The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann

by Virginia Pye

Set in Gilded Age Boston, The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann tells the story of a successful woman author of romance and adventure novels who becomes a champion of women’s rights as she takes on the literary establishment and finds her true voice, both on and off the page. Everything changes for Victoria Swann when she goes against her publisher’s expectations and abandons her frivolous writing style in favor of telling her own story. This seemingly personal decision causes her to lose her standing with her publisher, her income, and her marriage, as she joins the legions of hard-working young women who have been her most faithful readers. Her new young Harvard educated editor becomes her surprising ally as she fights on behalf of these same women, while he dares himself to become a more liberated, modern gentleman. The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann shows how writing and reading, like all acts of defiance, can liberate us from narrow, constrained lives—and how revision in life and revision on the page are intimately entwined.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Novels, Books About Books, Feminism

323 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2023

About the author

Virginia Pye’s next novel, MARRIAGE AND OTHER MONUMENTS, due out in February 2026, is set in Richmond, Virginia in the summer of 2020.

Her most recent novel, THE LITERARY UNDOING OF VICTORIA SWANN (2023 Regal House) is a love story to writers and readers set in Gilded Age Boston.

She is also the author of two post-colonial historical novels set in China, RIVER OF DUST and DREAMS OF THE RED PHOENIX (2013 and 2015, Unbridled Books).

Virginia's short story collection, SHELF LIFE OF HAPPINESS (2018, Press 53) was awarded the IPPY Gold Medal for Short Fiction.

Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, Literary Hub, Publisher’s Weekly, Writer’s Digest, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, The Rumpus, and elsewhere.

A graduate of Wesleyan University, Virginia holds an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. A Tin House Summer Workshop scholar, teaching fellow at the Virginia Quarterly Review Conference, and a repeat fellow at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, she has taught writing at New York University and the University of Pennsylvania, and, most recently, at Grub Street in Boston.

Virginia is Fiction Editor of the literary journal Pangyrus, a Regular Contributor to Writer Unboxed, and she serves on the board of the Women’s National Book Association, Boston Chapter. To learn more about her, please visit:
www.virginia@virginiapye.com

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was historical fiction -lite to me. It was pleasant enough but had many anachronisms and modern sensibilities that ultimately rubbed me up the wrong way. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

[Andria Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet another book that started out strong but I lost interest about halfway through. I just wasn't drawn to the characters or the story. Dnf'd. 3 ⭐.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through the indestructible character of Victoria Swann, first an author of romance novels, and then a determined writer of realistic women’s fiction. Pye introduces us to the world of late 19th Century Boston literary society. But she doesn’t stop there. This book is a mirror not only of that society, but a lens through which to see our own today. We meet rogue characters like greedy Mr. Russell who attempts to destroy an ancient and highly respected publishing company, and its eager, young editor at the same time. We learn how easily a publishing company can hold writers down while earning a profit from their books. We meet fans and readers of Mrs. Swann and all along this journey, the reader can't help noticing the connections to the present day world of publishing. We root for Victoria from page one. A delightful read.

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨B O O K • T O U R✨

The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann // Released: Oct 3, 2023

#ad I received a gifted copy of this book- all thoughts are mine and mine alone -many thanks @virginiapye @mbc_books #partner

This is a thought-provoking read that explores themes of authenticity, empowerment, and inclusivity. This powerful narrative is imperative to today’s world.

Breaking away from mainstream literary styles Victoria thrives in creating her own style - telling a story how she wants to tell it instead of how her editor wants her to. While this causes some friction, Victoria stands her ground and won’t be told how to conform.

Beautifully written, you’ll be hooked to this story from the start and I’m sure it’s one you won’t soon be forgetting. It will live in your mind for awhile.

Though a historical fiction this book aligns with modern themes - still very much in the modern realm. I loved all the action and antics along the way.

Link to buy in stories - after 24hrs in “books 2 buy” highlight

#mbc_books #historicalfiction #bookstagram #virginiapye #TheLiteraryUndoingOfVictoriaSwann #ireadbooks

[Elizabeth McFarland · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann follows a woman author in Gilded Age Boston. During this time period, women writers were considered less than their male counterparts, and there was a large discrepancy between the amount they were paid. Victoria not only wanted her work to be taken seriously, but she also wanted what she was rightfully owed. This story rings true even now for so many women still fighting for equal pay and respect.

