So Many Kingdoms

About the Book

Rachel, a Portuguese orphan and New Christian, arrives in Brazil as the bride of a wealthy plantation owner. After escaping to the Dutch Recife, she crosses the paths of five women with whom the protagonist shares the stories of their lives, and those of Brazil.

Through Rachel's eyes, the reader witnesses the plight of indigenous peoples, slaves, and a leper scultpor, the extraction of diamonds and wealth from the land, the tragic destruction of Amazon forests, and the promise of a backlands messiah.

About the Author

Williams uses her experience travelling through Brazilian mining towns and the Amazon jungle to weave a story of Brazil's various blends of cultures. Preserving the natural world and its creatures is a long-time passion of the author, who has served on the National Board of the Defenders of Wildlife.