Solitary Walker: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft
England, 1787. Mary Wollstonecraft is an avowed spinster. At 28, she moves to London to live independently as a writer. With her publication of A Vindication for the Rights of Woman a few short years later, she emerges as a leading figure for women's equality. But when a humiliating faux pas threatens her reputation, Mary travels to Paris to write about the French Revolution, where she unexpectedly falls in love with American adventurer Gilbert Imlay. Her ill-timed affair occurs just as the Reign of Terror begins, and she fears being branded an anti-revolutionary for her writing. Now she must decide whether to leave Paris—and Imlay—for if she stays, she is sure to face a trip to the guillotine. The choice Mary makes alters her life forever.
Readers of biographical fiction will embrace this carefully researched novel about the woman historians widely consider the world's first feminist. Told against the backdrop of Wollstonecraft's incredible rise as a writer, the French Revolution, and a solo journey along the remote shores of Scandinavia, Solitary Walker is the timeless story of a woman forging her own path.
Publication Date: February 20, 2025 / Black Rose Writing
Reviews of Solitary Walker...
“A captivating work of historical fiction, intellectually stimulating and dramatically engrossing... The author’s prose authentically captures the dialogue of the time and powerfully evokes the contradictions that make Wollstonecraft’s legacy so richly complex.”
- Kirkus Reviews
“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