My novel in progress centers on the romance between the sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and his model/wife Jeanne Emelie Baheux in 19th century France and America. Bartholdi served as a captain and a major in the war, defending his hometown of Colmar and neighboring Belfort. After the war, he sculpted the Statue of Liberty and the Lion of Belfort.

The Franco-Prussian war, which began in August 1870 and ended in May of 1871, was brutal, as all wars are. It was unique in several ways, however. First, it was started by an imagined insult against Napolean III, that was engineered to provoke him into declaring war on Prussia. Second, it created the first airmail service, using hot air balloons to transport letters and carrier pigeons out of Paris and carrier pigeons to transport microfiche replies back to Paris. Third, it created a mass exodus of Parisian artists, many to London, but, in the case of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, to America.

Bartholdi voyaged to America in June 1871 and remained for four months, exploring the entire country by train, and solidifying his choice of Bedloe island for a statue, Liberty Englightening the World.

I am finishing the first draft of this novel, working title Lady Libertie, and hope to publish it in early 2027.