In the Land of the Long White Cloud

Written by Sarah Lark

Narrated by Anne Flosnik

Helen Davenport, governess for a wealthy London household, longs for a family of her own—but nearing her late twenties, she knows her prospects are dim. Then she spots an advertisement seeking young women to marry New Zealand’s honorable bachelors and begins an affectionate correspondence with a gentleman farmer. When her church offers to pay her travels under an unusual arrangement, she jumps at the opportunity.

Meanwhile, not far away in Wales, beautiful and daring Gwyneira Silkham, daughter of a wealthy sheep breeder, is bored with high society. But when a mysterious New Zealand baron deals her father an unlucky blackjack hand, Gwyn’s hand in marriage is suddenly on the table. Her family is outraged, but Gwyn is thrilled to escape the life laid out for her.

The two women meet on the ship to Christchurch—Helen traveling in steerage, Gwyn first class—and become unlikely friends. When their new husbands turn out to be very different than expected, the women must help one another find the life—and love—they’d hoped for.

Set against the backdrop of colonial nineteenth-century New Zealand, In the Land of the Long White Cloud is a soaring saga of friendship, romance, and unforgettable adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Translator: D.W. Lovett
• Release date: Aug 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469211732

Sarah Lark

Sarah Lark es el seudónimo de una exitosa autora alemana que reside en Almería. Durante muchos años trabajó como guía turística, gracias a lo cual descubrió su amor por Nueva Zelanda, cuyos paisajes asombrosos han ejercido desde siempre una atracción casi mágica sobre ella. Ha escrito diversas sagas, como la Trilogía de la Nube Blanca, la Trilogía del Árbol Kauri o la Trilogía del Fuego, de las que ha vendido, en total,más de un millón y medio de ejemplares en lengua española. Sus últimas novelas, Bajo cielos lejanos, El año de los delfines, El secreto de la casa del río, Allí donde nace el día y El secreto de la Isla Norte, han recibido también el favor del público.

Reviews for In the Land of the Long White Cloud

[tina kelly · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautifull story, vivid scenes, good characters ,well narrated , enjoyed

[Tina Glez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A novel that encompasses intrigue, love, hate, revenge, violence, death, and much more; it has truly been a very rewarding read for me. Two young women meet aboard a ship traveling from England to New Zealand, and what they have in common is that they are both about to marry strangers. Helen through an ad in the newspaper and Gwyneira through an arranged marriage between families. A close friendship will blossom between them that will last a lifetime; their marriages will be filled with surprises, pain, and a bit of everything. They will face the challenges of running a farm, shearing sheep, riding, dealing with the Māori, and learning their language. Helen, who was a governess in London, will continue educating children and seek meaning in her life. Many years pass, and a long and delightful story will define this beautiful novel. (Translated from Spanish)

[bcrowl399 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a wonderful book. I was drawn in immediately by the characters and the setting. A lovely mixture of drama and history. This book was so well written. I would like to read more of Sarah Lark's work. I think the research was thorough and accurate. I didn't realize it was translated until I finished the book.

[Betty2804 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Book: In the Land of the White Cloud
Author: Sarah Lark
? ? ? ? ?

Sarah Lark is one of my favorite writers; I really enjoy her descriptions of the landscapes, the Maori culture, the history of the country, and the well-developed characters. The novel is set starting from 1852, in New Zealand, an island that belonged to the British crown.

Two English girls get engaged without knowing their future husbands and move to faraway New Zealand, a land that was at that time sparsely populated and still somewhat wild.

Helen Davenport is the daughter of a vicar; when her father dies, she takes on the responsibility of supporting her siblings’ education. She works as a governess for a wealthy family in London, but she longs to marry and start a home. She believes the only chance she has to do so is by getting engaged to Howard O'Keefe, a farmer living near Haldon on the South Island of New Zealand. The parish priest in charge of an orphanage learns of Helen's decision; he asks her to take care of a group of 6 young girls who will be sent to work in the homes of English settlers, and she will act as a type of governess for these little ones during the long journey by ship; in exchange, he paid for her passage.

Gwyneira Silkham is a rich young woman belonging to the English nobility; she is the daughter of a prosperous sheep breeder. Due to Gerald Warren's audacity in gambling, he won a bet against the girl’s father, who had only one gamble left—his daughter's hand, as the fiancée of Lucas Warren, Gerald's son. Mr. Warren had traveled to England to acquire sheep and improve the breed he already had; he is considered a wool baron, accustomed to getting what he wants at any cost. When he arrived at Gwyn's family home, he was struck by the beauty of the young woman and devised a plan. Gwyn's father told Gerald that if he lost, he would only commit to the wager if his daughter accepted. Gwyn agreed.

None of the girls, including the teenagers, could imagine what awaited them in the new land, in their future home, all they would have to live through and face.

The lives of these women are not far from reality, from human feelings, from what happens to those around them.

It’s a story that grabs you from the start, and despite being long, over 700 pages, it doesn't bore you; it’s easy to read.

