Edmonia

For readers of Vanessa Miller, Sheila Williams, Victoria Christopher Murray and Tracy Chevalier, the story of an unconventional woman who overcame adversity to create enduring tributes in stone to her race and times. The life of pioneering Black Neoclassical sculptor Edmonia Lewis – from the Civil War-era Midwest to Boston’s abolitionist circles, to Rome’s expatriate community – is resurrected in this stunning debut biographical novel.

“I plan to be a sculptor, to memorialize forever the great men and women of my race, and those who have fought for our cause.”

At the age of 8, orphaned, precocious Wildfire seems fated to a life of toil selling her handmade crafts to Niagara Falls tourists alongside her Ojibwe aunts. But Wildfire’s older half-brother, Samuel, has been making other plans for his gifted sibling. Soon, she is set on a new trajectory—and with it comes her birth name, Edmonia, and a revelation about her true origins.

Ensconced at the home of a trusted benefactor while Samuel makes his fortune in California, Edmonia flourishes—despite her abhorrence for etiquette lessons. Privately nurturing artistic ambitions, she advances through the abolitionist’s prep school and lands at Oberlin College. But at Oberlin lies a devastating trap: Edmonia is accused of poisoning, nearly fatally, two friends, with tainted wine.

What ensues is a headline-making trial, a vicious attack by a white mob—and a bold journey that will lead Edmonia from a crucial introduction in Boston to a vibrant community of celebrated expatriate women artists in Rome, and encounters with such distinguished figures as President Ulysses S. Grant, Pope Pius IX, and Frederick Douglass.

Still, Edmonia’s success is plagued by stinging critiques, potent racism, and haunting self-doubt. She must decide, too, whether to abandon her romantic entanglements, or devote herself to bringing to life her visions of beauty and justice—and hopefully, forge her place in a rapidly changing world.

Praise for Edmonia

“With masterful storytelling and rich historical detail, Brianne Baker captures the remarkable journey of Edmonia Lewis, a sculptress who defied the constraints of race and gender in pre-and-post-Civil War America. From a tumultuous education and life-threatening challenges to artistic freedom in Rome, Lewis created iconic sculptures of figures like Cleopatra, Ulysses S. Grant, Frederick Douglass, and freed slaves, symbolizing liberty and justice. Baker’s compelling portrayal celebrates a trailblazing artist who overcame immense obstacles to carve her name into history.” —Diane C. McPhail, USA Today bestselling author

“Brianne Baker's Edmonia brilliantly captures the spirit of its extraordinary protagonist—a Black and Indigenous sculptor who defied the bounds of her time. From selling crafts at Niagara Falls to creating masterpieces in Rome, Edmonia Lewis's journey is a testament to unstoppable talent and fierce resilience. Baker brings to life a true American original who refused to let racism, sexism, or scandal dim her artistic fire. A remarkable debut that will move and inspire you!” —Amanda Skenandore, award-winning author of The Second Life of Mirielle West

“This is one of the most gripping stories I’ve read in years. It will hold your attention from the first page to the last. Edmonia’s courage and determination are an inspiration. Readers will praise Brianne Baker because she is a remarkable storyteller! —Mary Monroe, New York Times bestselling author

Brianne Baker is an author and professor who has taught courses in academic and creative writing at Columbia University and New York University. After graduating from NYU with a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she earned an MFA from Columbia University, where she received both a University Writing Fellowship and a De Alba Fellowship for fiction writing. She lives in New York City with her husband, their son, and their Shiba Inu, and Edmonia is her debut novel. She can be found on social media @briannembaker and at briannebaker.com.

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