Clara and Mr. Tiffany

I usually enjoy historical novels, yet I found Clara and Mr. Tiffany slow, even a bit boring at times with far too much emphasis placed on the artistic process and creation. The story gets too bogged down by long descriptive passages that painfully detail the entire process of creating artistic pieces. These descriptions are repeated over and over each time Clara becomes obsessed with a new idea or project. It became tiresome to read.

Susan Vreeland obviously did her research. She developed a story that focuses on the not well known until hopefully now, Clara Driscoll, who led the "Tiffany Girls" who were responsible for the amazing designs and manufacturing of the famous Louis Comfort Tiffany’s glass lamps. Vreeland gives the reader an unexposed and unexpected view of the studio but also the story of changing women's roles in the early part of the twentieth century. Additionally, Vreeland does an exceptional job of illuminating an exciting era filled with a diverse cast of characters that reflect the evolving time period. Clara interacts with bohemians, immigrants, gays and high society. She is living in New York City, which is vibrant and bustling with exciting innovations as well as ways of thinking. The history was fascinating, but again, the story was too slow for my taste.