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Fiona Davis’ latest novel, The Magnolia Palace, takes readers on a journey through time, exploring secrets, betrayal, and murder in one of New York City’s most impressive Gilded Age mansions.
Set in two distinct eras, the novel features a cast of complex characters whose lives become intertwined by fate and circumstance. In this blog post, we will provide an in-depth analysis of the major characters in the novel, exploring their motivations, conflicts, and transformations.
From Lillian Carter, the once-sought-after artists’ model turned private secretary, to Veronica Weber, the modern-day model who stumbles upon hidden messages in the Frick Collection, we will delve into the intricacies of each character and their impact on the story as a whole.
Join us as we explore the world of “The Magnolia Palace” and its unforgettable characters.
Plot Summary
Book Club Questions
Characters List
Quotes
The Magnolia Palace Characters
Lillian Carter (Angelica)
The protagonist of the 1919 storyline in The Magnolia Palace is Lillian Carter, who is 21 years old when the novel begins. She has recently lost her mother, Kitty. Lillian works as a model for sculptors, including posing nude under the pseudonym “Angelica,” which makes her a sought-after model for sculptors across New York City. Although Lillian takes pride in her work, she faces the double standard of society, where people appreciate the art but stigmatize the models who made it possible. Throughout the novel, Lillian’s story arc focuses on her experience as a model. She starts proud of her work, and though she ends her arc with that same pride, she spends most of the middle of the narrative hiding her career due to social shame and fear of retribution.
Lillian is characterized as smart, ambitious, and resourceful by talking her way into a job as Helen’s private secretary and escaping the police twice. She is a round character who doubts her abilities but has the confidence to persist in her goals. She considers herself a critical part of the artistic process and challenges societal notions of a woman’s place. As a private secretary, Lillian finds she rather likes being in charge and discovers that the skills she developed as a model serve her in her new capacity. Lillian is adaptable and able to translate her old profession’s skills to her new one.
Lillian is also compassionate, as shown in her relationship with Helen. Despite Helen’s lack of affection towards her, Lillian continues working for her after Mr. Frick’s death to support her through her grief. She is discerning and supportive, encouraging Helen to follow her passion for the library. Similarly, Lillian replies to Helen’s question about whether she is the “marrying kind” by saying she wants to make her own way in the world. Lillian’s pride in her career is one of the reasons that society’s dismissal of Angelica hurts so much.
Lillian’s arc is defined by her journey towards being recognized for her artistic contribution and feeling respected and validated. She has spent her life being shamed for her work, to the point that she avoids all the statues of herself when she goes to New York later in life. In the end, Lillian finally receives the respect and recognition she seeks when a statue of her is given a prominent place in the Frick Collection tour, including information about her contribution.
Veronica Weber
Veronica Weber’s tale unfolds in 1966 when she’s just 18 years old, hailing from London. She has a twin sister named Polly, who has developmental disabilities and lives in a home due to financial difficulties. Veronica’s primary objective at the outset of the novel is to earn enough money to bring Polly back home.
Her modeling career takes off by chance when an agent discovers her in her uncle’s pawnshop, all thanks to her distinctive haircut. Although modeling isn’t her lifelong goal, she takes the opportunity to bring her sister home. When modeling doesn’t work out, she embarks on a quest to find the Magnolia Diamond, driven by her unwavering determination to provide for her family.
Veronica displays resourcefulness and insightfulness, traits that Helen acknowledges when she says, “You’re a smart lady. You helped solve a mystery that had long stymied my family” (328). Over time, her character develops more empathy, and her single-minded ambition broadens to include other priorities.
Despite the temptation to steal the Magnolia Diamond, her conscience prevails, and Joshua’s opinion of her matters. Ultimately, Veronica’s story depicts her transcending the 1919 societal norm of a woman’s place, bringing Polly back home, pursuing a fulfilling career, and, like the other characters, following her passion to become an archivist.
