Landscape of a Marriage

This was a great story based on real people on a start of a marriage of convenience that turned to love. within it there were losses heartbreak and pain but love was what sustained their marriage and family. Great dialogue but I think that some real life American events were glossed over. Overall a good read.

A marriage of convenience leads to a life of passion and purpose. A shared vision transforms the American landscape forever.

New York, 1858: Mary, a young widow with three children, agrees to marry her brother-in-law Frederick Law Olmsted, who is acting on his late brother’s deathbed plea to “not let Mary suffer.” But she craves more than a marriage of convenience and sets out to win her husband’s love. Beginning with Central Park in New York City, Mary joins Fred on his quest to create a 'beating green heart' in the center of every urban space.

Over the next 40 years, Fred is inspired to create dozens of city parks, private estates and public spaces with Mary at his side. Based upon real people and true events, this is the story of Mary’s journey and personal growth and the challenges inherent in loving a brilliant and ambitious man. I didn’t want to put this one down!… A beautiful, intricately woven story,

Landscape of a Marriage is a historical fiction novel based on truth. The story is told from the perspective of Mary Perkins Olmsted, wife of Frederick Law Olmsted. Fred is the creator of Central Park as well as many other famous parks and venues. When dealing with a visionary genius such as Fred, the wife and family play an important role. This tale is no exception.

The historical facts sprinkled throughout the tale make this mesmerizing reading. Widowed Mary travels from Europe to the United States with her young children. When she turns to her brother-in-law for help, she never expects him to marry her for convenience. This marriage turns to love and endures many trials and tribulations over the expanse of years.

Mary works diligently to keep the family together and help her husband with his dreams and projects. Taking place in the 1800s, it’s not always easy for a woman to make decisions and get respect for her work.

While tragedy strikes often within the family, Mary does her best. When she does succumb to a bout of depression, her children and best friend Anne are there to help.

The everlasting friendship between the wives of two brilliant men and business partners is a testament to both women. They may face rocky moments in their friendship, but it endures.

Fred and Mary’s relationship with their children encompasses expectations and learning to let go. Even through tragedy, family is everything.

I had not heard of Fred Olmsted before I read this book. Since reading it, I have found references to him everywhere. I even saw him as a clue on Jeopardy recently.

The story is entertaining and educational. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read and review Landscape of a Marriage.

I enjoyed the historical aspects of the book. The life of Frederick Law Olmstead , landscape architect and public administrator. On the onset, it appeared to be a marriage of conveience that turned into a romantic love affair. I particularly enjoyed the information regarding the city parks and how they were developed and designed.
Thank you NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A fictionalized account based on the true life of Fredrick Olmstead. The author's husband is a distant cousin of the Olmstead couple in the book. The description....a life well lived.....seems to fit this couple, both their romance and their efforts to landscape and beautify parks across the United States. It is an absolutely fascinating look at their lives that made me research to find more and that's what a good book, good story should do. The book contains a little bit of every genre you could list, so it should interest and educate any and every one who will read it.