The Age of Light

A Novel

By: Whitney Scharer

Narrated by: Therese Plummer

Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's Summary

One of the Best Books of the Year: Parade, Glamour, Real Simple, Refinery29, Yahoo! Lifestyle. 

"A startlingly modern love story and a mesmerizing portrait of a woman's self-transformation from muse to artist." (Celeste Ng, author of Little Fires Everywhere)

"I'd rather take a photograph than be one," Lee Miller declares after she arrives in Paris in 1929, where she soon catches the eye of the famous Surrealist Man Ray.

Though he wants to use her only as a model, Lee convinces him to take her on as his assistant and teach her everything he knows. As they work together in the darkroom, their personal and professional lives become intimately entwined, changing the course of Lee's life forever.

Lee's journey of self-discovery takes her from the cabarets of bohemian Paris to the battlefields of war-torn Europe during WWII, from inventing radical new photography techniques to documenting the liberation of the concentration camps as one of the first female war correspondents. Through it all, Lee must grapple with the question of whether it's possible to reconcile stay true to herself while also fulfilling her artistic ambition - and what she will have to sacrifice to do so. 

©2019 Whitney Scharer (P)2019 Hachette Audio

Critic Reviews

"Scharer sets her viewfinder selectively, focusing on her heroine's insecurities as much as her accomplishments as an artist; her hunger to be more than "a neck to hold pearls, a slim waist to show off a belt" is contrasted with her habit of solving problems by simply leaving. The price for Lee is steep, but it makes for irresistible reading. Sexy and moving." (Kirkus, starred review)

"Scharer's stellar debut chronicles the tumultuous working and romantic relationships of photographer Man Ray and model-turned-photographer Lee Miller in early 1930s Paris.... This brilliant portrayal of the complicated couple features a page-turning story and thrillingly depicts the artistic process." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"Scharer's intoxicating first novel..bring[s] a stunning chiaroscuro effect to the saga of a woman transforming herself into an artist." (Booklist, starred review)

Beautifully written; fascinating characters

I knew very little about Lee Miller and Man Ray when I started the book but Whitney Scharer's brilliant writing has left me wanting to know so much more. She was able to effectively paint a picture of these two complicated people and their very complicated relationship. She painted such a vivid picture of 1920's/30's Paris and I only wish the novel was longer and able to track more of the remarkable, and often-times sad life she lived following her departure from France. The narrator, Therese Plummer was fantastic and certainly did the book justice.

Exquisite & verbally full-filling, art for the ears.

This is one of only a few books of the hundreds that I could listen to again. I’ve also purchased a hardcover. Ms. Scharer paints a beautiful story with words, describing a time-period & a relationship/love affair of that time. Pay close attention to the details & all the artists & socialites intertwined. Take time as well to review the photography of Lee Miller on line - thousands of them. Stunning.

Ready for this One to End

This one just did not do it for me. Can't put my finger on exactly what it was but I looked forward to the last page so I could move on to Daisy Jones & The Six (which rocked!)

Couldn’t finish- awful reading and story was meh

I got up to chapter 14 but struggled and finally bailed. Mainly, the performance was way over the top dramatic… the reader reads as if EVERYTHING is SO EXCITING- even the most banal things. It’s so distracting and maybe I would have kept on otherwise but it drove me crazy.

Manic Historical Fiction RomCom

As far as a more "chick-lit" historical fiction, it wasn't bad, but it was still a bit too manic and dramatic for my taste.

What I liked:
Progressive women's views for the time
Sexually positive
The names of relevant artists and authors and figures that popped up
Touching on the theme of PTSD

What I didn't like:
The plot and main character are shallow and manic
A bit too overly dramatic
Took a long time to tell a story that is pretty much conjecture

This book could be adapted to a movie, and I think it would do be one of those rare acceptions where the movie is better than the book.

Fantastic Book

I loved this audiobook book. I was going on vacation to Paris and wanted to listen to something that took place in Paris and would give me a feel for it. This did exactly that and in such a vivid and engaging way. I knew virtually nothing about Lee Miller and Man Rey. The historical fiction made this an especially interesting story. The writer is great. The reader is great. This book exceeded my expectations and I am sorry I have finished it. It will definitely stick with me in terns of mood, tone and story!

Read it

The story was great but the entire book was whispered I did not like the narration.

Not historical fiction

Not a lot of historical info. Perhaps can be labeled as historical porn? Just not my cup of tea.

I fell hard for this book!

A wonderful, beautifully told novel about an artist struggling to find her voice and her freedom. It’s a deep and pretty entrancing character study - I finished it in three days!

Interesting story, but annoying reader

Really dislike the reader from the very beginning. Too sweet and over acting. Very annoying reader.