by María Amparo Ruiz de Burton
AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER. SHIPS NOV 7, 2025.
Details
by María Amparo Ruiz de Burton
With an insider’s knowledge of the room where it happens and an outsider’s perspective, this novel has a lot to tell us about who we are as a nation today.
On the eve of the Civil War, Dr. Norval returns from his travels out West with big surprises in tow: Lola, a ten-year-old orphan entrusted to his keeping, and her immense fortune. In no time, the pious, upstanding Norvals are lusting for Lola’s riches in a most unbiblical way, while their reaction to dark-skinned Lola herself reveals that their abolitionist beliefs don’t run even skin deep. It’s a uniquely American conundrum, and the Norvals are facile manipulators of their moral code when it’s challenged (almost quite literally) in their own backyard.
Materials + Care
Feel free to judge these books by their covers. And their French flaps. And their high-quality Munken paper. We put a lot of effort and time into making the physical books live up to the incredible stories inside them.
With that said, these books should last a really, really, really long time. Whether you're an annotator and page dog-earrer, or if you prefer your books pristine, our editions were crafted with each reader in mind. The spines lay completely flat without breaking so they'll look good on your shelf for years to come.
Each book comes hand-wrapped by one of our team members (it is usually Pip, she is the best at it.)
Shipping + Returns
We strive to process and ship all orders in a timely manner, working diligently to ensure that your items are on their way to you as soon as possible.
Publisher's note
The books we reprint are from another time and place. Some may contain language, social sensibilities, and racial depictions that are rightly jarring and objectionable, even abhorrent, to the modern reader, as they surely should have been to the readers and writers of the past.
While this note is not intended to serve as a trigger warning, it recognizes that we will not enter these pages equally and that our individual experiences will give rise to different interpretations of and unique interactions with the text. Real engagement is always emotional, deeply personal, and potentially painful.
We trust that you, dear Reader, come to these pages as practiced holders of nuance, ready to sit with the difficult questions that arise from challenging thoughts and texts. It is our sincere hope that we, as a thoughtful reading community, are inspired to engage with one another with curiosity, courage, and respect.
