The Second Life of Mirielle West

Book cover of The Second Life of Mirielle West

Book description

The glamorous world of a silent film star’s wife abruptly crumbles when she’s forcibly quarantined at the Carville Lepers Home in this page-turning story of courage, resilience, and reinvention set in 1920s Louisiana and Los Angeles. Based on little-known history, this timely book will strike a chord with readers of…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked The Second Life of Mirielle West as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Molly O'Keefe

Author

Amanda Skenandore’s beautiful and insightful novel about a silent film star who was sent to live in a Louisiana Leper Colony in the 1920s. The book is rich and full of surprising historical details. While it might seem like a downer – it is funny and heartwarming, with a beautiful coming-of-age story and romance at its heart. Absolutely fascinating.

From Molly's list on historical fiction NOT set during World War II.

Lynda Rees

Author

This is an intoxicating tale of a little-known, true-life, leper colony in the USA during the glamorous Roaring ’20s, as a silent film star’s wife is forcibly quarantined in the Louisiana institution known as Carville, where thousands of people were stripped of civil rights, branded as lepers, and forcibly detained throughout the 20th century.

From Lynda's list on historical fiction with a touch of conspiracy.