Wealth and Privilege by Jeanette Watts, the recipient of the BREW Fiction Book Excellence Award Historical Fiction of the Year 2023, is a sweeping tale of love, ambition, and societal expectations set against the industrial rise of 19th-century Pittsburgh. Beneath its opulent settings and ballroom conversations lies a question as old as time: what price must one pay for love, and is privilege ever truly a blessing?
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Review
Poised between duty and desire, Thomas Baldwin’s life is dictated by the unrelenting demands of high society. He is expected to be more than just a man—he must be an heir, a businessman, a dutiful son, and, above all, a husband to a woman who checks all the right social boxes. Yet, his heart beats for something more, someone different, someone who sees the world with the same restless hunger he does. But the world he inhabits is one of carefully arranged marriages and strategic alliances, where love is often a secondary concern, if not an outright inconvenience. Through Thomas’ journey, the novel masterfully explores the tensions between personal freedom and the suffocating weight of tradition.
Jeanette Watts brings 19th-century Pittsburgh to life with a historian’s precision and a novelist’s flair. The dialogue sparkles with period authenticity, the world-building is immersive, and the social dynamics ring true to an era when fortunes were built on steel and expectations were as unyielding as iron. The prose flows effortlessly, striking a delicate balance between elegant descriptions and sharp character insights. One of the novel’s great strengths is its ability to humanize historical figures, making industry titans and high-society dames feel like people rather than museum exhibits.
What sets this book apart is the complexity of its characters. Thomas is no simple hero—he is deeply introspective, caught between his own desires and the burdens of his name. The supporting cast, from his overbearing mother to the enigmatic Regina Waring, is drawn with equal care, each adding layers to the novel’s exploration of power, gender roles, and social constraints. The novel’s appeal extends beyond history buffs; anyone who has ever felt trapped by expectation will find themselves in Thomas’ polished shoes. The editing is crisp, keeping the story engaging without sacrificing the historical richness.
The most memorable moment, and arguably the heart of the novel, is the first true conversation between Thomas and Regina. There, in the sanctuary of the conservatory, he hears something he never expected—a woman’s laugh, rich and unrestrained. It is a simple moment, but in a world of forced smiles and measured words, it is revolutionary. It is this moment that hints at a life beyond duty, a path not yet taken.
While fans of fast-paced action or contemporary settings may not gravitate toward this book, lovers of historical fiction, intricate character studies, and deeply felt romances will be utterly enthralled. Readers who enjoy the works of Edith Wharton, Henry James, or even the slow-burn elegance of Downton Abbey will find much to admire here.
Like a finely wrought piece of jewelry passed down through generations, Wealth and Privilege shines with both beauty and substance. It is a novel that lingers, its questions haunting the reader long after the final page is turned. More than just a story of love and ambition, it is a meditation on the weight of expectations and the rare, electric moments when one dares to defy them.
Book Details
- Title: Wealth and Privilege
- Author: Jeanette Watts
- Genre(s): Fiction
- Sub-genre(s): Historical Fiction, Romance
- Theme(s): Class Struggles, Love, Social Expectations
- Minimum Audience Age: 16+ (per assessment)
- Main language used in the text: English
Book Themes
(Note: 0=none, 1=a few, 2=considerable, 3=pronounced, 4=excessive)
Rating
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