Fiona Davis writes historical fiction and I have already read The Address, The Lions Of Fifth Avenue, and Masterpiece. This time I read The Magnolia Palace. Set in New York City. The main character is Lillian Carter. Eight months after loosing her mother to the Spanish flu of 1919, Lillian is in trouble. She is not making enough income to pay her rent. For years she has been supporting herself and her mother by posing for artists under the name of Angelica. Her physical likeness is on a statue at the Plaza Hotel and other famous parts about town. Lillian accidently stumbles onto a job as a secretary for Helen Frick, the mercurial daughter of the industrialist Henry Clay Frick. The story alternates between the 1920's and the 1960's. The Frick mansion, full of priceless art, is the setting for a photo shoot. Veronica, a young woman from London, is in the photo shoot. The story is partially based on truth. There was a young woman who was an art model in New York City. The Frick Mansion, located on the edge of Central Park is still open and adult general admission is $22. In the story the author portrays Henry Clay Frick as a mean and abusive husband and father and I don't know if that part is true. The yard outside the Frick mansion has many magnolia trees. I liked this book but not as much as her other books.
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