Publisher Description
In her first novel since The God of War, critically acclaimed author Marisa Silver takes Dorothea Lange’s “Migrant Mother” photograph as inspiration for a breathtaking reinvention—a story of two women, one famous and one forgotten, and of the remarkable legacy of their singular encounter. In 1936, a young mother resting by the side of a road in Central California is spontaneously photographed by a woman documenting the migrant laborers who have taken to America’s farms in search of work—little personal information is exchanged and neither has any way of knowing that their chance encounter has produced the most iconic image of the Great Depression. Three vibrant characters anchor the narrative of Mary Coin: Mary, the migrant mother herself, who emerges as a woman with deep reserves of courage and nerve, with private passions and carefully-guarded secrets. Vera Dare, the photographer wrestling with creative ambition who makes the choice to leave her children in order to pursue her work. And Walker Dodge, a present-day professor of cultural history, who discovers a family mystery embedded in the picture. In luminous, exquisitely observed prose, Silver creates an extraordinary tale from a brief moment in history, and reminds us that though a great photograph can capture the essence of a moment, it only scratches the surface of a life.
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“Provocative…Silver writes beautifully and has
meticulously researched her historical details, making for an informative,
addictive book whose Depression-era narrative feels particularly relevant in
today’s recessionary times.”
—
People (four stars)
About Marisa Silver
Marisa Silver is a regular contributor to the New Yorker, with six stories published there to date. Her nonfiction writing will soon be featured in the magazine as well. She is the author of Babe in Paradise and No Direction Home.
About the Narrators
Mark Zeisler has
a rich theater background, having grown up in the business. His father founded
the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis and was the longtime executive director of
the Theatre Communications Group. Mark has appeared on Broadway in A View of
the Bridge and Brooklyn Boy, and has worked at numerous theaters
across the country. He has appeared in many films, including Shaft, The
Thomas Crown Affair, and Head of State, as well TV shows, including Law
and Order, Third Watch, and Rescue Me.
Eva Kaminsky is a New York–based actor and audiobook narrator with over 150 titles to her credit. She trained at Boston University and has acted in numerous productions on television and film, including Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Happyish, Ugly Betty, ER, Numbers, Law & Order, and others.
Mark Bramhall has won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration, more than thirty AudioFile Earphones Awards, and has repeatedly been named by AudioFile magazine and Publishers Weekly among their “Best Voices of the Year.” He is also an award-winning actor whose acting credits include off-Broadway, regional, and many Los Angeles venues as well as television, animation, and feature films. He has taught and directed at the American Academy of Dramatic Art.