I enjoyed this book for the most part. The plot was interesting, and I liked the writing style. It started off very well, but I did lose interest in the middle.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Lea Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. I admit I felt it was slow getting into but once things started the book moved along well.

The story is set in Boston during the Gilded Age. The details in the book were fantastic.

I enjoyed the heroine and really felt her pain. Women still are not paid equally and I can only imagine how bad it was in this time.

The only slight quibble I have I thought to many social issues were being touched on but not really addressed. It felt like the author had a checklist. I would have preferred sticking to one issue and thoroughly focus on that and let any future books tackle different social issues.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this ARC. The opinions in this review are mine.

[Mairy · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF'ed at 51%.. too slow, it is not peaking my interest, the characters are not appealing,.. it's a no for me.

[Crystal King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Virginia Pye's "The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann" is a captivating exploration of a woman's quest for authenticity and equity in the Gilded Age's literary world. Pye masterfully crafts Victoria Swann, a successful romance author, who defies the expectations of her publisher and society to find her true voice. Amidst the challenges, Victoria's resilience resonates powerfully, making her a character to root for. Tired of writing escapist romances for paltry pay, she switches genres and addresses women's issues in realistic fiction, much to the annoyance of her publisher and husband. Her determination to write meaningful stories blossoms into a fight for pay equity, gaining her unlikely allies and awakening her authentic voice. The novel is a testament to the liberating power of writing and reading, and a delightful celebration of women's strength and determination. A must-read for anyone who appreciates stories of self-discovery, empowerment, and the beauty of literature. Five stars for this thought-provoking, engaging, and thoroughly delightful read!

Thanks Net Galley and Regal House for the early peek at this wonderful novel.

[Tanaz Masaba · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on The Keysmash Blog

While I have sort of stopped reading historical fiction as I grew older, there have been a few rare gems that I do come across now and then. The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann by Virginia Pye is one such amazing book. A love letter to readers, writers, and librarians, The Literary Undoing Of Victoria Swann is an inspiring story about a woman who chooses to defy patriarchy with her written stories.

The story starts out as one woman’s fight for equal pay as a published author, and the simple freedom to write the stories she wants to tell. However, from that point on, The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann by Virginia Pye dives deep into crucial social commentary beyond feminism– there are beautiful, thoughtful explorations of the plights of immigrants and their place in America, and there are conversations about the need for representation for all diverse people, including the LGBTQ community.

I loved the relationship between Victoria and Jonathan. The trust and absolute faith they have in each other, and the way they understand each other despite having very different experiences in life was incredible. I found it particularly amusing how every other character seemed to think that they had chemistry–in fact, even in the pages of the book, they did have chemistry and for a very short while, I too was fooled into thinking Jonathan would become Victoria’s love interest.

But as the story progressed, it became clearer that Jonathan and Victoria had the kind of chemistry that is born of mutual understanding and respect, rather than sexual tension, and I loved the way they both complemented one another as editor and author.

While The Literary Undoing Of Victoria Swann does have a bit of queer romance, it is certainly not the main focus of the plot. In fact, The Literary Undoing Of Victoria Swann actually feels more like a love letter to readers and authors alike , with several plot points focusing on the importance of representation in literature and how the stories we read shape us and help us understand one another with more compassion and empathy.

There’s also a lot of focus on overcoming grief and trauma, with several chapters showing our own character’s struggles with mental health and suicidal thoughts.

In particular, there is one interesting parallel that I cannot help but point out: throughout the novel, a common criticism of Victoria’s novels is that they are very exaggerated, steeped in melodrama, and they all have the same pattern: a hapless heroine with a too-perfect, too charming and luxurious life, followed by a sudden crisis that turns escalates too quickly thanks to a stereotypical mustache-twirling villain–all of that coming right before a rosy, happily ever after that reassures the reader that good will always triumph.

In some ways, The Literary Undoing Of Victoria Swann follows the same pattern too–the story begins by presenting Victoria as a glamorous woman of class, money, and elegance, but we quickly find out how hard she had worked to reach and maintain that lifestyle...only to see just as how quickly they are snatched away from her too. While the ending of the story certainly is not the victory that our protagonist had wanted, it is still a happy ending, one that inspires the reader and leaves them hoping for a better future.

