"The Wild Date Palm" by Diane Armstrong would make a fabulous movie. I can imagine the vast landscapes and small village backdrops for this story of espionage, passion and family loyalty. Spying on the Turks in WW1 is risking death. But successfully passing intelligence to the British could end the war and save Jews from the gruesome slaughter Armenians suffered.
Shoshana Adelstein's story is based on true happenings. We cross paths with Lawrence of Arabia, criss cross the Middle East, all in a time when everyday heroes try to turn the tide of war in Palestine.
As I read in 2024, the war on Gaza rages. The idealistic thought that Jews and Arabs could live peacefully, is proved to be wrong.
A thought provoking novel...brave, exotic and passionate to the end with symbolism interwoven. Triumph can be self sacrifice but also a reunion.
These are stories I seek out and love....unsung heroes whose stories have been forgotten over time. Their bravery should not be forgotten.
Thanks to NetGalley, Diane Armstrong and Harlequin Australia for my copy

When Shoshana Adelstein's dreams of marrying Eli disappeared, she married a man her parents wanted for her, moving away from her home. But she was desperately unhappy, trapped and eventually made the decision to return home. The train journey in 1915, during WWI, back to her home in Zichron Yaakov was a harsh eye opener. The brutal slaying of the Armenians made Shoshi realise that the Jews were probably next. But Shoshi's father was unhappy with her; she brought shame to the family with her actions. Her little sister Leah left their home to live with Aunt Hannah, their father's sister, and brother Nathan was always travelling with his job.

Shoshi's determination to help Britain win the war against the Turks, therefore saving her country and its people from annihilation was a wild one, but when she and Nathan formed a secret spy network, spying on the Turks, getting important messages through to the British, they all knew what would happen if they were caught. With Nathan running things in Cairo and Shoshi and her small band of resisters getting vital information, ready to send through to Nathan, Shoshi feared for their safety. But she also knew the future of the Jewish people was more important than Shoshi and her spy network...

The Wild Date Palm is an exceptional historical novel by Aussie author Diane Armstrong and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Based on fact, the author's notes at the end of the novel are interesting and intriguing! Shoshi was committed to her plan, determined it was going to work. Her strength of character shone through; she was admired by many, and equally disliked by others. Lawrence of Arabia features in this book, though he's not particularly likeable! The cover of The Wild Date Palm caught my eye initially, and I love how the meaning of a book's title comes through in the story, as this one did! An extraordinary read, The Wild Date Palm is one I recommend highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Exotic, sensual and poetic are the first words that come to mind of Diane Armstrong’s writing style in The Wild Date Palm. There’s mystery, danger, romance and death. Daring acts of defiance in the war against the enemy. And there are characters who fulfill their purpose and meet tragic ends. There were some I did not want to say good bye to and left me feeling sad. This in itself is the realistic aspect of war, particularly among resistant fighters who were captured, tortured and died. And Ms. Armstrong does not spare us or wrap our emotions in cotton balls to protect us from the inevitable. The harsh truth comes hurtling through like a sword aimed to kill.

Many petals are dropped along the pathway to freedom from bouquets of heart break on this journey that changes, teaches and informs us of what it might have been like for those who fought back. This novel is a real testament of courage and sacrifice inspired by a true story with many of the characters based on real people. I truly felt transported to the setting and given a front row seat to the events, homes and lives of these determined individuals who were not content to sit back and wait to be overtaken.

It all started in the picturesque town of Zichron Yaakov in Israel, where some young Jews formed a spy ring in an attempt to defeat the oppressive Turkish rulers. Their desire to help Britain win the war drove them to take risks that most people would not have considered. Many villagers did not approve of this group and worried they would draw attention to their community and bring ruin on them all. Spying on the Ottoman Empire could only lead to horrific events once its leaders knew. And, of course, eventually death and destruction did come knocking at their doors. But what sparked the beginning of this novel was a real woman named Sarah Aaronsohns whose tragic self-inflicted death was so memorable that the author knew she had to tell her story. This woman who was brave, daring and strong in character, became a leader – one who would not betray her comrades no matter what.

This novel is incredibly moving with a fascinating cast that you care about. The brilliant botanist brother Nathan plays an important role in this spy ring. Then there is Shoshana who loved fiercely, led bravely and died heroically. Her relationship with her little sister is a troubled one. But sibling love is at the core of her actions despite the friction. Their own journeys together and apart provide valuable insight into their personalities. The fact they loved the same man (Eli) created some tense moments. But they each find their own path and through a series of events come together eventually for healing. Sadly, only one will survive to carry on the legacy of hope: to tell the story.

The title of this novel The Wild Date Palm has a special romantic / symbolic meaning, too, which readers will see once arriving at a certain point in the plot. There are some amazing lyrical lines expressed in Eli’s and Shoshana’s correspondence and thoughts. They see themselves as soulmates that can never be parted and will remain attached to each other forever. There are moments shared by Shoshana that shows how connected in spirit she was to him and him to her.

I, like Diane, have been fascinated by the less known stories of those who are in the footnotes of history. In fact, this very same thought I have used in my own writing. It is those brave persons who sometimes fall through the cracks of history that authors want to bring out into the light to give them their chance to tell their worthwhile story: to be given a stage to be seen and heard. The author has wonderfully achieved this in The Wild Date Palm.

I highly recommend this exceptional tragic and triumphant story that shows how even death cannot quell the power of love and cry for freedom. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to HQ and Netgalley for a review copy.

‘If you had to choose a single image to represent your entire life, just one that you would be remembered by forever, what would you choose?’

