The Lioness of Boston: A Novel
$20.49
Price: $20.49
(as of Nov 18, 2024 06:11:26 UTC – Details)
A deeply evocative portrait of Isabella Stewart Gardner, a daring visionary who created an inimitable legacy in American art and transformed the city of Boston itself.
By the time Isabella Stewart Gardner opened her Italian palazzo-style home as a museum in 1903 to showcase her collection of old masters, antiques, and objects d’art, she was already well-known for scandalizing Boston’s polite society. But when Isabella first arrived in Boston in 1861, she was twenty years old, newly married to a wealthy trader, and unsure of herself. Puzzled by the frosty reception she received from stuffy bluebloods, she strived to fit in. After two devastating tragedies and rejection from upper-society, Isabella discovered her spirit and cast off expectations.
Freed by travel, Isabella explores the world of art, ideas, and letters, meeting such kindred spirits as Henry James and Oscar Wilde. From London and Paris to Egypt and Asia, she develops a keen eye for paintings and objects, and meets feminists ready to transform nineteenth century thinking in the twentieth century. Isabella becomes an eccentric trailblazer, painted by John Singer Sargent in a portrait of daring décolletage, and fond of such stunts as walking a pair of lions in the Boston Public Garden.
The Lioness of Boston is a portrait of what society expected a woman’s life to be, shattered by a courageous soul who rebelled and determined to live on her own terms.
ASIN : B09QRCVF2G
Publisher : David R. Godine, Publisher (April 11, 2023)
Publication date : April 11, 2023
Language : English
File size : 1910 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Not Enabled
Print length : 434 pages
Customers say
Customers find the narrative original, moving, and fascinating. They describe the book as enjoyable, savored, and a perfect book club choice. Readers praise the writing quality as beautifully written, excellent, and well-done. They also find the insights thoughtful, poignant, and sometimes funny.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Tessa4321 –
Historical fiction at its best
The Lioness of Boston is – first and foremost – a great novel. Just such a good read. If you’ve been to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston then you you know it’s a special place. Or maybe you’ve heard of it because of the art heist series on Netflix.But who was the woman who made it happen? The Lioness of Boston is about the life of Isabella Stewart Gardner, from her arrival in Boston in the mid-1800s to the time of her death. This detailed, historic, book is beautifully written but also easy to get into. It’s a deep, poignant, and sometimes funny look into life as a woman at that time.Isabella herself doesn’t fit in to society life – she’s too outspoken. But after **stuff happens/no spoilers here** she finds her real friends among artists and others who see the world as she does. She finds her voice, her purpose in life, and brings meaning to art, to objects she collects, to the relationships she has with other people who might not always fit into “elite” society. It’s fun to read about real, historic figures who lived at the time. I really have a better understanding of the arts and intellectual life at the time in Boston and couldn’t get enough of following Isabella all over the world as she explored before building the museum that still stands today (and yes, the stolen art still has a 10million dollar reward).Book group verdict: we got sucked into the historic setting, learned a lot about art, but also just enjoyed the richly drawn characters and gripping world of this novel.
G’ma –
Legacy of a woman to Boston
Captivating story of a determined woman who lived before her time in a stilted Boston. She found her lifeâs purpose in collecting artists, many of whom were unrecognized at the time, whose fame came later. Through letters, we meet her and her glittering collection of writer and artist friends. Her physical and intellectual appetites, and courage, were boundless. Her marriage to Jack Gardner is interesting because she was devoted, yet bored by him, though his devotion to her was complete. How much is true? It isnât clear In this historical novel. But we do learn to know and respect her and appreciate her gift to Boston in the collection in her magnificent Fenway Court.
SMB –
She had me at hello.
The prologue was so well written and inviting I could hardly wait to get into the book. This is a cerebral, and yet a totally approachable and personal, look into the life of a woman far ahead of her times. Isabella Gardner is often considered one of the first feminists, but that label is too limiting for her life. Ms. Franklin captures the mind of a true seeker of life and truth. This totally requires another visit to the museum, with a whole new perspective. Bravo.
Bernard . Pucker –
Complex Lioness often reduced to a Cub.
Trying to understand why this was such a difficult read and believe it was because it was a mixture of true and fiction about a leading historical figure in the history of Boston. What was added to the soup of story telling that was untrue and what was true. Specific events and losses were fact but were relationships and an affair fact or fiction. And the writing was not engaging. Hence some what disappointed as the real Mrs. Jack seems to remain unknown.
Suzy Mellott –
Reads like fiction
This is an inspiring book not only about art, but also about the struggles Isabella Stewart Gardner went through as a woman and newcomer to Boston.
apc –
Great background of Museum History
Can’t wait to go to Boston for a new view of the ISG museum.apc
Joanne –
Captivating novel based on Bostonâs most fascinating woman
As a Bostonian, I had always heard stories about Isabella Stewart Gardner. This novel about her independence, curiosity and sense of adventure was a wonderful read.
J. Piispanen –
Clearly used
Bought it as ânewâ but was sent a clearly used book or at least gifted to âCathyâ. Iâll probably find a Cathy to give it to after⦠I hope sheâs thrilled LOL