The Lioness of Boston: A Novel by Emily Franklin Paperback Book

Description: The Lioness of Boston by Emily Franklin BOSTON GLOBE BESTSELLER"Brings Isabella Stewart Gardner fully, intimately alive-irrepressible and avid for life. In this richly compelling novel, Emily Franklin beautifully conjures this extraordinary woman and her world."-Claire Messud, author of The Emperors ChildrenA deeply evocative portrayal of the life of Isabella Stewart Gardner, the daring trailblazer who not only created an inimitable legacy in American art but also transformed a city.By the time Isabella Stewart Gardner opened her Italian palazzo-style home as a museum in 1903 to showcase her collection of old masters, antiques, and objects dart, she was already well-known for scandalizing Bostons polite society. But when Isabella first arrived in Boston in 1861, she was twenty years old, newly married to a wealthy trader, and unsure of herself. Puzzled by the frosty reception she received from stuffy bluebloods, she strived to fit in. After two devastating tragedies and rejection from upper society, Isabella discovered her spirit and cast off expectations.Freed by travel, Isabella explores the world of art, ideas, and letters, meeting such kindred spirits as Henry James and Oscar Wilde. From London and Paris to Egypt and Asia, she develops a keen eye for paintings and objects, and meets feminists ready to transform nineteenth century thinking in the twentieth century. Isabella becomes her own person, painted by John Singer Sargent in a portrait of daring dcolletage, and fond of such stunts as walking a pair of lions in the Boston Public Garden. With a mission to make art accessible to the public, Isabella becomes the first woman to open a museum in the United States.The Lioness of Boston is a portrait of what society expected a womans life to be, shattered by a courageous soul who rebelled and was determined to live on her own terms. FORMAT Paperback CONDITION Brand New Author Biography Emily Franklin is the author of more than twenty novels and a poetry collection, Tell Me How You Got Here. Her award-winning work has appeared in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Guernica, JAMA, and numerous literary magazines as well as featured and read aloud on NPR and named notable by the Association of Jewish Libraries. A lifelong visitor to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, she lives outside of Boston with her family including two dogs large enough to be lions. Review "The Lioness of Boston brings Isabella Stewart Gardner fully, intimately alive—irrepressible and avid for life. In this richly compelling novel, Emily Franklin beautifully conjures this extraordinary woman and her world."—Claire Messud, author of The Emperors Children"Gorgeous writing enhances this absorbing portrait of a fascinating woman ahead of her time."—Toronto Star, One of the Years Best"A rich, vivid, and nuanced portrait of a courageous woman pursuing a purposeful life despite the restrictive cultural expectations of her time. The details and beautiful prose highlight a complex woman making her way in a mans world and leaving Boston an artistic legacy that lives on."—Patriot Ledger"...the remarkable story of Isabella Stewart Gardner, capturing all the nuances of her character with grace and feeling. Highly recommended."—Historical Novel Society"...a rich, nuanced portrait of a woman hungry to find beauty, knowledge, and her own place in the world."—Shelf Awareness"Extraordinary....Vividly written in beautiful prose."—Provincetown Magazine"The Lioness of Boston looks at how the citys reigning society tried to ice Gardner out but failed when she found that following her own vision—and aligning herself with likeminded rulebreakers—was more important than meeting the standards of brittle Brahmins. And whose name do we all remember now?"—Town & Country, A Must-Read Book"The life story of Isabella Stewart Gardner, from her marriage in 1861 to Jack Gardner, a member of Bostons High Society, through her death in 1924....Franklins lyrical, erudite style befits Belle and grabs readers attention."—Library Journal, starred review"A vivid narrative...brims with pitch-perfect period details...cannily captures Isabella Stewart Gardners ambition, independence, and quirks. Fans of strong female protagonists and Gilded Age historicals will enjoy this."—Publishers Weekly"The Lioness of Boston is a captivating story of a significant woman in Bostons history who left that city a cultural legacy to last the ages. This beautiful novel will appeal to those who love masterful historical fiction, literary fiction, and stories of triumphant women who leave an indelible mark."—New York Journal of Books"Emily Franklin takes us into the very heart and soul of Isabella Stewart Gardner in her engaging historical fiction novel....In Franklins writing, Gardner is headstrong, sensitive, and in a sense — given the blue-blooded circles in which she tried to live — cursed with a curious mind and a desperate desire to make a mark on the world. Of course, we know that Gardner does eventually do so, with the opening in 1903 of an Italian palazzo-style home as a museum to showcase her impressive collection of old masters, antiques, and objets dart. But with a novelists freedom, Franklin builds the story of how this stunning art institution came to be by jumping off Gardners real-life tragedies, remarkable relationships with people of note, and extensive foreign travels, which provide solace to her troubled soul."—Marthas Vineyard Times"Franklins gorgeous, extraordinarily intimate and timely novel about Isabella Stewart Gardner showcases the life of a daring, brilliant woman who refused to be confined by the mores of her day, even as she searched for her truest self. So richly alive, I was running to Google to reacquaint myself with every mentioned painting, so moving, I wept over the tragedies and delighted in her bold success. How could any reader not be inspired by the cast of creatives including Oscar Wilde, Henry James, John Singer Sargent, and more? This book is just shatteringly good, with writing so artful, Isabella herself would surely approve."—Caroline Leavitt, author of Pictures of You"An engaging portrait of a bold yet vulnerable woman….A perennial tale of a woman fighting for her place in a mans world."—Kirkus"This beautiful, sensitively written novel explores the fascinating life of Isabella Stewart Gardner—feminist before feminism, celebrity before celebrity. Captivating and evocative, The Lioness of Boston transported me to Americas Golden Age. I couldnt put it down."—Jessica Shattuck, author of The Women in the Castle"The Lioness of Boston shows the deft touch of Edith Wharton and the delightful pomp of The Gilded Age—its a book both elegant and entertaining, one to savor line by line even as it carries us forward on the spirit and audacity of the narrator. Emily Franklin has rendered Isabella Stewart Gardner a classic literary heroine, one who emerges from heartbreak and defiance to shape her own life and the culture of an entire city."—Timothy Schaffert, author of The Perfume Thief"A novel of blazing insight, The Lioness of Boston captures the daring life and mind of the unforgettable woman who transformed American art and the city of Boston itself. This masterfully written work of historical fiction will remind some of Lily Kings Euphoria and others of Melanie Benjamins The Swans of Fifth Avenue. The Lioness of Boston is the best kind of novel—at once a deft page-turner and a thrilling love story about a womans passion for an independent life—that will sear your mind, break your heart, and leave you forever changed."—Dawn Tripp, author of Georgia: A Novel"The Lioness of Boston is a treasure trove of art, sensuality, Boston history, and more. Emily Franklin has captured Isabella Stewart Gardners blazing life and the light it sheds on the lives of women then and now."—Rachel Kadish, author of The Weight of Ink Details ISBN1567928099 Year 2024 ISBN-13 9781567928099 Format Paperback Audience General Author Emily Franklin Pages 408 DEWEY 813.6 Publisher David R. Godine Publisher Inc Publication Date 2024-05-02 Imprint David R. Godine Publisher Inc Subtitle A Novel Place of Publication Lincoln Country of Publication United States Alternative 9781567927405 US Release Date 2024-05-02 AU Release Date 2024-06-25 Illustrations Illustrations We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:158701453;

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