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Fanny, an aspiring artist still tied to her unfaithful first husband when they meet in 1875, is fiery, courageous, and the mother of two living children. Louis, a younger man whose frailty belies a joyous, energetic spirit, dreams of writing full-time. While he perfects his craft, she becomes his protector and editor-collaborator, accompanying him across Europe and America and finally to Samoa in hopes of healing his weak lungs.
This is more than just another novel designed to honor the unsung accomplishments of a famous man’s spouse, though. Equally adventurous and colorful, Louis and Fanny could each command the story singlehandedly. Together, they are riveting and insightfully envisioned, with moving depictions of how their relationship transforms over time. Horan also explores relevant social concerns, such as cultural imperialism and xenophobia, and how Stevenson’s life influenced his literary themes.
An exhilarating epic about a free-spirited couple who traveled the world yet found home only in one another.
Under the Wide and Starry Sky will be published by Ballantine in January (hb, $26.00, 496pp). I wrote up this starred review for Booklist's October 1st issue, then I reread the novel a second time in order to interview the author for next February's Historical Novels Review. This is a long book, and it took me a good week and a half to read initially, time very well spent; I discovered many additional nuances upon a second reading.
Sounds good! Never tried this author before and now I must. :)
ReplyDeleteThis was the first novel I've read of hers, too - I've had Loving Frank on the TBR for much too long.
DeleteI have been waiting for this one to come out! it sounds phenomenal.
ReplyDeleteIt was my first five-star read for 2014 - it set a high standard for the rest of the year!
DeleteWill you post an excerpt of your interview here?
ReplyDeleteI plan to inquire about making it publicly available at the Historical Novel Society website when it's out in February... if that doesn't work out, I'll post an excerpt here.
DeleteI read this, too, and I can't say I agree with you.
ReplyDeleteBecause Nancy Horan got such great reviews for her LOVING FRANK, although I hadn't read it, this book, UNDER THE WIDE AND STARRY SKY, seemed promising. But what a disappointment! Granted, the trouble may be more with my dislike of this TYPE of book than of the book. It is not what I expected when I requested and won it from librarything.com. It is not only historical fiction; it is also what I think of as "women's fiction," which usually bores me. But how could I dislike a book that is also historical fiction and about an author of classics?
I did, though. Maybe other readers will enjoy what I did not because this IS their type. But I didn't care for it. When I find myself preferring TV, even when "Dancing With the Stars" is on, I know my book isn't a winner.
The world would be awfully dull if we all liked the same books! This one's already been drawing a variety of reactions on Amazon, too. I can see why you wouldn't like this book if you don't normally enjoy women's fiction.
DeleteIn the latest edition of Poets & Writers magazine, there is an interview with Literary Agent David Gernert where he says that when the VCR came out in the 1980's, theater owners were freaking out that it would cut into their profits, that people would stay home and watch movies instead of going to the theater. What they discovered later is that the VCR was actually competing with reading, not going out ot the movies.
DeleteIn this line of yet more fiction written about actual authors, have you seen the latest Lynn Shepherd? First she kills off Fanny Price in Murder at Mansfield Park -- after making her a gold digging meanie -- then she bit Dickens's Bleak House in The Solitary House, now in 2013 she's done Shelly, Harriet, Mary and Claire. It's another mystery featuring private dectective Maddox, introduced in The Solitary House. In 2014 she's biting Stoker's Dracula -- as if dozens haven't already don that too, including this year's Royce Prouty's Stoker's Manuscript.
ReplyDeleteWhen are writers going to return to creating their own characters and stories instead of bottom feeding on their -- so far -- far far betters and superiors? Fan fiction -- it's like that's all there is now.
Love, C.
I've read Shepherd's latest (A Fatal Likeness, in the US) - clever enough mystery, disturbing characterizations. Haven't read the others, and I hadn't heard about the Dracula one... although I can't say it interests me all that much.
ReplyDeleteTo me, fan fiction is that which borrows an author's characters for fictional purposes and/or attempts to imitate that author's style. So neither the Horan nor the Shepherd(s) falls into that category for me. The many, many sequels to Pride & Prejudice, however, would. We may have different definitions. :) Do you consider any and all biographical novels "fan fiction," then, or only those that attempt to re-create other authors' lives? Just curious.
I heard Horan interviewed in my town a few years ago. This should be a very interesting story. I knew about Stevenson's adventures in the South Pacific, but not much about her role. There is a place in Manoa on Oahu they lived in for awhile (became a tea house) and their schooner is being restored in Everett WA.
ReplyDeleteI'd known very little about either of their lives before reading this book, but have been catching up via Google since then. Their journeys through the South Pacific were one of the novel's highlights.
DeleteWe used Horan's first novel in our library book discussion group, and it's the only novel we'd ever read together that no one liked either of the main characters but we all liked everything else about the book--the story, the writing, the settings, other characters.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling I'd agree with you and your group about the main characters of her first novel; knowing their life stories doesn't endear me to either one of them. I'll be interested to hear if you feel the same about this one if/when you read it (I quite liked both Fanny and Louis, although both had their faults). This book is quite a bit longer than Loving Frank, and I wonder if that will prevent its consideration by as many book discussion groups.
DeleteThis sounds perfect for our book club - thanks for the tempting review!
ReplyDelete