San Francisco, 1915. As America teeters on the brink of world war, Charmian and her husband, famed novelist Jack London, wrestle with genius and desire, politics and marital competitiveness. Charmian longs to be viewed as an equal partner who put her own career on hold to support her husband, but Jack doesn’t see it that way…until Charmian is pulled from the audience during a magic show by escape … by escape artist Harry Houdini, a man enmeshed in his own complicated marriage. Suddenly, charmed by the attention Houdini pays her and entranced by his sexual magnetism, Charmian’s eyes open to a world of possibilities that could be her escape.
As Charmian grapples with her urge to explore the forbidden, Jack’s increasingly reckless behavior threatens her dedication. Now torn between two of history’s most mysterious and charismatic figures, she must find the courage to forge her own path, even as she fears the loss of everything she holds dear.
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Ride with Mrs. Jack London on a Compelling Adventure: Charmian London rises fully imagined and fierce from this historical romance. Jack London rises too, a writer for all time, a larger than life visionary and passionate laird to Beauty Ranch. All the racket and verve of the London’s pig palace, prize-winning horses, and vineyards live again in this debut novel by Rebecca Rosenberg.
The Secret Life of Mrs. London brings to life a woman for our times. The woman who taught Jack London to ride a horse, who steered their sailing ship to exotic lands, at last, bringing him to the enchanted woods of Glen Ellen, California. Charmian shines as the center of Jack’s world, his muse, boxing partner, lover, motivational coach, dictation taker, and typist.
Mrs. London hosts a crowd of writers and friends, plans and leads horseback rides, swimming parties, and ranch dinners. The Londons meet Mr. and Mrs. Harry Houdini at the magician’s San Francisco show. Soon, friends, they become guests at London’s Beauty Ranch.
What I enjoyed best of all is the matchless pair, Charmian, and Jack. Complex, less than perfect, yet fully imagined. Historical fiction buffs will love this book. Romance readers will too. Women will revel in intelligent, assertive and resourceful Charmian.
While Jack calls her “Lady-Boy” and “Mate-Woman” she engages him in their mutual task of writing novels. When Charmian has a dream or vivid vision, Jack takes notes, which he later transforms into his charismatic storytelling.
Writers and fans of Mr. London will delight in reading this story. Especially, members of the California Writers Club, the club he helped start in the Bay Area with Ina Coolbrith, and Joaquin Miller. This story drills down into the gritty experience of how novelists fight for original stories, dig for the right words and prune their prose.
A debut Historical fiction novel by Rebecca Rosenberg about, Jack London’s wife Charmain.
Chairmain takes a backseat as a writer herself, to forward and help her husband succeed, and further his career, while dealing with her husbands drinking, and travels to acquire, war stories to tell. Charmain tries to hold her family together through difficult times.
Rosenberg writes a story, that will engross you in the time period of the 1900’s as you meet characters like Houdini, who becomes friends of the London’s. I loved this story, as Jack London was one of my favorite literary authors from childhood.
This was a GREAT literary masterpiece! Incandescent! Illuminating and surprisingly well written! I appreciate Rebecca Rosenberg and her imagination as she uses facts and builds her drama around them. This grabbed my attention from page one. I couldn’t believe that I had finished until the end came too soon upon me.
I shall be following this author and look forward to another of her writing talent.
This is a definite MUST READ!
I enjoyed this book immensely and loved the world Rebecca recreated. It was an interesting story about Jack London and his wife, that i hadn’t known. I am a devotee of the London’s so it was just another piece of their amazing story told in a beautiful way
I liked the book very much . It was well written and a pleasure to read
I never knew there was a connection between Harry Houdini and Jack London’s wife. It was so interesting to read about. Author did a wonderful job of researching that era
I loved this interesting and sophisticated novel. Its prose is confident and its characters are complex. Jack London needs no introduction but his second wife, Charmian, was new to me. She was certainly not one for conformity. Also included in this novel are Harry Houdini and his wife, Bess. Bess Houdini was a woman small in stature but robust in spirit. Harry seemed like a restless tiger. The interesting thing is that the author manages to write about the entanglements of these two couples in a way that makes all their mischief seem rather cosmopolitan. I found this story to be intoxicating. Strange, considering I can’t relate to the characters. Must be the combination of personalities. Chairman was a woman that men in her circle couldn’t resist. Houdini was a superstar. Bess was a loveable pixie. London was a prolific writer. This is the stuff legends are made of. Five stars for you, Ms. Rosenberg, and I hope you have more stories about interesting people yet to tell.
