Author's Note
I find the first half of the 20th century to be a fascinating period in our country’s history, especially for women. It was an era when women in elegant mink coats stood beside factory workers to demand justice; when suffragettes marched beneath banners calling for the right to vote; when newly arrived immigrants organized for better working conditions. And it was also the time when the less fortunate found their dream of a better life ending in such senseless tragedies as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.
These women, privileged and poor, native-born and newly arrived, forged a path toward equality and opportunity. Their courage, activism, and belief in one another shaped the journey that generations later we still struggle to travel.
While Nell and the women in her life are fictional, their loyalty, resiliency, and determination are drawn from countless women—past and present—who meet each day with grace and strength.
I witness these same qualities in the remarkable women I am blessed to have in my life. Women who are intellectually curious, devoted to their family and friends, independent in spirit, and ready to meet life with both laughter and resolve.
Like Nell, they play the cards they are dealt with grit, dignity, and grace. And like the women who marched before them, they continue to forge the path for generations still to come.
Historical Facts
The world Nell inhabits in Choosing Herself is shaped not only by personal courage, but by powerful historical forces — from labor reform and women’s activism to the global upheaval of war. The following historical touchpoints illuminate the real events and people woven into the novel’s fabric.
Edwin Booth and The Players Club
One of the most celebrated actors of the 19th century, Edwin Booth, was renowned for his Shakespearean performances across the United States and Europe. Many theatrical historians consider him the greatest American actor of his era and among the finest Hamlets to ever grace the stage.
Yet his legacy was forever shadowed by tragedy. Edwin’s younger brother was John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln. Already estranged, Edwin was forced to withdraw from public life for months following Lincoln’s death. He refused to allow his brother’s name to be spoken in his home.
Later in life, Edwin founded The Players Club on Gramercy Park South, gifting the institution his home, art, theatrical memorabilia, and extensive library. In recognition of his artistic achievement and generosity, a statue of Edwin Booth was dedicated in Gramercy Park in 1918.
Victory Gardens: Patriotism at Home
The idea of Victory Gardens began during the First World War, when Europe faced severe food shortages. With farmers serving on battlefields, the United States was called upon to help feed the hungry at home and abroad. Americans were urged to grow their own produce so that more food could be shipped overseas.
The movement returned with renewed urgency during World War II. As rationing began in the United States in 1942, families planted fruits and vegetables wherever space allowed — backyards, rooftops, window boxes, and vacant lots. Even Eleanor Roosevelt cultivated a garden on the White House lawn.
Victory Gardens became symbols of shared sacrifice and civic pride, linking ordinary households to the global struggle for freedom. The same spirit of collective responsibility shapes Nell’s world.
The “Mink Brigade”: Privilege Meets Protest
Among the labor reformers of early 20th-century New York marched an unlikely group: society women known as the “Mink Brigade.” These were the wives and daughters of some of the city’s wealthiest families, who used their status and resources to support striking workers.
Two of the most visible were Anne Morgan, daughter of financier J. P. Morgan, and Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, a leading suffrage advocate. They paid fines for arrested strikers, joined picket lines, and, by their very presence, deterred the police brutality the strikers faced alone.
Their activism bridged social divides and demonstrated how privilege could be wielded in the service of justice.
Prisoners of War: A Personal Legacy
War’s reach extended into countless American families, including my own. During World War II, nearly 94,000 Allied soldiers were held as prisoners in Europe. My father-in-law, Douglas D. Reid, was among them.
Shot down over Berlin in June 1944 while serving as a B-24 bombardier, he was captured and eventually sent to Stalag Luft III. In January 1945, as Russian forces advanced, Dad and his fellow POWs were evacuated and forced on a brutal winter march through blizzard conditions. He suffered severe frostbite during the ordeal.
After liberation and recovery, he returned home to raise a family, run his own business, and become a competitive golfer.
We continue to owe that generation an enduring debt of gratitude.
Book Club Discussion Guide
Nell’s Choices and Turning Points
- Nell makes several decisions that alter the course of her life. If she had sought your counsel at those pivotal moments, what guidance might you have offered regarding:
- Remaining in her marriage to Edward?
- Raising Teddy?
- Reconnecting with her Irish heritage?
- Are there other choices she makes that feel especially critical? How might her life have differed had she chosen another path?
Family, Duty, and Hidden Truths
- When Nell’s mother leaves for Saranac Lake, Nell is placed in the care of Aunt Helena.
- What do you believe motivates Helena’s behavior toward Nell?
- Were you surprised by Helena’s revelation and her reaction to Nell’s father’s death?
- Do you understand why Nell didn’t want to tell Teddy that he is adopted?
Privilege, Conscience, and Social Change
- Nell risks her safety to expose the brutal conditions faced by women and children in factories, yet she also longs for comfort and security of her own life
- Do you think she could be criticized for supporting workers while retaining her privileged life like the society women of the “Mink Brigade?”
- How does Nell’s activism compare with Rachel’s efforts for reform?
War and the Meaning of Sacrifice
- At the town meeting about Rachel’s Hope, Miss Beckman argues that soldiers in World War II are fighting to preserve the world as it is, while Nell believes they fight to change it.
- How persuasive do you find each viewpoint?
- Are these ideas truly opposed, or can they coexist?
Angels in Ordinary Lives
- As Sonia departs Rachel’s Hope, she says, There are angels all around us.
- Does this sentiment resonate with you?
- Have you witnessed moments when someone acted as an “angel” in another’s life?
Love, Loss, and Unexpected Bonds
- Were you surprised by Nell’s relationship with Henry?
- How did you respond to Henry’s decision to end his life?
The Reader’s Journey
- How do you envision the meeting between Maude and Teddy?
- Do you think O’Brien will come back into Nell’s life?
You’re the Host
You may want to enhance the atmosphere of your Choosing Herself discussion by offering your guests foods that echo the era and social rituals of Nell’s world—from tea‑table fare to a classic cocktail.
Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches
Early in her marriage, Nell was expected to attend women’s club luncheons where delicate tea sandwiches were a staple. These evoke that tradition.
- Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken, finely diced
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp celery, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- Salt and white pepper to taste
- Thin‑sliced white bread
- Soft butter
- Optional: finely diced apple or chopped walnuts
- Directions
- Combine chicken, celery, parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Fold in mayonnaise until lightly bound.
- Butter bread lightly; spread filling thinly and top with second slice.
- Trim crusts and cut into triangles or squares.
- Arrange on a tray; cover with a damp cloth until serving.
Scones
When Nell first meets Victoria, they share scones and tea—a gesture you might offer your guests as well.
- Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 4 tsp baking powder
- ¾ tsp salt
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 2 tbsp butter or shortening
- ¾ cup cream
- 1 egg, beaten
- Raisins or dried cranberries
- Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
- Cut in butter/shortening.
- Combine cream and egg; add to dry ingredients with fruit.
- Roll dough and cut rounds.
- Bake 15 minutes until golden. Serve with butter.
Classic Martini
The martini—elegant and bracing—was a defining cocktail of the era. Whether shaken or stirred, it should be well chilled.
- Ingredients
- 3½ oz gin
- ½ oz dry vermouth
- Lemon twist or olive
- Directions
- Strain into a chilled glass; garnish and serve.
- Fill shaker with ice; add gin and vermouth.
- Shake or stir 10 seconds until chilled.