The Muse of Fire by Carol M. Cram
Publication Date: December 26, 2017
eBook; Kindle Press
Paperback; New Arcadia Publishing
Women's lives in the theatre.
Abandoned at birth, the grandly christened Edward Plantagenet rises from London’s Foundling Hospital to take charge back stage at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, only to be blind-sided when he rescues Grace—a young woman escaping an abusive father.
Grace finds an outlet for her passions as a Shakespearean actress, becoming ensnared by intrigues and setbacks that mar the pathway to stardom she craves.
Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Old Price Riots of 1809, Grace and Ned find common purpose in a quest that threatens to tear both their worlds apart.
My Perspective
One of my colleagues is a Shakespearean guru and loves any and all things related to the Bard. I wondered many times with the mentions of Shakespeare's plays and quotes throughout the chapters and the narrative what he would think of The Muse of Fire.
There was definitely a learning curve for me, and I wished many times that I knew more about Shakespeare and the early days of the theatre.
I liked Grace's character but I wondered many times just how much freedom a woman of her standing would have been allowed if her husband had not given her permission.
Grace's future also seems to fall very conveniently into the hands of others who mean her no harm...I also wondered how often that would have happened.
Of course, all was not perfect in Grace's life, and the episode where she really steps across the line bothered me a great deal. I'm not really sure right now why exactly I'm bothered.
I just wondered if everything worked out a little too conveniently.
The baby mystery in the end woke me up quickly.
Anybody else notice that?
The Google Factor (I'm nerd)
Old Price Riots
John Philip Kemble
Sarah Siddons
Theatre Royal, Covent Garden fire
The King's Theatre at the Haymarket
The Duke of Northumberland's loan forgiveness to John Philip Kemble in order to build the New Theatre
Astley's Amphitheatre
The Theatre Royal at Drury Lane fire
the Riot Act
Kemble hiring "boxers" to keep the rioters under control
"We are satisfied"
About the Author
John Philip Kemble
Sarah Siddons
Theatre Royal, Covent Garden fire
The King's Theatre at the Haymarket
The Duke of Northumberland's loan forgiveness to John Philip Kemble in order to build the New Theatre
Astley's Amphitheatre
The Theatre Royal at Drury Lane fire
the Riot Act
Kemble hiring "boxers" to keep the rioters under control
"We are satisfied"
Carol M. Cram
is the author of A Woman of Note (Lake Union Publishing, 2015) and The Towers of Tuscany (Lake Union Publishing 2014). In addition to writing fiction, Carol has enjoyed a great career as an educator, teaching at Capilano University in North Vancouver for over twenty years and authoring forty-plus bestselling textbooks on business communications and software applications for Cengage Learning. She holds an MA in Drama from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Carol is currently focusing as much of her attention as she can spare between walks in the woods on writing historical novels with an arts twist and sharing her Nia practice as a Nia teacher. She and her husband, painter Gregg Simpson, share a life on beautiful Bowen Island near Vancouver, Canada.
For more information, please visit Carol M. Cram’s website.
Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, February 26
Review at Peppermint Ph.D.
Excerpt at What Is That Book About
Tuesday, February 27
Interview at Donna’s Book Blog
Feature at View from the Birdhouse
Thursday, March 1
Review at Teaser Addicts Book Blog
Friday, March 2
Review at A Bookaholic Swede
Feature at A Literary Vacation
Excerpt at Locks, Hooks and Books
Monday, March 5
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views
Thursday, March 8
Interview at Passages to the Past
Friday, March 9
Review at Pursuing Stacie
Wednesday, March 14
Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective
Monday, March 19
Review at Books of a Shy Girl
Guest Post at Let Them Read Books
Tuesday, March 20
Review at Clarissa Reads it All
Thursday, March 22
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit
Giveaway
During the Book Blast, we will be giving away a copies of The Muse of Fire!
Three copies are up for grabs! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on March 22nd. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to residents in the US and UK.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
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