I think the characters are well-crafted, well-developed; the writer has the ability to convey the feelings and personalities of each of them so that you may end up hating some, and you’ll want to dive into the plot to change things in a different way. The story envelops you in such a way that you suffer with each of the characters' adversities.

I liked that the novel is very well documented, and as the plot progresses, historical events of the country are intertwined.
Highly recommended!! (Translated from Spanish)

[DianaAmarilis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's the first book I've read by the author, I love her narrative style, very solemn and well-written. The story is very complete and flows smoothly throughout the lives of two women who decide to embark on a life in New Zealand. I loved it; I felt immersed in the landscape, the story, the community that formed. The last 60 pages felt a bit tiring to me. But overall, I quite liked the book, I recommend it. (Translated from Spanish)

[Jacque1966 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful story.... I could almost feel the gallop of the horses on the stone and dirt paths of New Zealand, which was beginning to grow with its new inhabitants, with the customs brought from other parts of the world... the sacrifices of many to start a new life. A completely recommended book. It's strange because I can't remember exact passages from the book, however, I do remember the hardships that the girls who arrived, many deceived, faced in starting a new life. Some did well, but others, not so much. Sarah Lark has other beautiful novels that I unfortunately have not been able to read. (Translated from Spanish)

[montselorente · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good!! Recommendable (Translated from Spanish)

[Laucohen75 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked it very much. Each of the aspects made sense. It is sad at times, and the lives of those women are harsh, but it is real. The description that sometimes annoys me with some authors was relevant in this case. The good thing is that it is a trilogy, but here the first part closes well. (Translated from Spanish)

[avidreaderlisa · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book in my opinion was really good.

Which makes me want to clarify something. The reviews for this title were all over the place. Some hated it, some loved it.

It is not an easy book, first of all it rather long and some of the content is rather disturbing.

However I would like to point out the reasons why I really liked it.

One.
The setting-

Almost the whole story, except for in the beginning take place in New Zealand. Now for those of you who have seen The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, know what a beautiful setting this land has to offer. However to see it through the eyes of these two young women, you come to appreciate it more. The land plays apart of the story as well as the characters, you find it isn't an easy place to live.

Two.
The two main characters-

You will love the two main characters which are polar opposites but find a friendship that they both will cherish while living in a new surrounding.

Helen is a respectable woman who longs for a family, she is a governess when she answers an ad in a newspaper to marry a complete stranger in New Zealand. She is not very rich, so her prospects are limited and plus she is 27 (which is considered old when it comes to marriage in 18-century England)

Gweyneira is from a well to do Welsh family, whose father lost her in a card game against a "sheep baron" of New Zealand. She takes the chance to escape a life that she finds rather boring for what she sees as an adventure of a lifetime.

These two met for the first time on the boat taking them to New Zealand, where you also meet some orphans which Helen has been put in charge.

You see New Zealand was lacking in respectable woman at the time and those who lived there wanted to have English maids instead of the natives.

(Oh well you will see what happens in the book)

Three

The natives

I didn't know anything about Native New Zealand before reading this book, the author did her research well in this respect.

Now to some criticisms-

This is not a happy book, oh yes everything ends well, but there is just one struggle after another to get there. It reminds you life is hard, especially if you don't know how to milk a cow or love a mule. Love is even harder, but you find it eventually.

There is a love story in this book, but to tell you the truth, I wasn't even sure if I wanted it to happen in the end or not. Mostly because I was exhausted by the time I was done reading this. (My one thought, why don't these two give up and go on a vacation somewhere).

However like I said everything ends well.

I wanted to add that this was a translation, the original was written in German by the author and translated rather well into the English version.

[lapacho77 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I discovered this author with this book! It really entertained me a lot and is very easy to read! I recommend it. (Translated from Spanish)

[Asturia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love the delicate and understandable way in which Sarah Lark writes for all ages. I became fond of each of the characters, and I was able to experience firsthand the emotions they went through. I found it an excellent and never boring novel. (Translated from Spanish)

[susidominguezbgmail · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Helen is the governess of her siblings, and the parish priest wants to send orphan girls to New Zealand and proposes to Helen that she go. Helen is a teacher at the Institute, and George, one of her students, falls in love with her. But she does not want a relationship between a teacher and a student. (Translated from Spanish)

[LuisArielBarreto · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

How strange it would be to finish the pages of a book like this and not want to go to New Zealand, to learn its history, enjoy its landscapes, live the Māori life. It’s impossible not to wish for it. When you come across a book so well written, you are grateful to have found it. I saw it in a bookstore; its cover caught my attention, everything enters through the eyes, and since then I wanted to open it and make it mine. I researched first: I looked for references, reviews, about its author. And I found a yes, it must be read.
Now that I have finished it, I found an adventure from London to an undiscovered New Zealand, extremely feminine, with determined, warrior women, fearless and ready to stand up to men; in a macho era, where only strength matters.
But they arrived there to make history, to contribute their piece and not want to be forgotten. Intermingled with the local men, also immigrants, and with the Māori natives who once arrived in skiffs, canoes or whatever they call that type of boat, from the open sea. They all came together, a mix of races, and would form the New Zealand land that here, in In the Land of the White Cloud, Sarah Lark begins her description in a cultural trilogy different from that of this side of the world, with a rich theme to discover. I haven’t read the next two books; I need to do that—an overdue task.
I don’t give spoilers; I don’t like them, but I do recommend a reading with an easy-to-read prose and much easier to enjoy.
And remember that with reading, there’s nothing to lose. (Translated from Spanish)

