"Fairy Fingers: A Novel" by Anna Cora Ritchie is a fascinating tale set inside the vibrant social scene of nineteenth-century New York City. The novel follows the protagonist, Ethel Stanwood, a skilled younger pianist whose skillful playing earns her the nickname "Fairy Fingers." As Ethel navigates the complexities of society existence, she encounters a various forged of characters, including rich elites, suffering artists, and formidable social climbers. Amidst the glittering ballrooms and elegant salons of excessive society, Ethel need to navigate romantic entanglements, circle of relatives drama, and the pressures of preserving her popularity as a virtuoso musician. Throughout the unconventional, Ritchie masterfully explores themes of love, ambition, and the pursuit of happiness against the backdrop of a swiftly changing society. Ethel's journey toward self-discovery and achievement is each poignant and relatable, as she grapples with the expectations placed upon her by means of others at the same time as striving to carve out her personal path in existence. With its richly drawn characters and evocative descriptions of Gilded Age New York, "Fairy Fingers" is an undying story of ardour, ambition, and the iconic strength of music to transcend social obstacles.
Anna Cora Mowatt Ritchie was a French-born American author, writer, public speaker, actress, and preservationist. Her best-known work was the play Fashion, which was released in 1845. After her critical acclaim as a playwright, she had a successful stage career as an actress. Her Autobiography of an Actress was published in 1853. Anna Cora Mowatt was instrumental in lobbying and fundraising for the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, the country's oldest national historic preservation group. Anna Cora Ogden was born in Bordeaux, France, on March 5, 1819. She was the tenth out of fourteen children. Her father was Samuel Gouveneur Ogden (1779–1860), an American trader. Her mother was Eliza Lewis Ogden (1785-1836), the granddaughter of Francis Lewis, who signed the United States Declaration of Independence. The Ogden family returned to the United States in 1826, when Anna was six years old. She attended private schools but received her primary education at home. She was encouraged to read from a young age and developed a strong interest in writing and acting.
