Remember the Ladies
by Gina L. Mulligan
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Pub Date May 18 2016 | Archive Date Sep 07 2016
Description
Growing up in an orphanage prepared Amelia Cooke for the high-stakes role of a female lobbyist surrounded by the egos of the 1887 Congress, a time before women had the right to vote. Her success in the isolating male arena comes from using the tactics she’s learned from those who oppressed her. So when she’s hired by the National Women’s Suffrage Association to help pass a proposed constitutional amendment granting women’s voting rights, Amelia feels empowered to at last win a place for herself and give all women a voice in the world. What she doesn’t foresee is the charismatic and calculating Senator Edward Stillman who threatens to ruin her hard-earned reputation and end her career.
Edward Stillman is desperate for status and power among Washington’s Old Guard. To gain control of the most dominant committee in the Senate, Stillman must crush the women’s amendment and anyone else in his way, including Amelia. He’s driven, clever, and willing to exploit any advantage. But in a political game where bribery, threats, extortion, and seduction prevail, each player must decide just how low they are willing to let the fight go. Who will win? And at what cost?
Set in the extravagant Gilded Age, Remember the Ladies explores the conflict between the sexes with delightful writing and elegant descriptions, which brings the reader back to a time when the struggle for women’s equality had just begun.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
“Gina Mulligan’s…narration brings to life the story of one woman’s determined opposition to turn-of-the-century paternalism. For Amelia Cooke, winning the vote for women was a consuming — but not her only — passion.”
— C. Michael Curtis, The Atlantic
“In Remember the Ladies, Gina Mulligan weaves a tale as captivating and unpredictable as the back-room political deals forged by her colorful cast of characters. While their deceptions and ruthless plotting keep the pages turning, the true heart of the story lies in their connective need to be heard, and to matter—sometimes at any cost. A memorable debut novel about loss, identity, and the paths that very often lead us back to where we began.”
— Kristina McMorris, New York Times bestselling author of The Pieces We Keep
“Compelling from the first chapter on—I couldn’t put it down.”
— Tina Cole, actress My Three Sons
“A riveting tale of courage and perseverance, Remember the Ladies transported me to the tantalizingly complex world of the Gilded Age. I fell for the brave and resourceful Amelia on the very first page, and you will, too. An absolute pleasure to read.”
— Kirstin Chen, author of Soy Sauce for Beginners
“This compelling novel tells of one young suffragist’s brave tenacity in fighting for voting rights for women. More than that, it is a story of the struggle for power at the center of politics, and ultimately examines the question of what’s really important. It’s an engaging read all the way through—but you will especially love the ending!”
— Ann Tatlock, award-winning author of Once Beyond A Time
“Gina Mulligan’s Remember the Ladies is an inspired work of historical fiction. Complex, fascinating, and utterly original, Mulligan’s novel will enrich your perception of the Suffragette movement, and keep you thinking for days. An intriguing story, superbly told.”
— Renée Thompson, author of The Plume Hunter and The Bridge at Valentine
“A thoroughly delightful and engaging read, local debut author Gina Mulligan’s Remember the Ladies takes the late-1880s suffrage movement out of the history books and brings it to life through female lobbyist Amelia Cooke, whose ambition and political acumen will make you root for her, even as you’re rooting for Edward Stillman, her primary opposition, a man who’s equally adept at working the system. Tension-packed, with richly drawn characters involved in careful dances of seduction, extortion and back-door dealmaking,Remember the Ladies is a page-turner that will transport readers back to the Gilded Age in Washington, D.C., with its fashion and etiquette—and its stifling inequities.”
— Krista Minard, editor, Sacramento magazine
Marketing Plan
Major Print Publicity; Online Publicity; Regional Publicity - Folsom, California; Social Media Campaign; Author Appearances in Major Cities
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781432831769 |
| PRICE | $25.95 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Bonnye Reed F, Reviewer
I received a free ebook of this title from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you, Gina Mulligan and Netgalley, for sharing your work with me.
