---
product_id: 1501654
title: "The Signature of All Things: A Novel"
price: "32468CFA"
currency: XOF
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.sn/products/1501654-the-signature-of-all-things-a-novel
store_origin: SN
region: Senegal
---

# Epic 18th-19th century saga #320 Family Saga Fiction rank 4.3⭐ avg rating The Signature of All Things: A Novel

**Price:** 32468CFA
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## Summary

> 📖 Unlock the signature of timeless storytelling — where history, heart, and wit collide!

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- **What is this?** The Signature of All Things: A Novel
- **How much does it cost?** 32468CFA with free shipping
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## Key Features

- • **Literary Wit & Elegance:** Enjoy a narrative voice reminiscent of Jane Austen, blending humor, suspense, and elegance effortlessly.
- • **Complex, Relatable Protagonist:** Experience the journey of Alma Whittaker, a fiercely intelligent and resilient heroine breaking Victorian molds.
- • **Critically Acclaimed Bestseller:** Join over 21,000 readers who rated it 4.3 stars and propelled it to top ranks in Family Saga and Literary Fiction.
- • **Engrossing Historical Narrative:** Dive deep into 18th-19th century botanical and ocean trade history with a story that educates and entertains.
- • **Timeless Themes of Perseverance & Originality:** Be inspired by a story about creativity, endurance, and the pursuit of meaningful life achievements.

## Overview

Elizabeth Gilbert’s 'The Signature of All Things' is a critically acclaimed novel ranked #320 in Family Saga Fiction, boasting a 4.3-star rating from over 21,000 readers. This elegantly written historical saga follows Alma Whittaker, a fiercely intelligent woman navigating 18th and 19th century botanical commerce and personal trials. With a narrative style reminiscent of Jane Austen, the book blends suspense, humor, and deep themes of perseverance and originality, making it a must-read for discerning literary enthusiasts.

## Description

The Signature of All Things: A Novel [Gilbert, Elizabeth] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Signature of All Things: A Novel

