The Dress Lodger

sheri holman

In Sunderland, England, a city quarantined by the cholera epidemic of 1831, a defiant, fifteen-year old beauty in an elegant blue dress makes her way between shadow and lamp light. A potter's assistant by day and dress lodger by night, Gustine sells herself for necessity in a rented gown, scrimping to feed and protect her only love: her fragile baby boy.
She holds a glimmer of hope after meeting Dr. Henry Chiver, a prisoner of his own dark past. But in a world where suspicion of medicine runs rampant like a fever, these two lost souls will become irrevocably linked, as each crosses lines between rich and destitute, decorum and abandon, damnation and salvation. By turns tender and horrifying, The Dress Lodger is a captivating historical thriller charged with a distinctly modern voice. . . .

Genres historical fictionfictionhistoricalbook clubbritish literature19th centurymysteryadultnovelsvictorian

291 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1998

Literary awards

library of virginia literary award,

Places

sunderland england,

This edition

Format: 291 pages, Paperback
Published: January 2, 2001 by Ballantine Books
ISBN: 9780345436917
ASIN: 0345436911
Language: English

Characters More characters

Gustine

...
Dr. Henry Chiver

...

About the author

sheri holman

Sheri Holman graduated from The College of William and Mary in 1988, mastering in Theatre. From there, she became an assistant to a literary agent. In that time, she began to write her first novel, A Stolen Tongue. It was published in 1996. She then went on to write "The Dress Lodger," which was published in 1999. Sheri Holman also wrote "Sondok, Princess of the Moon and Stars," which was published in 2002; and "Mammoth Cheese," which published in 2003. Sheri Holman now lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family.