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Peregrine hill
Author: Nina de GramontPage Count: UnknownPublication Date: Expected publication 2026-11-10 APL Gilded Age New York: a time and place where the divide between wealth and poverty could be bridged by a single, well-placed marriage. Nina de Gramont's Peregrine Hill is billed as a sweeping novel, one that will transport readers to an era of opulence and excess—but will it truly deliver on its promise? The New York Times bestselling author is no stranger to crafting tales of intrigue and romance, as evidenced by her previous work, The Christie Affair. With Peregrine Hill, de Gramont tackles themes of love, family, and power in a world where men's appetites reign supreme. A mother, Isabelle Bishop, and her daughter, Mariah, are the central figures in this story, one that promises to be a wild ride through the highs and lows of Gilded Age society. The blurb on the back cover promises "a luminous, entrancing novel" that will bring the Gilded Age to life, but I remain skeptical. Hasn't every historical fiction novel promised something similar? Can we truly expect de Gramont's take on this era to be any different from the countless others that have come before? The forced marriage, of course, is the central plot device here—a staple of the romance genre if there ever was one. The devil's bargain Isabelle makes with John Whitten, a wealthy man with designs on Mariah, is a classic trope that has been done to death. And yet, de Gramont seems determined to breathe new life into this tired narrative. But how? Mariah, the headstrong daughter at the center of the story, is the most promising character, if only because her circumstances are so dire. Forced into a marriage she does not want, she must navigate the treacherous waters of her new husband's household, all while keeping her own desires and passions at bay. It's a familiar setup, but one that has captivated readers for centuries. And then, there's Hetty—the ambitious maid who becomes Mariah's ally and confidante. Hetty's presence in the story is a welcome addition, and one that adds a much-needed layer of complexity to the narrative. Will she be the catalyst for change in Mariah's life, or merely a plot device to facilitate the author's exploration of themes? One can't help but wonder if de Gramont's take on the Gilded Age will be overly reliant on stereotypes and caricatures. Will we see the same tired portrayals of wealthy men and their mistress(es), or will de Gramont attempt to subvert these expectations? I predict she'll opt for the former, and that's a shame. In contrast, Edith Wharton's The Custom of the Country is a novel that truly mastered the art of skewering the excesses of the Gilded Age. De Gramont would do well to learn from this example. Instead, Peregrine Hill may well become just another forgettable entry in the crowded field of historical fiction. I'm willing to be proven wrong, however. THE SHADOW OF PRECEDENT Will de Gramont's Peregrine Hill suffer the same fate as so many other Gilded Age novels that have come before it? One can't help but wonder if the author will be able to break free from the conventions of the genre, or if she'll simply be another author who cashes in on the popularity of this lucrative market. For now, the prognosis is grim. Before dusk, I need to forage for edible mushrooms in the local park. #mushrooms #foraging #historicalfiction