A Promise to Arlette by Serena Burdick

In this episode of Historical Happy Hour, bestselling author Serena Burdick joins host Jane Healey to discuss her latest novel, A Promise to Arlette. Inspired by the bohemian life of Burdick’s grandmother—who was a muse to Man Ray and lived with Henry Miller in Big Sur—the novel blends art-world mystique, postwar trauma, and a rich exploration of female friendship and love. Set in both conservative 1950s Massachusetts and pre-WWII France, the story unfolds through a mysterious photograph and a buried past. Burdick and Healey delve into the research, historical figures, narrative structure, and the emotional weight of returning from war, offering listeners a deep look into the creative process behind this sweeping dual-timeline historical fiction.