Books & Literature

Book Review: The Eighth Wonder, by Tania Farrelly

HISTORICAL FICTION: The Suffragette meets The Greatest Showman in this story ofpassion and courage, as a young feminist fights against the rules of society to find her place in the world.

One-word verdict: Enthralling
4

The Eighth Wonder by Tania Farrelly is an impressive debut novel set on the precipice of a new century in New York’s Gilded Age.

Rose Kingsbury Smith is a beautiful young woman living a privileged life on New York’s Upper East Side. She doesn’t, however, conform to the female mould expected by her social-climbing mother, preferring to work as her father’s apprentice in his architecture business. Her dream is to be the first woman to attend the famous Ecole des Beaux-Arts architecture school in Paris. Edith Kingsbury Smith, Rose’s mother, tolerates these dreams until the theft of a priceless family heirloom threatens to plunge the family into poverty.

Ethan Salt has lived a hard life as an orphan, literally running away to join the circus after witnessing P.T. Barnum march his troop of elephants across the Brooklyn Bridge in 1884 to demonstrate its sturdiness to a fearful populace. Once a pickpocket out of necessity, Ethan has grown into a man dedicated to saving animals who have been brutalised by show business. Lacking the funds to build his dream animal sanctuary, Ethan does what he can to raise money through the ASPCA and gather support from New York’s elite.

When Rose and Ethan meet at the Bradley Martin Ball at the Waldorf Hotel, sparks fly. But then circumstances tear them apart and set them on separate trajectories. Edith is determined to marry her daughter off to the highest bidder to secure their family’s fortune and social position. Ethan continues to battle social setbacks as he runs his menagerie from a barn on Coney Island, despite the locals wanting him and his ‘dangerous animals’ to leave. What ensues is a complex interwoven tale for both characters that explores feminist issues, workers’ rights in the industrial revolution, the emergence of the animal rights movement, friendship, family and, ultimately, love. 

This novel is a somewhat slow burn that takes off around a quarter of the way in, but it’s worth persisting as it blossoms beautifully from there on. Secondary characters such as the wealthy, ruthless Chet Randall who pursues Rose’s hand, demonstrate the nature of elite New York society at that time. Rose’s involvement with artist friend Jack, who also happens to be close to Ethan, provides insight into race and class issues. So too does her work at Empress House, a fictional representation of the real settlement houses that arose during this period. And a star in her own right is Daisy the elephant. The bond between Daisy and Ethan is utterly gorgeous, drawing, sadly, upon terrible realities that animals faced.

Minor criticisms are that Farrelly over describes the setting in some places, which slows the story, and under describes in others where additional details about the character’s surrounds would be welcome. It is also a little too easy to guess what has happened to the stolen family heirloom. These points aside, The Eighth Wonder is a fabulous historical novel that shines light on one of the world’s most progressive eras, celebrates those who dared to rebel, and provides a well-written, addictive tale with wonderful characters.

Reviewed by Stacey Carvosso

Released by: Penguin Books
Release Date: 2 July 2021
RRP: $32.99

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