N.J. MASTRO

"Mastro’s writing is skillful and precise, creating descriptions of settings and characters that linger. She has an eye for atmospheric details: “Everyone’s clothes felt damp; even the pages of their books had gone limp,” she writes of a hot, rainy summer day in Bristol. Nearly all the characters are historically documented; if you’re familiar with the period, you may figure out which one(s) are fictional. All is explained in an author’s note. This is a well-researched, admirable fictional portrait that will leave you amazed at the daring and vigorous way Mary moved through her world." Click here to read the full review.

- Sarah Johnson, Book Blogger, Reading the Past

 

"I have read other books about both Wollstonecraft and her famous daughter, Mary Godwin Shelley (1797-1851) — author of FRANKENSTEIN and wife of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) — but what this author has excelled at is creating a deep, rich, and believable inner life for this 18th century intellectual. Wollstonecraft’s thoughts, motivations, fears, and emotions are all tied to her history and experiences, just as ours are. We understand why she acts as she does. In fact Mastro’s portrayal is so skillful that Wollstonecraft feels as fully human and three-dimensional as anyone you might know today. She is a true heroine of her own story. Don’t miss this one; it represents the best of the historical fiction genre." Click here to read the full review.

- Toby A. Smith, Book Blogger

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“The many discussion points which arise from this story will especially intrigue book club reading groups interested in considering women’s strengths, weaknesses, the political and social morals of Mary’s times, and the methods by which she maintains and supports her independence. The novel is beautifully written... Libraries that choose Solitary Walker for its promise of historical biographical strength will also appreciate its ability to navigate the undercurrents of women’s experience, perception, and rights. All these elements make for a strong recommendation to patrons interested in women’s history and issues, as well as powerful biographical figures.”

- D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

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“This admirable biographical novel of early feminist Mary Wollstonecraft provides a clear and engaging portrait of a woman whose fierce intellect and strong passions were at odds with society’s expectations. The central character comes vividly to life as Mastro effectively delves into Mary’s thoughts and emotions while fully revealing her strengths and weaknesses. Individuals who surround her—literary friends, pestering relatives, scoundrels—are similarly well depicted. Through lyrical prose and insightful dialogue, the author charts Mary’s determined struggle to support herself through writing while maintaining her independence, surviving scandal, and overcoming self-doubt. The reader is immersed in daily life in late eighteenth century England, revolutionary France, and mercantile Scandinavia, and the politics of the age are explored with accuracy and finesse. This champion and firm believer in the equal worth and equal rights of men and women could not have asked for a finer or more compelling version of her life and achievements.”

—Margaret Porter, Award-winning Best-selling Author, The Myrtle Wand and Beautiful Invention

 

“A tour de force. Solitary Walker brought me totally inside the heart and mind of the extraordinary 18th century feminist icon Mary Wollstonecraft. I wept at the end. Mastro’s meticulous research brings to life a heartbreaking tale of a brilliant mind who challenged societal norms. Her writing captures the personal anguish and utter betrayal of a broken heart. An unputdownable novel and more.”

—Joan Fernandez, author of Saving Vincent, A Novel of Jo van Gogh.

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“N. J. Mastro writes with tender compassion as she plunges the depths of the complex and often conflicted inner life of the world’s first feminist, Mary Wollstonecraft. Using a multi-hued palette of historical details, Mastro paints a beautiful portrait of one of history’s earliest female political writers. Highly recommended.”          

—Debra Borchert, Author Her Own War, Book three of the Château de Verzat series

 

“In Solitary Walker, N.J. Mastro presents the remarkable life of a woman of extraordinary courage, stubbornness, and fortitude. Everyday domestic life in 1790s England, the perils of the Terror in revolutionary France, and the rigors of travel in Scandinavia are all rendered in convincing detail. Especially compelling is Mastro’s imaginative rendering of the inner life of Mary Wollstonecraft, her choices, tribulations, and moral certainties.”                                              

—Carolyn Korsmeyer, author of Charlotte's Story and Riddle of Spirit and Bone