Did you learn anything new or surprising about the time period in which the book is set?
I was surprised that a woman could be the Secretary of Labor during this time period, and I was surprised Social Security was Frances Perkins idea and not FDR. As you probably can tell I am not well read on this time period.
I was very rusty on this period of history so much of it felt new to me. I never realized that there was a female Secretary of Labor and that she accomplished so much with FDR.
FDR was/is credited for many programs including Social Security, CCC, etc. Yet, when I think about it, of course his “inside” people (cabinet, etc.) would have voiced these issues to him and worked out the details. I hadn’t considered that a female voice existed.
I learned so much about the depth of the role of Frances Perkins. It always seemed to me that as women came into key government roles (or any key roles) their impact was often minimized by the men around them. (My great aunt, ten years younger than Frances, would talk about how she trained the men who went on to be the managers, in her role in the business world.) As I reflect after reading this book, perhaps that was often just how men wanted it to be seen - that women were on the sidelines rather than central movers. And so that was how history was written about and passed on to me. I was so pleasantly surprised to learn just how much of an impact Frances Perkins had!
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I’m in the same boat, @Patricia_H! I didn’t know much about this period, either. Between this novel and The Antidote I’ve picked up quite a lot about the time period lately. I knew about the programs (I live in Oregon, where a number of CCC projects are now historic landmarks, like the Old Scenic Highway through the Gorge and Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood) but not how challenging they were to push through. It was a fascinating account.
By the way, there is a great website: francesperkinscenter.org
which explores the life of Frances Perkins.
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I had surface level knowledge of Perkins going into this novel. I didn’t realize her connection to pre-New Deal progressivism & my heart broke at her personal connection to the Triangle Shirtwaist fire. I was surprised by how close, geographically, the wealthy were to industrial areas & poor neighborhoods. I always thought the divide was physical as well as financial.
One of the surprising things to me was how politics functioned. It didn’t seem like things were anywhere near as polarized as they are now. It felt like the politicians could compromise or even switch positions without getting called a traitor & losing their political career.
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I did not learn anything new or surprising but that is not in anyway a criticism of the book. I studied and taught Am. History and while I am not an expert I am fairly well read and knowledgable about the time period. Someone mentioned how women could accomplish things as long as they tended to stay in the background. I find this to be very true, still today. You can do quite a bit as long as you keep your head down and let the men take credit for your work. I would recommend a very good book about Frances Perkins if you want a nonfiction account ,Kirstin Downey wrote The Woman Behind The New Deal, I read it years ago and I thought it was very good.
Prior to reading this book I had minimal knowledge of New York politics. Had a little more knowledge about FDR and The New Deal. I found this so informative. I could appreciate the poverty and that she witnessed as a young “social worker” in the city. The city was “rough”…Tamany Hall, Al Smith, the gangs of New York, the 5-points area. The author’s descriptions certainly enhanced my knowledge.
Thanks for the website for Frances Perkins and the reference to The Antidote!
Actually things were VERY polarized during FDR’s first terms – Republicans abhored him! In my grandfather’s house, you were not allowed to say his name! He was under attack by the wealthy all the time. But you’re right in that working class people were all pretty much united behind FDR – unlike now where many working class people have joined MAGA (most likely due to vast amounts of disinformation), even though it seems that the current administration is only out to protect the interests of the billionaire class
I was surprised that workers were sometimes locked into their work places with no way to escape fire, which was showcased by the Triangle shirtwaist factory fire.
I had no idea a woman fought for the working people and the 1st woman to do so. Non biased & unprejudiced work. As a woman I am truly proud.