Barbara Chase-Riboud definitely found a compelling subject for her historical novel, and a story worth telling.
Because the protagonist, Mrs. Elias, was an historical figure I was unfamiliar with , I found myself reading this as a biography, more than a novel. ( and, i know that is my personal issue, not the author’s).

I suspect my unfamiliarity with where fact and fiction separate in this book makes me err on the side of generosity in reviewing this book. Mrs. Elias’s early life, and struggle to escape poverty was vividly presented and it was easy for me to understand her “career path,” but less easy to bond with her character.

Chase-Riboud has written an ode to freedom . Every chapter, and every decision of Mrs. Elias’s seems to be justified by the author because of the suffering and oppression women in poverty were subjected to. This, in essence, may be true, but I found the character unsympathetic in many ways and felt that her strength was lionized and her short-comings shrugged off. Nonetheless, it was a compelling story and Hannah Elias may now emerge as an important business figure during the early 20 th Century.

Netgalley provided me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.