Título: The Frozen River: A Novel
Autor: Ariel Lawhon
Sinopse: GMA BOOK CLUB PICK • AN NPR BOOK OF THE YEAR • From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.
"Fans of Outlander’s Claire Fraser will enjoy Lawhon’s Martha, who is brave and outspoken when it comes to protecting the innocent. . . impressive."—The Washington Post
"Once again, Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine." —People Magazine
Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.
Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.
Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.
Contexto da obra
Como livro em inglês, esta obra costuma ganhar também uma camada própria de interesse editorial e linguístico. “The Frozen River: A Novel”, de Ariel Lawhon, publicado pela editora Doubleday, em 2023 e com 448 páginas, integra a categoria Livros em Inglês. Por isso, o interesse da obra tende a se ampliar quando o leitor considera também a relação com a língua em que ela circula.
Editora: Doubleday
Páginas: 448
Ano: 2023-12-05
Edição: 1
Linguagem: en
ISBN: 0385546874
ISBN13: 9780385546874
Sobre a editora
Os livros da editora Doubleday apresentam uma variedade de narrativas que transitam entre o suspense internacional, a ficção histórica densa e relatos íntimos de transformação pessoal. O catálogo revela obras com enredos que exploram intrigas políticas, espionagem e mistério, ao lado de histórias que mergulham em dramas familiares, descobertas emocionais e questões contemporâneas como relacionamentos e sexualidade. A leitura costuma alternar entre um ritmo tenso e envolvente em thrillers, e uma prosa mais reflexiva e detalhista em relatos de vida e ficção psicológica. Essa diversidade sugere um interesse por textos que equilibram ação e profundidade, com personagens complexos e cenários que vão de ambientes históricos a cidades modernas.
