Isola - Allegra Goodman

An epic saga about a French noblewoman deserted on an island where her survival depends on the power of her faith and love--from the New York Times bestselling author of Sam. Heir to a château with its own village and lands, Marguerite is destined for a life of prosperity and gentility. But then she is orphaned, and Jean François de la Rocque de Roberval--an enigmatic and volatile man Marguerite has never met--becomes her guardian, controlling her future. He sells her property to pay his debts, leaving her destitute, and insists she accompany him on an expedition to New France. Isolated and afraid, Marguerite befriends Roberval's servant and the two develop an intense attraction. But when Roberval discovers Marguerite's deception, his rage is all-consuming. As punishment, he maroons her and her lover on a small island. Once a child of privilege who dressed in gowns and laced pearls in her hair, Marguerite finds herself at the mercy of nature. As the weather turns, blanketing the island in ice, survival becomes nearly impossible. She despairs; has everyone and everything she once held dear abandoned her? A riveting portrait inspired by the real life of a sixteenth-century heroine, and a gorgeous celebration of the power of the natural world, Isola is the timeless story of a woman realizing her true strength. \nA young woman and her lover are marooned on an island in this breathtaking saga, an epic story of love, faith, and defiance from the bestselling author of Sam A shocking story, made all the more stunning by the fact that it has its roots in true history.--Jodi Picoult, author of By Any Other Name What a gift this novel is: vast, lush, feminist, and brilliantly crafted. Allegra Goodman is one of our finest writers.--Ann Napolitano, author of Hello Beautiful \n \nHeir to a fortune, Marguerite is destined for a life of prosperity and gentility. Then she is orphaned, and her guardian--an enigmatic and volatile man--spends her inheritance and insists she accompany him on an expedition to New France. Isolated and afraid, Marguerite befriends her guardian's servant and the two develop an intense attraction. But when their relationship is discovered, they are brutally punished and abandoned on a small island with no hope for rescue. Once a child of privilege who dressed in gowns and laced pearls in her hair, Marguerite finds herself at the mercy of nature. As the weather turns, blanketing the island in ice, she discovers a faith she'd never before need