An American Beauty Summary, Characters and Themes

An American Beauty by Shana Abé is a historical novel that delves into the life of Arabella “Belle” Huntington, one of the richest women of the Gilded Age. Published in 2023, the novel follows Belle’s journey from humble beginnings to her rise as a powerful figure alongside railroad magnate Collis Huntington. 

Abé skillfully weaves a narrative rich with ambition, love, and societal pressure, revealing the complexities of a woman who defied convention in her quest for wealth, love, and independence. With a backdrop of opulent settings and high society intrigue, the book paints a vivid portrait of a remarkable life.

Summary

The story of An American Beauty is divided into six parts, tracing different stages of Belle Huntington’s life. It begins with a prologue set in 1902, where a publishing house employee named Lucy Clarence visits Belle, now a widow, in New York. 

Her employer is attempting to blackmail Belle with secrets from her past, but Belle refuses to yield to the extortion.

Part I introduces Belle in her youth, working as a “Champagne Girl” in a gambling parlor in Richmond, Virginia. Belle, only 17, catches the attention of Collis Huntington, a railroad tycoon. 

Despite being married, Collis begins an affair with Belle, which her mother, Catherine, encourages. Belle’s family is in dire financial straits, and Catherine sees Belle’s relationship with Collis as their way out of poverty. 

Soon after, Belle convinces her family to move to New York, where Collis sets them up in separate homes, paying Johnny Worsham, the parlor owner, to pose as Belle’s husband for appearances’ sake.

In Part II, Belle grows comfortable with her life as Collis’s mistress. 

They continue their affair despite its growing public visibility. Belle becomes pregnant with their son, Archer, and devises a plan to rid herself of Johnny, who has become a liability due to his drinking. She sends him back to Virginia and tells others he has died. With Collis’s help, Belle starts investing in real estate, trying to secure her future independently.

Part III depicts Belle’s struggle to maintain her position. 

After giving birth to Archer, she faces pressure from Collis’s wife, Elizabeth, who demands Archer be sent away to avoid scandal. Though reluctant, Belle complies and sends Archer to live with her sister in Texas. As a result, Belle demands more visibility in Collis’s life, insisting that they be seen together, albeit discreetly.

Part IV shows Belle’s growing acceptance in high society, though it comes with challenges. She meets Collis’s nephew, Edward, and the two share an undeniable chemistry, but Belle remains loyal to her relationship with Collis. 

As Elizabeth’s health declines due to cancer, Belle is asked to promise to care for Collis after her death. After Elizabeth passes away, Belle takes Archer on an extended trip to Europe, returning to a new dynamic with Collis and society.

In Part V, Belle finally becomes Collis’s wife. They build a life together, though Belle still harbors feelings for Edward. 

Their marriage is strained when Collis’s daughter, Clara, marries a Bavarian prince who attempts to blackmail them using knowledge of Belle’s scandalous past. To secure Clara’s happiness, Collis pays the dowry, revealing painful family secrets, including Belle’s coerced involvement in Johnny’s parlor as a teenager. 

Collis dies in 1900, leaving Belle widowed but financially secure.

Part VI follows Belle as she moves forward in her widowhood. She immerses herself in her philanthropic and personal interests, eventually reconnecting with Edward Huntington. 

The epilogue reveals that Belle and Edward marry in 1913, years after they first acknowledged their mutual attraction.

Characters

Arabella “Belle” Huntington

Belle Huntington, the protagonist, is depicted as a resilient and ambitious woman whose life is shaped by her sharp intelligence and ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Born into a genteel but impoverished family, Belle is forced to navigate a life of hardship early on.

Her mother, Catherine, views Belle as the family’s only hope of escaping poverty, a belief that pushes Belle into an affair with the powerful and wealthy Collis Huntington. Belle is a survivor—she transforms herself from a “Champagne Girl” in an illicit gambling parlor to one of the wealthiest women of the Gilded Age.

She is pragmatic, driven, and deeply focused on securing her future and that of her son, Archer. Despite her circumstances, Belle is not without emotional complexity.

Her love for Collis is layered with practical considerations, and her internal conflict with her feelings for Edward Huntington adds depth to her character. Her decision to avoid Edward, despite their attraction, shows a woman who prioritizes her success over passion.