Review: A great TALE by a modern day Jane Austen writer! - With all the flotsam and jetsam that floats by each day, it is heartening to read a book that engages, entertains and edifies one's view on life, all at the same time. Such is "The Signature of All Things" by Elizabeth Gilbert. As you might recall, she became famous for her memoir, "Eat, Pray, Love" which sold 10 million copies, was made into a movie starring Julia Roberts and which has made her rich enough to begin rebuilding (including buying houses for friends) a small town in New Jersey where she lives with a husband whom she married to ensure he could stay in the U.S.A. on a green card. You might think that would be enough to handle in the past few years, along with setting up a shop of imported wares like Buddhas and other Asian things that her husband manages. But no, apparently, that's not been enough to occupy her time/life. With the publication of "The Signature of All Things," Elizabeth Gilbert reveals that she has been busy researching 18th and 19th century botanical history, including the commerce of ocean trade between the West and obscure locations yielding up medicinal plants and potions that ebbed and flowed with plagues, fevers, malaria and other illnesses that could not be treated otherwise than with exotic potions and herbs. She has constructed a tale (that's the only word for it) of a family, and especially a heroine named Alma Whittaker who is not pretty but is very intelligent, feisty and hard-working who perseveres through a life of disappointments and wishes that go unfulfilled in unwinsome ways. That this story is told in a narrative fashion ("telling" rather than "showing" through dialogue) is a huge relief because stories matter and I'm so glad to be able to simply read for pleasure without having to deal with all the annoying current artificial fads in writing/publishing. That being said, another bonus in the writing is that for me, at least, the narrator's voice sounds awfully familiar to that of Jane Austen. In fact, I enjoyed reading this book much more than some Jane Austen's novels because the humor and wit come easy, comes often and is awe-inspiring in its light touch. So, it even kind of out-Austens Jane, but seems so effortless that it's not a contest, just fun. To be honest, I read a lot and am one of those readers who, unless engaged and interested, do not suffer books (or fools) gladly. This is the first book in a long time that I marveled at while laughing out loud. I also appreciated the more sobering discussions about the relationships of all things, (never mind the signature as explained in the novel,) and the spirited attitude of the heroine. I can't wait to read it again, more slowly this time, and savor the writing of someone who has already won the writing lottery with "Eat, Pray, Love," a book that I wanted to throw across the room numerous times except for the "Pray" section. Now, against some odds, she has succeeded in writing literature. No wonder Elizabeth Gilbert is smiling in the photos that accompany the book. She's done what many of us want to accomplish in our lives: to be original in our creativity, to persevere until it is finished and to be published. I wish I had come up with something like this. But it's more than enough pleasure for me just to hold this volume in my hands and to know I can read it more than once and enjoy it more fully after an astonishing first time through. What a gift!
Review: Suspenseful, Beautiful, Elegantly-Written Novel - I resisted reading this book for months after I'd first heard about it. I was so worried that I would be bored to death by the botanical observations. I have to admit that descriptions of the natural world just put me to sleep. However, Alma Whittaker is the saving grace here. There is something about her character which made me root for her all the way through. The book swept me away. I read it in about three to four days and nearly half of it in one session. Gilbert uses a suspenseful tone to this work. I, for one, found the book hard to put down at times. The most boring section of the book for me was at the beginning when Gilbert introduces Alma's father, Henry, and goes into great detail about his importing and exporting. If I hadn't read some reviews and known that the book was going to get better, I might have given up early on. I enjoy reading about family life and romantic life so when I learned about Alma and her thorny relationships within the family, her romantic desires, and her great love for the natural world (by the way, the descriptions of moss weren't nearly as boring as I'd thought they would be) I was swept away. There are enough plot twists to keep a reader interested. This book is by no means traditional in concept. Many 19-century stories are far more predictable--a young woman, burdened by Victorian principles, is able to find her way, meet the perfect man, and live happily ever after. Although Gilbert's story reads like a fairy tale sometimes especially in Tahiti where the natives make for a very exciting, suspenseful (and sometimes rather hilarious) read, this is no cookie-cutter romance. It's a tragedy with a great deal of hope in it. Alma is a plucky woman. She doesn't let the circumstances of her life get her down for long. Some people hated the sexual content, but the fact that Alma discovers the joys of solitary sexual pleasure as a teenager, in my mind, just makes the story more interesting and more human. When she writes about a sexual act with another person, I thought that Gilbert managed to write in both a tasteful and sensual manner. Just as the beginning of the story was slow-moving for me, some portions of the final chapters became a bit tiresome. Some reviewers got tired of Tahiti. Tahiti was quite drawn out, but I would say that at least 80% of it was interesting to me. She really captures the mood of a primitive way of life. I felt as though I were right there with Alma in her hovel, learning to live as the natives did. The entire book was a pleasant surprise. I did drift off to sleep occasionally while reading it, but it kept me up one night long past my bedtime. It's a big story. It wouldn't have done anything for me as a teenager or young adult craving satisfying romantic connections, but as an older lady with a larger perspective on life and love, I found it to be a fascinating story. Gilbert knows how to write. Her sentences are interesting without being long-winded and pretentious. Her English is both understandable and elegant. Way to go, Elizabeth Gilbert! I read Eat Pray Love and enjoyed it, but your fictional work really swept me away.

## Features

- Great product!

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #31,638 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #320 in Family Saga Fiction #1,271 in Literary Fiction (Books) #2,011 in American Literature (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 stars 21,187 Reviews |

## Images

![The Signature of All Things: A Novel - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Ha51SUZqL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A great TALE by a modern day Jane Austen writer!
*by E***N on October 2, 2013*

