Virginia Pye's next novel, MARRIAGE AND OTHER MONUMENTS, will be published in February, 2026 by Koehler Books. Here's a bit about it:
In the summer of 2020, as social justice protests and the removal of Confederate monuments rock the city of Richmond, Virginia, the marriages of two estranged sisters also implode. The experience eventually brings them closer, while their husbands conspire in a racial reckoning their ancestors would never have dreamed of. Marriage and Other Monuments shows how secrets within a marriage erode trust, and that for couples to evolve they must be true to who they are as individuals and as members of an imperfect society.
Author Joanna Rackoff has offered these words about it: “Fans of Ann Napolitano and Mary Beth Keane: Buy this novel immediately! An engrossing, timely family saga, Virginia Pye's MARRIAGE AND OTHER MONUMENTS explores complicated truths about race and class—and love and desire—in the contemporary south, shining a brilliant light on the turmoil of 2020 through the lens of history.”
Virginia is also the author of four books of fiction, most recently the novel, THE LITERARY UNDOING OF VICTORIA SWANN. Her short story collection, SHELF LIFE OF HAPPINESS, won the 2019 IPPY Gold Medal for Short Fiction, and one of its stories was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her two post-colonial historical novels, RIVER OF DUST and DREAMS OF THE RED PHOENIX have also received literary awards. Virginia’s essays have appeared in The New York Times, Literary Hub, Publisher’s Weekly, Huffington Post, Cleveland Plain-Dealer, Writer’s Digest, as well as in numerous literary magazines. A graduate of Wesleyan University, she holds an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College and has taught writing at New York University, the University of Pennsylvania, and, most recently, at GrubStreet’s Muse and Marketplace Conference in Boston. She is Fiction Editor for Pangyrus, a literary journal based in Cambridge, and a board member of the Women’s National Book Association, Boston Chapter.
PRAISE for THE LITERARY UNDOING OF VICTORIA SWANN:
“How could I not fall in love with Victoria Swann, the wildly successful lady author who is determined to escape her best sellers? Although she never leaves Boston, Victoria’s story is as full of dangers and dragons as one of her novels. Surely all readers will want to find the bookshop where she works and join the Swann book club? The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann is a captivating and delicious novel.” —Margot Livesey, author of The Boy in the Field
“Packed with interesting story lines exploring gender roles, family relationships and expectations, society’s acceptance of unconventional choices, and the power of individual goals, Pye's novel blends them together to create a powerful context for Victoria’s personal journey. With a full cast of characters representing different viewpoints, there’s plenty of opportunity for consideration of what’s changed or remained the same from centuries ago.” –Booklist
“Known for her affecting storylines and depth of characterization, she fills this novel with those winning attributes as she simultaneously adopts Boston-centric sensibilities of the era, with a plot that’s formal but never stuffy, characters who are appealing but never exaggerated and prose that’s elegant but never pretentious. A rewarding exploration of transformation that despite tribulations leads to triumphs, Pye’s latest validates the life-affirming blessings of courage.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch
“A deftly crafted, thought-provoking, compelling, and fun read from start to finish, The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann fully showcases author Virginia Pye's genuine flair for memorable original characters and an original, narrative driven plot that will have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in historical fiction reflecting the struggle to have women's abilities recognized and appreciated in 19th Century America.” – Midwest Book Review
“The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann is a book lover’s delight—by turns hilarious and scathing in its cultural critique, this meticulously researched novel exposes the unseen and sometimes unsavory underbelly of Boston society and literary publishing. The adventures and dreams of Victoria, a brilliant and irreverent romance novelist from more than a century ago, will resonate with readers today.” —Kerri Maher, International bestselling author of The Paris Bookseller
“Witty, intelligent, and exuberant, The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann is a love letter to all of us who cherish books, writing, and writers themselves. It's also an engrossing and empowering historical novel of liberation that reminds us, with deep resonance, of the many ways in which we are still not free." —Christopher Castellani, author of Leading Men
“Boston on the cusp of the twentieth century and its vibrant literary world are rendered in evocative detail in this entrancing ode to how books can save us. As Victoria navigates her place in society, she learns to live and write her truth at a time when women are mostly un-seen and unheard. Filled with grace, charm, and an acute sense of place, The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann shows us the power of stories to connect, heal, and reveal our hearts." —Marjan Kamali, author of The Stationary Shop and Together Tea
Praise for DREAMS OF THE RED PHOENIX:
"Gripping, convincing, and heartbreaking, Dreams of the Red Phoenix is powerfully evocative of the complexities of life in 1930s China. A real page-turner and thought-provoker--wonderful!" Gish Jen, author of Bad, Bad Girl and The Resisters.
"There's a comparison to Ballard's "Empire of the Sun," but this unflinching look at a brutal era in a faraway place shares truth in its own way." Kirkus Reviews
Praise for RIVER OF DUST
"Terrific, tremendous, wonderful...A strong, beautiful, deep book." Annie Dillard, author of Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
"This is a major work by a splendid writer." Robert Olen Butler, author of A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain
Praise for SHELF LIFE OF HAPPINESS
"These are terrific stories. The deep surprises their characters keep offering each other show a rare understanding of human nature. A joy to read." Joan Silber, author of Ideas of Heaven
"A deeply moving meditation on the complexity and potential generosity of love." Kirkus Reviews
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