Historical Fiction book annotation

Author:  M. J. Rose

Title: Cartier’s Hope

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publication Date: 2020

Number of Pages: 334

Geographical Setting: New York, New York, USA

Time Period: 1910-1911

Series: N/A

Plot Summary:

Vera Garland is the daughter of a wealthy business owner and a member of New York’s 400, those most wealthy and socially advanced families. Rejecting the life of a wealthy wife and perhaps mother, she pursues as career as a female reporter. To avoid causing her family embarrassment she works in disguise as Vee Swann. 

The story focuses on M. Cartier and his efforts to sell the famous Hope Diamond. While telling that story, Vera/Vee’s previous exploits are revealed. As she works on the Hope Diamond story she also falls in love with a jeweler, compromising her dual roles as reporter and socialite. 

The novel is rich in historical detail, particularly with respect to the social issues of the time such as women’s roles in the home and workplace, the plight of the poor immigrants living in tenements, unsafe abortion practices, and homosexuality.

In my opinion, this novel suffers from trying to do too much, and thus doesn’t do any of the things well. The premise that Vera/Vee can live in both worlds is hard to believe. The flashbacks to her earlier experiences feel like short stories inserted into the novel and made me wish the author had written the novels of those experiences first, or left them more murky as part of who Vera/Vee is. She tells us too much and shows us too little.

Subject Headings:

Historical Fiction – New York, 1910

Historical Fiction – Women reporters

Historical Fiction – Hope Diamond

Appeal:

Frame/Setting: “Many readers . . . turn instead to Historical Fiction to understand history from the inside, from the perspectives of individuals caught up in events” (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 171).

Rose includes many details about life in NYC during 1910-11 in this novel. As Vee delves into the lives of poor immigrants, women having abortions, and female reporters the reader learns more about these topics for this time and place. Because she is also a member of the social elite we also learn about the ways that this group of people lived and interacted. 

Story Line: “The story line explains and contextualizes events, linking them to the settings of the period and to particular characters and their motivations” (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 172).

This story covers specifically about one year, but in reality reaches further back into Vera’s personal history to help explain why she feels strongly about issues of justice and women’s rights. In doing that it explains the situation in which women of that time lived. Because Vera/Vee crosses between the wealthy and the lower classes the reader gets a picture of a broader spectrum of society from a more personal vantagepoint.

Characterization: “[N]ovelists bring all of their authorial skills to bear in creating dimensional, realistic figures.” “[F]or the most part the characters in Historical Fiction are meant to be joined as they traipse through time, taking the reader along for the ride” (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 173).

One of my main frustrations with this novel was the fact that the characters were not that dimensional and realistic. They tended to be either GOOD or not very good. Vera’s mother was the only character where good and bad interacted, and that was not well-developed. However, we do accompany Vera/Vee in her activities and thus get a first-hand look at the social problems of the day, as she experienced them, and that hit the characterization appeal factor for me.

3 terms that best describe this book:  

richly detailed, female reporters, New York City history

Similar Authors and Works:

The Phoenix Crown, by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang

                                                                                                                                  Set in 1906 San Francisco, two women from different backgrounds come together to solve a mystery and find justice.

Common appeal: strong female main character pushing against social norms; mystery surrounding jewelry; historical fiction; search for justice

  

The Magnolia Palace, by Fiona Davis

 

This novel mixes two time periods (WWI era and the 1960’s) New York, focusing on art and modeling and the Frick family.

Common appeal: Well-developed character, richly detailed writing style, historical period

 

 

Ask me no questions, by Shelley Noble

This novel is set in 1909. The main character is a widowed English member of the aristocracy. She travels to New York and is immediately involved in a murder.

Common appeal: Professional woman pushing boundaries of social norms; historical fiction; atmospheric

 

 

 

  

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors

Hope diamond: the legendary history of a cursed gem, by Richard Kurin

 

This book traces the history of the Hope Diamond and would be interesting for someone to read and compare to what they learned in “Cartier’s Hope.”

Common appeal: history writing, richly detailed, well-researched

 

Ten days in a mad-house: a story of the intrepid reporter, by Nellie Blye

 

Nellie Blye was a role model for Vera Garland/Vee Swann. This is the true story of her investigative report about the conditions of mental patients.

Common appeal: history writing, female pushing social norms, New York

 

 

Jane Addams: Spirit in Action, by Louise W. Knight

 

This biography tells the story of Jane Addams, who was co-founder of the first settlement house, in Chicago, and who worked for many social justice issues.

 

Common appeal: women equality and suffrage, history writing, inspiring

 

 

 

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors

 

Deception by gaslight, by Kate Belli

 

 

Genevieve Stewart, a woman from a wealthy family, chooses to become a reporter. She becomes involved in finding a jewel thief and murder. 

Common appeal: richly detailed, female reporter in Gilded-Age New York, historical writing (mystery)

 

Great circle, by Maggie Shipstead

Marian Graves, nearly dying as an infant in 1914 lives in rural Montana and becomes a female pilot. The novel also tells the story of the actress chosen to portray Marian 100 years later.

Common appeal: historical fiction, intricately plotted, richly-detailed

 

 

Absolution, by Alice McDermott

 

This story is set in 1960’s Saigon, but tells about two women connected to the war efforts and their lives trying to make sense of the conflicts they experience.

 

Common appeal: societal issues, historical fiction, character-driven, atmospheric tone

 

 

 

 

References

 

Wyatt, N.  & Saricks, J. G. (2019). The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction (3rd ed.). ALA Editions.