With all the flotsam and jetsam that floats by each day, it is heartening to read a book that engages, entertains and edifies one's view on life, all at the same time. Such is "The Signature of All Things" by Elizabeth Gilbert. As you might recall, she became famous for her memoir, "Eat, Pray, Love" which sold 10 million copies, was made into a movie starring Julia Roberts and which has made her rich enough to begin rebuilding (including buying houses for friends) a small town in New Jersey where she lives with a husband whom she married to ensure he could stay in the U.S.A. on a green card. You might think that would be enough to handle in the past few years, along with setting up a shop of imported wares like Buddhas and other Asian things that her husband manages. But no, apparently, that's not been enough to occupy her time/life. With the publication of "The Signature of All Things," Elizabeth Gilbert reveals that she has been busy researching 18th and 19th century botanical history, including the commerce of ocean trade between the West and obscure locations yielding up medicinal plants and potions that ebbed and flowed with plagues, fevers, malaria and other illnesses that could not be treated otherwise than with exotic potions and herbs. She has constructed a tale (that's the only word for it) of a family, and especially a heroine named Alma Whittaker who is not pretty but is very intelligent, feisty and hard-working who perseveres through a life of disappointments and wishes that go unfulfilled in unwinsome ways. That this story is told in a narrative fashion ("telling" rather than "showing" through dialogue) is a huge relief because stories matter and I'm so glad to be able to simply read for pleasure without having to deal with all the annoying current artificial fads in writing/publishing. That being said, another bonus in the writing is that for me, at least, the narrator's voice sounds awfully familiar to that of Jane Austen. In fact, I enjoyed reading this book much more than some Jane Austen's novels because the humor and wit come easy, comes often and is awe-inspiring in its light touch. So, it even kind of out-Austens Jane, but seems so effortless that it's not a contest, just fun. To be honest, I read a lot and am one of those readers who, unless engaged and interested, do not suffer books (or fools) gladly. This is the first book in a long time that I marveled at while laughing out loud. I also appreciated the more sobering discussions about the relationships of all things, (never mind the signature as explained in the novel,) and the spirited attitude of the heroine. I can't wait to read it again, more slowly this time, and savor the writing of someone who has already won the writing lottery with "Eat, Pray, Love," a book that I wanted to throw across the room numerous times except for the "Pray" section. Now, against some odds, she has succeeded in writing literature. No wonder Elizabeth Gilbert is smiling in the photos that accompany the book. She's done what many of us want to accomplish in our lives: to be original in our creativity, to persevere until it is finished and to be published. I wish I had come up with something like this. But it's more than enough pleasure for me just to hold this volume in my hands and to know I can read it more than once and enjoy it more fully after an astonishing first time through. What a gift!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Suspenseful, Beautiful, Elegantly-Written Novel
*by D***L on March 26, 2015*

I resisted reading this book for months after I'd first heard about it. I was so worried that I would be bored to death by the botanical observations. I have to admit that descriptions of the natural world just put me to sleep. However, Alma Whittaker is the saving grace here. There is something about her character which made me root for her all the way through. The book swept me away. I read it in about three to four days and nearly half of it in one session. Gilbert uses a suspenseful tone to this work. I, for one, found the book hard to put down at times. The most boring section of the book for me was at the beginning when Gilbert introduces Alma's father, Henry, and goes into great detail about his importing and exporting. If I hadn't read some reviews and known that the book was going to get better, I might have given up early on. I enjoy reading about family life and romantic life so when I learned about Alma and her thorny relationships within the family, her romantic desires, and her great love for the natural world (by the way, the descriptions of moss weren't nearly as boring as I'd thought they would be) I was swept away. There are enough plot twists to keep a reader interested. This book is by no means traditional in concept. Many 19-century stories are far more predictable--a young woman, burdened by Victorian principles, is able to find her way, meet the perfect man, and live happily ever after. Although Gilbert's story reads like a fairy tale sometimes especially in Tahiti where the natives make for a very exciting, suspenseful (and sometimes rather hilarious) read, this is no cookie-cutter romance. It's a tragedy with a great deal of hope in it. Alma is a plucky woman. She doesn't let the circumstances of her life get her down for long. Some people hated the sexual content, but the fact that Alma discovers the joys of solitary sexual pleasure as a teenager, in my mind, just makes the story more interesting and more human. When she writes about a sexual act with another person, I thought that Gilbert managed to write in both a tasteful and sensual manner. Just as the beginning of the story was slow-moving for me, some portions of the final chapters became a bit tiresome. Some reviewers got tired of Tahiti. Tahiti was quite drawn out, but I would say that at least 80% of it was interesting to me. She really captures the mood of a primitive way of life. I felt as though I were right there with Alma in her hovel, learning to live as the natives did. The entire book was a pleasant surprise. I did drift off to sleep occasionally while reading it, but it kept me up one night long past my bedtime. It's a big story. It wouldn't have done anything for me as a teenager or young adult craving satisfying romantic connections, but as an older lady with a larger perspective on life and love, I found it to be a fascinating story. Gilbert knows how to write. Her sentences are interesting without being long-winded and pretentious. Her English is both understandable and elegant. Way to go, Elizabeth Gilbert! I read Eat Pray Love and enjoyed it, but your fictional work really swept me away.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Impressive piece of literature!
*by P***A on March 3, 2015*

