Book Review: The Blind Contessa’s New Machine by Carey Wallace

Title: The Blind Contessa’s New Machine
Author: Carey Wallace
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
Publication Date: July 8, 2010
Hardcover: 224 pages
ISBN: 978-0670021895
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

An iridescent jewel of a novel that proves love is the mother of invention

In the early 1800s, a young Italian contessa, Carolina Fantoni, realizes she is going blind shortly before she marries the town’s most sought-after bachelor. Her parents don’t believe her, nor does her fiancé. The only one who understands is the eccentric local inventor and her longtime companion, Turri. When her eyesight dims forever, Carolina can no longer see her beloved lake or the rich hues of her own dresses. But as darkness erases her world, she discovers one place she can still see-in her dreams. Carolina creates a vivid dreaming life, in which she can not only see, but also fly, exploring lands she had never known.

Desperate to communicate with Carolina, Turri invents a peculiar machine for her: the world’s first typewriter. His gift ignites a passionate love affair that will change both of their lives forever.

Based on the true story of a nineteenth-century inventor and his innovative contraption, The Blind Contessa’s New Machine is an enchanting confection of love and the triumph of the imagination.

My Review:

Carey Wallace reminds readers how truly beautiful literature can be, in her masterfully written debut, The Blind Contessa’s New Machine. The reader is transported back to 19th century Italy where young Carolina Fantoni describes her childhood, love of nature and solitude, dreams to marry Pietro, and of the odd tinker, Turri, who becomes far more than in the days of their childhood friendship. The day Carolina is to marry Pietro, she knows she is going blind and no one believes her, save her dear friend Turri. Carolina’s life quickly changes and as she loses her sight she gains an internal clarity. Through it all, Wallace provides the reader with beautiful and quite vivid details of what the Contessa is recalling, with breath-taking clarity.
Wallace writes with extremely brilliant imagery, lyrical prose and in depth descriptions of her characters. The novel itself is rather short, yet the story line is quite powerful, endearing and memorable. The Blind Contessa’s New Machine is a story of love, loss, and endurance. I would not hesitate to recommend The Blind Contessa’s New Machine and even though it is a short and quick novel, it would be a lovely one to discuss with a group.

To learn more about the book and the author, please visit Carey Wallace’s website.

I received a complimentary copy of The Blind Contessa’s New Machine by Carey Wallace from Carey Wallace for review. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.