Clara and Mr Tiffany by Susan Vreeland

As soon as I read Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland, I knew it would appeal to those who enjoyed Loving Frank by Nancy Horan, as well as the other Susan Vreeland books.

Set at the turn of the (last) century, main character is Clara Driscoll, a strong woman artist who worked at the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company headed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Through her story, we learn about decorative art of the time, woman's rights, with a bit of love and romance thrown in. The author teaches the reader a great deal about Tiffany's famous stained glass: how it came to be designed and made into windows, lamps, and the unsung women's department which did the bulk of the work. Clara is likeable, particularly as she hires and trains new women, and stands up for them to Mr Tiffany himself. The author's notes reveal that the character of Clara was drawn from correspondence from the actual Clara Driscoll, and inspired by a recent exhibition of Tiffany Glass. A good read, and an education to boot.

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