The Bondwoman

"The Bondwoman" by Marah Ellis Ryan is a historical fiction novel that examines love, identity, and social issues through characters such as Judithe Levigne, the Marquise de Caron. Set against a backdrop of American and French societies, the narrative begins with Madame Blanc, who connects the lives of the characters. Judithe reflects on her marriage to Philip Alain and her identity as the Marquise de Caron while Lieutenant Kenneth McVeigh works through social custom in Paris. The characters navigate differences in class and race, revealing the suppression of women's identities while exploring complex relationships across social barriers, hinting at backstories that promise to fully look at these themes.