From the bestselling author of GILDED SUMMERS comes a powerful novel of the last eight years of the American Women’s fight for suffrage.The battle for the vote is on fire in America. The powerful and rich women of Newport, Rhode Island, are not only some of the most involved suffragettes, their wealth – especially that of the indomitable Alva Vanderbilt Belmont – nearly singly-handedly funded the … funded the major suffrage parties. Yet they have been left out of history, tossed aside as mere socialites. In GILDED DREAMS, they reclaim their rightful place in history.
Pearl and Ginevra (GILDED SUMMERS) are two of its most ardent warriors. College graduates, professional women, wives, and mothers, these progressive women have fought their way through some of life’s harshest challenges, yet they survived, yet they thrive. Now they set their sights on the vote, the epitome of all they have struggled for, the embodiment of their dreams.
From the sinking of the Titanic, through World War 1, Pearl and Ginevra are once more put to the test as they fight against politics, outdated beliefs, and the most cutting opponent of all… other women. Yet they will not rest until their voices are heard, until they – and all the women of America – are allowed to cast their vote. But to gain it, they must overcome yet more obstacles, some that put their very lives in danger.
An emotional and empowering journey, GILDED DREAMS is a historical, action-packed love letter to the women who fought so hard for all women who stand on the shoulders of their triumph.
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Thank you HFVBT for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Gilded Dreams
Newport’s Gilded Age #2
By: Donna Russo Morin
REVIEW
August 18, 2020 marked the 100th anniversary of the official women’s right to vote. It is fitting, then, that Gilded Dreams by Donna Russo Morin is available around the same time. This is a story about the suffragette movement in Newport, Rhode Island and two friends, Pearl and Ginevra.
Socialite Pearl Worthington receives the tragic news of the loss of her family who were aboard the ill fated Titanic. Pearl inherits nothing because everything goes to her husband. This injustice sparks something in Pearl and her friend, Ginevra. Unlike Pearl, Ginevra is not a socialite, rather she is a naturalized citizen immigrated from Italy. Fortuitously, the two women meet Alma Vanderbilt Belmont, a formidable woman and champion of the suffragette movement. In this manner, Pearl and Ginevra become part of the movement. What an uphill battle these women faced!
Newport is old money, and wealthy women were assumed to be empty headed social butterflies. Although some were, others, like Alma Vanderbilt Belmont, used their influence and power for bigger causes and the betterment of society. The recognition of these warrior women is my favorite part of the book. I learned a lot while reading Gilded Dreams. It is an intricately woven and well researched story where fact and fiction intersect to create a comprehensive account of the suffragette movement. I cared about Pearl and Ginevra and felt everything they went through. This is a highly compelling emotional story that women everywhere should read. Donna Russo Morin has gone above and beyond to bring readers a timely story.
This novel follows Pearl and Ginevra, as they fight for women’s rights and suffrage during the years of the sinking of the Titanic and WWI. WWI is when women really proved their abilities to do a man’s job, while the men were off fighting in the war, after the US had entered it.
Pearl, sadly lost her family in the sinking of the Titanic. She is the only surviving member, and quickly learns from the lawyer that she is not entitled to any of the inheritance left. It will go to her husband, all of it. No female can take an inheritance, and their daughter is not yet old enough to inherit anything either. Thankfully her husband is one of a kind during this time, and the two are partners – he does not look at her as property.
Pearl and Ginevra, after finding this truth out, decide that change needs to come. How is this fair at all? Just the person is holding a meeting, at the right time and they soon get involved with the suffrage events that the Alva Vanderbilt Belmont has been doing. They are tasked with scouring the town to get other women to join. The more members they have, the more they can do. The more noise they can make.
WWI breaks out, and not too long after the US has joined. This has turned the tables with the suffragettes, in that they are now filling in the men’s roles as they are off to war. So not only are they having to handle the household and children, they need to do all they can for the war. Not only does this help them, but the president himself has even spoken about women and them having more rights.
Everything Pearl and Ginevra has not been in vain, although it feels that often they take a step forward and then two steps back. The two, every prevailing do make headway in recruiting new women and even a few men to also then back their wives in this fight for more rights and the ability to vote.
This was a good read about suffragettes, and the struggle women had back then to be their own person and have rights with out the man’s say so. It was interesting to read about how WWI did kind of change the outlook of women’s roles and helped in a way propel the change of minds of many to look at women as not just a child bearer and property.
Thank you to the author, and HFVBT for the invite to the tour, and sending me a free book! I enjoyed reading about these two ladies, and all of the groundwork they laid out for us to have gotten where we are with women having rights, the ability to vote and be a persons ourselves.