While this is a follow-up to Ms. Burton's novel The Miniaturist, you certainly don't need to have read that one, as I didn't. I suspect some of the major plot points are given away though, but I don't know for sure, so I am going to be sketchy on some of the background, as I don't want to spoil the first book accidentally.
In Amsterdam in 1705, Thea is turning eighteen. She has been raised by her father, who is a free Black man, and her white aunt (and their housekeeper) all her life. The family has fallen on hard times due to the difficulties of her father finding a job and being paid fairly (although, in the 18th century, Amsterdam was as progressive as it got in Europe, but of course that wasn't a super high bar), and some scandals from the past. They outright own a huge, imposing house on the fanciest street in town, but they've had to sell off a lot of the furniture over the years and they've gotten down to the last of the art. At this point, Thea really needs to marry money. She's either not super-aware of the situation or just not accepting of this as a fact (or a combination of the two) as she has a boyfriend (who she hasn't told anyone about) who is an artist, painting sets at the theater. Her father is understandably worried about anyone, really, who shows interest in Thea. While she's mostly been accepted by society as a mixed-race girl, there are some who are interested in her for the wrong reasons. And of course, she'll have to marry a third son, probably someone with a job, not inherited money. While Thea's father and aunt argue over Thea's future, the future of all of them (her father has a grand idea about cultivating pineapples which his sister-in-law will need to buy in to in order for them to have the start-up funds), and the past, Thea blithely ignores both red flags about her boyfriend, and also about the state of the household.
This was a very fascinating setting for a novel, and seeing backstage at the theater was an added unusual touch. Pineapples, being a horticulture trend after tulips, were another interesting historical detail which I wasn't aware of. While yes, I might have gotten more from this story had I read the first book, since it takes place 18 years later, I stand firm in my belief that it stands alone very well. It was a wonderful read to really take yourself to another place and time.
This book is published by Bloomsbury, which is distributed by Macmillan, my employer.
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