which will be followed by other titles in the same series.
REVIEW IN THE ‘Today In Seychelles’ Newspaper …
By N. Tirant-Gherardi
“From the opening lines the reader is drawn into a period long since evolved”.
“The author manages to skilfully hold the reader’s attention as the story develops its numerous threads that set the stage for a flurry of love and passion in the midst of hardships”.
“Her penmanship is particularly remarkable in the manner in which she paints the historical backdrop to the stage setting as she introduces the main players whose lives and passions intertwine with the historical events of that period”.
“But perhaps to the author’s greatest credit is the illustration of the profound relationship that develops between the two main characters, Anna and her beloved Louis. The reader is drawn into this romance through the author’s touch for detail and ability to convey those inner emotions to which we can all relate”.
“At the end of the day, the echoes from Anna’s oasis are of love, passion, hate and revenge – all those human traits that make for a very powerful read indeed”…
For author interviews, features and events please visit:
www.seychelleshistoricalnovels.com
Email : a.r.tirant@gmail.com