(WPF) The Masterpiece / Fiona Davis - 3***

[Book Concierge]

The Masterpiece – Fiona Davis
Digital audiobook performed by Cassandra Campbell
3***

In this work of historical fiction, Davis turns her attention to another New York City landmark: Grand Central Terminal.

As has become de rigueur for historical fiction these days, Davis uses a dual timeline, though, in this case, both timelines are historical. In 1928 Clara Darden is an art instruction and illustrator, working at the Grand Central School of Art (yes, an art school WAS really housed in the terminal building). And in 1974 Virginia Clay, desperate for money after a divorce, gets a job at the information desk of a now dilapidated (and scheduled for demolition) Grand Central Terminal.

Both of them have to fight against institutional bias against women. Clara can’t achieve her potential as “Clara” because the men in charge of most work assignments can’t begin to see her value and are too afraid of bucking the system. (“We can’t let the public know a woman designed this car interior; they wouldn’t trust the product and wouldn’t buy it.”) Virginia has been the typical housewife, married to a successful attorney, and no one can imagine that she “needs” a job now. She’s also suffering from very low self-esteem, partly as a result of (view spoiler)[a mastectomy which makes her ashamed and embarrassed about her “disfigured” body (hide spoiler)].

Their stories merge as Virginia becomes aware of the history of Grand Central and joins the fight to save the structure as a landmark.

I really wish Davis had focused more on the building’s historic past, the many reasons it achieved landmark status, and the fight to save it -or- on the feminist issue of unrecognized artists (or other contributors) due to gender bias. Trying to do both resulted in a work that didn’t fully explore either theme. It was a pretty fast read, and I kept turning pages (or listening, in my case), but I was left with a “Is that all?” feeling.

Cassandra Campbell does a marvelous job of narrating the audiobook. She’s become one of my favorite audiobook performers.



LINK to my review