Themes

• Secrets and their consequences

• Family relationships and dynamics

• Impact of loss and grief

• Ethical dilemmas in medicine

• Acceptance and understanding of disabilities

• Power of love and forgiveness

• Journey of self-discovery and personal growth

Setting

The Memory Keeper's Daughter opens in 1964, early in a decade of significant social and cultural change in the United States, including shifting attitudes towards women's roles in society. While primarily set in Lexington, Kentucky, the novel features other locations as the story progresses. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, becomes a crucial setting as it's where Caroline relocates to raise Phoebe. The contrast between these two cities—one a mid-sized Southern town and the other a larger Northern industrial center—reflects the diverse experiences of the characters and the broader American landscape of the time.

As the story spans from the 1960s through the late 1980s, the settings evolve to reflect the changing times. The characters' environments, from suburban homes to music venues in France, serve as a canvas for exploring themes of family, identity, and societal expectations. These varied locations contribute to the novel's rich tapestry, illustrating how place and time shape the characters' lives and decisions.

Characters

• Dr. David Henry: The protagonist, an orthopedic surgeon. He makes the fateful decision to give away his daughter with Down syndrome at birth and keep her healthy twin brother. This impacts every relationship in his life, especially with his wife and son. Over the years, David continues to struggle with guilt and secrets, finding solace in photography. 

• Norah Henry: David's wife and mother to Paul. She grieves the loss of her presumed-dead daughter for years, unaware of the truth. Norah's relationship with David deteriorates over time, leading to affairs and eventually divorce. 

• Caroline Gill: The nurse who assists in the twins' delivery and agrees to take Phoebe to an institution. Instead, she decides to raise Phoebe as her own daughter. Caroline is determined and loving, fighting for Phoebe's rights and happiness throughout her life.

• Phoebe: David and Norah's daughter with Down syndrome, raised by Caroline. She grows up to be a vibrant and loving young woman, defying the limitations others place on her. Phoebe's existence and separation from her birth family drive much of the novel's plot.

• Paul Henry: David and Norah's son, Phoebe's twin brother. He grows up in a household marked by grief and distance. Paul becomes an accomplished musician, pursuing his passion despite his father's disapproval.

• Al Simpson: A truck driver who helps Caroline on the night of Phoebe's birth. He later becomes Caroline's husband and a loving father figure to Phoebe.

• Howard: A man Norah has an affair with while on vacation in Aruba. His character represents Norah's attempt to find happiness outside her troubled marriage.

• Robert: Phoebe's boyfriend, who also has Down syndrome. He represents Phoebe's desire for independence and a full life.

Quick facts

• The Memory Keeper's Daughter spent 122 consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, with 20 weeks at #1. 

• Kim Edwards was inspired to write the story of Phoebe and Paul after hearing about a similar real-life incident involving twins separated at birth.

• The novel is set primarily in Lexington, Kentucky, where Edwards lived for many years.

• The Memory Keeper’s Daughter took Edwards more than five years to write.

• Edwards conducted extensive research on Down syndrome to accurately portray Phoebe's character.

• The novel's title refers to the photographs David collects of Phoebe throughout her life.

• Edwards originally planned to tell the story solely from Caroline's perspective before expanding it to multiple viewpoints.

• The Memory Keeper’s Daughter was adapted into a 2008 Lifetime television movie, starring Dermot Mulroney and Emily Watson.

• The novel has been translated into 38 languages and sold more than four million copies worldwide.

About the Author

Kim Edwards is an acclaimed American author best known for her 2005 novel The Memory Keeper's Daughter. The novel spent an impressive 122 consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller  list, with 20 weeks at #1, and was translated into 38 languages. Her follow-up novel, The Lake of Dreams, also achieved bestseller status and further expanded her global readership.

Born in Texas in 1958 and raised in upstate New York, Edwards pursued her passion for writing at Colgate University and later at the prestigious Iowa Writers' Workshop. Her academic journey culminated in an MFA in Fiction and an MA in Linguistics. Her writing career took flight with her short story collection The Secrets of a Fire King, which was short-listed for the PEN/Hemingway Award. Her short fiction has appeared in publications such as The Paris Review, Ploughshares, and Zoetrope, earning her accolades including a National Magazine Award and a Pushcart Prize. 

Beyond her writing, Edwards has made significant contributions to the literary community as an educator. She has taught in MFA programs at Warren Wilson and Washington University, and currently serves as an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky. Her experiences living and teaching in Asia have infused her work with a rich, global perspective. She continues to work on new projects.