The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Author of ‘Lilac Girls’ returns to Ferriday house
BETHLEHEM » A special day celebrating the work of social philanthropist Caroline Ferriday, the inspiration for New York Times bestselling author Martha Hall Kelly’s novel “Lilac Girls” at the Bellamy Ferriday House & Garden, was held July 15.
“Lilac Girls” is based on the true story of Caroline Ferriday and the Ravensbrück Concentration Camp survivors known as lapin (rabbits), whom Caroline championed. This acclaimed debut novel, also available on audiobook, reveals a story of love, redemption and terrible secrets that were hidden for decades.
The Lilac Girls house tour, landscape walk and book signing runs from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. with Kelly.
Experience the Hay, Ferriday’s beloved Connecticut home, through her eyes as you tour her house and enjoy a landscape walk focusing on the Ferridays’ horticultural design and garden history. Caroline and her mother designed the garden to feature the sequential blooming of specimen magnolias, lilacs, peonies, and roses.
Kelly will discuss Lilac Girls, including her research process, and where she took artistic license, and insight into her next book about Caroline and her mother Eliza.
For tickets and information, go to www.ctlandmarks.org or call 860-2478996 x 23. All proceeds benefit the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden.
For more information on Martha Hall Kelly and her work, visit www.marthahallkelly.com.
The Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden is located at 9 Main Street North, Bethlehem. It is open for tours May through October. For hours and more information, visit www.ctlandmarks.org; or call 203-2667596. To reserve tours of the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden for book clubs and groups of 10 or more, call the Bellamy-Ferriday House at 203-266-7596.