Book description
The House Girl, the historical fiction debut by Tara Conklin, is an unforgettable story of love, history, and a search for justice, set in modern-day New York and 1852 Virginia. Weaving together the story of an escaped slave in the pre-Civil War South and a determined junior lawyer, The House…
Why read it?
2 authors picked The House Girl as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
The story wove together two heroines -- a 21st century New York lawyer and an enslaved young woman living in two different time periods. It shared the perspectives of the lawyer in a male-dominated corporate firm and the enslaved young woman who labored under a well-meaning but flawed mistress, weaving together their two realities which may have been a bit of a stretch but I don't mind that.
Lu Ann Bell was a painter in the 1850s who became well known for painting servants. It was actually her housemaid that did the paintings. I liked how the story depicts a lawyer in 2004 that tries to help the housemaids' descendants get what is rightfully hers.
Our history is full of talented people that were taken advantage of because of their status or race. I loved the fact that there are still people today that are trying to right the wrongs of yesterday.
From Julianna's list on The best historical fiction books written about lesser-known characters.
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