Surprisingly a most enjoyable and very interesting book. I was a skeptic going into the reading based on one book I had previously read by Gilbert. I was pleasantly shocked by the depth of her writing, research and complex thought processes in composing this particular story. The scientific, botanical, and spiritual concepts and research in the novel are impressive. The novel starts in 1760 with the birth of Henry Whittaker born outside London into poverty who as a young boy works his way up in life to become a wealthy world renowned horticulturalist. He marries a Dutch woman, Beatrix Van Devender and they move to Philadelphia with the governess Hanneke de Groot. Henry and Beatix have a child, Alma, and adopt an orphaned child, Prudence. Alma is a naturally curious, scientifically oriented and bright girl. Academics, science, horticulture and the study of nature are her true passions. Men are attracted to her for her mind but not her femininity, or possibly lack thereof, qualities. She becomes a renowned bryologist but her theory of competitive alteration, which closely mirrored Darwin's theory of natural selection, went unpublished. Alma married Ambrose Pike a gifted man who was a botanical illustrator. Ambrose was grappling the concept of earthbound science versus the design of all things by a supreme intelligence. He was attracted to Alma for her mind but not her body. Their marriage fails because Alma cannot reach the spiritual plateau that Ambrose is seeking. He goes to Tahiti and dies. Alma is distraught over his death and the demise of their marriage so she goes to Tahiti to discover the fate of Ambrose's death. There she meets a gentleman, Tomorrow Morning, who helps her understand more about Ambrose and the man they both loved. Alma was a woman alone in the world with her thoughts, sciences and the binding closet for her sole sexual expression. Men with great minds loved her for her intellect. As an elderly woman she made peace with these human facts. While she desired to be loved sensually as a woman, her greatest love and enjoyment in life came through her exploration and acquisition of knowledge and the testing of theories. She knew her mind was equal to one of the greatest men of her time, Charles Darwin. A truly lovely book. Gilbert takes the reader deep into the thoughts and psychology of Alma Whittaker. I was swept up in the journey of Henry from London, to Amsterdam, Philadelphia, Tahiti and Alma from Philadelohia, to Tahiti and Amsterdam. I learned much from this book and it made me think at a deep level. Well done Ms. Gilbert! “the signature of all things”— namely, that God had hidden clues for humanity’s betterment inside the design of every flower, leaf, fruit, and tree on earth. All the natural world was a divine code, Boehme claimed, containing proof of our Creator’s love. This is why so many medicinal plants resembled the diseases they were meant to cure, or the organs they were able to treat. Basil, with its liver- shaped leaves, is the obvious ministration for ailments of the liver. The celandine herb, which produces a yellow sap, can be used to treat the yellow discoloration brought on by jaundice. Walnuts, shaped like brains, are helpful for headaches. Coltsfoot, which grows near cold streams, can cure the coughs and chills brought on by immersion in ice water. Polygonum , with its spattering of blood- red markings on the leaves, cures bleeding wounds of the flesh. And so on, ad infinitum." "She thought again about the four distinct and concurrent varieties of time, as she had once named them: Divine Time, Geological Time, Human Time, Moss Time." "In fact, the Tahitians say that all the useful plants on this island resemble parts of the human body, as a message from the gods, you see. This is why coconut oil, which is helpful for headaches, comes from the coconut, which looks like a head. Mape chestnuts are said to be good for kidney ailments, for they resemble kidneys themselves, or so I am told. The bright red sap of the fei plant is meant to be useful for blood ailments.” “The signature of all things,” Alma murmured." “I will tell you why we have these extraordinary minds and souls, Miss Whittaker,” he continued, as though he had not heard her. “We have them because there is a supreme intelligence in the universe, which wishes for communion with us. This supreme intelligence longs to be known. It calls out to us. It draws us close to its mystery, and it grants us these remarkable minds, in order that we try to reach for it. It wants us to find it. It wants union with us, more than anything.” "We are fiddle, fork, and spoon, We are dancing with the moon, If you’d like to steal a kiss from us, You’d better steal one soon!"

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