An American Beauty: A Novel of the Gilded Age Inspired by the True Story of Arabella Huntington Who Became the Richest Woman in the Country

“Mrs. Huntington, known for her hunger for only the very best—the very, very best—of any earthly thing that might be imagined, had imagined this: this bucolic version of heaven surrounding her home, bursting with birdsong and color.”

In the Prologue, Lucy Clarence from Town Topics visits Belle at her New York residence, “The Homestead.” By this point in her life, Belle is renowned for her refined taste and willingness to create or acquire elevated art and aesthetics. The gardens surrounding The Homestead are no exception, and speak to Belle’s skill with greenery, which is also a recurring motif in the book.

“She hated having to eat breakfast when her body told her it was time for dinner and she wondered, for what had to be about the millionth time, what would happen if she didn’t walk up those steps and through that front door. If she just turned around and…left. Found something different for herself out there in the unknown corners of the world. Something untethered. Something better.”

As Belle returns home from Johnny’s parlor, she dreams of a different life than the one she is stuck in. Belle has been raised a pragmatist by her mother and her circumstances; however, even in the darkest of times, Belle always harbored dreams of a better life. The potent combination of Belle’s willingness to work and make hard choices, and her searing ambition, allows her to eventually realize these dreams.

“Just like Catherine herself, once it had surely graced a house more grand than this. And also like Catherine herself, it endured these less noble times, these less beautiful times, with a sort of solid stubbornness that defied every disaster around the bend.”

Catherine reflects on how the piano that stands in Yarrington House is a reflection of herself. The piano symbolizes Catherine’s elegant past and weary present. It also mirrors Catherine’s adaptability and determination to persevere through tough times, occupying a corner in a boarding house and helping create something beautiful so the family can survive.