Reviewer Praises Harold’s Novel as ‘Deftly Crafted’

Midwest Book Review praised Portrait of an Unseen Woman: A Novel of Annie Shaw as “an original, eloquent and deftly crafted story.” Congratulations to author Roberta Harold!

In 1892 Paris, Annie Shaw longs to escape the confining American Colony where she's lived for the past twenty years as a quiet Civil War widow. As a budding artist, she is ready to immerse herself in the Belle Epoque's vibrant life of art, literature, and music. But when her domineering mother-in-law announces plans to move in next door and make Annie her permanent caregiver, Annie feels trapped and must choose between being responsible for others-her expected societal role-or living her life on her own terms.

Critique: An original, eloquent and deftly crafted story set in late 19th Century Paris, "Portrait of an Unseen Woman: A Novel of Annie Shaw" by Roberta Harold is a an inherently fascinating and reader-engaging historical novel that is the story of a woman striving against the constricting Victorian norms and expectations of a widowed woman's role of the late nineteenth century. A fully entertaining read from cover to cover, "Portrait of an Unseen Woman" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community and college/university library Literary & Historical Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Portrait of an Unseen Woman" from Rootstock Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format.

Read the full review here.