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A review by komet2020
A Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A GILDED LADY takes place in the U.S. during the period 1900-1901, mainly in Washington DC. This is a time in which the country has emerged from the Spanish-American War as a victorious, newly established world power with overseas possessions.
The novel has 2 main characters. Caroline Delacroix is a young, spirited, intelligent woman (in her late 20s) hailing from a well-to-do family (who made its wealth in the spice trade) from Virginia, working as a secretary to the First Lady, Ida McKinley, whose frail health (she was periodically prone to epileptic seizures) and temperament could make her a difficult person to deal with. Then there is Nathaniel Trask, a special agent in the Treasury Department's Counterfeit Division who takes special pride in his work and has a reputation for solving the most challenging cases involving fraud. Unlike Caroline, Trask grew up poor in Chicago and could be best described as a self-made man who suffered a profound family tragedy that has steeled his heart against any romantic attachments. That is, until, his assignment in the White House, where he was put in charge of President McKinley's Secret Service security detail (an assignment he did not want). There he became acquainted with Caroline.
So it was that over the following year, by degrees, both Nathaniel and Caroline (whose respective roles in the White House often put them in close proximity to each other) became very much attracted to one another. This was a time in which the threat of anarchy among some radical elements in the country (as well as in Europe) drove Nathaniel to develop a comprehensive system for ensuring the security of both President McKinley and his wife. Caroline, for her part, is concerned about the welfare of her beloved twin brother Luke, who is imprisoned in Cuba on charges of treason. (At the time, Cuba, having achieved its independence from Spain with U.S. assistance, was a U.S. protectorate, a status it would hold until 1902 when it achieved full sovereign status following the withdrawal of U.S. military forces.) Luke comes across as a Rhett Butler type -- i.e. a lovable, smart, highly clever sort who is not above bending the rules a bit. He's languishing in prison and Caroline is unsparing in her efforts (along with her older brother Gray Delacroix) to try and secure his release.
There is also a national tragedy that takes place, leaving Nathaniel shattered and in need of someone to help him find himself. This is when Caroline's support proves to have a healing effect on Nathaniel's spirit.
I very much enjoyed reading this novel which was well-crafted and stirred my emotions. For anyone with an interest in stories set in the Gilded Age with compelling drama, A GILDED LADY is a winner and comes highly recommended.
The novel has 2 main characters. Caroline Delacroix is a young, spirited, intelligent woman (in her late 20s) hailing from a well-to-do family (who made its wealth in the spice trade) from Virginia, working as a secretary to the First Lady, Ida McKinley, whose frail health (she was periodically prone to epileptic seizures) and temperament could make her a difficult person to deal with. Then there is Nathaniel Trask, a special agent in the Treasury Department's Counterfeit Division who takes special pride in his work and has a reputation for solving the most challenging cases involving fraud. Unlike Caroline, Trask grew up poor in Chicago and could be best described as a self-made man who suffered a profound family tragedy that has steeled his heart against any romantic attachments. That is, until, his assignment in the White House, where he was put in charge of President McKinley's Secret Service security detail (an assignment he did not want). There he became acquainted with Caroline.
So it was that over the following year, by degrees, both Nathaniel and Caroline (whose respective roles in the White House often put them in close proximity to each other) became very much attracted to one another. This was a time in which the threat of anarchy among some radical elements in the country (as well as in Europe) drove Nathaniel to develop a comprehensive system for ensuring the security of both President McKinley and his wife. Caroline, for her part, is concerned about the welfare of her beloved twin brother Luke, who is imprisoned in Cuba on charges of treason. (At the time, Cuba, having achieved its independence from Spain with U.S. assistance, was a U.S. protectorate, a status it would hold until 1902 when it achieved full sovereign status following the withdrawal of U.S. military forces.) Luke comes across as a Rhett Butler type -- i.e. a lovable, smart, highly clever sort who is not above bending the rules a bit. He's languishing in prison and Caroline is unsparing in her efforts (along with her older brother Gray Delacroix) to try and secure his release.
There is also a national tragedy that takes place, leaving Nathaniel shattered and in need of someone to help him find himself. This is when Caroline's support proves to have a healing effect on Nathaniel's spirit.
I very much enjoyed reading this novel which was well-crafted and stirred my emotions. For anyone with an interest in stories set in the Gilded Age with compelling drama, A GILDED LADY is a winner and comes highly recommended.