A truly mesmerizing story that celebrates the joy of reading and writing stories, The Literary Undoing Of Victoria Swann is an unforgettable feminist story that I would strongly recommend to everyone, especially for those who are fans of the historical fiction genre.

[Manikya Kodithuwakku · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is my favourite genre - a book about a book/s. In this case, the story revolves around a popular author of romance novels who comes to believe that she needs to write of the reality of her times, as the women’s lib movement gains ground. She needs to explore a new way of writing, a new voice, a new publisher, and new friends and family. And all this she does in good time and this journey makes good reading, but the novel doesn’t explore the real substance behind those decisions. This is where it falls short - one star for a decent plot structure, but not much more than that.

This is really more of a take-on-holiday kind of book, rather than a historical novel because the time and space of the story is given in very broad strokes - and I mean really broad strokes. For eg, a woman entering a party is said to be wearing ‘a dress of the times’ but there’s nothing of what this entails.

The characters are mere caricatures with almost no in-depth exploration of any of the complexities that you’d imagine might be felt and lived by a woman, and a couple of men, who have chosen to go against the grain of the times. This is true of a lot of the other characters too - entire families are introduced, with their back stories in a couple of paragraphs, and then left behind without a second glance. They are not people, but rather symbolic personifications of various non-conformists. Without any real complexity, we go away without really getting to know any of them even by the end of the novel.

Ultimately, this novel’s inability to capture the time and space in which it’s set makes for a very un-memorable story and easily forgettable people. This was definitely not my cup of tea!

** I read an ARC of this novel through NetGalley.

[aishareadsnrambles · Rating 3 out of 5]

REVIEW(3.5 stars)
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
✍️🏻✍️🏻
First of all, I'd like to commend the authors wonderful writing, she did a good job of showing rather than telling. I really loved her description of the scenes. I liked the storyline, but I felt it was underdeveloped. I enjoyed reading about Victoria and her writing journey from Mrs Swann to Miss Meeks. However, I wanted more showing when she finally released her controversial book, The Boston Harbor Girl. The author had been building my interests since the beginning of the book, and it fell flat when she finally released it. I think the whole release of the book only occupied a few pages of a chapter, and I was disappointed. It felt like the main purpose of the book was rushed
✍️🏻✍️🏻
I would have loved a dual timelines showcasing the struggles Victoria went through during her first years of marriage, I was curious as to how she was then and how her husband was.
✍️🏻✍️🏻
Nevertheless, Victoria Meeks/Swann/Byrne was an amazing, strong character. I admire her for fighting for what was hers to begin with. The book was a good one, and I enjoyed it. I just wanted little tweaks here and there. But it's worth your time
✍️🏻✍️🏻

[Nicola Friar · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting idea about the struggles faced by a female author in early 20th century America. The opening is promising but the novel sadly fails to find its feet, getting bogged down with the more trivial aspects of the protagonist's life rather than the bigger trials she faces. There are also too many loose ends and unnecessary characters. Additionally there are too many subplots involving supporting characters and at times the story can't seem to remember who the protagonist is. Although the novel is beautifully written in places, this can't make up for its patchy narrative.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Virginia Pye has woven an insightful and engrossing story from a news story about a woman writer who, exploited by her publishers, took them to court. Victoria Swann’s narrative is the outcome, combining debate about the value of women’s and men’s writing, the way in which romantic novels are described to compare them badly with fictional work that has no romantic narrative, the feminist arguments for women’s right to equal payment and, alongside this, their right to property and how they might be seen as respondents or plaintiffs in a court. Victoria Swann, and in her later iteration, when she returns to her own name, Victoria Meeks is a wonderful vehicle for conveying these arguments. She is a captivating character, with a background that raises even more issues about women’s role, and a warm but strong presence.

