Alma understands that her husband was not only homosexual, but also had been living with this secret for years. He leaves his wife with a suitcase full of nude drawings and letters from another man. After being disappointed by marriage yet again, Alma goes back home and continues studying moss colonies-her life’s work. They get married even though Ambrose doesn’t believe in sex because he wants to be celibate like angels are supposed to be this is something that he doesn’t tell Alma about before they’re married (this would have been useful information!). She focuses on her botany work for many years until Ambrose Pike comes along to save the day! He introduces himself to Alma at a spiritualist meeting that he hosts in their house, so they hit it off right away because of their shared interest in nature. Alma then becomes isolated again as Mr Whittaker dies and Prudence gets married too. The three girls become good friends until Retta marries George.

She’s an introvert and has difficulty making friends, but she does make two close friends in Prudence and Retta. Prudence is beautiful unlike Alma herself so they don’t speak much at first but she eventually strikes up a friendship with her new sister around their mutual love of plants which begin as specimens in her room before growing into something more personal…Īlma Whittaker is a young woman who lives with her father, George. However, all changes when Mrs Whittaker decides to adopt an orphan girl-Prudence, the daughter of a famous prostitute. She rarely meets outsiders and is very sheltered. She collects plant samples and studies them. Alma is brought up to be educated and curious. He decides to set up on his own and moves to Philadelphia with his wife who gives birth to our main protagonist, Alma Whittaker. Still, when Henry gets back from his travels, he doesn’t get any recognition for the work that he has done. His goal is to find quinine, which can cure malaria. The story moves to Europe where Henry goes on dangerous expeditions for rare plants that make him more money. He was born into poverty and had no formal education but he became rich through hard work and perseverance. It’s a book about the Whittaker family, led by Henry Whittaker, who has made his fortune from selling natural medicines. The Signature of all Things is set in Philadelphia. It received critical acclaim upon publication and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Fiction. The book takes place in the eighteenth century when science was still young. As she studies more and more about evolution, she discovers that there are many mysteries still to be solved. The Signature of All Things is a novel by Elizabeth Gilbert which tells the story of Alma Whittaker, a botanist who struggles with her life’s work. 1-Page Summary of The Signature Of All Things Overall Summary

The signature of all things synopsis