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ABOUT IN THE SHADOW OF THE GREENBRIER

A multigenerational Jewish family saga set around the iconic West Virginia hotel, and a deeply poignant exploration of trauma, legacy, and the stories we tell to survive.

Nestled in the hills of West Virginia lies White Sulphur Springs, home to the Greenbrier Resort. Long a playground for presidents and film stars, the Greenbrier sits resplendent, exerting an undeniable force on the town and on the Zelner family. Over the course of ten decades, four generations of the Zelner family, Sol, Sylvia, Doree, and Jordan, each must ask who they are and what they want.

In 1942, young mother Sylvia is desperate to escape her stifling marriage, especially when it means co-running Zelner’s general store while awaiting word of her relatives overseas. When the Greenbrier is commandeered for use as a luxury prison, Sylvia finds her loyalties strained and her heart on the line.

Seventeen years later, Sylvia’s daughter Doree struggles to fit in. Between wrangling her brothers and enduring the indignities of teenage affairs, Doree eagerly awaits the day she’ll leave for college and meet a nice Jewish boy. But when a handsome stranger comes to town and her brother Alan’s interest in the hotel’s underground project puts him and Sylvia at risk, Doree finds her heart violently torn between family and desire.

Inspired by the remarkable yet little-known true events that shaped West Virginia history, In the Shadow of The Greenbrier follows four generations of one Jewish American family in the inevitable clash between legacy and individualism.

Praise for In the Shadow of the Greenbrier

“A stirring coming-of-age tale and gripping family saga set against the backdrop of the famous and historic West Virginia resort. Readers will eagerly follow and root for the generations of the Zelner family as they struggle with their places in a changing world and come face-to-face with dark secrets of the past in this memorable and moving book.” —Pam Jenoff, author of Code Name Sapphire

“Matchar’s debut novel is a richly layered and beautifully written tale that immerses the reader into a sweeping saga set in the picturesque backdrop of the lush West Virginia mountains’ legendary Greenbrier resort, and its fascinating, secret history. Utterly captivating, In The Shadow of The Greenbrier is unforgettable.” —Kim Michele Richardson, author of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

“Emily Matchar brings the iconic Greenbrier Hotel to vivid life through the engaging, heartbreaking, and often harrowing experiences of four generations.” —Diane Chamberlain, author of The Last House on the Street

“With meticulous research and an unerring eye for the nuances of family dynamics . . . In the Shadow of the Greenbrier is a triumph of storytelling and a must-read for lovers of rich, evocative historical fiction.” —Kelly Rimmer, author of The Paris Agent

“A richly detailed and beautifully written family saga, In the Shadow of the Greenbrier intimately explores the lives of characters caught between the past and the present, unsure of what to let go and what to hold fast. Matchar deftly steers us through time, unfolding long-held secrets and weaving them into a story that is at once poignant and a page-turner.” —Kelly Mustian, author of The Girls in the Stilt House

“Emily Matchar’s gripping debut expertly weaves together the fascinating and fraught tale of four generations of a Jewish family. Told with lyrical prose, In the Shadow of the Greenbrier is a heart-rending story of what it means to belong and the impact of long-buried family secrets, at last, coming to light.” —Heather Webb, author of The Next Ship Home

“Careful research, vivid description and a solid historical basis are the scaffold on which this novel is built. But it’s the characters, with all their longings and disappointments, their flaws and their triumphs who will steal your heart and not give it back; they’ll stay with you long after the last page is turned.” —Kitty Zeldis, author of The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights