The Chaperone
by Laura Moriarty
Historical Women’s FictionSet in the early 1920s, the book tells the story of a journey to New York City of Louise Brooks, who became a famous silent movie actress, and her chaperone Cora Kaufman Carlisle. Louise Brooks was a real person, and you can read about her life here:But the story is mainly about Cora, whom I assume is a fictional character. She chooses to accompany the free-spirited Louise to NYC because that’s where she was born. Cora was taken as a three-year-old to an orphanage run by nuns, and she was later sent west on one of the orphan trains where she was adopted by a couple named Kaufman. The flash backs to her past story are quite interesting. Once in NY she tries to learn who her birth parents are.That’s all I will say. Cora’s story is far more compelling and complicated than I anticipated from a teetotalling middle-aged Kansas housewife. I enjoyed most of the book, but found the ending dragged out too long.

The book was made into a movie of the same name by the creators of Downton Abbey. I watched it on PBS.

Elizabeth McGovern plays Cora, whose name was inexplicably changed to Norma for the film. Haley Lou Richardson played Louise Brooks.

I liked the movie. McGovern does a good acting job, despite the fact that she’s about 20 years older than the character she plays. The movie captures the heart of the story, and mercifully, ends sooner. I thought the script was pretty good.

I recommend both for fans of historical fiction, although I wouldn’t fault anyone for not quite finishing the book.

Linda

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