Award-winning Tasmanian author Heather Rose returns with an epic, richly imagined new novel, A Great Act of Love - a sweeping story of reinvention, family secrets and the fierce determination of a woman carving a new life on the far edges of the world.

Set against the dramatic landscapes of Paris, Edinburgh, London, New York and Van Diemen’s Land, the novel follows Caroline, a young woman who chooses to cross the world in search of her disgraced father - a man once devoted to philosophy and apothecary, now a convicted murderer exiled to Norfolk Island.

Arriving in Tasmania in 1839, Caroline steps ashore as a widow of means with a child in her care. On an island of exiles, dreamers and opportunists - where no one speaks too openly about their past - she leases a derelict cottage and abandoned vineyard. There, amid wild beauty and harsh seasons, she begins a daring enterprise: to reclaim her father, create champagne, and write a new legacy for herself.

Critics are already praising the novel:

“A captivating story of love and adventure, thrumming with secrets.” - Lucy Steeds
“Complex, layered, and delicious… the perfect pairing for book clubs.” - Kate MacIntosh
The Guardian calls it “a compelling, complex tale… set in 1830s Van Diemen’s Land.”

Deeply atmospheric and inspired by a real family story, A Great Act of Love is Heather Rose at her finest - bold, immersive and full of beating heart.