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50 pages 1 hour read

Alice Hoffman

The Marriage Of Opposites

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2015

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman is a historical fiction novel set in the early 1800s on the island of St. Thomas, following three generations of a Jewish family. The narrative centers on Rachel Pomié, who dreams of leaving the island, and her son, artist Camille Pissarro, who struggles with his creative aspirations and societal norms. The novel explores themes of family, love, and societal constraints. Sensitive topics such as racial discrimination and enslavement are depicted.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Alice Hoffman's The Marriage of Opposites has been praised for its lyrical prose, vivid historical detail, and compelling characters. Reviewers admire the richly woven narrative and Hoffman's evocative depiction of 19th-century Saint Thomas. However, some find the pacing uneven and the plot occasionally predictable. Despite these minor critiques, the novel's strengths shine brightly.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Marriage Of Opposites?

Readers captivated by richly woven historical fiction and intricate character studies, similar to those found in The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, will appreciate Alice Hoffman's The Marriage of Opposites. Fans of lush, evocative storytelling rooted in real events are an ideal audience.

Book Details
Pages

400

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Paris; Saint Thomas • 1800s

Publication Year

2015

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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