[mariabv2012 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the first novel of the trilogy set in New Zealand in the 19th century. It tells the story of two young women, Helen and Gwyneira, who embark on a journey to New Zealand to marry men they have never met in person. Accompanying Helen are some orphaned girls from an orphanage who have positions in the homes of English settlers.

The novel focuses on the story of these two young women and the orphaned girls, along with the characters that interact with them. The story captures you from the very first moment until the end of the novel. The author, Sarah Lark, has the power to immerse you so deeply in the story that you experience the trials and tribulations faced by the protagonists, you rejoice with them in happy moments, and thus you live the story in the first person, feeling like a part of it.

The characters are well-developed and well-defined. The author has the skill to masterfully build the personality of each one, as well as their feelings, impulses, and thoughts. This way, you understand their suffering, their sorrows and joys; you make them your own and feel them with them.

The novel is very well documented regarding the history of New Zealand, and the author adheres masterfully to the significant events that occur during the narrative. She also has the ability to perfectly describe the places and landscapes where the events take place.

I cannot tell you the ending, but it resolves everything satisfactorily and leaves you eager to pick up the second volume to learn more... If you haven't read it yet, I recommend it 100%. You won't be disappointed.
January 6, 2021 (Translated from Spanish)

[PiliG · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Very slow and boring. I couldn't finish it. (Translated from Spanish)

[IMJJ1960 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The bravery of two very young women embarks on a boat journey to New Zealand, one wealthy and the other a governess, going to marry men they do not know. On their journey, they form a friendship that no problems life has in store for them—stemming from the enmity between one woman's husband and the other's father-in-law—will break. Two brave women, unafraid of anything or anyone. (Translated from Spanish)

[VernicaBraveSpirit · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Two friends in an unknown land, mysteries, family dramas, possible and impossible loves. (Translated from Spanish)

[Maui · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am not a reader of "romantic" stories, but this romantic adventure managed to captivate me. Very beautiful. (Translated from Spanish)

[Ana María pot · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A saga that starts off well but then became heavy for me. (Translated from Spanish)

[LabibliotecadeAnilorac · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A book that made me fall in love with this writer and New Zealand. Without a doubt, one of those sagas that caress your heart. (Translated from Spanish)

[Lucaryc · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An exciting novel that transports you to the lives of its characters and makes you live their experiences. A beautiful approach to a culture and country unknown to me. (Translated from Spanish)

[CARMENGOZALVEZ · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this author; I discovered her by chance, and so far I have read the trilogy "IN THE LAND OF THE WHITE CLOUD." As soon as I can, I will go for another trilogy. What do you think of this writer? (Translated from Spanish)

[kymabookloverIG · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"In the Land of the White Cloud" tells the story of Gwyneira, a noblewoman, and Helen, a governess, who depart from London in 1852 for New Zealand, with the promise of a marriage for each of them. The book recounts the lives of both women and all the events surrounding their lives. Although it is true that there are two protagonists, it is evident that as the novel progresses, one of them gains more prominence than the other, but in a way that you barely notice.

This is my first time reading the author, and I must say that I loved it. While it's true that there are parts where she dwells too much on certain points in the story and could have summarized them without losing anything important. Still, I really enjoyed the reading. (Translated from Spanish)

[Sandraps · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great story, the strength of a woman... A perfect trilogy. (Translated from Spanish)

[Marabor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved the story and the setting and learning about the history of New Zealand and that specific era. Fantastic! I recommend it. (Translated from Spanish)

[paula1970 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book of a trilogy, and I got it from the library because it was recommended by Emir from the Emir Andrés channel. It is worth noting that I liked this first part enough to finish the trilogy, and in particular, although it is not a historical novel per se, it provides a general context about New Zealand, a country I had no references to, which made it more interesting. It is a family saga set against the backdrop of English dominance, centered on two women who, for various reasons, choose to leave England in order to marry a settler, of whom they only have references and some letters, and to start a family. (Translated from Spanish)

[Nori · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent. Very captivating until the last moment. (Translated from Spanish)

[MelisaLeonC · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good book, at first I wasn't very convinced, I felt like it was going nowhere, but then everything started to make sense and I couldn't put it down, let's go for the second part. (Translated from Spanish)

[GizelBerrondo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful and captivating (Translated from Spanish)

[julia1955 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An exciting novel just like the life that Gwyneira will undertake in 19th century colonial New Zealand. (Translated from Spanish)