Guests on Earth : [a novel]

A New York Times Bestselling Author It's 1936 when orphaned thirteen-year-old Evalina Toussaint is admitted to Highland Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, a mental institution known for its innovative treatments for nervous disorders and addictions. Taken under the wing of the hospital's most notable patient, Zelda Fitzgerald, Evalina witnesses the cascading events leading up to the tragic fire of 1948 that killed nine women in a locked ward, Zelda among them.

Author Notes

Lee Smith is a novelist, short story writer, and educator. She was born in 1944 in Grundy, Virginia. Smith attended Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia.

In her senior year at Hollins, Smith entered a Book-of-the-Month Club contest, submitting a draft of a novel called The Last Day the Dog Bushes Bloomed. The book, one of 12 entries to receive a fellowship, was published in 1968. Smith wrote reviews for local papers and continued to write short stories. Her first collection of short stories, Cakewalk, was published in 1981.

Smith taught at North Carolina State University. Her novel, Oral History, published in 1983, was a Book-of-the-Month Club featured selection. She has received two O. Henry Awards, the Robert Penn Warren Prize for Fiction, the North Carolina Award for Fiction, the Lila Wallace/Reader's Digest Award, and the Academy Award in Literature presented by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

(Bowker Author Biography)

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Library Journal Review

Evalina Toussaint is 13 years old in 1936 when her mother commits suicide and her mother's wealthy lover sends her to a mental institution. Highland Hospital is famous for its progressive and often unorthodox treatment of the mentally ill. Evalina enjoys the musical and artistic programs the hospital includes in its therapy, and eventually she becomes a surrogate daughter to Highland's most famous patient, Zelda Fitzgerald. Smith (On Agate Hill) uses Evalina's story to offer insight into and historical perspective on the treatment of the mentally ill and the social position of women in the first half of the 20th century. Well-researched historical detail blends with fiction to create memorable characters in a unique setting during an interesting era. Emily Woo Zeller's lively narration keeps the listener engaged. -Verdict Recommended for public libraries and fans of historical fiction. ["Those who enjoyed Smith's previous work will certainly appreciate this absorbing book, as will those interested in the history of treating mental illness in the United States and fans of Southern or Appalachian fiction," read the review of the Algonquin hc, LJ 10/1/13.]-Cynthia Jensen, Gladys Harrington Lib., Plano, TX (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review