“A septuagenarian making her debut as a novelist sounds singular,” says author Katherine Ashenburg, “but… some of the novelists I most admire didn’t begin writing until they were old. Probably not coincidentally, they are all women. Even now, the shape of a woman’s life often includes child-rearing and child-supporting that demand most of her energies for decades.”

In Sofie & Cecilia, journalist and author Katherine tells the story of a lifelong female friendship, set in the fascinating world of Sweden between 1900 and 1940, just as modern art and Scandinavian modern design were inspiring a creative revolution. Following restlessly creative artist Sofie Olsson, and fiercely private and intelligent curator Cecilia Vogt, Katherine explores the nuances of their relationship as it evolves in unexpected ways, and weaves in fascinating details about European history, sexual politics, and the challenges of talented women juggling marriage, career, and family life.

Katherine has written for The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Life, and many other publications. Her non-fiction books include The Mourner’s Dance: What We Do When People Die, and The Dirt on Clean: An Unsanitized History, which was published in 12 countries and six languages. She is a former CBC Radio producer and The Globe and Mail‘s Arts Books Editor.

Appearing in: Mining the Past, Women’s Work: Fiction

Website: www.ashenburg.com
Book: www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/550386/sofie-cecilia