Readers familiar with Jane Eyre will enjoy finding out what remains the same and what differences Libby Sternberg has infused into her new novel, SLOANE HALL, a retelling of the old favorite with a modern twist.
The story primarily takes place in 1929, when silent movies were giving way to talking pictures. John Doyle, a young man with a troubled childhood growing up in an orphanage, wants to work in movies but makes a mistake and is forced to leave the set. He ends up taking a job as chauffeur to beautiful silent film star Pauline Sloane. Pauline, or Eleanor, the real name she gave him when they first met, is about to start filming on her first talking picture. As in Jane Eyre, the employee and employer fall in love, but this love is accompanied by misunderstandings, drama and heartbreak. John and Eleanor, both naΓ―ve in matters of the heart, don't quite know how to treat each other. As most people are familiar with Jane Eyre's story, it's fair to assume that forgiveness and redemption play their roles as well.
Sternberg does a wonderful job of exploring John's past, and how past actions can affect the future. He definitely learns some valuable lessons about himself and those around him. Eleanor, too, is a well-drawn and realistic character with a lot of baggage and room for growth. Sternberg surrounds her protagonists with a fairly strong supporting cast; including, Eleanor's stepbrother, Robbie Morgan, Julia and Marta (the cook and housekeeper at Sloane Hall), and Leo, a friend of John's in the film industry.
Sternberg never loses sight of the story she's re-telling, but this novel is definitely her own. Readers have things to figure out and look forward to. Her prose flows beautifully with vivid descriptions of people and places, bringing to life a Los Angeles of times gone by. Fans of historical fiction and Jane Eyre in particular will relish this novel, and readers who enjoy a love story should definitely pick this one up.
In 1920s Hollywood, young John Doyle learns the craft of cinematography when a stupid mistake costs him his job. On a tip, he heads to Sloane Hall, the estate of a famous silent screen actress, Pauline Sloane, where he lands a position as chauffeur. Sloane Hall first offers him peace as he enjoys the bounty of the luxurious home, then unrest as its beautiful namesake returns and starts preparing for her first talking picture. Despite his best efforts to resist, John falls hopelessly in love with his employer. His future brightens, however, when she appears to return his affection, leading to plans for a secret wedding—until other awful secrets intrude, leading to heartbreak and separation. A story of obsession and forgiveness, Sloane Hall was inspired by Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre.
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