The Tiffany Girls: A Novel

Written by Shelley Noble

Narrated by Caroline Hewitt

New York Times bestselling author Shelley Noble wows with a gripping historical novel about the real-life “Tiffany Girls,” a fascinating and largely unknown group of women artists behind Tiffany’s most legendary glassworks.

It’s 1899, and Manhattan is abuzz. Louis Comfort Tiffany, famous for his stained-glass windows, is planning a unique installation at the Paris World’s Fair, the largest in history. At their fifth-floor studio on Fourth Avenue, the artists of the Women’s Division of the Tiffany Glass Company are already working longer shifts to finish the pieces that Tiffany hopes will prove that he is the world’s finest artist in glass. Known as the “Tiffany Girls,” these women are responsible for much of the design and construction of Tiffany’s extraordinary glassworks, but none receive credit.

Emilie Pascal, daughter of an art forger, has been shunned in Paris art circles after the unmasking of her abusive father. Wanting nothing more than a chance to start a new life, she forges a letter of recommendation in hopes of fulfilling her destiny as an artist in the one place where she will finally be free to live her own life.

Grace Griffith is the best copyist in the studio, spending her days cutting glass into floral borders for Tiffany’s religious stained-glass windows. But none of her coworkers know her secret: she is living a double life as a political cartoonist under the pseudonym of G.L. Griffith—hiding her identity as a woman.

As manager of the women’s division, Clara Driscoll is responsible for keeping everything on schedule and within budget. But in the lead-up to the most important exhibition of her career, not only are her girls becoming increasingly difficult to wrangle, she finds herself obsessed with a new design: a dragonfly lamp that she has no idea will one day become Tiffany’s signature piece.

Brought together by chance, driven by their desire to be artists in one of the only ways acceptable for women in their time, these “Tiffany Girls” will break the glass ceiling of their era and for working women to come. 

This historical fiction novel set in the Gilded Age of New York City is a perfect gift for any woman interested in art, history, or strong women breaking the glass ceiling of their era.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: May 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9780063252462

Shelley Noble

Shelley Noble is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Whisper Beach, Beach Colors, and The Tiffany Girls, the story of the largely unknown women artists responsible for much of Tiffany’s legendary glasswork, as well as several historical mysteries. A former professor, professional dancer and choreographer, she now lives in New Jersey halfway between the shore, where she loves visiting lighthouses and vintage carousels, and New York City, where she delights in the architecture, the theatre, and ferreting out the old stories behind the new. Shelley is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Historical Novel Society.

Reviews for The Tiffany Girls

[Becki Basley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An interesting story about the Women who worked for Tiffany, famous for his Windows and lamps. It covers not only their work but how they most likely lived. Very interesting and well written book

[vinessa killingsworth · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book was OK. I felt like it focused too much on the art side of Tiffany’s artwork.

[Adrienne Kemp · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful listening! Holds your interest all through the book, warmly written!

[cheryl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent story and so captivating. Love fiction with true events included.

[Donna Larson Christian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

i have totally LOVED the story. Very well written and read. I could just step into the story and see it all come to life. Thank you for sharing your great talent with the world.....I sure will keep reading your books.

[Andrea Author · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In 1899 Manhattan, the female designers and artists of the Tiffany Glass Company work diligently to create stunning art glass for the Paris World’s Fair. Emilie, secretly the daughter of a Parisian art forger, crosses the ocean to start a new life. Roommate Grace lives a double life as a political cartoonist. Meanwhile, division manager Clara struggles to keep her girls on schedule and on budget while designing a new signature piece. Together, these artists forge a new path for working women.

I've long been a Shelley Noble fan, so it's no surprise that I loved this book. The style and tone are a perfect fit for historical fiction. The story is smart, intriguing, and emotional from start to finish. The characters feel like real people.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[amy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Learning about how women worked for Tiffany and made the glass was fascinating. The extracurricular stories about the women made the story move slowly during the middle of the book.

[kate clark · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful historical fiction. Well crafted characters and fascinating story. I really enjoyed reading this book and learning about Tiffany glass design and construction!