The Incorrigibles

Description

From USA Today bestselling author Meredith Jaeger comes an emotionally resonant novel about two women whose lives intersect as one resists the gentrification of her San Francisco neighborhood, and the other, eighty years earlier, fights for her freedom in nineteenth-century America. . . .

1890, San Francisco. Seduced by her employer’s nephew, Annie Gilmurray, an Irish maid, is accused of stealing the ring he promised her. Sentenced to one year in San Quentin, Annie is heartbroken and frightened among the inmates of the women’s ward: prostitutes, murderers, and pickpockets. But Annie finds beauty and friendship in a brutal place, where the women look out for one another, dreaming of a better life after release. But their world inside San Quentin’s walls is a dangerous one, and when the unthinkable happens, Annie makes a choice that will alter the course of her future forever.

1972, San Francisco. Aspiring photographer Judy Morelli is grappling with the searing betrayal of her husband’s infidelity, subletting a San Francisco apartment while she pieces her life back together. When Judy discovers Annie’s mugshot, she becomes fascinated and invested not just in Annie’s fate but also in the history of her gentrifying South of Market Street neighborhood, joining the fight against redevelopment to maintain its rich community. 

Exploring the different ways in which we are imprisoned and how we can break free, The Incorrigibles is a story of women reaching across the barriers of time, the unbreakable bonds of female friendship, and the forgotten histories of those pushed to society’s margins.Praise for The Incorrigibles:
“I was completely enthralled by this powerful and, at times, gut-wrenching historical fiction about social injustice and female empowerment. With dual timelines set eighty years apart, Meredith Jaeger captivates with the inspiring story of two fierce women whose wills of steel carry them through their struggles for independence and retribution. An emotional, beautiful novel, The Incorrigibles both entrances and illuminates.”—Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of A Friend in the Dark
 
“A story of immense strength and beauty, The Incorrigibles illustrates the way in which women fighting for justice can unite across historical and class divides. A novel for anyone who has ever found themselves a frustrated, lonely voice shouting for what’s right, this book offers one message:  hope. Jaeger is a master storyteller.”—Katy Hays, New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters
 
“The Incorrigibles is a sensitively explored and thoughtfully rendered story showcasing the courage and determination of two strong-but-wronged women from different generations. Jaeger deftly weaves dual timelines so equally compelling that each time the narrative shifted, I was disappointed to see it end. The Incorrigibles is a heartbreaking admonition of women’s oppression, and a hopeful reminder of their resilience and grit. A triumphant tale chronicling the cruel bonds of oppression and the sweeping, invincible bonds of friendship. A captivating read! One of those rare books that both captivates and elucidates. I savored every page.”—Lori Spielman, New York Times bestselling author of The Life List

“Meredith Jaeger’s The Incorrigibles interweaves the tales of two women eighty years apart, both fighting to shape their own narratives and tell their own stories. I adored this impeccably-researched feminist novel brimming with strength and resilience.”—Jillian Cantor, USA Today bestselling author of Beautiful Little Fools

“The Incorrigibles is a sweeping, evocative novel about communities formed in the margins, the connective power of art, and resilience forged in the face of injustice. Meredith Jaeger is a fierce chronicler of resistance who’s offered us an indelible glimpse into two distinct eras in San Francisco—and the hearts of two unforgettable women. I’ll never look at lace again without thinking of Annie and Judy.”—Katie Gutierrez, nationally bestselling author of More Than You’ll Ever Know

“Utterly enthralling, beguiling, and masterfully wrought, Meredith Jaeger’s The Incorrigibles is the must-read historic fiction of 2024. Featuring a propulsive, immersive, dual narrative that weaves together two women’s stories across the boundaries of time, The Incorrigibles is at once heart-wrenching and soul-affirming. Absolutely bingeworthy and transportive.”—May Cobb, author of The Hunting Wives

“In this engrossing and poignant read, Meredith Jaeger shines a light on women who have been forgotten in time, illuminating how injustices we face in the present are so often echoes of those from the past. At the heart of this timely story are two such women who are equally fascinating, flawed, resilient and incredibly complex—as all the very best characters are. With its fast pacing that will have you flipping the pages; important themes that will stick with you long after reading; and rich historical details that immerse you in two incredible time periods, this is one that can’t be missed.”—Brianna Labuskes, author of The Librarian of Burned Books

“Among its many strengths, The Incorrigibles highlights Meredith Jaeger’s knack for creating original stories about resourceful and courageous women. I loved discovering a new angle into San Francisco and its colorful history.”—Elise Hooper, author of Angels of the PacificMeredith Jaeger is the USA Today bestselling author of The Dressmaker’s Dowry, Boardwalk Summer and The Pilot’s Daughter. Meredith was born and raised in Berkeley, California, the daughter of a Swiss father and an American mother. She holds a BA in modern literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and lives outside San Francisco with her husband and their two young children.US

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