Joshua Lawrence
Joshua Lawrence is a young intern at the Frick Collection who finds himself locked in the mansion overnight with Veronica. He holds an undergraduate degree in art history from Brooklyn College and hopes to pursue a graduate degree at Columbia University. Joshua’s parents are highly educated individuals – his mother is an artist, and his father is a history professor at Brooklyn College. They named him after Joshua Johnson, the first documented Black artist in America, which influenced his decision to become an art historian. Joshua feels the need to please his parents, but he also follows his passion for art history.
In 1966, Joshua faces a unique set of challenges, caught between the highly educated world that his parents inhabit, where he is tolerated by the white majority, and the world of young Black people that is “burning up.” Joshua’s experiences underscore the theme of societal double standards, highlighting the toll it takes on individuals. He faces racism in the art world, where people assume he is the janitor rather than an art historian. Despite this, Joshua stays true to his passion and defies societal expectations of what a Black man should be professionally.
Joshua serves as Veronica’s moral compass, and she values his opinion. He is a thoughtful, kind, and understanding individual who forgives Veronica’s impulse to take the Magnolia Diamond. Joshua’s character is a reminder of the need for understanding, compassion, and breaking down societal barriers. While Veronica and Lillian subvert society’s views of a woman’s place, Joshua shatters societal expectations of what a Black man should do and be professionally.
Helen Clay Frick
Helen Clay Frick, also known as Miss Helen, is the daughter of the wealthy steel magnate Henry Clay Frick. When the story commences in 1919, she is 31 years old and unmarried. Helen shares her father’s passion for the Frick Collection and decides to forego marriage to dedicate her life to establishing the Frick Art Reference Library. Her unmarried status challenges the societal norms of a woman’s role in 1919, which troubles her parents, and almost leads her to marry Richard Danforth to please them.
Helen’s social awkwardness prompts Mr. Frick to hire Lillian to help her connect with Richard. Despite this, Helen possesses intelligence, competence, and a diligent work ethic, which was evident in her time with the Red Cross refugee camps during World War I. The experience was significant to her since it was the first time she felt like a contributing member of society. Helen’s unwavering passion for hard work and usefulness, combined with her love for art, leads her to establish the reference library as her life’s work.
In 1966, the reader witnesses the culmination of Helen’s decisions in the 1919 storyline, as well as the results of her hard work in the finished library. However, although Helen has a distinctive personality and a vital role in the story, she remains relatively static. From the beginning, she is idiosyncratic, demanding, stubborn, generous, and passionate, and these traits persist until the end. Her purpose as a character is to propel the plot forward and underscore the themes of passion, pleasing a parent, and a woman’s place.
Henry Clay Frick
Henry Clay Frick amassed his wealth in the steel industry in Pittsburgh before constructing his residence in New York City. As depicted in the novel, he was an imposing and magnetic figure, with piercing blue eyes, a well-groomed beard, and a substantial build. Despite his age, he exuded the energy of a much younger man. Frick’s demeanor towards his family and staff vacillated between bullying and kindness.
Frick carried a weight of guilt over his mistreatment of his eldest daughter, Martha. For two years, she suffered from swallowing a pin, and he was angry and impatient with her during that time. Since then, he has held himself accountable for her misery and passing. Although Frick accepted Childs, his only son, he disdained Childs’ scientific interests, and Helen could never measure up to her deceased sister. Frick’s daughter Lillian recounted how he made her feel small or inadequate through his bullying ways, which also extended to others.
However, Frick was not a one-dimensional character and exhibited instances of great kindness. For example, when Lillian stumbled upon him in his study one night, she anticipated a harsh outburst, but instead, he gazed at her kindly, even with watery eyes. Frick was also passionate about art and his collection. Nevertheless, his character was ambiguous, and it was not always evident whether he was a protagonist or antagonist in the story. This ambivalence reflected how the author aimed to portray Frick’s actual legacy, which contained both positive and negative aspects.
I hope you enjoyed this detailed character list from The Magnolia Palace. Happy reading! ❤️