Truly 4.5 stars, a fascinating read. The author does an excellent job of capturing the time period! Well developed characters.
Writing in the first person is not an easy task, but Rebecca Rosenberg, author of “The Secret Life of Mrs. London,” pulls it off artfully. A few chapters into the novel and you quickly forget that someone other than the second wife of author, Jack London, Charmian London, is writing this tale. Oh yes, claims of fiction, but some very documented facts, well researched by Rosenberg.
Charmian London weaves her own biography of her love of “Wolf.” Jack London’s nickname to many of his fans and friends. Books: “Call of the Wild,” “Sea Wolf,” “White Fang,” to name a few.
The turn of the twentieth century, 1915. Europe is at war. U. S. President Wilson is dragging his feet to enter the fray. A movement of women seeking freedom of love and affection (the 1960s hippies never read history), voting rights, women breaking the bonds of being enclosed in closets.
Woven carefully into this comes Houdini. Artists, professionals, do attract and interact. And is there magic? The sands of 1916 Waikiki, Hawaii and 1917 New York City would agree.
Magic is felt in the heart. Very well done, Rebecca Rosenberg.
I loved this book. I still think about the characters and their relationships over a year after reading it.
Charmian London is a smart woman. She knows how to get her husband Jack to stay on track with writing his books. To begin with, Jack seems to enjoy watching the flirtation of his friend Lawrence with Charmain. This seems to fire his desire for her and gives him more to write about. Then he leaves her alone with the man. How strong can she be with a handsome man pursuing her? And then being friends with Houdini and his wife and the triangle that is formed. A very enticing novel that will give you insight into the secret life of Charmian London.
My favorite thing about the book was Charmian’s development. In the beginning of the book, she did as her husband wished, being his support system and confidant. She had her own thoughts and desires, but she squashed them knowing that they would either be refuted or ignored as second to Jack’s. Over the course of the novel, however, Charmian seems to start understanding and accepting the fact that she does have her own desires and that they differ from Jack’s. One thing Charmian was particularly critical of was her writing abilities, as she believed she would never be as good as THE Jack London. By the end of the novel, Charmian realizes that no, she is not Jack London, but she is Charmian Kitteridge London and her writing and talents are her own to express how she sees fit. Her writing may be different than Jack’s but that did not mean that she was any less talented or important as a human being.
Sometimes people come into our lives unexpectedly and it feels like a hurricane has blown through. These are people that make us question everything we thought we knew and experience emotions that have been pushed aside for too long. This is who Houdini was to Charmian. Through his passion and effervescence Houdini encouraged Charmian to live for the moment and appease her desires rather than push them down. Sometimes all we need is the help of another kindred soul to truly find our true selves.
Rebecca Rosenberg’s, The Secret Life of Mrs. London, starts out with one of the most intriguing opening scenes ever. Charmaine London challenges her husband, the famous author Jack London, to a boxing match to cure his hangover and malaise. On the surface, delightfully quirky, but as we get to know the characters’ unrest better, they move from mildly disturbing, to downright sad.
I was fascinated to learn of the lengths with which Charmaine London went to ensure her husband’s success. She continually rescued him from himself, as he frittered away his time and talents with drinking, dalliances, and playing court jester among his followers. Charmain kept him on task, and psychologically “propped up.” Her methods were clever, compassionate, unexpected … and altogether undervalued. Their writing process was intriguing, and the extent of her power as both a muse and an editor left me wondering just how much of Jack London’s work was his.
The relationship between the London’s and the Houdini’s was also interesting, as were the exploration of free love within the marriage. As the story unfolded, Charmain grew desperate for the kind of love Jack was incapable of bestowing upon her, and their relationship devolved.
I only knew of Jack London and Harry Houdini by reputation, and I knew nothing of their spouses before reading The Secret Life of Mrs. London. This book will be a great hit among the historical fictionistas and provides plenty of discussion points for bookclubs.
Thank you to Rebecca Rosenberg, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this interesting story in exchange for an honest review. Four Stars!
