This is Fiona Davis’s third New York City based historical novel and it is a winner! I have not read her earlier books,The Address and The Dollhouse, but may well do so now.
The Masterpiece has a dual narrative structure, one story is set in the 1920s-30’s and the other in the 1970s. The stories of Clara Darden and Virginia Clay overlap and intersect.
Darden is an illustrator, teacher and painter in the earlier era while Virginia, a divorcee, begins working at Grand Central around the time when the landmark battle was underway. Each woman has a backstory, relationships and challenges, all of which are well depicted.
Did you know that in the 1920’s there was an art school right in Grand Central? Did you know that Sargent was one of the founders? Are you interested in historical preservation? Do you enjoy a story with a plot twist? If you can answer yes to any, or all of these questions, I highly recommend this book.
#TheMasterpiece #NetGalley
This book looks really interesting. I remember when I read The Address, I loved the concept of two eras coming together. This sounds like a very similar idea, though different eras. I’ll have to put it on my TBR, though I was a little bit disappointed with the ending of The Address. Without giving any spoilers, did you enjoy the ending of The Masterpiece?
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The ending was okay, perhaps too neatly tied up. The book was a good read though. If you decide to give it a go, I’d love to know what you think.
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