An enticing and quite beguiling historical tale containing a strange but perfectly balanced blend of quirky fiction and political and social commentary. Set in San Francisco in the late 19th century you will find some of these characters are based on real historical figures, Mrs Pleasant actually existed and oh what a fascinating woman she was! The tale flutters through time and action without apparent links, then the strands join together like a gossamer web to make the story whole. If you’ve read ‘We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves’ you may be expecting something slightly different to the little gem on offer here; originally published in 2001, it shows how versatile this author is… and her intelligence, wit and wordcraft is still plain to see. The joy of this novel is that it doesn't feel as though you are in the middle of a history lesson, it has a slightly fantastical feel to it, it reaches out and draws you in with a refreshing vitality all of its own. ~ Liz Robinson
'Words were invented so lies could be told' Mary Ellen PleasantSan Francisco in the 1890s is a town of contradictions, home to a respectable middle class, but with the Wild West lingering in the imagination, and even the behaviour, of some residents. Lizzie Hayes, a seemingly docile, middle-aged spinster, is praised for her volunteer work with the Ladies' Relief and Protection Society Home, or the Brown Ark. She doesn't know it, but she's waiting for the spark that will liberate her from convention. When the wealthy and well-connected but ill-reputed Mary Ellen Pleasant shows up at the Brown Ark with an orphan in tow, Lizzie is drawn to them both. It is the beautiful Mrs Pleasant, object of suspicion because of her mysterious past and rumoured voodoo practise, who holds the key to freeing Lizzie's rebellious nature.Based on real historical figures, San Francisco in the gilded age is brought vibrantly to life in Karen Joy Fowler's entertaining, evocative and sinister novel.
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