The House of Fortune

Viac o knihe

In Amsterdam, 1705, Thea Brandt celebrates her eighteenth birthday amidst turmoil at home. Her father, Otto, and Aunt Nella are locked in constant arguments over their financial struggles, selling off furniture to cling to their family home. As the household teeters on the brink of collapse, Thea finds solace in the city's playhouses. The performances captivate her, but the real joy comes from stolen moments with her secret lover, Walter, the chief set-painter, who crafts the worlds of their theatrical escapes. Their hidden romance provides a thrilling distraction from her troubled home life, yet it also reminds her of a painful secret: her birthday marks the anniversary of her mother Marin's death during childbirth. Thea’s family avoids discussing this tragedy, as well as the mysterious "miniaturist," a figure shrouded in secrecy with the ability to reveal hidden truths. Aunt Nella believes Thea's salvation lies in marriage, pushing her to seize an unexpected invitation to an exclusive ball. However, when a parcel containing a miniature figure of Walter appears on her doorstep, it becomes evident that someone has a different fate in mind for Thea and her family.