House of Dreams - by Kate Lord Brown (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A beautifully written novel based on the true-life story of Varian Fry, called "the artists' Schindler," who rescued thousands of Europe's finest creative minds from certain death in WWII.

In 2000, Sophie Cass, an ambitious journalist, may have finally found her big break. Convinced a celebrated painter in the Hamptons is hiding a dark secret, she sets off to unravel the truth about his past. Her research takes her back decades to 1940, as an international group of artists and intellectuals gather at The House of Dreams, a beautiful villa just outside Marseilles where American journalist Varian Fry and his remarkable team are working to help them escape France. Despite the incredible danger they all face, The House of Dreams is a place of true camaraderie and creativity--and the setting of a love affair that changed the course of the painter's life forever. But as Sophie digs further into his past, she begins to wonder whether some secrets are better left untouched.

Inspired by the real-life heroism of Varian Fry and the volunteers who risked their lives to help save legendary figures like Marc Chagall, Hannah Arendt, and Max Ernst, Kate Lord Brown's The House of Dreams is a lyrically told novel of great courage, love, and the power of art.

Review Quotes

Praise for The House of Dreams

Brown brings a cinematic sensibility to her writing, making the long-ago exploits of Fry and his cohorts pulse with life, with an ever-present sense of danger looming overhead. There is much to admire about this novel and its strong cast of characters, most of all its portrayal of the cost--and legacy--of real courage. --Booklist (starred review)

Brown (The Perfume Garden) sheds a literary light on the unsung heroes of the ARC... [A] nicely written and worthy read. --Library Journal

[A]n exciting read with many characters you find yourself rooting for. Some sweet romances will also tug at your heart strings and a lot of action will keep you turning those pages to a bittersweet ending. All that and a beautiful cover that adds to a very pleasant reading experience. Bravo! --Fresh Fiction

Praise for The Perfume Garden

"At its core, this is a love story celebrating both romantic and parental love, a tale that fans of romantic women's fiction will enjoy." --Booklist

"The Perfume Garden swept me along with its interlinked stories of love and loss, heroism and hope. Beautifully written and researched this is an intensely atmospheric read, and a hugely enjoyable one." --Isabel Wolff, international bestselling author of A Vintage Affair

"Sweepingly romantic ... heartbreaking at times; a vivid, gripping read." --Katherine Webb, international bestselling author of The Legacy

"I found myself bewitched by The Perfume Garden ... a deliciously winding narrative that takes us into the heart of battle, the locked rooms of family secrets, and the alluring promise of finally finding true love." --Good Housekeeping (UK)

"The novel is beautifully constructed, with the characters' individual experiences gradually weaving together, and the events of the past unfolding to reveal aftershocks in Emma's present... Brown's pacing is exquisite, revealing each twist slowly and deliberately, leaving you gripped to the end." --The Bookseller (UK)

About the Author

KATE LORD BROWN is the internationally bestselling author of The Perfume Garden, which was shortlisted for the UK Romantic Novel of the Year. She won a BBC International Radio Playwriting Competition, Middle East region, was a finalist in ITV's The People's Author competition, and has an MA in creative writing. She grew up in Devon, England, and currently lives in the Middle East with her family.