From the bestselling author of Hemingway’s Girl comes a novel that explores the unlikely marriage between celebrated novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne and accomplished artist Sophia Peabody—a forgotten woman in history who inspired one of the greatest writers of American literature.
As a sensitive, artistic young woman, Sophia Peabody is discouraged from pursuing a woman’s traditional roles of marriage and motherhood. But from their first meeting, she and Nathaniel Hawthorne begin an intense romantic partnership. Together, they cross continents, raise children, and experience all the beauty and tragedy of life fully lived. Sophia’s vivid journals and masterful paintings inspire Nathaniel’s writing. But their children’s needs and personal losses fuel a perennial tug-of-war between Sophia’s domestic duties and her own desires.
Spanning the years from the 1830s to the Civil War, and moving from Massachusetts to England, Portugal, and Italy, The House of Hawthorne explores the story of a woman, forgotten by history, who inspired one of the greatest writers of American literature...
Includes a Readers Guide
Praise for The House of Hawthorne
“Fascinating.”—The New York Times Book Review
“You may not have heard of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s...wife Sophia Peabody, but this reimagining of her life will have you transfixed.”—People
“The timeless questions of identity and creative self-expression facing women today are explored in this richly imagined novel of the marriage of Nathaniel and Sophia Hawthorne. Insightful and transportive.”—Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Orphan Train
"Robuck's sure storytelling brings accomplished artist Sophia Peabody into the light and into your heart. Luminous, vivid, enchanting."—Lynn Cullen, bestselling author of Mrs. Poe
“Brings the brooding author and the idealistic artist brilliantly to life.”—Amy Belding Brown, author of Flight of the Sparrow
“Erika Robuck brings the mid-19th century vividly to life. Her prose is lush but not burdened by unnecessary details. She has a real knack for capturing the dreamy voice of Sophia...it is a pleasure to see how much in love [Sophia and Nathaniel Hawthorne] were with each other.”—Historical Novel Society
“Finding and giving voice to extraordinary women in the literary world is where Robuck’s talents lie....The lovely writing and beautiful romance make for an absorbing read.”—RT Book Reviews
