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Tiny Little Thing
Beatriz Williams

G P Putnam and Sons
06/23/2015 / ISBN 9780399171307
Romance / Historical – 1966 / Aristocrats / & Mystery

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Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams is a superb read. It combines politics, mystery and romance within a historical background. It is a character driven story line driven by the issues of the mid-1960s, including political intrigue, the controversy of the Vietnam veterans, and the treatment of women.

The story alternates between the years 1964 and 1966. The reader becomes engrossed in the family dynamics. The narration switches between the main female character, Christina (Tiny) Hardcastle’s 1966 perspective and Major Caspian (Cap) Harrison’s 1964 outlook. The plot begins with Tiny’s husband, Frank, attending the Medal of Honor Ceremony for his cousin Caspian. Frank sees this as a valued photo-op, which will help his run for Congress in Massachusetts. Intertwined in the political plot line is a mystery involving a photograph sent to Tiny and a car found in the Cape Cod shed of her husband’s family. Throughout the rest of the book readers become part of the character’s lives, being transported into the 1960’s era, as they try to solve the secrets along with the characters.

The plot reminds readers that during the 1960s women were still marrying for prestige, and their life was based on their husband’s ambitions. The book explains why Tiny is so submissive: taught to be posh, polished, and always proper. Since she was the oldest she was expected to live up to her mom’s ambitions. But as the story progresses she gains strength. Realizing that she does not have to conform to what is expected, a world where wives have little say, she allows herself a different fate. Tiny questions why she is staying in a loveless marriage, how her miscarriage has affected her, and what she can do to escape this unhappy life.

Williams noted, “As I wrote in the book, during the 1960s miscarriage was not an issue talked about much. Now it is given a lot more attention. I thought about Jackie Kennedy who also struggled with fertility and was expected to give birth to the perfect child. I am also very conscious that women of my generation have tended to have babies in their 30’s. It seems that fertility problems are much more on the radar screen.”

One of the most fascinating characters is Major Caspian, who is modeled after John Wayne: strong, silent, a hero, masculine, and honest. He becomes Tiny’s savior who is trying to escape living the perfect facade. Initially she has no say in her marriage, expected to be the perfect political wife. Together with her husband they are seen as the ultimate power couple: intelligent, rich, and attractive. They must both live up to their parent’s expectations. But with the help of her sister Pepper Schuyler, she gains strength and fights for her independence.

This novel is a fascinating look at the personality of politics. As someone who considers themselves a historical novelist, Williams stated, “The 1960s presented the friction between the traditional and the modern, which included intense social, political, economic, and artistic change. There was the choice of being married to your job or your man, but not both. Political wives had a specific role. I call it the “maniquinization” of the American female. We expect our political wives to dress and act in a certain way. Just look at Kate Middleton who acts in a lady-like manner and is judged by what she is wearing. Of course, Jackie Kennedy became a symbol for the celebrity politician’s wife, starting that culture. John and Jackie Kennedy were the visual image of perfection. She was the Queen to his King.”

A supporting character, Tom, plays the antagonist to Caspian protagonist. The issue about how US soldiers were treated when they returned home from Vietnam is explored in depth. Tom is constantly putting Cap down for enlisting and fighting in Vietnam. Throughout the book he makes disgusting references to the Major, “I can’t sit here and eat dinner with these people. You fat, satisfied pigs who give medals to fucking murderers.” Yet, it is the Major that grabs the reader’s sympathies.

There is also a shout out to wounded warriors in the dedication and through Caspian, a paraplegic who lost a leg during the war. William’s writes, “To all those who return from war not quite whole and to the people who love them.” The story allows the reader to understand the sacrifices those serving have made for their country.

Tiny Little Thing is a fascinating look at wealth, love, power, ambition, and to what length family members will go to protect each other. The historical events in the book are intertwined perfectly within the lives of the characters that make for a realistic and gripping story.

Reviewed 2014
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