The Signature Of All Things: A Novel by Elizabeth Gilbert in Paperback

Born at the dawn of a new century, Alma Whittaker arrives in the midst of a picturesque winter in Philadelphia. Her father, Henry, is a daring and magnetic botanical explorer whose substantial wealth contradicts his humble origins as a vagrant at Sir Joseph Banks's Kew Gardens and a deckhand on Captain Cook's HMS Resolution. Alma's mother, a strict woman from a respected Dutch family, possesses an expertise in botany that rivals that of any man. As she delves deeper into the world of plants and science, Alma, an independent and curious girl, quickly finds her footing. However, as she immerses herself in the study of moss and the still unknown mysteries of evolution, her love interest pulls her in the opposite direction - towards the spiritual, the divine, and the magical. She is a rational and objective scientist, while he is a dreamy and idealistic artist. But what binds this couple together is a shared eagerness to understand the inner workings of the world and