I hope you enjoyed this adventure with Morgan and Jake. I had fun putting it together, and I learned a lot along the way. One of my favorite aspects of being an author is the research, and I certainly loved this one! As ever, I try to stick to the truth as much as possible in terms of locations and historical events and then spin that into a story.
Ets Haim Portuguese Synagogue, Amsterdam, Netherlands
I recommend visiting the synagogue if you’re in the city. It’s truly a beautiful place, and I would never wish to see it harmed. Quite the opposite. I believe that stories can highlight places that deserve more attention and protection, and I write about the synagogue (and all my locations) with that intent.
You can find more at www.esnoga.com and www.etshaimmanuscripts.nl
You can see pictures from my Amsterdam research trip at www.booksandtravel.page/unusual-amsterdam
I also found an intriguing book in their fantastic store, Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean by Edward Kritzler. This unusual title sparked my imagination and led to the scenes on the island of Jamaica.
Lisbon
We had a wonderful long weekend in Lisbon, relaxing in the glorious weather, and yes, enjoying several pastéis de nata in Belém! They’re definitely my favorite pastries. You can find pictures and recommendations from our trip here: www.booksandtravel.page/lisbon
Macau
I picked Macau as a setting because of the ruins of St Paul’s, and I wanted to show the extent of the Portuguese Empire. I was stunned to find that there really is a Tree of Life engraved on the facade. This kind of synchronicity often happens in my book research process, where I think I am writing fiction, but then real life happens to fit with my story.
Brazil
Aurelia’s family mine is based on the Carajás Mine, the largest iron ore mine in the world.
The synagogue in Recife is considered the oldest in the Americas, but the Museum of the Inquisition is actually in Belo Horizonte, not Recife. I didn’t want to add another Brazilian location to the story, so I moved it. The details of the museum are accurate based on researching through the site www.museudainquisicao.org.br
The locations in Rio de Janeiro are as accurate as possible and there are indeed hatches leading onto the top of Christ the Redeemer, although access is not available to the public. I based the scene on photos taken by travel blogger, Lee Thompson, who gained special access during the World Cup.
Location of the Garden of Eden
It’s fascinating to read research from different perspectives, and there were two books that primarily informed the possible locations.
History of Paradise: The Garden of Eden in Myth and Tradition by Jean Delumeau and Legend: The Genesis of Civilisation by David Rohl. The latter book is the primary source for the location I decided on.
I would love to visit Tabriz one day, along with Isfahan and the other incredible sites of Iran. It’s on my list, but I haven’t been yet, so these scenes are written entirely from books and online research.
Svalbard
I based this chapter on a Time magazine article about the real Seed Vault: Time.com/doomsday-vault
Thoughts on Nature
I love being in nature, but we live in a world where ecological catastrophe seems closer every day. The dichotomy at the heart of Eden is real, and this book is all about balancing the things that seem impossible to balance.
Aurelia believes that the natural world would be better off without humanity, whereas the Order acknowledges Nature’s destructive potential and wants to protect mankind from it while also exploiting its resources.
I love the natural world and want to protect it, but I also believe that humanity is a valuable part of the biosphere and has the potential to fix the problems that face us all. I highly recommend reading Novacene: The Coming Age of Hyperintelligence by James Lovelock, the original proponent of the Gaia hypothesis, and his thoughts on how we might save the planet from ecological collapse.
During the process of writing this book, I learned of the rate of destruction of trees and donated to The Woodland Trust, woodlandtrust.org.uk and The Tree Council, treecouncil.org.uk
Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart inspired the deadly possibilities of the Order’s garden and author J.T. Croft made sure the botanical aspects were as accurate as can be in a novel.
Morgan’s vision of the women at the Tree is based on The Bacchae, a Greek tragedy by Euripides. I saw the play in my teens and have never forgotten the bloody rage of the women in their violent frenzy.
Bibliography
Conquerors: How Portugal Forged the First Global Empire — Roger Crowley
Ets Haim: 18 Highlights from the Oldest Jewish Library in the World — Emile Schrijver & Heide Warncke
Evil Roots: Killer Tales of the Botanical Gothic — Edited by Daisy Butcher
History of Paradise: The Garden of Eden in Myth and Tradition — Jean Delumeau
Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean: How a Generation of Swashbuckling Jews Carved Out an Empire in the New World in Their Quest for Treasure, Religious Freedom — and Revenge — Edward Kritzler
Lab Girl: A Story of Trees, Science and Love — Hope Jahren
Legend: The Genesis of Civilisation — David Rohl
Novacene: The Coming Age of Hyperintelligence — James Lovelock
The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon — Richard Zimler. I read this book many years ago, and it inspired thoughts of Jewish history and the rich traditions of Portugal decades before I visited the country itself.
You can also listen to an interview I did with Richard about his books at www.booksandtravel.page/richard-zimler
The Bacchae — Euripides
The Portuguese: A Modern History — Barry Hatton
The Portuguese Jews of Jamaica — Mordechai Arbell
Wicked Plants: The A–Z of Plants That Kill, Maim, Intoxicate and Otherwise Offend — Amy Stewart