Victoria Swann is introduced weathering the remains of winter in the slush and mud of Boston. She carries a carpet bag, which continues to feature as part of her apparel, although her beautiful clothing and smart boots give way to simple country clothing when she returns home, and later, to clothing that reflects her changed circumstances. The change is not only financial, but an indication of the way in which she begins to see herself as an author and purveyor of women’s concerns and demands for equality. Here, when she first appears, she is going to her publisher where she expects to be feted, provided with comfortable seating, delicious pastries of her choosing and tea. She is about to undermine the seemingly favourable circumstances she enjoys as a cosseted writer of bestselling novels, an advice column and shorter, but ever popular ‘penny dreadfuls’.
Victoria Swann plans to change her writing style, having begun a novel that rejects the exciting and exotic environments in which her heroines find true love: she wants to write about women’s real circumstances and has the first chapter for her editor’s perusal. Her plans are thwarted when she is asked to wait and realises that another woman writer is about to become a favourite of the publisher. At the same time, she is expected to produce more adventure and romance novels at an even faster pace.

The account of Victoria Swann’s domestic circumstances is harrowing, but rings true – her marriage, the way in which she entered the marriage and the way in which it has progressed impacts on her writing, ownership of the results of her writing, and her future as an author. Her domestic life becomes even more fraught as she tries to escape her role as Victoria Swann. The descriptions of opium dens and their impact are graphic. Recognition that although women have some property rights these can disappear through a husband’s duplicity and the acceptance by the law that his rights supersede hers, dishonesty associated with her publishers, and her realisation that her royalties have been less than those paid to the male writers who benefit from the popularity of her novels and the income they raise for the publisher are canvassed.
Boston is not the only location in which Victoria faces problems and concerns herself with the issues that impact unfairly on women. She returns to the farm on which she grew up, her childhood memories and the aunt and uncle with whom she has had rare contact. These well drawn characters not only add to Victoria’s story but have valuable stories of their own.

Fiction can make excellent social commentary and Virginia Pye has used her facility with characterisation, good story lines and plotting and use of drama to weave together an engaging narrative. Victoria Swann, and Victoria Meeks both have valuable contributions to make to publishing and Virgina Pye has argued their cases well. Her understanding that ‘women’s fiction’ may be a vehicle for ideas which contribute to women questioning their position makes a solid contribution to feminist understanding. At the same time, she writes a great story that I found illuminating and fun to read.

[Jasminegalsreadinglog · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Stories, as we all know, are woven into the fabric of our lives. Each book we have read and those that some of us have written, create a thicket of recollections and emotions too tangled to unravel in our minds. It is a challenge to parse what was read from what is real in our lives, which only makes our experience of life the richer."

A fictional story inspired on a real woman writer The Literary Undoing of Virginia Swann by Virginia Pye is set in the gilded age. This is a time period when women writers were not considered real writers, and there was a huge discrepancy between men and women.

Virginia Swann, a romance writer, is a huge draw for her publishers, but she herself is not that happy with what she writes. She wants to write real stories, but she is bound by the rules for the society that women have to follow. The rules that gentlemen follow have ripple effects on her life as well many women.

This book is so true even today on so many levels. The discrepancies that women go through in society are addressed in this story. Though initially it was a bit slow, once the story picks up, I could not put it down.

Thank you, Regal House Publishing, for this book.

[Vesna Elizabeth Radoicich · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about an author, who in practice knows confidently who she is and what she wants, but on a deeper level, is still a woman, making new friends and changing her life with every few chapters, while revealing herself more and more to the reader as you turn the pages. it's not the most emotionally deep book I've read, but I really did enjoy it and it pulled my heart strings time to time. Virginia is a very good writer, and I loved how her characters come to life. This book goes through everything that was happening in the gilded age of Boston, in society and behind closed doors, and gives you the story of Victoria, who is in both places, trying to meld them together & give women a voice in society. The book is inspired by a true story, and names & describes places accurate to what they would have been like which I really enjoyed. I had to google lots of sayings, descriptors and style markers but it was fun to learn and be immersed in it. I would recommend this book to someone who wants to go into a world that is slightly quirky, relatively calm, and altogether not so far from the reality of today.

[Aime Card · Rating 5 out of 5]

For lovers of literature and history, The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swan by Virginia Pye is a true pleasure not to be missed. Through meticulous research and rich details, Pye transports readers to the literary world of Boston's Gilded Age where agreements were made in Gentlemen’s clubs with a handshake, leaving even their most successful female writers often overlooked and undermined. Victoria is the writer of dime novels that ladies line up for and swoon over, but she struggles to be taken seriously by so many in her orbit. While Victoria wages a battle over who she wants to become, she has to face her past and confront issues that women still fight today.