I received this book in a giveaway. I loved this book. I found the character development to be complete and compelling and the surroundings are as much a character as the people in several chapters. I was unfamiliar with Jack London as a person and knew even less about Charmian, which is to say, I didn’t know about her at all. The author does a brilliant job of introducing both of them and the Crowd, including Harry and Bess Houdini.
While Jack wasn’t particularly likeable, he was self-centered and self-absorbed and unappreciative for the most part, he was a very charismatic personality. Charmian was a much more complex person and, as a result, more interesting to read about. I definitely understand why one would choose her as the focus of a historical novel.
I did check many of the events/details that are covered in the book and, as the author says, some correspond with fact, some are close, but not completely accurate, and some are pure fabrication. Overall, I’d say the author stayed true to what is known about the characters. I definitely know more about them than I did when I started. I would absolutely recommend this book.
I haven’t finished this book yet, but absolutely love it!
First, I would like to thank the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
I was attracted by the cover and the description sounded interesting so I put in a request for this book. I am so grateful I was given an ARC. I found this book to so interesting and well written. I was very impressed by the author and really enjoyed her writing. The book was obviously well researched and then written with enough fiction to fill the holes and make it an enjoyable story to read. I felt like I really got to know the characters and their personal feelings and motivations. I have not read any of Jack London’s work and really enjoyed the quotes at the start of each chapter. The author did a great job using quotes that related to the chapter and set the tone for it. He has a beautiful writing style. It was sad to see his life end early from alcohol and morphine. Another waste of a good life and a great talent to addiction. I liked how Charmain and Jack supported each other in unconditional ways- great partners in every aspect, but I did not like their views on free love and the constant affairs. Really interesting read about interesting people in an interesting time of history.
A fascinating read that gives you a glimpse of Jack London and Houdini through the eyes of Charmain London. I really enjoyed this book and the look at these historic figures.
Mrs. London, as a wife, assistant, and caretaker of Jack London was very strong. The friendship between the Londons and the Houdinis was believable. I enjoyed this book immensely!
I don’t usually read this genre, but it was an excellent story. It starts out with Charmina getting ready to have a boxing match with Jack, which she wins. They don’t have a good relationship. He cheats on her every chance he gets and won’t do his husbandly duties. She knows she loves him but not sure about him. They met theHoudini’s while they are in new York. Slowly they get to know each other.
I enjoyed the fact that this read like an autobiography, even though it is one partly true. The characters were true to life and vividly portrayed their parts. It was mesmerizing, all their friends and family. Jack bought beauty ranch and kept adding land to it. but I don’t know where he got the money. He was a success, he also supported a lot of people. The author did a great job, even though I have never read her writing.
I received this ARC from the author and voluntarily reviewed it
Brilliantly written. I LOVED this historical novel about Charmian London, a pioneer in the feminist movement during her own time. The setting swept through the Valley of the Moon, evocative of the places in Sonoma where Jack London wrote his novels during another time era, and then sequed to the thrilling city of New York where Houdini was at the height of his magical career— the story weaved together Charmian and her love and passion for both men.
The novel portrays Charmian as the woman behind the great writer Jack London, giving him inspiration, editing his writing and supporting him through his struggle with alcoholism. The story blends little known facts with a twist of fiction about their adventures sailing through the Pacific in their small boat, the Snark. It explores their adventures in the great outdoors while living and entertaining at their estate on Beauty Ranch, all the while delving into Jack and Charmian’s competitiveness and complex love for one another.
My favorite part however was the illicit love affair with the great Houdini, starting as an innocent chance occurrence and culminating into a passionate relationship. Rebecca Rosenberg writes a fantastic story of Charmian, a strong innovative woman who lived during a turning point in history when women’s voices were just beginning to be heard and their rights began to be recognized and valued. Charmian’s voice was a strong one indeed.
Written with clarity and a strong resonant voice about two famous men and the woman who motivated and empowered them. I was deeply moved reading about the depth of Charmian’s complexity of character during her life with Jack and her love affair with Houdini.
Tantalizing, romantic, fiercely passionate and adventurous. I was swept away with this novel that unveiled Charmian and her multifaceted life. As I turned the last page I only had one question left in my mind…… when is the next novel coming out?