A rollicking historical novel set in turn-of-the-century Alberta about a young woman on the run from her abusive husband who uses a legal loophole to claim a homestead in the Wild West—perfect for fans of Outlawed and The Giver of Stars.
Scottish newcomer Flora Craigie jumps from a moving train in 1905 to escape her abusive husband. Desperate to disappear, she claims a homestead on the beautiful but wild Alberta prairie, determined to create a new life for herself. She is astonished to find that her nearest neighbours are also female: a Welsh widow with three children; two American women raising chickens; and a Métis woman who supports herself by training wild horses.
While battling both the brutal environment and the local cynicism toward female farmers, the five women with their very different backgrounds struggle to find common ground. But when their homes are threatened with expropriation by a hostile government, they join forces to ‘fire the heather,’ a Scottish term meaning to raise a ruckus. To complicate matters, there are signs that Flora’s violent husband is still hunting for her. And as the competition for free land along the new Canadian Pacific Railway line heats up, an unscrupulous land agent threatens not only Flora’s livelihood, but her very existence.
Genre: Historical
Scottish newcomer Flora Craigie jumps from a moving train in 1905 to escape her abusive husband. Desperate to disappear, she claims a homestead on the beautiful but wild Alberta prairie, determined to create a new life for herself. She is astonished to find that her nearest neighbours are also female: a Welsh widow with three children; two American women raising chickens; and a Métis woman who supports herself by training wild horses.
While battling both the brutal environment and the local cynicism toward female farmers, the five women with their very different backgrounds struggle to find common ground. But when their homes are threatened with expropriation by a hostile government, they join forces to ‘fire the heather,’ a Scottish term meaning to raise a ruckus. To complicate matters, there are signs that Flora’s violent husband is still hunting for her. And as the competition for free land along the new Canadian Pacific Railway line heats up, an unscrupulous land agent threatens not only Flora’s livelihood, but her very existence.
Genre: Historical
Praise for this book
"A gorgeously written and researched story of love and survival, following a plucky Scotswoman fleeing her abusive husband, and a powerfully diverse group of women homesteaders on the prairie in the early 1900s. You will fall in love with the prairies and this wonderful book." - Maia Caron
"Historical fiction readers will love this fascinating, incredibly researched story of survival and courage honouring the strength and resilience of early female pioneers." - Genevieve Graham
"I was swept away to the to the wild and wide-open spaces of Alberta, circa 1905, by the magic of Elinor Florence's writing. I cheered for Flora every step of the way in this epic tale as big as the prairie sky." - Leslie Howard
"Finding Flora is a story both refreshingly modern and full of old-fashioned storytelling charm, impressively detailed and impeccably researched, and a lyrical and luscious addition to the canon of Canadian historical fiction." - Natalie Jenner
"Elinor Florence has vividly captured a time in Canadian history when life for so many people was physically very hard and rigid demarcations separated both class and gender. The struggle of her female characters to forge a life for themselves against daunting odds grabs our sympathy and doesn't let go until the totally satisfying ending. They are women I, for one, would love to hang out with." - Maureen Jennings
"When we think of pioneers and homesteaders, women are normally relegated to the sidelines. Elinor Florence's new novel upends this narrative. You can't help but cheer for the resilient women of 'Ladyville', who are not only loveable characters but also reflect the grit, hardships, and societal tensions that helped shape Canada as we know it today. Finding Flora is an engaging and educational read, rich with shifting fortunes and trouble brewing at every turn." - Ellen Keith
"Flora is a heroine to cheer for! She's brave, dogged, stubborn, joyful, a pioneer in a beautiful and punishing land. I can't remember when I've been more caught up in the fate of a character! And what's so splendid is that it is full of fascinating historical detail which never showed itself off, being so beautifully integrated into the story." - Iona Whishaw
"Historical fiction readers will love this fascinating, incredibly researched story of survival and courage honouring the strength and resilience of early female pioneers." - Genevieve Graham
"I was swept away to the to the wild and wide-open spaces of Alberta, circa 1905, by the magic of Elinor Florence's writing. I cheered for Flora every step of the way in this epic tale as big as the prairie sky." - Leslie Howard
"Finding Flora is a story both refreshingly modern and full of old-fashioned storytelling charm, impressively detailed and impeccably researched, and a lyrical and luscious addition to the canon of Canadian historical fiction." - Natalie Jenner
"Elinor Florence has vividly captured a time in Canadian history when life for so many people was physically very hard and rigid demarcations separated both class and gender. The struggle of her female characters to forge a life for themselves against daunting odds grabs our sympathy and doesn't let go until the totally satisfying ending. They are women I, for one, would love to hang out with." - Maureen Jennings
"When we think of pioneers and homesteaders, women are normally relegated to the sidelines. Elinor Florence's new novel upends this narrative. You can't help but cheer for the resilient women of 'Ladyville', who are not only loveable characters but also reflect the grit, hardships, and societal tensions that helped shape Canada as we know it today. Finding Flora is an engaging and educational read, rich with shifting fortunes and trouble brewing at every turn." - Ellen Keith
"Flora is a heroine to cheer for! She's brave, dogged, stubborn, joyful, a pioneer in a beautiful and punishing land. I can't remember when I've been more caught up in the fate of a character! And what's so splendid is that it is full of fascinating historical detail which never showed itself off, being so beautifully integrated into the story." - Iona Whishaw
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