The Daring Ladies of Lowell by Kate Alcott

 

Summary (from the publisher): From the best-selling author of The Dressmaker comes the warm-hearted and enthralling saga of a bold young woman caught between two worlds-the vibrant camaraderie of factory life and the opulence that a budding romance with the mill owner's son affords-as the murder of her best friend sends shock waves throughout the town.

Determined to forge her own destiny, Alice Barrow joins the legions of spirited young women better known as the Mill Girls. From dawn until dusk, these ladies work the looms, but the thrill of independence, change in their pockets, and friendships formed along the way mostly make the backbreaking labor worthwhile. In fact, Hiram Fiske, the steely-eyed titan of industry, has banked on that. But the working conditions are becoming increasingly dangerous and after one too many accidents, Alice finds herself unexpectedly acting as an emissary to address the factory workers' mounting list of grievances.

After traveling to the Fiske family's Beacon Hill mansion, Alice enters a world she's never even dared to dream about: exquisite silk gowns, sumptuous dinners, grand sitting parlors, and uniformed maids operating with an invisible efficiency. Of course, there's also a chilliness in the air as Alice presents her case. But with her wide, intelligent eyes and rosy-hued cheeks, Alice manages to capture the attention of Hiram's eldest son, the handsome and reserved Samuel Fiske.

Their chemistry is undeniable, soon progressing from mutual respect and shy flirtation into an unforgettable romance. But when Alice's best friend, Lovey, is found strangled in a field, Alice and Samuel are torn between loyalty to "their kind" and a chance for true love.

Review: Based on true historical events, this novel follows Alice Barrow as she leaves the farm where she was raised to work in a mill in 1832. The work and hours are backbreaking, and the working conditions are exceedingly dangerous. But Alice is determined to pursue a better life for herself by mastering the looms in the mill, helped by new friendships with coworkers, including Lovey Cornell. But when Lovey is found strangled, the eyes of the town turn to the mill girls and Alice finds herself acing as an emissary between the factory workers and the imposing family that owns the factory. 

I loved the premise for this! It was clear that Alcott had done her research when it came to early mill conditions and risks workers were taking to work there. Likewise, Lovey's death was based on a real-life murder of a mill girl around that time period.  I liked that Alice was an early pioneer of worker's rights and a proud working woman, independently seeking to support herself in the world. 

However, I found the character development lacking and the interactions between the characters stilted at best. The kinship Alice feels for Lovey, as well as her swift relationship with Samuel feels forced and too instantaneous to me. It also felt wildly unbelievable to me that someone of Samuel's station would have seriously pursued or even discoursed with someone of Alice's station, given the time period and social restrictions of the mid 1800s. They were of two entirely different worlds, and I don't think they ever would have been in enough frequent contact to even develop a connection. 

I really enjoyed The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott and the way she seeks out historical stories that haven't yet been told for her novels. I'm glad she shed light on early mill workers in this book, but I do wish there had been a little more depth to Alice and Samuel. 

Stars: 3.5

Related Title: 

• The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott