At the Atlanta Exposition A young woman seeks employment for two reasons, one is to earn a little spending money, but the bigger reason is to be around lots of wealthy men whom she might come in contact with and maybe win the eye of one for marriage.
Laurel Millard is the youngest child in her family. At eighteen she is the last child living at home with her widowed mother. Her other siblings expect her to take care of their mother until her passing. This seems difficult and especially cruel in the eyes of an eighteen year old who desires to marry and have a family of her own.
Laurel decides to apply at the Atlanta Exposition to hopefully find a wealthy husband to marry so that she can have a family and also have someone to provide for her mother. She gets hired to work the loom in the silk exposition. Little does she know that this will be an experience she will never forget.
The story is well written, excellently researched and documents not just this romantic search, but it also touches on the tender issue of race relations. This is after the Civil War, but still close enough to that time that people in the south are still harboring thoughts that African American people are sub-standard and should remain as slaves.
Two young men, one white and one black, who have grown up as childhood friends also get jobs at the exposition. They face criticism and prejudice on many levels because of their friendship and thoughts.
Then there is the wealthy businessman who has an exhibit at the exposition from his father’s company and is attracted to Laurel.
Kim Vogel Sawyer weaves a wonderful storyline along with enough actual historical fact to make for an entertaining and enlightening read.
Topics you will encounter will be loyalty, friendship, prejudice, brutal business practice, false accusations, difficult family relationships, etc. The story will provide excellent material for any book club.
Enjoy!
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