Exalted Objects

by Jane D. Cairns

Editor's Pick - BookLife - "Brothers, magnates, and responsibility power this smart, humane historical novel."A railroad tycoon must choose between his brother's freedom and his own ambition-before one wild act shatters both their lives.
In 1869 New Hampshire, railroad magnate George Stark faces an impossible choice: commit his eccentric brother Will-poet, prankster, and zookeeper-to an asylum or risk his career and family name after a disastrous train crash and public scandal.

Rewinding to 1846, this sweeping historical novel follows the Stark brothers on diverging paths. George's ambition propels him into the heart of America's railroad boom, while Will's restless spirit transforms the family estate into a sanctuary for exotic animals and ideas. As the Civil War looms, their contrasting lives highlight the tension between order and creativity, ambition and freedom.

Torn between duty and compassion, George must decide whether to sacrifice his brother's freedom or embrace the creativity that once united them. A moving meditation on ambition, forgiveness, and family, this novel brings a forgotten chapter of American history to life with wit, heart, and unforgettable characters. Perfect for fans of historical fiction exploring the price of progress and sibling bonds.

Genres: Historical Fiction

281 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 15, 2026

Reviews

[Charlotte Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This historical fiction book leapt out to me when I was looking through possible ARCs to read. I was intrigued by the premise and I always like to hear about less well known parts of history. The book begins in 1896 when George has to decide whether or not to commit his eccentric brother Will to an asylum, at the risk of his brother or at the risk of the family reputation. The book starts out strong and I was very intrigued to see where it was going. Medicine, particularly mental health care, was mostly guess work at this point and historically was actually quite barbaric and harmful. In the beginning, I could really feel George’s concern and anxiety about how to help his brother. The book then flashes back to the years before this moment, with his Will’s graduation (or expulsion) from boarding school and all the ensuing events. One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the vocabulary! I learned several new words, including “sybarite”, which is a great word and also is just fun to say. I have read a lot so when I come across an author who challenges my vocabulary, I am often impressed. Unfortunately, I think the pacing of the story was a real challenge and I didn’t end up finishing the book. I struggled to stay interested and although the book is written in first person, I think the prose often felt stilted and formal. Like I said, I find the concept very interesting and the beginning definitely hooked me but I was bummed that it didn’t hold me on until the end.
I am grateful to HTF Publishing who gave me the chance to read this advanced copy through NetGalley.

[Tim Schooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel, set pre- and post-Civil War, paints a complex portrait of a family coping with a changing world just outside of the violent conflict. With beautiful imagery and penetrating character analysis, the writing draws you in and holds you like any great page turner.

The novel is at its heart a story about two brothers and their complicated relationship. The author cleverly uses first person point of view for one and third person for the other. The diction and vocabulary of the first person brother, the sober and upstanding George, is so pitch perfect that I felt I knew him and could hear him talking in my head. The third person brother, William, a lawyer, poet, and libertine, is finely etched and so well depicted in his nonconformist nature as to seem a very modern figure.

When the author nonchalantly dropped Walt Whitman into the story, I had to cheer. And cheered again when Abe Lincoln appeared. And I kept on cheering at the abundance of poetic turns of phrase and clever insights.

Beautifully written and deeply researched, this is a great novel that deserves a wide reading.

I was privileged to be provided an advance reader copy of this novel.