The devil on her tongue : a novel of eighteenth-century Portugal

A spellbinding story of loss, romance and betrayal set in 18th-century Portugal, from internationally bestselling Canadian historical fiction author Linda Holeman. Diamantina is 13 when her father, a Dutch sailor who washed up on the Portuguese island of Porto Santo, abandons her and her African-born mother and sets off for the New World. Unbaptized, tainted by her mother's witchcraft and her foreign blood, the girl is an outcast who seems doomed in her struggle to survive. Diamantina refuses to accept her destiny and vows to escape her circumstances and forge a life of her own, no matter the cost. But as the price of her desires rises, can she live with the choices she has made? Diamantina's odyssey to change her life is a sweeping narrative of starvation and plenty, cruelty and love, disaster and triumph. Diamantina Is 13 When Her Father, A Dutch Sailor Who Washed Up On The Portuguese Island Of Porto Santo, Abandons Her And Her African-born Mother And Sets Off For The New World. Unbaptized, Tainted By Her Mother's Witchcraft And Her Foreign Blood, The Girl Is An Outcast Who Seems Doomed In Her Struggle To Survive. Diamantina Refuses To Accept Her Destiny And Vows To Escape Her Circumstances And Forge A Life Of Her Own, No Matter The Cost. But As The Price Of Her Desires Rises, Can She Live With The Choices She Has Made? Diamantina's Odyssey To Change Her Life Is A Sweeping Narrative Of Starvation And Plenty, Cruelty And Love, Disaster And Triumph-- Linda Holeman. A Novel. Issued Also In Electronic Format. "Diamantina is 13 when her father, a Dutch sailor who washed up on the Portuguese island of Porto Santo, abandons her and her African-born mother and sets off for the New World. Unbaptized, tainted by her mother's witchcraft and her foreign blood, the girl is an outcast who seems doomed in her struggle to survive. Diamantina refuses to accept her destiny and vows to escape her circumstances and forge a life of her own, no matter the cost. But as the price of her desires rises, can she live with the choices she has made? Diamantina's odyssey to change her life is a sweeping narrative of starvation and plenty, cruelty and love, disaster and triumph"-- Amazon A spellbinding story of loss, romance, and betrayal from internationally bestselling Canadian historical fiction author, Linda Holeman. This is a first person female narrative set in 18th century Portugal with plenty of wine-making, piracy and slave trading that shows the heavy toll of Catholicism on an unbaptized child. Print run 7,500