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May 1917: The elegant streets of Boston are thousands of miles away from the carnage of the Western Front. Yet even here, amid the clatter of horse-drawn carriages and automobiles, it is impossible to ignore the war raging across Europe. Emma Lewis Swan's husband, Tom, has gone to France, eager to do his duty as a surgeon. Emma, a sculptress, has stayed behind, pursuing her art despite being dismissed by male critics. On the bustling sidewalk she spies a returned soldier. His brutally scarred face inspires first pity, and then something more—a determination to use her skill to make masks for disfigured soldiers.
Leaving Boston for France also means leaving behind Linton Bower, a fiery, gifted artist determined to win her. Emma's union with Tom has been steady yet passionless, marred by guilt over a choice she made long ago. In Paris, she crafts intricate, lifelike masks to restore these wounded men to the world. But in the course of her new career she will encounter one man who compels her to confront the secret she's never revealed, not even to Tom. Only by casting off the façade she has worn for so long can she pursue a path through heartbreak and turmoil toward her own unexpected future. . . .
Praise for V.S. Alexander's The Traitor
"Alexander brings his signature commitment to historical accuracy to The Traitor, immersing readers in the intrigue of the resistance. Fans of Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See and Alex Rosenberg's The Girl from Krakow will fall under the spell of this powerfully moving novel."
—Booklist
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
February 23, 2021 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781496720429
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781496720429
- File size: 582 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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February 1, 2021
In 1917 Boston, Emma Swan's husband, Tom, a surgeon, leaves for France, to help with the war effort. Emma stays behind, pursuing her sculpting career. Through her work, she meets Linton Bower, a blind artist, with whom she develops a close bond. This friendship leads to scandal, prompting Emma to join Tom in France, where she uses her talents to sculpt face masks for disfigured soldiers. Meanwhile the horrors of war, guilt, and mutual secrets take a heavy toll on the Swans' marriage. Alexander (The Taster) is not afraid to tackle uncomfortable topics. He weaves realistic, gritty passages in with emotional human frailties and the complexities of love and passion. VERDICT The author's obvious fascination with--and homage to--Gustave Flaubert's melodramatic style falls a bit flat. Despite that, the novel is thoroughly researched, drawing readers fully into the saga with descriptive, often graphic details and strong characterizations. For fans of World War I historical fiction.--Julie Whiteley, Stephenville, TX
Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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April 19, 2021
As a teenager, Emma Lewis had talent beyond her years in sketching, but it wasn't until she stepped onto the estate of noted sculptor Daniel Chester French that she understood what it took to render figures in three dimensions, turning marble into silk, hair, and flesh. After studying under the sculptor for two summers, Emma enrolls in a Boston art school, finding herself with new connections to high society. She later accepts a marriage proposal from Thomas Evan Swain, valuing his compassionate nature, steady companionship, and reliable earnings as a doctor. But when WWI breaks out, Emma reevaluates everything she knows about her future. When a mysterious man enters her life as the fighting intensifies in Europe, she must decide how much of her career, her reputation, and her heart she's willing to sacrifice. Alexander (The Traitor, 2020) immerses readers in the brutality and small mercies of warfare, turning Emma's artistic endeavors into a noble pursuit for injured soldiers. Fans of Alena Dillon, Lucinda Riley, and Alexander's previous work will appreciate the historical accuracy saturating every page of this moving, compassionate novel.COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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