The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin
Reviewed by: Diane Soffietti, Adult and Reference Services
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Suggested Age: Adults
What is the book about?: For all Downtown Abbey fans! This historical fiction is a perfect example of Anglophile set in the era before the First World War when English aristocracy went looking for American money to help with their impoverished estates. In America, the era was known as the Gilded Age, with the elite Four Hundred promoting their exclusive society in Newport and New York City. Our heroine, Cora Cash, is the daughter of extremely wealthy parents, who dream of their daughter’s marriage to an English lord. When Cora falls off her horse while riding in a prominent hunt on a duke’s land, she is the fortunate recipient of a marriage proposal by that Duke! Cora’s lady’s maid, Bertha, is an African woman from South Carolina, who has accompanied Cora to England, and who also finds romance there. So similarly to Downtown Abbey, we read about both upstairs and downstairs lives and situations while the romances unfold.
My Review: I have read many historical romances set during this era of America and England. I have also enjoyed watching the PBS series that deals with these historical fiction (such as Downton Abbey, Mr. Selfridge, Upstairs Downstairs, The Duchess of Duke Street, The Paradise, Indian Summer, Crimson Field, Home Fires, and Grantchester Mysteries.) Some of these PBS series are on DVD and can be checked out or asked to be placed on hold from other libraries. I personally enjoy reading books that have likeable characters who are realistic. Cora and her maid are very different people with totally different backgrounds, but I liked them both very much. Cora’s and the Duke’s mothers were both women of their age, with ambitions and the strong will to see their hopes realized. The men of the novel could have been drawn more fully, but this flaw only helped with the mystery of the conclusion. If you enjoy this type of fiction, I think you will not be disappointed in reading The American Heiress. The Fortune Hunter is another recent novel with characters including Earl Spencer by this author and might be worth the read, as well. This novel has clean language that is true to its historical era.
Rating: 4/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!