{"product_id":"a-thousand-fibers-9781957169804","title":"A Thousand Fibers","description":"\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhatever is going to happen will happen.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEarly spring, 1909, and New York City was gasping over the shocking performances of the diva Mary Garden in the opera\u003cem\u003e Salome\u003c\/em\u003e. Ingrid Winthrop also performed... in the Manhattan Opera Company's chorus... and was exhausted after a lengthy season, but it was her turn to remain and help tidy up the costumes. Task completed, she walked towards the sound of her waiting grandmother's voice and was surprised to see a man sitting with Louisa Winthrop. Ingrid's life was about to change.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe was born Ingrid Winthrop and orphaned at age two.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlthough she was raised by her grandmother, Louisa Winthrop, to be a proper society wife, the young woman had other ideas. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA Thousand Fibers\u003c\/em\u003e is Ingrid's story: her education and musical career; her connection to the opera entrepreneur, Oscar Hammerstein; her eventual, and surprising, marriage; her lifelong friendship with the housekeeper; and the audacious decision Ingrid made which, if discovered, would be considered \u003cem\u003edisreputable and degrading\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLate nineteenth century New York city's opera wars, the difficulties of European immigrants, \u003cem\u003eSteinway Village\u003c\/em\u003e in Astoria, New York, the growth of Chicago, the patriotism and nationalism of the World Wars, and a dozen additional people, places, and events blend in the real and fictional world of Ingrid Winthrop, her family, her acquaintances. Add a healthy dash of serendipity and chance and connection, and \u003cem\u003eA Thousand Fibers\u003c\/em\u003e proves to be a captivating, absorbing read.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSusan M. Szurek\u003c\/strong\u003e is not wholly convinced Fate is an actual contrivance, except between the covers of this novel. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Schuler Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50502317932818,"sku":"9781957169804","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_2229c4ac-f41a-460c-851b-93e9f5e99545.jpg?v=1730775440","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/a-thousand-fibers-9781957169804","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}