The Girl on the Midway Stage: A Novel of Love, Ambition and Scandal at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair

What happens when a young, naive bride meets the Egyptian belly dancers and their enigmatic manager at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair? It changes everything.

Young bride Dora Chambers can't wait to begin her new life in Chicago. It's an exciting time, with the 1893 World's Fair putting a kaleidoscope of new inventions, new cultures, and new ideas on display.

Unfortunately, those aren't the only things on display.

The Egyptian belly dancers' performances are stirring up a scandal, and the distasteful task of enforcing proper Victorian conduct on them has fallen to Dora as part of her initiation into the Fair's prestigious Board of Lady Managers.

But Dora's sensibilities are not so easily flustered by the dancers. She finds herself captivated by these exotic women, and by their enigmatic manager, Hossam Farouk, who makes his mistrust of her known - although his lingering glances hint at something else.

As Dora's eyes are opened to the world beyond her own, she finds the courage to break free of social expectations and self-imposed bondage, and discovers the truth about the desire and passion in her heart.

THE GIRL ON THE MIDWAY STAGE is a lush historical novel rich with authentic Victorian period detail, discovery, and romance that will sweep you up in Dora's struggle to understand herself, her quickly changing world, and her own unique journey to happiness.

*** This title was formerly published by Berkley/Penguin Random House as THE BELLY DANCER ***