We follow Amelia from her entry into a orphanage at the young age of 4 or 5 in 1861 Montana, through her emancipation and work in a steam powered cotton mill in central Arkansas. Amelia is fired after speaking out when a coworker looses her hand, and deciding she has nothing more to loose, she heads for Washington DC and makes her way through the reels of red tape and layers of glass ceilings to become the first woman lobbyist. A fine window on politics in the 1870 - 1880's, and of women's struggle for a place in our nation's politics.
A very quick read, and interesting in many ways. I would recommend to anyone with an interest in government, the coming of age of DC, and the battle of women to get a toehold in the governing of our country.
françoise v, Reviewer
Orphaned at a young age, Amelia Cooke may not have had an easy start in life, but she is a bright little girl. She wants to learn, expand her mind and find her place in the society of her time, during the Gilded Age. At 18, she leaves the orphanage and starts working in a factory, discovering the harsh realities of her new world. She desperately wants to change her life, have an impact to improve the life of others and prove women are capable of handling complex jobs.
How to do that ? By becoming a lobbyist, to influence political decision making ! Amelia has the nerve to ask the help of Sam Ward, the “King of the Lobbyists”. Fascinated by her sharp mind… and ability to attract men’s attention, he accepts her as his apprentice.
During a conference, Amelia meets state senator Edward Stillman, a young politician promised to a bright future, thanks to his family connections. She is very attracted to him, but soon discovers that Edward is not looking for a relationship with her, he is just using her. From this point on, Amelia and Edward will become adversaries. Edward is ruthless, unscrupulous and rather successful in the political arena. So is Amelia.
To be given a prestigious and lucrative committee appointment, Edward must defeat the women’s voting amendment, advocated by Amelia. He is ready to declare war on Amelia and do the necessary to take her down.
I liked the period and political details that were included into the plot of this story. The author did a good job giving details on the way important decisions for the community were taken, and the role of the lobbyists. Overall, I enjoyed the storyline, it was an easy read. I hoped that Edward Stillman would redeem himself, but this book is not a romance. Amelia’s destiny was indeed extraordinary !
Barbara K, Reviewer
An enjoyable historical fiction novel whose subject is still very fresh and current. How can that be you say? The story follows Amelia Cooke who is left an orphan after her parents are killed in a carriage accident. She is left to grow up in an orphanage, raised by some very strong ladies there. She realizes early on the boys certainly have more freedoms when it come to education and fun and games. When Amelia turns eighteen and is turned out on her own, she find the life of a single woman just after the Civil War a tough one. With the help of the head mistress, she gets a job at textile mill in Arkansas. Amelia finds her single, independent life not very different from living in the orphanage. All the female employees are housed dormitory style in company housing, the work hours are long, the food is scant, and any fun and games are hard to find. She does manage a trip to Little Rock to see the circus and while on the train makes the acquaintance of an older man, Sam Ward. He is like no one else Amelia has ever met. He seems to observe something special about her, an intelligence and keen zest for life. She is determined to get out of her current situation and after trying to stand up to the company bosses when a woman loses an arm in the machinery, Amelia finds herself out of a job and on a train to Washington, DC with all her life savings. Once there she makes it her mission to find Sam Ward and prove to him that she is resilient, smart enough to better herself and self educate herself. Her hard work pays off and she becomes Sam Ward's protégé and one of the first female lobbyists.
I am a big fan of Netflix series House of Cards and here's where the subject matter of Remember the Ladies stays current. It was interesting to read about the workings of the federal government at that time and see that things are still pretty similar today. The back office wheeling and dealing was taking place, even at that time, trading votes for money and position. Amelia finds herself in an enviable position at times, but at others find herself almost a pariah.
As the story progresses Amelia becomes more involved with the suffragette movement which she feels a strong allegiance to, but she also finds herself quite possibly falling for a senator with whom she meets through the course of her work. I enjoyed the author's portrayal of a strong, female character. I found myself mentally cheering Amelia on as the senators, representatives and business men try to take advantage of her and demean her. It gave me a great appreciation for what woman have in this day and age.
I won't give any spoilers, only to say you will learn and appreciate our history, the workings of our government, and all the hard work that went into getting the vote for women.
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