Firebrands
A sizzling Gilded Age-style tale of morals versus money
Writers’ League of Texas Award Finalist for Historical Fiction
“In Vicky Oliver’s Firebrands, Gilded Age high society and downtown grit mix in this electric novel about sisterhood, activism, and love.”
— Luis Jaramillo
Author, The Witches of El Paso and the award-winning short story collection, The Doctor’s Wife
“Against a backdrop of old New York, Firebrands not only faithfully renders a city steeped in its time period, but asks us to consider how much has actually changed—about the patriarchy, about the labor movement—and whether or not we are as far from the past as we would perhaps like to believe.”
–A.E. Osworth
Author, Awakened, a USA Today Bestseller, and We are Watching Eliza Bright
“Historical fiction at its finest, this riveting, big-hearted book will have readers tripping over their fingers to find out what happens next as Helena inadvertently finds herself at the center of a cultural pressure cooker: the labor movement of the early 20th century. Reading about Helena and the dangers and sacrifices demanded by her fight for justice is as eye-opening as it is inspiring, and brings to life the story of countless people who sacrificed to affect change for women and laborers. Emotional, elucidating, inspirational—I hope they teach this book in classrooms around the country and the world.”
–Julie Sarkissian
Author, Dear Lucy, and winner of the Francis Leon Paige Award for creative writing from Princeton University
“Firebrands merges the opulence of the Gilded Age with the rough and tumble spirit of the turn- of-the-century labor movement. With an amazing cast of characters that truly represent the spirit of the times, Firebrands explores the life of the socialite as well as the seamstress with great care and believability. Firebrands moves through the lavish wealth of Providence, Rhode Island and Madison Avenue, to the tenements of New York City and the union halls of the labor movement with great care. From the sound of a bullhorn to the dust of a factory, Firebrands places the reader squarely in another world. Helena James is a spitfire of a heroine whose journey from young activist to seasoned leader is both harrowing and empowering. This book will speak to those who cherish history, New York, and the many movements that shaped this fair city.”
–Jessica Stilling
Author, Betwixt and Between, The Beekeeper’s Daughter, After the Barricades, Just So Many Places, and The Weary God of Ancient Travelers
“A grand, elegant, and intimate portrait of women during the Gilded Age, which artfully demonstrates their vital role in the labor movement.”
–Simon Van Booy
Author, Sipsworth, The Illusion of Separateness and The Presence of Absence.
“What I especially love about Vicky Oliver’s writing is her ability to transport the reader seamlessly to a different time and place. In her novel Firebrands, turn-of-the-century New York comes alive—a loud, gritty hotbed of passion and energy, a city roiled by labor unrest and other seismic cultural changes that mirror our own. It’s the story of two sisters who grew up close but find themselves divided at a consequential moment in history, with one embracing the future and the other hanging on to the fast-receding status quo at any cost. Vicky Oliver’s story is robust, entertaining, and thought-provoking—just like the city at its very core.”
–Barbara Josselsohn
Best-selling Author, The Secret Orphanage
