
The Three Lives of Mary Sutton
A Novel
Allyson Johnson(Author)
She Writes Press
Will be published approx. on 10. November 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
979-8-89636-210-4 (ISBN)
Description
For fans of Marie Benedict and Rachel Beanland, this debut novel shows a grittier side of the Gilded Age as two young women struggle to find their own way in 1880s New York, where the cards are stacked in favor of men.
In 1878, young Mame Sutton escapes her oppressive father through a quick marriage to the charming stage manager of a New York theatre, while her younger sister Lizzie makes the same escape by eloping with a young Jewish jeweler. Which sister has made the better choice?
Life for Mame in a theatrical boarding house in 1878 offers new kinds of friendships and unexpected challenges. Through the tales of the theatre workers, she gets a backstage look at the Gilded Age of the Astors, Goulds, and Rockefellers, but she has no share in the freedom given to the ladies of the stage. Her husband’s view of a wife’s role is as narrow as her father’s idea of a daughter’s role was. How can Mame break free?
For Lizzie, marriage into the Cohen family offers warmth and support, but also cultural differences and expectations which she finds hard to master. Her husband, though loving and tolerant of her mistakes, is financially dependent on his family. Lizzie longs for a life apart from the Cohen world.
When disasters shake their worlds, can the sisters help each other onto new paths?
In 1878, young Mame Sutton escapes her oppressive father through a quick marriage to the charming stage manager of a New York theatre, while her younger sister Lizzie makes the same escape by eloping with a young Jewish jeweler. Which sister has made the better choice?
Life for Mame in a theatrical boarding house in 1878 offers new kinds of friendships and unexpected challenges. Through the tales of the theatre workers, she gets a backstage look at the Gilded Age of the Astors, Goulds, and Rockefellers, but she has no share in the freedom given to the ladies of the stage. Her husband’s view of a wife’s role is as narrow as her father’s idea of a daughter’s role was. How can Mame break free?
For Lizzie, marriage into the Cohen family offers warmth and support, but also cultural differences and expectations which she finds hard to master. Her husband, though loving and tolerant of her mistakes, is financially dependent on his family. Lizzie longs for a life apart from the Cohen world.
When disasters shake their worlds, can the sisters help each other onto new paths?
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Weight
210 gr
ISBN-13
979-8-89636-210-4 (9798896362104)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
approx. 11/2026
Simon + Schuster LLC
€12.85
Not yet available
Person
Allyson Johnson is a native Californian. After majoring in English literature at Stanford University, she had a brief career as a high school teacher and a longer career in sales/marketing with technology companies. For the past twelve years she has written a monthly op-ed column and worked as a freelance stringer for a local weekly newspaper, the Los Altos Town Crier. She also maintains a travel/commentary blog (www.allysonjohnson.com). When not writing she assembles quilts, practices calligraphy, and attacks weeds.Johnson currently resides in Los Altos, California.