I like history, so I like historical fiction. Okay, so maybe that doesn't always follow. I don't think Art likes historical fiction at all. Or fiction, much, for that matter. Anyway, this book is about the time of the design and manufacture of Tiffany lampshades. I had no idea that they employed a department of women to do the lampshades, stained glass windows, desk sets, etc. The women were considered to have smaller hands and more delicate movements for the very delicate work. Only single women were allowed to work in the department in this pre-voting rights, pre-equal rights, pretty much pre-any-kind-of-rights for women. The female workers also had to fight the prejudice of the male workers who thought they should be at home and leave the work to them, even though they worked on a totally different sort of work. The descriptions of what they made were wonderful. You could almost see them.
The one drawback to the book: it tackles every major social issue in the 10 years or so that it covers. It felt a little like Forrest Gump. Every new chapter brought something new to confront: women's rights, labor unions, poverty, racism, homosexuality, etc. It was a bit much sometimes. A busy book but still good.
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