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As someone who usually finds historical fiction a bit challenging to dive into, The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis was a pleasant surprise, one I couldn’t put down!
The novel beautifully intertwines two timelines—1913 and 1993—within the iconic walls of the New York Public Library, where the Lyons family’s story unfolds in a way that truly makes you feel the heartbeat of the city and its literary legacy.
I visited the library on my last trip to New York, and reading this novel after experiencing it in person made Davis’s setting all the more vivid and captivating.
In The Lions of Fifth Avenue, we follow Laura Lyons, the wife of the library’s superintendent in 1913, and her granddaughter, Sadie Donovan, the head of a special collection at the library 80 years later. Both women find themselves caught up in the mystery of valuable book thefts that unsettle the library and bring to light long-hidden family secrets.
Davis’s choice to focus on the library’s unique history adds a richness beyond just setting the scene. The seven-room apartment where the Lyons family lives for 30 years, right inside the library, becomes a character itself, housing secrets and serving as a safe harbor for books, history, and intrigue.
The book explores some timeless themes around family, identity, and personal empowerment. I was especially drawn to Laura Lyons’s journey. She dreams of being a journalist in a time when few women could break into the field, particularly if they wanted to focus on untold women’s stories.
Laura’s ambitions and her frustrations with societal limits felt authentic and powerful, making her a relatable figure for anyone who has felt drawn toward dreams that seem out of reach.
In addition to Laura’s story, Davis shines a light on the enduring power of books to transform lives, both through the valuable collections within the library and the personal ways that books connect people across generations.
Each rare volume—the Edgar Allan Poe poetry collection, Leaves of Grass, the Shakespeare First Folio page, and Virginia Woolf’s last diary—feels precious and filled with history, and it heightens the stakes of the book thefts.
The Lions of Fifth Avenue does a fantastic job of exploring how family legacies, personal growth, and the courage to be true to oneself remain vital across the years. The story’s message about women’s resilience, the power of knowledge, and the courage to pursue dreams feels as relevant today as it was in Laura’s era.
If you’re like me and find historical fiction intimidating, I’d highly recommend giving this novel a try. The compelling mystery, vivid setting, and empowering story of women finding their voice will draw you in.
And if you ever get a chance to visit the New York Public Library, the beauty and atmosphere will only deepen your appreciation for this remarkable story.
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