From the heights of Cambridge society to the secret opium dens of back alleys, Victoria is forced to navigate even more dangerous territories than the heroines she writes about and face the fact that the required happily ever after of her novels may not even exist. Victoria plainly states, “To be unseen and unheard is a tragedy of the first order, yet women routinely endure it.” And she quickly discovers that her fight is not only her own.

[Dxdnelion · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is quite good, and I enjoyed the premise and the concept of the book. Having an author in a book is something I would always love to read! We get to see the struggle of the author, how they got take advantaged by the company etc. Whilst the book is enjoyable, I also find some part is quite boring and hard to get into. Overall, I would highly recommend it to any historical fiction fans!

[JenniferForsyth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, nice read. Cute even.
Topics were heavy but were not dwelled on and the overall tone was uplifting.
A historical fiction beach read.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful, delicious novel set during the Gilded Age that follows the beloved, sought after Boston novelist Victoria Swann as she takes her novels from wild adventurous fiction in foreign lands to incorporating her own life's experiences where she connects to her faithful readers. She must stand up to the to the culture of male bastion, including her controlling publishers and her demeaning, conniving husband. Although taking place during the Gilded Age many aspects touched upon mirror today's concerns including book banning, respect & equal pay for women, addiction and living as LGBTQ.

[Kris Waldherr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in gilded age Boston, THE LITERARY UNDOING OF VICTORIA SWANN is a charming historical with heft and rapid-fire banter. In a lot of ways, this novel reminded of the screwball comedies of the 1930's; I could easily imagine Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant as the female and male leads. In addition to being a sly look at the publishing industry—the more things change and all that—Pye's novel is beautifully written and a lot of fun. Many thanks to NetGalley and Regal House publishing for the early read.

[Andy – And The Plot Thickens · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Stories, as we all know, are woven into the fabric of our lives. Each book we have read and those that some of us have written, create a thicket of recollections and emotions too tangled to unravel in our minds."

Victoria Meeks is a successful novelist, something that's quite a challenge during the mid-1800s in Boston. She writes romantic adventure books under the pen name, Mrs Swann, featuring heroines who travel to the far reaches of the earth where they get into pickles, and need to be saved by a dashing hero.

But Victoria is tired of writing these books. Instead, she wants to depict reality – social issues that affect women, both ones who are privileged, like her, and those who languish in poverty. She begins to champion women's rights, like the fact that women authors are paid much less than their male counterparts. As she finds her voice on the page (with the assistance of a young and liberal new editor), Victoria also discovers more about herself.

I really struggled with this book. I liked Victoria and I enjoyed the idea of the overall story but the narrative style was just not for me. Basically, it's the 'this happened, then this happened, and then this happened', kind of style. Sometimes the story jumps very quickly between plot points without fleshing out the scenes enough that the reader can understand the characters' motivations. Some crucial bits are kind of glossed over, with just a couple of paragraphs to connect one scene with another.

I found it tough to write this review (I really don't like writing negative ones) because it's often hard to articulate my views concisely. The story is kind of sweet but I don't think that was the intention. I felt like it could have packed a much harder punch, just like the books Victoria want to write instead of her shallow, frivolous ones. Not that the book is silly, it's just that it lacked the kind of depth I would have expected a book with these themes, like gender and class inequality, to have.

[Clifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a mostly light-hearted tale about women fighting back against their marginalization in the publishing world of the late 19th Century. Although women were voracious readers of a certain kind of fiction (romance, adventure) that made loads of money for publishers, the authors were treated poorly and often paid less than their male counterparts who were thought to write "serious" prose. When Victoria Swann gets fed up with the situation, she takes a stand. The book is an interesting glimpse into the Boston of the period.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

"As soon as she was old enough to read she turned to books for companionship...they had saved her as a child and offered her a direction in life." Victoria Meeks, farm girl, seemed to have found her niche in writing in the Gilded Age in 1890s Boston.

Under the pseudonym of Victoria Swann, she penned a series of romance and adventure novels about ne'er-do-wells and their adventures in foreign lands, places she herself had never visited. Following the advice of her editor, she married, giving credence to her writing status.

