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By day, Mary Ballard is dutiful lady's maid to Charlotte Walden, a wealthy and accomplished belle of New York City high society. But Charlotte would never trust Mary again if she knew the truth about her devoted servant's past.
On her nights off, Mary sheds her persona as prim and proper lady's maid to reveal her true self—Irish exile Maire O'Farren. She finds release from her frustration in New York's gritty underworld—in the arms of a prostitute and as drinking companion to a decidedly motley crew consisting of members of a dangerous secret society.
Meanwhile, Charlotte has a secret of her own—she's having an affair with a stable groom, unaware that her lover is actually Mary's own brother. When the truth of both women's double lives begins to unravel, Mary is left to face the consequences. Forced to choose between loyalty to her brother and loyalty to Charlotte, between society's respect and true freedom, Mary finally learns that her fate lies in her hands alone.
A captivating historical fiction of 19th century upstairs/downstairs New York City, The Parting Glass examines sexuality, race, and social class in ways that feel startlingly familiar and timely. A perfectly paced, romantically charged "story of the sumptuous world of the privileged and the precarious, difficult environs of the immigrant working poor is highlighted by vibrant characters and a well-paced plot, which will pull readers into the tangled tale" (Publishers Weekly).
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
March 5, 2019 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781501198434
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781501198434
- File size: 2877 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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February 1, 2019
DEBUT In this intriguing historical novel, set in 1837 New York City, debut author Guadagnino explores love and passion, family and loyalty, and class and gender. Twins Maire and Seanin O'Farren flee Ireland for a new life in America, becoming Mary Ballard and Johnny Prior for their new jobs as lady's maid and groom to the wealthy Waldens in fashionable Washington Square. Double lives and secrets abound both upstairs and down- in the Walden home. Mary loves her mistress Charlotte passionately but spends her nights off in a prostitute's amorous embrace, while Charlotte is the proper debutante by day and Johnny's lover by night, not realizing he's Mary's brother. Johnny has a clandestine life of his own, unknown to Mary or Charlotte. When all the deceptions disintegrate, Mary must choose where her loyalty lies--with her brother or with Charlotte. VERDICT Well-researched historical details lend authenticity to Guadagnino's captivating work, right down to the diction of the dialog. The limited opportunities afforded to women and immigrants by society colors this tale of passion and lies, which will appeal especially to fans of Sarah Waters.--Barbara Clark-Greene, Westerly, RI
Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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February 15, 2019
Mary Ballard loves serving as a lady's maid to Charlotte Walden. Helping her prepare for balls and outings, being privy to all the high-society gossip, and navigating household politics with other household staff all help distract Mary from her own set of secrets. Born Maire O'Farren, Mary travels in vastly different circles than Charlotte's. Mary's fellow staff could never understand what she does on her days off, save one; Mary's brother also lives a double life on the Walden estate, serving as a stable groom and as a secret confidant to Charlotte. When high society and a secret society collide, Mary must choose between her livelihood and her loyalty. Set in nineteenth-century New York, Guadagnino's erotically charged debut novel is packed with intrigue, confessions, and betrayal. Fans of Tracy Chevalier's Remarkable Creatures (2009) and Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See (2014) will be impressed by Guadagnino's vivid portrayal of female companionship and the blurred boundaries of friendship, love, and something deeper. Exploring class mobility and identity, The Parting Glass is an impressive debut.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)
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