The Red Coat

A Novel of Boston

By: Dolley Carlson

Narrated by: Christina Delaine

Length: 16 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Think Downton Abbey, set in the heart of Boston.

Irish domestic worker Norah King's decision to ask her wealthy employer, Caroline Parker, for an elegant red coat that the Beacon Hill matriarch has marked for donation ignites a series of events that neither woman could have fathomed. The unlikely exchange will impact their respective daughters and families for generations to come, from the coat's original owner, marriage-minded collegian Cordelia Parker, to the determined and spirited King sisters of South Boston, Rosemary, Kay, and Rita. As all of these young women experience the realities of life - love and loss, conflict and joy, class prejudices, and unexpected prospects - the red coat reveals the distinction between cultures, generations, and landscapes in Boston during the 1940s and '50s, a time of change, challenge, and opportunity.

Meet the proud, working-class Irish and staid, upper-class Brahmins through the contrasting lives of these two families and their friends and neighbors. See how the Parkers and the Kings each overcome sudden tragedy with resolve and triumph. And witness the profound impact of a mother's heart on her children's souls. Carlson brings us front and center with her knowing weave of Celtic passion - both tragic and joyful - words of wisdom, romance, humor, and historical events.

©2018 Dolley Carlson (P)2019 Tantor

Fun read

Fun read, you will enjoy the book immensely. Loved the historical accuracy of all the old places around Boston.

Loved every minute

I am 2nd Generation Irishman. This is the best Audible Book. It was as if I was hearing a conversation between my Nanny Mulvihill and her Sister Auntie Bridgie! The way they said “Jesus, Mary and Joseph” in their Irish brogues. I totally related to the Southies and felt the pain of how too much drinking by the husbands led to breaking the family ties.
Cordelia on the other hand was very proper living on Beacon Hill. When her husband died I thought she flourished and was creative in her shop and renting rooms to men one of whom became her husband.
Norah was the principal character with all of her wisdom that she passed down so beautifully to her children and beyond!
I have already recommended “The Red Coat” to a friend who is in another book club.

The Catholic Church is the real star not the coat!

I ended up listening to this book at double speed just to get it done. I don't think the coat was very prominent and only devout Catholics will see this book as 4 stars. the church was more of a star than the coat!

loved it

fun read for those who grew up in an Irish Catholic family in the 50's

Wonderful story

Brings back so many of my childhood memories. Loved remembering my years growing up near Boston.

Took me back in time

Wonderfully narrated story, aptly capturing multi-generational Boston Irish-Catholic living through the eyes of mothers, daughters, wives and sisters.

Excellent!

Beautiful generational story of growing up Catholic in South Boston ( 40s - 50s) with excellent narration. Each chapter typically ends with explanations of Catholic devotions, religious practices, and other pertinent background info which fleshed out the time period. Hated to see it end! Narration is best I have ever heard!

A Family Saga

I really enjoyed this book, which contained lots of close family ties, colorful views of Boston, development of many characters in the story. The narrator was one of the very best I’ve ever heard. Her accents were excellent, and really made the story come to life. I never got tired of listening to her. We’ll done!

Despite time problems, a lovely book…

…with a standout character: the red coat. If you can ignore inconsistencies in timing and aren’t frightened off by a LOT of Catholicism and unfair rules, this book is a pleasure. I’m sure Bostonians would enjoy it even more.

The true star is the narration by
Christina Delaine. She’s fantastic.

what a read

This was undoubtedly the best book I have ever listened to on Audible. The story was amazing , the narrator was wonderful. This book held my attention from start to finish. I was sad when it was over. So many interesting facts were quoted, and the families who the book was about became real people to me.