THE GILDED HOUR
(Berkley Hardcover; September 1, 2015; ISBN 9780425271810; $27.95)
by bestselling author Sara Donati!
A tale of two female doctors in Gilded Age New York City,
Donati’s latest sweeping historical novel tackles women’s rights in the late 19th Century.
Donati, bestselling author of the historical Wilderness series,
returns this Fall and examines the lives of two descendants of her
famous characters Nathaniel and Elizabeth Bonner: their granddaughters
Liliane (Anna) and Sophie Savard. Their story is set
against the backdrop of the wondrous and exciting Gilded Age, one of the
most fascinating periods in America’s history, in New York City. THE GILDED HOUR
highlights the touchstones of the Gilded Age, which was characterized
by enormous economic and
industrial growth as well as massive immigration and urbanization, which
allowed extreme poverty to coexist with extreme wealth in New York
City. Donati’s immensely researched novel explores the real-life
historical context of the Comstock Act, key advances
in sanitation and public health, career opportunities for 19th century women and contraception practices. It’s also a beautiful novel, filled with mystery and intrigue.
A brief summary of the book:
The year is 1883 and New York City is
aflutter with extraordinary change. As the Brooklyn Bridge nears
completion in the background, the gap between severe poverty and extreme
wealth and splendor is visible on every corner.
Anti-vice crusader Anthony Comstock is determined to purge the city of
anything indecent, and will stop at nothing to make sure his agenda is
pursued. Anna Savard and her cousin Sophie Savard have become
successful physicians, graduates from the Woman’s Medical
School, and they treat the city’s most vulnerable occupants.
Anna works with orphaned children who
remind her of her own upbringing as an orphan herself. When she
encounters four children that have lost everything, she is faced with
dealing with the pain of her past or choosing to allow
love into her life. Sophie, the orphan daughter of free people of
color, is an obstetrician. Comstock’s anti-vice crusade puts any
physician administering contraception or abortions in harm’s way.
Sophie struggles between upholding the oath as she took as
a physician and helping a young, desperate mother, and fearing for her
own life if she dares defy Comstock. Her choices catapult both her and
Anna into the orbit of this very dangerous man.
Fans of the Wilderness series will see some glimmers of the characters they have grown to love, but new readers will enjoy THE GILDED HOUR as a standalone novel set in one of the most exciting times in America’s—and New
York City’s—history.
Please visit www.saradonati.com for more information on her work!