 |
| The Barrel Room Girls |
Dear Bookclub,
Barb's soirée at the Barrel Room proved to be a fine evening for our group to discuss Martha Hall Kelly's "The Lilac Girls". World War II atrocities amazingly seem endless as Kelly's historic fiction shed light on yet another set. Based on the facts of Hitler's concentration camp for women: Ravensbrück, a German Nazi physician: Herta Oberheruser, and New York philanthropist: Caroline Ferriday, Kelly developed a very compelling story.
 |
| from Caroline's garden |
Julie shared a wonderful video of Martha Hall Kelly introducing the book. Please take a few minutes, use full screen and enjoy:
https://marthahallkelly.com/lilac-girls/https://marthahallkelly.com/lilac-girls/
Also, please see where Martha's inspiration began at the Bellamy-Ferriday House:
https://ctlandmarks.org/properties/bellamy-ferriday-house-garden/
 |
| Bellamy-Ferriday Garden |
Martha Hall Kelly's Author's Note gave great insight into her motivation, research and process. Explaining what pieces were her embellishment and which were factual, widened our appreciation and understanding of the book. The "Author's Note" seems to be a modern development. Imagine Louisa Mae Alcott, Charles Dickens or William Shakespeare with an "Author's Note" at the end of their work.
Alcott's Author's Note:
'Little Women' is based on a true story. My three sisters, Anna Bronson, Elizabeth Sewall, and Abigail May, growing up in a household with financial struggles, frustrations and sharing the experience of being the offspring of an extreme philosopher, provided substantial subject matter. Years of making due in our crumbling home in Concord, set me to work, writing in hopes of helping our family make ends meet. Father would sit under a tree by the side of the road, eager to engage passersby in lively debate about perfecting the human spirit. Townsfolk learned to take another route avoiding interaction......
Dickens' Author's Note:
'Oliver Twist' is based on a true story. Having grown up in the streets after my father was incarcerated in debtor's prison, I labored in a boot-blacking factory and befriended many a sordid character....
Shakespeare's Author's Note:
'Romeo and Juliet' is probably based on a true story, me thinks. An Italian tragedy, stretching back to antiquity, it was translated into verse in 1562 by Arthur Brooke, two years before I was born. With the responsibilities to provide for my wife and three children, my playwriting seeks popularity and this tale seemed a perfect fit....
Barb's suggestions for an upcoming read:
"The Good Left Undone" Adriana Trigrani
"The Spanish Daughter" Lorena Hughes
"The Maid: A Novel" Nita Prose *chosen
Up next:
Happy reading,
LK
