Leaving Lucy Pear A Novel
Leaving Lucy Pear, a novel by Anna Solomon, is a reprint edition published by Penguin on June 27, 2017. This 336-page work is set in 1920s New England and explores the intertwined lives of two women who share a profound connection through the same child. The narrative begins in 1917 when Beatrice Haven, an unwed mother from a wealthy Jewish family, leaves her newborn at the foot of a pear tree, hoping to escape her past. As the story unfolds, it captures the complexities of motherhood and identity against the backdrop of a changing America.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of characters as Solomon delves into themes of class, freedom, and family. The novel’s setting during Prohibition and post-WWI America adds depth to the exploration of societal norms and personal struggles. The lives of Beatrice and Emma Murphy, the Irish Catholic woman raising Bea’s abandoned child, Lucy Pear, intersect in unexpected ways, revealing secrets and desires that challenge their understanding of love and sacrifice. Through its engaging prose, Leaving Lucy Pear invites readers to reflect on the choices that define us and the bonds that connect us across cultural divides.
Official synopsis Publisher
“From the first page, I was under Anna Solomon’s spell.” —Sue Monk Kidd
From the author of The Book of V., a novel chosen as a must-read book by TIME Magazine, InStyle, Good Housekeeping, The Millions, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and BookPage
Set in 1920s New England, the story of two women who are both mothers to the same unforgettable girl—a big, heartrending novel from award-winning writer Anna Solomon
One night in 1917 Beatrice Haven sneaks out of her uncle’s house on Cape Ann, Massachusetts, leaves her newborn baby at the foot of a pear tree, and watches as another woman claims the infant as her own. The unwed daughter of wealthy Jewish industrialists and a gifted pianist bound for Radcliffe, Bea plans to leave her shameful secret behind and make a fresh start. Ten years later, Prohibition is in full swing, post-WWI America is in the grips of rampant xenophobia, and Bea’s hopes for her future remain unfulfilled. She returns to her uncle’s house, seeking a refuge from her unhappiness. But she discovers far more when the rum-running manager of the local quarry inadvertently reunites her with Emma Murphy, the headstrong Irish Catholic woman who has been raising Bea’s abandoned child—now a bright, bold, cross-dressing girl named Lucy Pear, with secrets of her own.
In mesmerizing prose, award-winning author Anna Solomon weaves together an unforgettable group of characters as their lives collide on the New England coast. Set against one of America’s most turbulent decades, Leaving Lucy Pear delves into questions of class, freedom, and the meaning of family, establishing Anna Solomon as one of our most captivating storytellers.
“Anna Solomon writes with a poet’s reverence for language and a novelist’s ability to keep us turning the page. A gorgeous and engrossing meditation on motherhood, womanhood, and the sacrifices we make for love.” —J. Courtney Sullivan
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Leaving Lucy Pear A Novel” about?
Who is the author of “Leaving Lucy Pear A Novel”?
When was “Leaving Lucy Pear A Novel” published?
What is the ISBN for “Leaving Lucy Pear A Novel”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
