Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
Reminds me of: (1) A Secret History by Donna Tartt (one of my all-time favorites); (2) The Address by Fiona Davis (This one is certainly better, but both are about a particular place across different time periods.)
One day at work, modern-day archivist Elodie comes across an old sketchbook and striking photograph of a forgotten Victorian beauty. These artifacts connect her to Birchwood Manor, a home with a storied past and quite a number of chimneys. Part family history and part lost tale of heartbreaking romance, the history Elodie uncovers will be far more personal than she could have anticipated. She may even discover more about herself than the striking woman from the photo.
One of the first Birchwood Manor inhabitants we learn about is Edward, a London artist who owned the home in the 1860s. While talented, he had a short career and is perhaps more famous for dying of heartbreak than for his artwork. Through its long history, Birchwood Manor has had many residents, several of whom we meet throughout the novel. These perspectives are elegantly woven together; however, it does warrant a word of warning – Be sure to pay attention to the character names and their respective time periods at the beginning. It could be rather confusing otherwise. I found the ending emotional and quite lovely, but then again, I’ve always been one for bittersweet endings. I was genuinely sorry to reach the end, seeing as I would have liked to spend more time with some of these characters.
Put simply, the book is well-written. More elaborately, it is balanced. In places, it’s playful and charming. In others, it’s dark and serious. It is well researched but not excessively historical. The romance is touching but not cloying. There are many symbols and themes throughout. They are clear without being overly obvious. Every detail is deliberate. Every thread comes full circle. In addition, Morton elegantly incorporates a wide range of themes, including time, beauty, the concept of home, and the bond between siblings. This breadth of topics and history is ambitious, but I believe it pays off.
Carefully conceived, The Clockmaker’s Daughter is an excellent exhibition of Morton’s skilled storytelling. Since the novel covers several time periods along with a large cast of characters and far-ranging themes, she could easily have lost control of the overarching story. Instead, she expertly wove together these potentially disparate strands. I definitely plan to check out Kate Morton’s other works.
Love, love, loved this book… Could not agree with your review more!