The Greatest Sculptress of the Gilded Age - an Editorial Review of "Prairie Cinderella"

Book Blurb:

"Offers a masterful blend of historical detail and human drama that will captivate readers interested in art, history, and the triumph of the human spirit." K. C. Finn, Readers' Favorites

SHE IS GOING TO BE THE GREATEST SCULPTRESS Of THE GILDED AGE

Spirited Vinnie Ream might have been driven from her prairie home to the political hotbed of Washington City by the outbreak of the Civil War. But despite her plainspoken ways and western twang, she’s a survivor, and nothing will stop her from pursuing her art in a world dominated by men.

UNTIL DISASTER STRIKES

But on the cusp of success, all her dreams come tumbling down. With her family destitute and her sister threatened, she does the unthinkable. Can she claw her way back to the top or will she go down in history as a failure?

A biographical historical novel about the power of family ties, the pursuit of fame, and the pain of unrequited love, based on the life of 19th century American sculptor, Vinnie Ream.

Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/JKOLee

Editorial Review:

Editorial Review: “Prairie Cinderella: Vinnie Ream and the Gilded Age” (Book 3 in the Forgotten Women Series)

Author: Joan Koster

“Fort Smith is the hottest it’s ever been, but the oppressive air doesn’t stop my feet from churning up the dirt and pebbles. I can’t believe what I’ve heard.

I kick harder as if mere feet could stomp the coming disaster deep into the earth. Sweat pours down my neck and gathers in my armpits. My cotton dress tangles around my legs. My hair tumbles from the pins Mary inserted so carefully this morning. I stick to the shady side of the road. It helps little. Nothing will cool the burning betrayal inside me.”

This reviewer has never heard of Vinnie Ream. Perhaps, if such incredible pieces of art were created by a man, it would be different. Vinnie would have been feted, and talked about, and well, known. In the non-controversial sense, you know, the one where a talented artist has family support, and unquestioning public praise (and money), and a home life, and doesn’t have to explain and justify and nurse secret hurts. Welcome to “Prairie Cinderella”, a riveting novel by Joan Koster. Vinnie lived in the mid-late 1800’s, in the time of Lincoln (who has been to the Capitol Rotunda In Washington D.C. to gaze upon that magnificent statue – did you realize? Did you?) and was the first female artist commissioned by the USA Government to create a work of art. Her age at receiving this prestigious appointment – 18 years old (yes, this is the kind of book that will send you happily Googling details about this gifted sculptor and her works) and unfortunately, not all of the public recognition at the time was positive.

But Vinnie was so much more than one enduring statue. Koster has made a compelling and rich storyline showing Vinnie’s full life, including her personal and professional challenges – and triumphs – with an evocative background of the era. Best of all, the novel is written (wonderfully) in first person, and this reviewer was drawn in from the first paragraph.

“I tamp down the fury roiling inside me and grab my sister’s hand. Time for the Ream sisters’ performance. We scurry away from the butler and take off down the long series of opulent rooms leading to the front salon. We might have better dresses than when we arrived, but our cheap shoes scuffle on the polished floor. Our worn flannel petticoats rustle loudly. My battered guitar case bangs against my knee. Everything about us shouts we don’t belong.

I survey the crystal chandeliers and gilded ceiling plaster above our heads, admire the French furnishings and the gilt wallpaper. Bile rises in my throat. Only the best for William Wilson Corcoran, banker extraordinaire.”

The author admits to some artistic licence, but this is to be expected when writing about any historical figure, of course conversations cannot be verbatim and all matters known. The plot line and character arcs are authentic, and Koster has focused on the main points of Vinnie’s life in a way that the reader will find fascinating. There is also an unflinching discussion of finances and the reality of the myriad of pressures Vinnie faced.

There are several dimensions to this novel. The road to true love did not run smoothly for Vinnie, and family issues cast a long shadow. Vinnie also created and maintained strong links to the Cherokee community (reflected in another of her superb statues) and so this is not a book solely focused on the creative world. The dialogue between Vinnie and her family is a stand-out and demonstrates the strength of family relationships. Koster has also included several well-drawn secondary characters, and although Vinnie is clearly the main character, her family, patrons (and suitors) serve as effective foils.

“So, despite being called a fraud and my Lincoln an abomination in the press, I put on my French wrap, my walking shoes, and my courage, and haunt the offices of every congressman I know. And it works. The five-thousand-dollar bonus gifted me by Congress pays off some of my ever-growing debt and relieves some of the pressure on the family, but not all.

So, when the Corcoran Gallery turns down my Spirit of the Carnival, and my nighttime efforts to repair the broken proclamation leave me frustrated and exhausted, I flee Washington.

If I could, I would jump the first steamer going anywhere and forge a new life. But I will not stop until every debt is paid and Ma and Pa can rest again. Instead, I land in New York City in search of rich clients and find one—Ezra Cornell, of Western Union fame.”

“Prairie Cinderella” by Joan Koster is a fascinating story about Vinnie Ream - an incredible woman who has left an enduring legacy in the world of American creative arts. The author’s research, and her ability to engage the reader with Vinnie’s life and times, make this novel a real page turner. The storyline is a vibrant mix of Vinnie’s personal life, the politics of the time, the arts world, and social issues (and when you’re next at the Capitol Rotunda looking up at the statue of Lincoln, you will know the personal story behind its creation…)

*****

“Prairie Cinderella” by Joan Koster receives 5 stars from The Historical Fiction Company and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence

---

To have your historical novel editorially reviewed and/or enter the HFC Book of the Year contest, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission