The Colony Club by Shelley Noble

It’s 1902 and Florence “Daisy” Harriman could have chosen to live solely as a Gilded Age socialite, as she is married to a rich banker. While she is an accepted member of the New York and Newport ruling class, enjoying her privileges, she is also a social reformer and suffragist, and later a diplomatic envoy. At the time of this book, loosely based on history, she realizes that the ladies of her acquaintance need an elite club in Manhattan, just as their menfolk enjoy spending time at male bastions such as the Union Club or the Princeton Club.* 

She gathers her affluent friends, which includes Anne Morgan, daughter of the financier, and Ava Belmont (who, in 1895, had bullied her daughter Consuelo into marrying the Duke of Marlborough, who received an enormous American dowry), and begins raising money and support for a ladies club. She even secures the dashing architect, Stanford White, to design the club.

Two other prominent characters are based on real women: Bessie Marbury, a theatrical and literary agent to Frances Hodgson Burnett, among others; and Elsie de Wolfe, usually referred to as her companion. De Wolfe was an actress who had never made it big but had a strong sense of style. She was involved in the planning of the Colony Club’s new space and became its interior designer, before the concept existed. In fact, the author’s note states that she was America’s first interior decorator because it had previously been done by the architect.

“We’ll have various speakers of interest,” Daisy explained. “Concerts, readings, talks on current events . . . We can hold receptions, tea parties, whatever we want. But first and foremost, it will have rooms for members to stay overnight when visiting the city.” Daisy’s remark activated a pregnant pause.

“Without our husbands?”

“Yes,” said Daisy, “that’s the whole point.”

A fictional but interesting character is Nora Bromley, a poor but honest aspiring architect, who manages to get a job with Stanford White. Naturally, she is paid less than the men, works twice as hard, and is harassed by her colleagues. White is too busy to notice or care, with higher profile assignments than the ladies’ club, not to mention the philandering that would lead to his death, so once Nora has proved herself, she gets the assignment of working on the day to day details of the club. She is envious of the affluent ladies who do not seem to struggle, not realizing that Daisy Harriman’s work to improve social conditions is not always accepted by her peers.

This is a very well-researched historical novel and I enjoyed the detail of the design and the furnishings, as well as Nora’s efforts to build a career. However, at times the story seemed very wooden to me. I love historical fiction but perhaps there was too much historical detail in this book, even for me. This was one of the Fall 2024 books I was really looking forward to and I liked it but noticed I kept putting it down and reading something livelier and less earnest instead. Still, I think those interested in the history of old New York will find this appealing.

Daisy Harriman exposed harsh working conditions in New York City's factories, foundries and hotels. After her husband died, she was involved in significant volunteer activity during WWI and FDR named her a minister to Norway in 1937. This meant she was there when Germany invaded Norway during World War II, escaping with other Americans and Crown Princess Martha (and her children) to Sweden. At 92, she was honored by President John F. Kennedy with the first “Citation of Merit for Distinguished Service.”

Title: The Colony Club
Author: Shelley Noble
Publication: William Morrow, trade paperback, 2024
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: Library

This is my first historical fiction review of the year for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.  Thanks to Marg of The Intrepid Reader & Baker for continuing to host this challenge and providing me with some great reading recommendations. 

* According to the New York Times, when Borden Harriman died he was “a member of many clubs,” including the University, Union, Brook, New York Yacht, Piping Rock Knickerbocker, Country, Racquet and Tennis, and Metropolitan!  Of these, I think the Knickerbocker Club was the most prestigious and did not admit women until 1986.

Fun fact: Daisy’s daughter Ethel was in a long-term relationship with British novelist Pamela Frankau, after a wartime marriage in 1918 that did not work out.