Title: Eugenia: Destiny and Choice
Author: Georgeos C. Awgerinos
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-4917-4017-0
Pages: 270
Genre: Historical Romance
Reviewed by: Ella Vincent
Buy on AmazonPacific Book Review
4 Star Review
Eugenia: Destiny and Choice is an emotionally stunning historical romance novel that mixes, drama, romance, and political intrigue. Georgeos C. Awgerinos has written a globe-spanning novel that readers won’t be able to put down. The novel centers on Eugenia Corais, or Jenny, as she’s nicknamed. She’s a Greek-American student who becomes an ardent feminist activist during the turbulent 1960’s. While she’s attending Columbia University, she falls in love with Dietrich Neuendorf, a West German human rights lawyer. After they marry, they move to Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia), where apartheid is tearing the southern African nation apart.
While Dietrich is consumed by fighting the civil rights violations of Black Zimbabweans, Jenny becomes romantically involved with Desmond Henderson, a ruthless arms dealer that’s causing more division in Zimbabwe. Jenny becomes involved in a love triangle that could challenge her beliefs and change her life forever.
Jenny is a compelling character that readers will love for her complexity and conviction. Though she makes difficult decisions in the novel, Jenny’s dedication to civil rights and her own quest for happiness will engross readers. Dietrich is also a sympathetic character who is haunted by his own demons while fighting for justice for oppressed people. Desmond is a classic villain whose brutality towards Black Zimbabweans capture the true effects of apartheid in history.
Awgerinos’ acute research and footnotes make Eugenia as thoroughly accurate as any history book. While the book is heavy on political history, Awgerinos humanizes the historical events in the novel by presenting hauntingly personal stories in Eugenia. Awgerinos deftly writes about the consequences of historical events across three continents. Dietrich’s family history in Germany from the 1930’s shows how World War II affected generations. Jenny’s social activism in New York casts light on how civil rights in America changed the country. The blatant racism, government surveillance, and political upheaval in Zimbabwe illuminates how colonialism affected Africans for many years.
Eugenia is a novel that would be perfect for readers who want to read a thoughtful romantic novel. The novel blends the political intrigue of a John LeCarre novel with the romance of Gone with the Wind. Fans of political novels will also be swept up in the far-reaching international conflicts that are a backdrop to Eugenia.
Georgeos C. Awgerinos has created an engaging novel with a surprise ending that will make readers want more. Eugenia: Destiny and Choice will sweep readers up in an exciting journey.
