About this ebook
She was born in the slums of Five Points. She was supposed to marry well, keep quiet, and disappear into the shadows of Victorian society. Instead, she picked up a needle and changed history.
IRON & INDIGO is the spellbinding untold story of Maud Stevens, America's first female tattoo artist. Set against the gritty backdrop of nineteenth-century New York, this historical novel weaves together art, rebellion, and the hidden lives of women who dared to defy convention.
Maud's journey takes her from the squalid tenements of the Bowery to the glittering heights of the 1893 World's Fair, where she fights to prove that tattooing is not a crime but an art form worthy of recognition. Along the way, she faces the wrath of the Temperance Union, the jealousy of male competitors, and a forbidden romance that could destroy everything she has built.
Based on extensive historical research, IRON & INDIGO brings to life a forgotten chapter of American history. It is a story of courage, resilience, and the power of art to heal, transform, and endure.
Why readers love this book:
For fans of Victorian historical Novel — atmospheric, immersive, and meticulously researched
For lovers of strong female protagonists — a woman who defied society's expectations and carved her own path
For those fascinated by the history of tattooing — an authentic look at the art form's early days in America
For readers who appreciate LGBTQ+ representation — a tender and heartbreaking love story that could not be spoken aloud
Perfect for readers of:
The Gilded Hour by Sara Donati
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Circe by Madeline Miller
Praise for IRON & INDIGO:
"A masterpiece of historical fiction. Maud Stevens is a heroine for the ages." — Historical Novel Society
"Meticulously researched and beautifully written. This book will stay with you long after you turn the final page." — Booklist Starred Review
"A gripping, heart-wrenching story of a woman who refused to be invisible. Unforgettable." — Readers' Favorite
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About the author
Melissa W. Beasley is a historian and writer whose work focuses on the forgotten women of American history. She holds a master's degree in American Studies from Columbia University, where she specialised in the social and cultural history of the nineteenth century. Her research interests include the history of tattooing, the lives of working-class women, and the intersection of art and identity in the Victorian era.
Melissa was born and raised in New York City, and she has lived in the city for most of her life. She grew up in the neighbourhoods that form the backdrop of her work, and she has always been fascinated by the hidden histories that lie beneath the surface of the city's streets. She spent much of her childhood exploring the archives of the New York Public Library, reading the letters and journals of the women who had lived in the city before her.
The idea for Iron & Indigo came to Melissa while she was researching the history of tattooing in New York. She was struck by the absence of women from the historical record, and she began to dig deeper, searching for the stories that had been overlooked. The more she researched, the more she realised that there were many women who had worked as tattooists in the nineteenth century, but their stories had been largely forgotten. She decided to write a novel that would bring their stories to life, and Iron & Indigo is the result.
Melissa is also the author of The Women of the Bowery: Stories of Survival and Resilience in Nineteenth-Century New York and Ink and Identity: A Cultural History of Tattooing in America. Her work has appeared in a variety of academic journals and popular magazines, and she has been a featured speaker at conferences and literary events across the country.
When she is not writing, Melissa enjoys exploring the streets of New York, visiting museums and archives, and spending time with her family. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Thomas, their two children, and a very old cat named Dickens.
Melissa is currently at work on her next novel, a story set in the world of early twentieth-century vaudeville, which explores the lives of women performers and the challenges they faced in a male-dominated industry.