"I write what they want to read-my readers are shopgirls, widows, seamstresses...young lads who save their pennies for weekly westerns and frontier tales in the thin dime-novel format...but...never before has there been so much frivolous writing and so many uneducated readers." "I've become a cottage industry...predictable...I want to write something meaningful."

In Boston, times were a changin'. "Boston's past was being escorted out by a ruffian and overseen by a rogue." The first change occurred when Victoria's publishing house changed hands. The new publisher did not want to be "bothered" with details (or books), choosing to siphon the proceeds from his most successful author, Mrs. Swann, to pay male writers and to pursue nefarious projects. This new publisher demanded that Mrs. Swann now deliver three romance novels a year as well as an increased number of penny dreadfuls.

Mrs. Swann would choose the path of mover and shaker. "I've become bored with the terrain of hapless women and heroic men in distant lands...but now, I want to write what I please." Her editor called her behavior erratic when she asked him to read the first chapter of her new, different novel based upon her own life experiences-a farm girl in the city. Literary support came in the form of an encouraging new editor and a change to a fledgling publishing house. Mrs. Swann refused to write additional romance novels to meet the demands and deadlines of unscrupulous men. She hoped her readers could soon read her "story that reflects the changing world around them...a new voice to capture their reality..".

The awakening of Victoria Swann was also her undoing. When questioning the mores of the male dominated society of the 1890s, she discovered that publishers did not constrain the works of male authors. Why were women compensated on a paltry scale? Although she received scandalous threats, she spoke to the "new women" who had come from farms to the cities. "She spoke not as the famous Mrs. Swann but as 'their' Mrs. Swann". Women listened.

"The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann" by Virginia Pye shines a light on the plight of women living during the Gilded Age of Boston. Women were expected to follow the guidelines laid out by men, without question. The publishing world took advantage as well, creating an unfair pay scale for Mrs. Swann's novels and penny dreadfuls. She was expected to follow "a formula" to continue
to appeal to the masses of readers. Any change in direction could spell disaster, however, Victoria was no fool. She had the ear of women from all walks of life in this read of historical fiction. Her fans included the daughter of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow! A highly recommended read.

Thank you Regal House Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Dorothy Minor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because my friend Sue, another avid reader, alerted me to download a free copy of The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann by Virginia Pye, I had the opportunity to read the book well ahead of its October publication date. What a delightful novel!
Victoria Swann is the pen name of a quite successful author. She pens happy romances that take place in faraway lands. Sadly, the author, Victoria Meeks, has never traveled outside of MA. Too, she decides that no matter how successful her books are and how much her readers love them that she is doing them a disservice. Her goal is to write more authentic stories.
Alas, her long-time editor discourages Victoria from this notion. He insists that she owes the publishing house another book in the same vein as the previous ones. In fact, he wants to her continue indefinitely writing the same kind of stories.
However, Victoria’s old editor is on his way out, and Victoria receives a new, recent college grad as her editor. While the previous editor refuses to read the start of a new kind of book for Victoria, the new editor manages to get his hands on the only copy and finds himself intrigued by the beginning of the novel.
The story contains several problems for both Victoria and both of her editors because the publishing house is purchased by an unscrupulous, wealthy, businessman. Victoria learns she has been the moneymaker for the firm while being well underpaid for all of her work. Furious, she demands change, but that change comes at a price.
First, she disappears, going to her uncle’s home in Maine and living in a tiny apartment. Her urge to write that new novel continues, and she finds strength in her new surroundings. She completes the novel and discovers Jonathan, the new editor, and his partner, have opened their own publishing firm.
The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann is full of trouble, disappointment, and heartache, but it is also full of success, love, and change. It is a thoroughly delightful story.

[Tonya | The Cultivated Library Co · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

My Thoughts:
The title of this one immediately caught my eye. The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann is about a 19th century author living in Boston. I LOVE books about books and appreciated reading about the ins and outs of publishing during that time period. The mention of other books and authors just made it that much better. Engaging and heartfelt, this is a great read for a cozy, fall afternoon.

"Of course...we readers and writers know the profound way that books help us to understand one another. In the pages of a story, we enter into the lives of people we might not otherwise meet, and we grow only the wiser for it."

