First published 1986
Emily Wilkes crosses the Atlantic as a young American journalist in the aftermath of the Great Depression. On the ship she encounters Stephen Howard, a wealthy Communist whose charisma and radical politics captivate her completely. She becomes his lover and converts to his cause. Back in America, they marry and build a glamorous life in Hollywood where Emily succeeds as both screenwriter and novelist while Stephen devotes himself to Party doctrine. They become celebrities of the American left until their political beliefs turn them into outcasts. The couple flees to Paris where their marriage and ideals crumble in bitter conflict. Emily watches their love and faith dissolve as McCarthyism reshapes America and their exile becomes permanent. The story captures how political conviction and romantic passion can both elevate and destroy.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, political-thriller
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, political-conviction
Setting: America, Atlantic, Hollywood, Paris
Period: Great Depression, McCarthyism
447 pages · Hardcover · Virago