Guests on Earth by Lee Smith is a captivating novel set in Highland Hospital, Asheville, where the reader is introduced to Evalina, a musician with a troubled past. The story revolves around Evalina's experiences at the hospital, her interactions with other patients, including the famous Zelda Fitzgerald, and the eventual tragic fire that takes Zelda's life. Through Evalina's narrative, the book delves into the lives of diverse characters, exploring themes of mental illness, relationships, and personal growth. Smith's writing style effortlessly weaves together the historical setting of Asheville and the intriguing lives of the patients at Highland Hospital, creating a rich and engaging story.
From The Publisher:
"Reading Lee Smith ranks among the great pleasures of American fiction . . . Gives evidence again of the grace and insight that distinguish her work." -Robert Stone, author of Death of the Black-Haired Girl It's 1936 when orphaned thirteen-year-old Evalina Toussaint is admitted to Highland Hospital, a mental institution in Asheville, North Carolina, known for its innovative treatments for nervous disorders and addictions. Taken under the wing of the hospital's most notable patient, Zelda Fitzgerald, Evalina witnesses cascading events that lead up to the tragic fire of 1948 that killed nine women in a locked ward, Zelda among them. Author Lee Smith has created, through a seamless blending of fiction and fact, a mesmerizing novel about a world apart-in which art and madness are luminously intertwined.
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