About the Book:
At first glance, one might think Victoria Swann has it all. She's a successful romance writer in 19th century Boston. Her editor and publishing house fawn over her every time she visits. She lives with her husband in a fashionable neighborhood in a home she bought. Under the surface, Victoria isn't happy though. Will she be brave enough to let go of Mrs. Swann and start living true to herself?

📚 Read this if you like 📚
• Strong female MCs
• Women's rights
• Found family
• Books about writing and publishing 

[Belinda Lewsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Virginia Pye and Regal House Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There were many relevant themes in this tale that were both realistic and engaging.

The writer Victoria Byrne, nee Meeks, wrote romantic fiction as Mrs Swann during the Gilded Age in Boston. She has grown tired of living through her heroines and longs for something more authentic and true to her. The book examines topics such as abortion, suffrage, and emancipation, and what it means to live by your own beliefs and make your own decisions. This story is well told and Virginia Pye creates some interesting characters in this setting.

As a main character, I really liked Victoria, and it was amazing how well she complemented Jonathan; her new editor. In my opinion, the thing that makes this story so compelling is that there are a number of themes that are still relevant today. It has an engaging plot involving a wide range of complicated characters and I highly recommend it.

[Janereads10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Regal House Publishing, for my free copy in exchange for review.

The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann offers a unique and captivating experience. This intellectually stimulating book delves into the author's journey in writing what truly resonates with them while also exploring the readers' freedom to choose their preferred literary works. It delves into the complexities of critics, self-proclaimed book connoisseurs, and the intricate relationship between authors, editors, and publishers. Furthermore, it highlights the theme of women empowering one another and asserting their rights during a time when they were beginning to gain some control over their lives. Alongside this narrative unfolds an editor's voyage of self-discovery regarding his sexual orientation in a society where gay relationships were still considered taboo.

Although the story may take some time to unfold fully, I encourage readers to persevere as this book is an enthralling adventure that will leave you captivated until its end.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. 4 out of 5 (maybe could have used a bit of editing to tighten up side plots)
I really enjoyed this books about a woman living in late Victorian Boston who writes the equivalent of fantasy adventure novels marketed to working women. When her publisher is bought out, she discovers that her professional life has been manipulated by not only her editor, but also by her n'er-do-well husband, and she decides to fight back. She decides that she's going to write a more realistic book and hopes her fans will stay loyal.
I love the details of Victoria's life, her journey to see her estranged family, and the way she reaches out to make new friends. Her economic and emotional struggles rang true to me, but she had a lot of support from people who believed in her.
I'd recommend this to fans of female-driven historical fiction, and I loved all of the details of Boston that the author had obviously spent a lot of time researching.
Very solid and entertaining (and yes, there are some gay characters, get over this people!).

[WeLoveBigBooksAndWeCannotLie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you been to Boston?☀️
I have briefly, and I would love to go back and see more of this historical city.
I’ve always loved historical fiction and The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann was the perfect book for me. Based in the Gilded Age, Victoria Swann writes romance novels, and her readers love her books! She could continue to write these, but she knows she’s capable of so much more. Her publisher on the other hand doesn’t want to fix what isn’t broken.
As she fights for her place as a real writer not just a woman writing dime novels, she must face more than she ever expected. I adored Victoria Swann, which is really just her pen name, she the strong female lead I always enjoy cheering on.
If you enjoy women’s literature and especially if you like historical fiction, you’re going to want to add The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann by Virginia Pye.
Thank you @mbc_books for this gifted copy!
The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann releases today! You can find this on our Amazon storefront!🧜🏼‍♀️🌺

[Catherine Elcik · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a clever conceit to pen a novel about a Gilded Age romance and adventure writer who first longs for, then strives for and then finally writes a grittier true-to-life tale by using the structure and tone of a novel of that very period. I know Dickens is decades before the period in this book, but The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann felt to me like a much-needed Dicken's update: Pye's pacing is snappy where Dickens can be rambling, her story centers women where Dickens makes them supporting players, and Pye's themes have the benefit of modern sensibilities that Dickens--ahead of his time as he was--could never dream of wielding.

Favorite line: "Stories, as we all know, are woven into the fabric of our lives. Each book we have read and those that some of us have written, create a thicket of recollections and emotions too tangled to unravel in our minds. It is a challenge to parse what was read from what is real in our lives, which only makes our experience of life the richer. “