Library Journal
04/01/2015
Toronto native Fishbane, an accomplished playwright, short story author, and now novelist, offers a lighthearted, engaging work of historical fiction about Anna Swan, who was born in a log cabin in Canada in 1846 and grew to be 7' 5" tall. Swan became known as "The Giantess of Nova Scotia" and was a featured celebrity at P.T. Barnum's New York museum while also touring as part of Barnum's "Human Marvels" traveling show. Fishbane renders this rather sensationalist story with gentle humor and warm humanity, handling Swan's relationships with family members, the curious public, and romantic partners with considerable compassion and sympathy. Interwoven with the woman's story is the complementary story of Andorra Kelsey, also very tall (7' 11"), who was brought to Hollywood in 1937 to star in a movie about Swan. This double narrative allows Fishbane to generate some intriguing comparisons and parallels in the lives of these extraordinary women, each having very different experiences with their families and loved ones. VERDICT A genial, appealing celebration of two strong, independent women; recommended for fans of historical fiction. [See Prepub Alert, 10/27/14.]—Patrick Sullivan, Manchester Community Coll., CT