Masquerade

Here comes another review for Bethany House- my faithful supplier of historical fiction books.  This time around it's Masquerade by Nancy Moser.  It's 1886 and spoiled Charlotte Gleason leaves England, heading to America to marry one of the country's wealthiest heirs- a man she has never met.  Charlotte is determined to marry for love, but her family's fortunes are in a precarious position; marrying the American heir may be the only way to save face and ensure her family's survival.  But on the voyage to America, her doubts gain the upper hand and she swaps places with her maid Dora, who also happens to be her closest friend.  For Charlotte, it's a chance at a 'real life'; for Dora, it's the chance of a lifetime.  But as the two women settle into their new lives, they both realize that life on the other side is never what it seems.

The concept behind this book was intriguing, but I must admit that it was a little slow at times.  However, the slow (but usually steady) pace can easily be forgiven simply due to the sheer volume of historical information woven into the story throughout the pages.  Moser writes about the girls' experiences at Castle Garden (the place where immigrants arriving in New York were processed before Ellis Island opened), the tenement housing where most immigrants lived, the high society names of the day, and the efforts of some to better the horrid living conditions of the poor class.  One of the characters was a Scandinavian photographer inspired by Jacob Riis, a photojournalist who published the book How the Other Half Lives in 1890 in order to elicit social change in the slums.  Moser even includes an index which describes the historical truths found throughout the book.

Overall, the book was well-done, and what I liked most about it was that it was more about the two women struggling in their new lives and less about the romantic fancies.  I would recommend it, especially if you are interested to understand what daily life in New York was like in the late 19th century.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."