Allreaders.com
Author Eva Ibbotson booklist (click here)

Book Review By L. Watson
A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson

Harriet Morton, daughter of a stuffy Cambridge don, longs for some
romance and adventure in her life. Her one pleasure is the ballet class she takes. The company has invited her to join and travel with them to Brazil to perform. But Harriet's father will not let her go.

Harriet learns from a neighbor, Henry, of a mysterious boy, Rom
Verney, who left England and ventured to the Amazon river. Harriet is asked by Henry to deliver a message to Rom asking him to return to England. After agreeing, Harriet decides she is going to join the ballet company and go to Brazil.

Harriet reaches Brazil and meets Rom, who is now a very wealthy man. More suprising to Harriet, the handsome Rom is interested in her. Rom shows Harriet the wonders of Brazil and tells her his history. Harriet soon falls in love with him. Between the romance which develops with Rom and the warm and caring ballet troupe, Harriet finally experiences the life she has longed for. But her father sends a man to fetch Harriet back home and Harriet is afraid her happiness will soon be at an end, unless, perhaps, Rom will rescue her.


Plot & Themes
Time/era of story
Matchbreaker Yes
Matchbreaker is - Dad

Main Male Character
Profession/status:
Age/status: - 20's-30's

Main Female Character - 20's-30's
Unusual characteristics:

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
The Americas (not US): Yes
The Americas: - South

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
What % of story is romance related? - 80%
Focus of story - equally on him and her
How much dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Back To Main Menu