Jungle of Ashes

Step into the lush, dangerous world of the Amazon in this sweeping historical novel brought vividly to life by acclaimed narrator Caroline Hewitt, whose captivating performances include The Rhino Keeper, The Porcelain Menagerie, and The Choir.

In 1928, industrial titan Henry Ford launched an audacious experiment deep in the Brazilian rainforest: Fordlandia, a company town meant to produce rubber for the Ford Motor Company and prove that American industry could tame the jungle. Instead, the dream spiraled into cultural conflict, ecological disaster, and human tragedy.

Seventeen-year-old Joanna Rogge arrives in the Amazon after her father accepts a management position at the ambitious plantation. Far from the rigid expectations of her life in Michigan, Joanna is captivated by the beauty and danger of the rainforest—and by Rafael Caetano, a talented Brazilian mechanic with ambitions of his own.

As Fordlandia begins to unravel—crops fail, fevers spread, and tensions rise between American managers and Brazilian workers—Joanna and Rafael are drawn into a forbidden romance that challenges the rigid rules of class, culture, and corporate control. When unrest and revolution threaten everything around them, they must decide what they are willing to risk for truth, survival, and love.

With Caroline Hewitt’s immersive narration guiding listeners through the sights, sounds, and dangers of the Amazon, Jungle of Ashes becomes an unforgettable listening experience. Rich in historical detail and emotional depth, this powerful novel explores the cost of empire, the clash of cultures, and the enduring strength of the human heart.