Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Dunlap’s historical New York City-set novel centers on the the aspirations of a daughter as they come into conflict with her mother's expectations for her and her own complex past. The plot builds evenly as Sylvie navigates her way in the world, with several subplots that tie in effortlessly to the main storyline. Though the ending comes across as a touch too smooth after the novel’s intense unfolding, readers will relish the evocative setting, believable circumstances, and fascinating characters.
Prose: Dunlap uses the alternating perspectives of Sylvie and her mother to bring the plot to life, with clear prose that excels at scene-setting and shows a definitive knack for building suspense.
Originality: The story has a rich setting that comes to life through well-developed tension and polished characters. Sylvie’s journey—and her mother’s attempts to save her from dangerous choices—is crafted with finesse and passion.
Character/Execution: Seventeen-year-old Sylvie is lovable from the start, full of idealism and extravagant dreams, while her mother desperately works to escape the past. The relationship between Sylvie and Paolo takes off quickly, affording Sylvie the opportunities she’s longing for—though those very opportunities open a world of danger for both women.
Date Submitted: April 04, 2023
The Courtesan’s Daughter is a blisteringly smart novel of resilience and the pursuit of one’s dreams, the latest offering by Author Susanne Dunlap.
The year is 1910, New York. It has been ten years since Justine, a French immigrant, fled from her home country with her daughter Sylvie to seek refuge in the United States. As a seventeen-year-old, Sylvie has passionate dreams: to be a star in the new moving pictures just like the Vitagraph girl she admires. However, her mother hopes that she will become a teacher and pull them out of their impoverished life. As Justine ekes out a living as a seamstress on the Lower East Side, Sylvie discreetly weaves a plan to follow her dreams after meeting an Italian boy, Paulo, who encourages her to follow her ambitions.
A man from Justine’s past tries to shatter her hope for a comfortable life.
He haunts her with threats of spilling a secret that involves her previous work as a courtesan, and the crime that forced her to flee. Justine knows that such delicate information could see her sent to prison and even tear apart the fabric of Sylvie’s life.
When Sylvie finds out about her mother’s supposed betrayal, she runs away from home believing it is no longer safe. The glassy perfection and quiet reserve she had long held of her mother is shattered into a million pieces. Endurance, determination, and unusual pacts take center stage in Justine and Sylvie’s lives as they fight for love, which comes at a precious cost.
Susanne Dunlap weaves an impressive duality between two different women and their journey as a family.
Justine’s and Sylvie’s emotional odysseys become progressively aligned, bridging the past and the present. Dunlap offers a bird’s eye view of her two protagonists, showing their thoughts, emotions, and the consequences of their decisions. The book’s neat and lucid prose creates a sense of poise and shows off Dunlap’s mastery as a wordsmith.
At turns poignant and bleak, and at other times pleasant and vibrant, The Courtesan’s Daughter is a triumph both in its construction and content.
The author deftly presents a unique period through rich and vivid descriptions, evoking the mood and atmosphere of this time. She adds an extra repast across the pages that informs in striking ways. Powerful and imaginative, Dunlap’s work is one of optimism that reveals the fortitude of humans to stay afloat even in the starkest circumstances.
The Courtesan’s Daughter draws readers in from the first page with its beguiling beginning. As it hurtles ahead, it holds you rapt up to the last page. Undoubtedly, this story is a tour de force from an author with absolute command of the genre.
