Like People in Novels

Like People in Novels is a literary mystery, childhood friendship story, delayed romance and love letter to libraries, Edith Wharton, New York City and the private myths people build around books. It moves between 1993, 1999, 2008 and 2009, following three main figures whose lives are permanently altered by one glittering object: Edith Wharton’s diamond-studded golden cigarette case, stolen from the New York Society Library during an exhibition opening.

The prologue takes place in August 2008. Henry Lawrence, now a medical resident and recently engaged, has unexpectedly reunited with Franny Maples after nine years. They sit in Central Park drinking cheap white wine, and the old pull between them returns immediately. Henry suggests, half-jokingly, that they break into the apartment of Tilly and Hazel Rhinelander, elderly descendants of Edith Wharton, because he has heard the missing cigarette case might be hidden there. Franny agrees. They enter the Fifth Avenue building, search the dusty apartment, find nothing, and decide their next stop must be the Library itself — the place where their friendship began and broke apart.

The novel then goes back to 1993. Franny is eleven, bookish, sharp and lonely, living with her glamorous, chaotic mother Linda on York Avenue. Linda is a struggling actress and serial social climber, always chasing samples, men, auditions and proximity to wealth. Franny has won a writing contest whose prize is membership in the New York Society Library. Linda goes with her to the Library, partly because she smells opportunity. There Franny first sees the Wharton cigarette case, newly delivered for an exhibition curated by associate librarian Meghan Cobb.