The Age of Light

A Novel

By: Whitney Scharer

Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer

Journey back to 1930's Paris with this historical novel following a woman's artistic journey through life, perfect for fans of the Netflix show Transatlantic and Beatriz Williams.

"A startlingly modern love story and a mesmerizing portrait of a woman's self-transformation from muse to artist." —Celeste Ng, author of Little Fires Everywhere

"I'd rather take a photograph than be one," Lee Miller declares after she arrives in Paris in 1929, where she soon catches the eye of the famous Surrealist Man Ray. Though he wants to use her only as a model, Lee convinces him to take her on as his assistant and teach her everything he knows. As they work together in the darkroom, their personal and professional lives become intimately entwined, changing the course of Lee's life forever.

Lee's journey of self-discovery takes took her from the cabarets of bohemian Paris to the battlefields of war-torn Europe during WWII, from inventing radical new photography techniques to documenting the liberation of the concentration camps as one of the first female war correspondents. Through it all, Lee must grapple with the question of whether it's possible to stay true to herself while also fulfilling her artistic ambition—and what she will have to sacrifice to do so.

One of the Best Books of the Year: Parade, Glamour, Real Simple, Refinery29, Yahoo! Lifestyle

Critic reviews

"Scharer's debut is a rivetingly sexy snapshot of the duo's real-life relationship as it morphs from apprenticeship to partnership to tumultuous love affair."—Kim Hubbard, People

"The glittering bohemia of 1930s Paris, the pastoral boredom of mid-'60s Sussex, the hollowed-out carnage of postwar Europe; all come equally alive on the page, as do iconic figures like Ray and Cocteau and Kiki de Montparnasse. But none breathe more vividly than Miller herself: Fiercely independent but racked by self-doubt, desperate for affection and approval even as she chafed at sentiment, she spent decades fighting to find her voice. It was worth the wait."

—Entertainment Weekly

"Like Paris in the 1930s, Sharer's first novel is a radiant clash of romance and reality"—O, the Oprah Magazine

"She joins such novelists as Paula McLain ("The Paris Wife") and Rupert Thomson ("Never Anyone but You") in a most worthy enterprise: repopulating male-dominated accounts of the past with the many noteworthy women who deserve the same limelight."—Donna Rikfind, Washington Post

"Scharer...skillfully renders an electric version of the city, pulling the reader into the opulence and mystery of the era."—Annabel Gutterman, Time

"An absolutely gorgeous and feminist novel about art, love, and ownership, The Age of Light is truly a work of art in itself, both deeply moving and thrilling. Want to know what it's like to be an artist? Read this astonishing novel and then, like Lee Miller, take time to consider the extraordinary cost she paid to be herself."—Caroline Leavitt, Boston Globe

"Is "woman behaves dangerously, lives wildly" a genre? If so, The Age of Light is its latest poster child. The novel is work of historical fiction about Lee Miller, a Vogue model who became one of the first female war correspondents. In Scharer's plot, Miller travels to Paris where she meets photographer Man Ray, who becomes her collaborator and lover. While most stories about Miller paint her as Ray's muse, this one portrays her as the independent and daring artist she truly was."—Glamour

Scharer's debut is both engrossing and cinematic, a must for readers who enjoy a fictional peek into the lives of real-life artists.—Library Journal

"Scharer sets her viewfinder selectively, focusing on her heroine's insecurities as much as her accomplishments as an artist; her hunger to be more than "a neck to hold pearls, a slim waist to show off a belt" is contrasted with her habit of solving problems by simply leaving. The price for Lee is steep, but it makes for irresistible reading. Sexy and moving."—Kirkus, starred review

"Scharer's intoxicating first novel...bring[s] a stunning chiaroscuro effect to the saga of a woman transforming herself into an artist."—Booklist, starred review

Couldn't stop listening

I would give this book more than 5 stars. The story and performance are just so engaging that I couldn't wait to see what happened. I listened to it in record time (for me). Well done!!

Beautifully written; fascinating characters

I knew very little about Lee Miller and Man Ray when I started the book but Whitney Scharer's brilliant writing has left me wanting to know so much more. She was able to effectively paint a picture of these two complicated people and their very complicated relationship. She painted such a vivid picture of 1920's/30's Paris and I only wish the novel was longer and able to track more of the remarkable, and often-times sad life she lived following her departure from France. The narrator, Therese Plummer was fantastic and certainly did the book justice.

Not historical fiction

Not a lot of historical info. Perhaps can be labeled as historical porn? Just not my cup of tea.

I fell hard for this book!

A wonderful, beautifully told novel about an artist struggling to find her voice and her freedom. It’s a deep and pretty entrancing character study - I finished it in three days!

Excellent

I purchased this book because Therese P won an award reading it. And well she should have. She is such a great reader.

But the book itself is so good. I'm pleased. It's written graciously and descriptively ... The reader gets to know the main character.... to understand the fact that she doesn't know herself. Lee is every woman trying to define herself outside of the men she loves. And Man is deceptively easy in his possession of her. It's really good... you won't regret reading.