Notes: The changing social climate in England, spurred by the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, is reflected in the lives of Maude Coleman and Lavinia Waterhouse, two young girls of different classes who meet and become fast friends while their families are visiting adjoining funeral plots.
Review: Author Tracy Chevalier has a talent for writing historical novels that transport you to another time and place. Her characters are captivating and easy to accept, and the reader quickly becomes immersed in their daily lives. As a reader in the 21st century, it's interesting to see how historical events even at the level of individual lives have influenced the world we live in today.