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Edmonia.
'Edmonia' is the story of an unconventional woman who overcame adversity to create enduring tributes in stone to her race and times. From the Civil War-era Midwest to Bostons abolitionist circles, to Romes expatriate community, the life of pioneering Black Neoclassical sculptor Edmonia Lewis is resurrected in this debut biographical novel. Goodreads Marketing Campaign. #diversity.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781496754875
- Physical Description: 336 pages
- Publisher: Canada : Kensington, 2025.
Content descriptions
| Immediate Source of Acquisition Note: | Library Bound Incorporated |
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | FICTION / African American & Black / Historical FICTION / Biographical FICTION / Historical / Civil War Era |
Available copies
- 0 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.
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- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
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| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeshore Branch | ON ORDER | pr07945949 | FICTION | On order | - |
- Random House, Inc.
For readers of Vanessa Miller, Sheila Williams, Victoria Christopher Murray and Tracy Chevalier, the story of an unconventional woman who overcame adversity to create enduring tributes in stone to her race and times. The life of pioneering Black Neoclassical sculptor Edmonia Lewis â from the Civil War-era Midwest to Bostonâs abolitionist circles, to Romeâs expatriate community â is resurrected in this stunning debut biographical novel.
âI plan to be a sculptor, to memorialize forever the great men and women of my race, and those who have fought for our cause.â
At the age of 8, orphaned, precocious Wildfire seems fated to a life of toil selling her handmade crafts to Niagara Falls tourists alongside her Ojibwe aunts. But Wildfireâs older half-brother, Samuel, has been making other plans for his gifted sibling. Soon, she is set on a new trajectoryâand with it comes her birth name, Edmonia, and a revelation about her true origins.
Ensconced at the home of a trusted benefactor while Samuel makes his fortune in California, Edmonia flourishesâdespite her abhorrence for etiquette lessons. Privately nurturing artistic ambitions, she advances through the abolitionistâs prep school and lands at Oberlin College. But at Oberlin lies a devastating trap: Edmonia is accused of poisoning, nearly fatally, two friends, with tainted wine.
What ensues is a headline-making trial, a vicious attack by a white mobâand a bold journey that will lead Edmonia from a crucial introduction in Boston to a vibrant community of celebrated expatriate women artists in Rome, and encounters with such distinguished figures as President Ulysses S. Grant, Pope Pius IX, and Frederick Douglass.
Still, Edmoniaâs success is plagued by stinging critiques, potent racism, and haunting self-doubt. She must decide, too, whether to abandon her romantic entanglements, or devote herself to bringing to life her visions of beauty and justiceâand hopefully, forge her place in a rapidly changing world.
