The Mill of Lost Dreams: A Novel
The immigrants and disadvantaged who worked in the mills in 19th-century America faced long hours and difficult working conditions. Troy Mill in Fall River, Massachusetts, is where each of the characters pursues a new and better life. Guido and Angelina emigrate from Italy, young Miranda and Francois flee oppression in Canada, newly orphaned twins Phoebe and Charles arrive from Ireland, and Annie, orphaned at birth, escapes the convent where she was raised.
The harsh life in the mill, especially for the children, isn’t obvious in the characters’ lives, however. There is mention of Guido developing lung disease, but eleven-year-old Annie is given a desk job when she is hired, and the hard work life of the thirteen-year-old twins isn’t shown. When Troy Mill burns down and lives are lost, people’s grief is very evident, but the oppressive working conditions that contributed to that fire aren’t expanded upon. The focus is more on the characters than historical details.
These well-developed characters are the strength of this novel. For example, Guido’s son, Samuel, makes some selfish and bad choices along with good ones, which shows him as very real and human. The child Annie is a favorite, with lots of spirit and determination in making her way alone in the world. After the fire, Samuel buys and rebuilds the mill, and when Annie is hired, the friendship that develops between them is heart-warming. The pursuit of dreams and the sorrow when those dreams are lost are the themes throughout. I recommend this well-written book for its engaging plot and wonderful characters.
