“Stunning Novel Depicts Bold, Brave Women of Seychelles’ Bygone Era… Hailed “Captivating” by Critics.”

 BEAU-VALLON, MAHE, SEYCHELLES, February 25, 2016 /EINPresswire.com/ — Written from the heart by A.R. Tirant, ‘Echoes from the Oasis’ is the first volume in a compelling new series that thrusts readers back to the turn of the nineteenth century to explore the colourful history, religion, culture and changing role of women inhabiting the Seychelles. Tirant is herself a native of the islands, and her tale of love, faith, brevity and a deadly Smallpox epidemic goes beyond illustrating the region’s exotic beauty and natural charm to celebrate the sheer grit of the islanders of this tiny British Colony on the eve of the ‘First World War’.

While millions flock to many of the Seychelles’ 115 islands in search of sand, sea and sun, few are aware that the region’s history is boundlessly tumultuous and fascinating. In her cinematic new novel, 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 suffered by the young community of the tiny archipelago. 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.

‘Echoes from the Oasis’ is a cocktail of love, adversity, religious oppression and societal change – all told through the eyes of a young nurse – Anna Savy – who refuses to experience life from the sidelines. But, as with any epic work of fiction, her thirst for more comes with its fair share of challenges…

Our story opens in 1912 on the island of Mahe. The forces of newly found love between Anna, the daughter of an overseer, and Louis du Barre, the son, and heir of the landed gentry, faces the almost impossible challenge because of their backgrounds and social status, taking them on a head-on clash with all the norms and values of that period.

While the novel’s central focus is naturally on the Seychelles, the story also visits many other areas of the world, their fascinating brushes with history, and their connections with the Seychelles islands. The myth of the ‘Garden of Eden’, the siege of Khartoum and the demise of British General, Charles Gordon, is prominently featured. Through two of the main characters, the hatred and mistrust between Irish Catholics and English Protestants show’s the devastating impact of the ‘Potato Famine’ in Ireland, but it also highlights the power of forgiveness, and how we are all the same in God’s eyes.

Without doubt, no story of a colony of Great Britain, no matter how tiny, could ever be told without showing the role played by the ‘Motherland’, so we see the garrison town of Greenwich and East London, with the mighty River Thames taking prime focus, with its numerous quays docking the Steam Ships plying those rich cargo routes of the colonies, but with a slight twist, as it is two English ladies of Greenwich who shows us the real East End.

Readers have celebrated the novel, with a string of five-star reviews. Frank Alphonse comments, “This unstoppable book is a must have and a must read. The writings boast incredible characters, fantastic locations, and wonderful adventures which are all tokens of the author’s commitment to her research but also to her natural charm”. Whilst David Sinon adds, “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”. For more readers reviews, articles, interviews, purchase links and information and picture of Seychelles, please do visit the website at www.seychelleshistoricalnovels.com ..

‘Echoes from the Oasis’, from Beau-Vallon Publishing, is available in both Kindle and Paperback.

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 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 marveling at the diamond beauty of the scattering of stars above, and all the while wishing for a different life…