Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach

Amazon/Barnes & Noble

Published by: Dial Press Trade Paperback

Review by: Dani Hoots

Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach follows a young woman named Sophia as she is married to an elderly man, Cornelis, whom she married because her family was poor and needed the money he had. Set in 1630s Amsterdam, this wasn’t something out of the ordinary, but one feels for the character as she doesn’t truly love him, the age difference being significant and she simply wanted to help her family out. Cornelis wants an heir but she, some reason, doesn’t ever get pregnant. Deciding to instead have a painting done of themselves, Cornelis hires a young painter named Jan van Loos. Jan and Sophia become close and create a very elaborate plot in order to escape her marriage with Cornelis and be able to live somewhere where no one could find them. In order to do this, they decide to invest in the tulip business that was like a fever in Holland, everyone going crazy for the flower.

This story was written very well, its plot very elaborate and a lot of twists, leaving you on the edge of your seat. The characters were well developed, and I can’t wait to see Christoph Waltz play Cornelis in the movie that is to come to theaters next year. I just hope he twirls his mustache a bunch again…

I learned a lot about Holland that I didn’t know, and found myself imagining the city very well. Deborah Moggach was very descriptive and I think did a lot of research on the era and on the city. Although the story isn’t true, I found it to be plausible and it made me curious as to who this artist really was. The story reminds me “The Girl with the Pearl Earring”, inspiring a story from a painting, and the relationship of the model and the artist.

The only problem I had was with the shift in characters and sometimes in perspective. Sometimes it is in first-person and other times it is in third-person. It took a while getting used to. I am a person who doesn’t care for adding new perspectives part way through, but I didn’t let it ruin the story. I did not see the ending coming and found that it wrapped up the story nicely.

All in all, I give the novel a 4.5/5, having been a very interesting love story, but the perspectives drawing away from connecting with the character. If you like a historical romance, pick this story up!