A fantasy/historical fiction novel about a poor orphan girl in late 19th century New England who discovers within herself a strange longing and need for the ocean. The novel was inspired by a painting at the Boston MFA (see below) and contains a fictionalized version of how this painting came into being.
The story is heartfelt, with sprinkles of sensual descriptions of the water, but often the historical details like types of clothing or cleaning supplies aren’t as artfully woven into the text as they could be.
Overall though, it is an interesting read and I’m considering reading the rest of the novels when they come out. I wonder if the rest of them will have a fine arts tie-in too?
The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit, 1882
Oil on canvas; 87 3/8 x 87 5/8 in. (221.9 x 222.6 cm)
Galerie Georges Petit, 1882; Salon, 1883;
Exposition Universelle, 1889
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Gift of Mary Louisa Boit, Julia Overing Boit, Jane Hubbard Boit, and Florence D. Boit in memory of their father, Edward Darley Boit
Image from http://www.metmuseum.org
Have you ever read Tracy Chevalier? Girl with a Pearl Earring weaves the historical detail in quite well, though I think her other historical fic. (about the Unicorn tapestries currently on display in the Cloisters) does a superb job.
Also–now that I’ve seen that painting, and the vases at the MFA, I want to read the book a lot more!
I’ve read Girl with a Pearl Earring and liked it, but I haven’t read her other book. I’ve seen the unicorn tapestry at the Cloisters (my favorite museum in NYC) so maybe I should check it out.