The Signature of All Things

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The author returns to fiction with a captivating tale of love, adventure, and discovery, set against the backdrop of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The story centers on the remarkable Whittaker family, led by the ambitious Henry Whittaker, a poor-born Englishman who amasses a fortune in the South American quinine trade, ultimately becoming Philadelphia's wealthiest man. His brilliant daughter, Alma, born in 1800, inherits both his wealth and intellect, emerging as a gifted botanist. As Alma delves into the mysteries of evolution, she falls for Ambrose Pike, an artist whose enchanting orchid paintings draw her into the spiritual and magical realms. While Alma embodies scientific clarity, Ambrose represents utopian artistry, yet both share a profound quest to unravel the world's complexities and the essence of life. Their journey spans the globe—from London to Peru, Philadelphia to Tahiti, and Amsterdam—filled with unforgettable characters, including missionaries, abolitionists, adventurers, and geniuses. Most notably, it is Alma Whittaker's story, set during the Age of Enlightenment and into the Industrial Revolution, that captures a pivotal moment in history when traditional views on science, religion, commerce, and class were challenged by revolutionary ideas.