The red coat : a novel of Boston

Format:

Book

Title:

The red coat : a novel of Boston

Author:

Carlson, Dolley author

ISBN:

9781510743311

Publication:

New York : Skyhorse Publishing, [2018]

Physical Description:

473 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Summary:

Irish domestic worker Norah King's decision to ask her wealthy employer, Caroline Parker, for an elegant red coat the Beacon Hill matriarch has marked for donation ignites a series of events that neither woman could have fathomed. The unlikely exchange will impact their respective daughters and families for generations to come, from the coat's original owner, marriage-minded collegian Cordelia Parker, to the determined and spirited King sisters of South Boston, Rosemary, Kay, and Rita.

Subject(s):

Irish Americans -- Fiction.

Beacon Hill (Boston, Mass.) -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

Beacon Hill (Boston, Mass.) -- Fiction.

Massachusetts -- Boston -- Beacon Hill.

Genre:

Fiction.

Historical fiction.

Novels.

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... McMinnville Public Library	Carlson, D.	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Salem Main Library	Carlson, D.	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

"An inspiring tale of Irish immigrants...and honors the sacrifices of all the immigrants who have made and continue to make this country great." - Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., New York Times bestselling author

Irish domestic worker Norah King's decision to ask her wealthy employer, Caroline Parker, for an elegant red coat that the Beacon Hill matriarch has marked for donation ignites a series of events that neither woman could have fathomed. The unlikely exchange will impact their respective daughters and families for generations to come, from the coat's original owner, marriage-minded collegian Cordelia Parker, to the determined and spirited King sisters of South Boston, Rosemary, Kay, and Rita.

As all of these young women experience the realities of life - love and loss, conflict and joy, class prejudices and unexpected prospects - the red coat reveals the distinction between cultures, generations, and landscapes in Boston during the 1940s and 50s, a time of change, challenge, and opportunity.

Meet the proud, working-class Irish and staid, upper-class Brahmins through the contrasting lives of these two families and their friends and neighbors. See how the Parkers and the Kings each overcome sudden tragedy with resolve and triumph. And witness the profound impact of a mother's heart on her children's souls. Carlson brings us front and center with her knowing weave of Celtic passion - both tragic and joyful - words of wisdom, romance, humor, and historical events.

Dive into Boston feet first! The Red Coat is a rich novel that chronicles the legacy of Boston from both sides of the city, Southie and the Hill.

Author Notes

Dolley Carlson is a third-generation Irish American with Southie roots and the daughter of one of Boston's finest - BPD - Boston Police Department. The author of four non-fiction books, The Red Coat: A Novel of Boston is her latest work and first novel.

Reviews (1)

Kirkus Review

A multigenerational story of two Boston families, one rich, one poor, in the 1940s and '50s.Caroline Parker, a Boston Brahmin, has earmarked a red wool coat to donate, since her college-aged daughter only wore it for one season. Norah King, an Irish resident of South Boston, brought in to clean Caroline's floors, gingerly puts aside propriety to ask if she might have it for her own daughter. The request is granted, and the novel branches off to follow Norah home, where it then introduces her nine children and abusive alcoholic husband. It branches again countless times to pursue a bundle of small plotsmany of Norah's children get their ownand to swing back on occasion to Caroline's daughter, Cordelia, the original owner of the coat, who wishes she had it back. The titular coat pops up here and there with an implied significance the writing can't quite support. The novel suffers from a matter-of-fact tone: plenty happens, but tragic moments and joyful moments read similarly. As a result, the book has more of the feel of a historic house or neighborhood tour. Carlson is a great collector of historic details. The novel is chockablock with them, and her enthusiasm for the era comes through. Many characters are admirable, and enough of them receive happy outcomes to make the book pleasant on the whole.Readers with ample time and an interest in the subject matter will find much to occupy them here. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.