During a train journey across Turkey’s Anatolian Plain in 1915, Shoshana Adelstein witnesses the slaughter of Armenian Christians. Shoshana cannot have known it at the time, but what she witnessed was part of what is widely regarded as the first act of genocide in the 20th century. What she was certain of, though, was that the small Jewish community she belonged to which was also located in the Ottoman Empire was destined to meet a similar fate. Shoshana’s parents had emigrated to Palestine from Romania thirty years earlier. They had established their home and an orchard near Zichron Yaakov. Shoshana has two siblings: an older brother, Nathan, a botanist, and a younger sister, Leah.

The Great War was underway, and Shoshana hoped that if the British won the war against Turkey, then her community would be saved. The British offensive at Gallipoli has failed: the British need another route to Constantinople.

‘Are you trying to tell me that in some godforsaken village in Palestine, a small group of Jews believe that spying on the Turks will help us
win the war?’

Despite initial British scepticism, Shoshana, her brother Nathan, and her lover Eli Ginsberg establish a spy network. Those who are part of the network (including doctors, farmers, train porters) can gather information about the Turkish troops while undertaking their everyday jobs. The stakes are high, and some of those outside the network are suspicious. The group meets many challenges trying to share intelligence with the British, and ultimately (perhaps inevitably) the Turks become aware of their activities.

‘The enemy within could be more dangerous than the oppressors.’

Tragedy follows.

In her Author’s Note, Ms Armstrong writes that:

‘I have always found my subjects in the footnotes of history where I have encountered people whose actions have illustrated the
unfathomable extremes of human behaviour.’

This novel is based on the extraordinary life of the Aaronsohn siblings: Aaron, Sarah, and Rivka. Eli Ginsberg is based on Avshalom Feinberg. The novel also involves some real characters as well, including T. E. Lawrence and Leonard Woolley. I think that Ms Armstrong strikes a perfect balance in this novel: fiction enables her to imagine characters and their interactions while remaining within the boundaries of history.

And the title? It’s perfect, as the ending makes clear.

Highly recommended.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Shoshana Adelstein’s Jewish parents emigrated from Romania to Palestine over thirty years ago, they built a house and orchard near the town of Zichron Yaakov. Her older brother Nathan is a scientific expert on plants and she has a younger sister Leah. In 1915, she’s worried about her family, Shoshana catches a train home and during the journey across the Anatolian plain, she witnesses the slaughter of innocent Armenian people by Turkish soldiers and she's positive this will happen to the Palestinian Jews.

Britain and Turkey are caught up fighting in The Great War, it’s being fought in Europe and in the Ottoman Empire. After the disastrous Dardanelles offensive, on the rocky shores of Gallipoli and the British need another way to get to Constantinople. Shoshana, her brother Nathan and the love of her life Eli Ginsberg form a spy nest, they want to help the British win and defeat Turkey and the Germans. The member’s travel around gathering information about the conditions of the Turkish troops, their weapons, military locations, and much more. The group is made up of friends, farmers, businessmen, train porters and guardsmen, doctors and brave women like Shoshana.

The risk is great and so is the challenge they face trying to deliver and share the facts they’ve collected to the British intelligence, it becomes extremely dangerous because they could be betrayed by someone in Zichron Yaakov, if caught and they will be shown no mercy.

Based around the true story of siblings Sarah, Aaron and Rivka Aaronsohns, ordinary people who wanted to turn the tide of a world war and they lived in Palestine. This book looks at The Great War from a different angle and perspective, using a balance of real and fictional characters.

I received a copy of The Wild Date Palm by Diane Armstrong from Harlequin Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a well written, articulate and fascinating narrative that had me hooked from the first page, it’s a tale about persecution and being Jewish, war, sacrifice, espionage, love, and it also mentions Laurence of Arabia and Bedouin culture and conditions in the desert.

The reader is taken on a historical fiction journey, one to defeat the great Ottoman Empire by the British and their allies and they needed inside help and water. Shoshana's character was selfless and brave, a woman who put her own life on the line for her beliefs and country. The title of the book is perfect and you discover why, and five big stars from me and I highly recommend The Wild Date Palm and the authors previous book Dancing with the Enemy.

I discovered Diane’s books a few years ago when my mother-in-law gave me a copy of The Collaborator for Christmas. I eagerly devoured it and then caught up on her back list. She always seems to discover interesting stories and writes in a way that whilst the story line is often very multilayered and complex it is also very engaging. The Wild Date Palm is no exception. It has a bit of everything in it- history, intrigue, espionage and a touch of romance!

This novel is set in Palestine during Ottoman occupation in World War I. It details a fascinating story of locals who set up a spy ring to help the British defeat the Turkish. It was an interesting part of World War I to learn about and enjoyed learning about this particular story and the formation of Syria in context to other parts of the war in the area I was familiar with. This part of the story got my heart racing on a number of occasions.

Covering a time period 1910 to 1917, we get to visit some exotic places such as Constantinople, Cairo and London. However the majority was set in the Palestinian town of Zichron Yaakov. I loved learning more about the town and the writing was so descriptive I could visualize myself in the dessert, surrounded by date palms. Again, I really appreciated all of Armstrong’s research and enjoyed learning more about Jewish and Bedouin cultures.

Told from the points of view of sisters Soshanna and Leah Adelstein, we get to know them both and brother Nathan. All three were intriguing characters and well developed. I enjoyed how the novel explored tricky sibling relationships and rivalries. The two sisters ended up in a love triangle with another brave character, Eli. I loved reading the author’s at the end about how these characters were based on real life siblings Sarah, Aaron and Rivka Aaronsohns. I always enjoy it when fictional characters stories are linked in with real life ones and seeing the appearance of the real life Lawrence of Arabia. Another fantastic read and I’m glad I had the chance to learn more about this little bit of history.