A new Lee Smith book is a must-have for me. And this one, most of which is set in Asheville, was a particular treat. It's the story of 13 year old Evalina Toussaint, a resident of Highland Hospital, a very special and advanced institution in Asheville for mental patients of all sorts.
Evalina is fictional but Highland Hospital is a real place. Scott Fitzgerald's troubled wife Zelda was a patient there, on and off, for many years.
Evalina is intrigued by the enigmatic Zelda and their paths intersect often. Smith has done a wonderful job of blending the known facts about Zelda into her fictional account of Evalina -- who is a fascinating character in her own right. The book presents a close look at Asheville in the Forties and at the mental health care of the time .Zelda perished in a fire at Highland Hospital. The cause of the fire was never determined but Smith weaves into her plot a plausible culprit.But, as always, it's Lee Smith's characters we fall in love with. Evalina speaks with a voice as clear and true as that of Ivy Rowe -- the beloved protagonist of Smith's Fair and Tender Ladies. (And if you haven't read that one, you have a real treat ahead.)
Go to Lee's website for a lot more about the book and how she came to write it -- a compelling story in itself. There's also a video interview with the author -- who is a delight to listen to!