(LENOX, Mass., and HUDSON, N.Y.) – Claire McMillan, author of the brand-new novel, “The Necklace,” will discuss her new book at The Mount on Thursday, August 10, at 3:30pm, and at Spotty Dog Books, as part of the free Volume Reading Series, on Saturday, August 12, at 7pm.

McMillan’s “The Necklace” was inspired in part by family heirlooms: McMillan’s husband’s great-grandmother’s scrapbook of Roaring Twenties house parties and volumes of a great-uncle’s letters and journals chronicling his 1907 trip around the world. A six-month stay in India and McMillan’s past experience practicing law also inform the book, a tale that alternates between women of two generations — a bewitching Jazz Age beauty and a young lawyer who inherits a spectacular Indian necklace, along with an even more valuable secret.

McMillan is a board member at The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home in Lenox, and “The Necklace” was completed during a Writer-in-Residence stay there. She is also the author of “Gilded Age” (2012), a modern retelling of Wharton’s “The House of Mirth,” set in contemporary Cleveland.

McMillan holds an MFA in creative writing from Bennington College and describes herself as “a recovering attorney.”

 

Early praise for “The Necklace” includes:

“Glittering, Gatsby-esque. . . . McMillan expertly weaves the narratives together in an emotionally resonant, captivating tale of love, loss, and family secrets that culminates in a satisfying finale.” — Publishers Weekly

“In McMillan’s charming new novel, the historical narrative shines . . . and the modern setting crackles with wit, as Nell outmaneuvers her kin with ease and maybe finds true love herself. Kate Morton fans will enjoy.” — Library Journal

“McMillan weaves a complex and compelling narrative that balances intensity and levity. Written with wit, compassion, and a meticulous attention to period and cultural detail, the novel is satisfying for those seeking a romance, a historical drama, or a rags-to-riches tale.” — Kirkus Reviews