The Masterpiece

Author: Fiona Davis
Genre: Historical Fiction (US)
Type: e-book
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Dutton
First Published: August 7, 2018
First Line: "Clara Darden's illustration class at the Grande Central School of Art, tucked under the copper eaves of the terminal, was unaffected by the trains that rumbled through ancient layers of Manhattan schist hundreds of feet below."

Book Description from GoodReads: For the nearly nine million people who live in New York City, Grand Central Terminal is a crown jewel, a masterpiece of design. But for Clara Darden and Virginia Clay, it represents something quite different.

For Clara, the terminal is the stepping stone to her future, which she is certain will shine as the brightly as the constellations on the main concourse ceiling. It is 1928, and twenty-five-year-old Clara is teaching at the lauded Grand Central School of Art. A talented illustrator, she has dreams of creating cover art for Vogue, but not even the prestige of the school can override the public's disdain for a "woman artist." Brash, fiery, confident, and single-minded--even while juggling the affections of two men, a wealthy would-be poet and a brilliant experimental painter--Clara is determined to achieve every creative success. But she and her bohemian friends have no idea that they'll soon be blindsided by the looming Great Depression, an insatiable monster with the power to destroy the entire art scene. And even poverty and hunger will do little to prepare Clara for the greater tragedy yet to come.

Nearly fifty years later, in 1974, the terminal has declined almost as sharply as Virginia Clay's life. Full of grime and danger, from the smoke-blackened ceiling to the pickpockets and drug dealers who roam the floor, Grand Central is at the center of a fierce lawsuit: Is the once-grand building a landmark to be preserved, or a cancer to be demolished? For Virginia, it is simply her last resort. Recently divorced, she has just accepted a job in the information booth in order to support herself and her college-age daughter, Ruby. But when Virginia stumbles upon an abandoned art school within the terminal and discovers a striking watercolor hidden under the dust, her eyes are opened to the elegance beneath the decay. She embarks on a quest to find the artist of the unsigned masterpiece--an impassioned chase that draws Virginia not only into the battle to save Grand Central but deep into the mystery of Clara Darden, the famed 1920s illustrator who disappeared from history in 1931.

Disclaimer: This Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) was generously provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review. 

My Rating: 3.5 stars

My Review: The Masterpiece is a historical fiction novel set in New York City in two different eras (1920's and 1970's) that follows the lives of two women who share a connection with Grand Central Terminal. Davis weaves these points of view with rich historical details of both eras and, most especially, the vivid descriptions of Grand Central in her glory days as well as later when its very existence is threatened.

The story is told using dual narratives of Clara in the 1920's and Virginia fifty years later and while I enjoyed their stories - especially how they intersected with the Terminal and their mutual struggles as women in male dominated eras - I can't say that I was connected to either beyond a superficial level.  My favourite character of the book was actually Grand Central herself - the history, layout and grandeur of the historic train terminal, including how people, some quite famous, fought to preserve this iconic Terminal as others threatened to destroy it in the name of progress. (And yes, it's Grand Central Terminal, not station as I quickly learned from this book). 

This was an enjoyable read and while I found the plot a little predictable, it was an easy read and I enjoyed learning more about this well-known structure that is so deeply embedded in the history of NYC. I believe this book will inspire some readers to research more into the rich and long history of this well-known building. I know it's inspired me to put a return trip to New York City closer to the top of my vacation bucket list so I can finally see this iconic structure for myself.