As Collis’s mistress, and later his wife, Belle strategically navigates high society, while remaining aware of her precarious position as a woman whose past could be used against her. Her journey from mistress to wife highlights her ability to make tough decisions for her future security, despite the emotional sacrifices she must endure.

Collis Huntington

Collis Huntington, a railroad tycoon, plays a pivotal role in Belle’s rise to prominence. From the moment he meets Belle, he is captivated by her beauty and intelligence.

Collis is depicted as a man of power and influence, and though he is already married, his relationship with Belle reveals a softer, more vulnerable side of him. He is generous in his treatment of Belle, providing her with financial security and emotional support, even though his public reputation remains a priority.

Collis is also a practical man, one who understands the social constraints of his time. His marriage to Belle is motivated not only by love but also by the realization that he cannot abandon her after so many years together, especially after the birth of their son.

His willingness to publicly acknowledge Belle, albeit discreetly, shows that he values their relationship more than the potential fallout from society. However, he remains a product of his era, caught between his wife Elizabeth’s demands and his love for Belle.

In his later years, Collis is shown to be deeply committed to Belle, ensuring that she remains secure after his death.

Catherine Yarrington

Catherine Yarrington, Belle’s mother, is a complex character driven by desperation and a fierce desire to lift her family out of poverty. Born into a respectable family, Catherine’s life took a downward spiral after her marriage to Belle’s father, leaving her a widow with five children to care for.

This drives her to make morally dubious decisions, including pushing Belle into an affair with Collis Huntington and allowing her to work at Johnny Worsham’s gambling parlor. Catherine is pragmatic to the point of coldness, prioritizing survival over her daughter’s well-being.

While her actions can be interpreted as heartless, her motivations stem from a desire to secure a better life for her children. She sees Belle as the family’s only chance for salvation and is willing to sacrifice her daughter’s innocence to achieve that end.

Her relationship with Belle is marked by a complex blend of love, manipulation, and dependency, as she plays a crucial role in shaping Belle’s future.

Elizabeth Huntington

Elizabeth Huntington, Collis’s first wife, plays a relatively minor but significant role in the novel. She is portrayed as the wronged wife, aware of her husband’s infidelity but bound by the social conventions of the time.

Her strength and resolve are revealed when she threatens to leave Collis unless Belle’s son, Archer, is sent away. Elizabeth’s reaction to Belle’s presence in her life is both one of self-preservation and acceptance of the reality of her situation.

As she nears the end of her life, Elizabeth’s decision to meet Belle and extract a promise from her showcases her pragmatism. She understands that Collis is deeply attached to Belle, and rather than fight a battle she cannot win, she makes peace with Belle, asking only that Belle remain by Collis’s side.

This final act reveals Elizabeth’s dignity and foresight, ensuring that even in death, she protects the man she still loves.

Henry Edwards “Edward” Huntington

Edward Huntington, Collis’s nephew, is introduced as a man of charm and intellect, instantly striking up a connection with Belle. His intense attraction to her introduces a romantic tension into Belle’s life, but unlike Collis, Edward represents a more passionate, almost reckless love.

However, Belle, who has spent years carefully building her life, is unwilling to risk it for her feelings toward Edward, which makes him a symbol of the emotional conflict Belle suppresses throughout her life. Though he is forced into the background for much of the story, Edward’s presence lingers, especially after Collis’s death.

His reappearance in Belle’s life in the final stages of the book, and their eventual marriage in 1913, represents Belle’s long-delayed emotional freedom. Edward is ultimately the man Belle turns to after years of restraint, allowing herself to embrace love and happiness after securing her material and social standing.

Archer Huntington

Archer Huntington, Belle’s son with Collis, plays a more symbolic role in the story. His birth represents Belle’s stake in securing her future and ties her even more deeply to Collis.

Archer’s early separation from Belle, due to Elizabeth’s demands, underscores the sacrifices Belle makes to protect her status. Despite this, Belle’s determination to reunite with her son demonstrates her maternal love and resolve to ensure a secure future for both of them.

Archer’s presence is often more about what he represents—Belle’s legacy, her future, and the lengths she will go to protect it. As he grows, his place in the family becomes a source of pride for Belle, and his well-being becomes a driving force in many of her decisions.

Clara Huntington

Clara Huntington, Collis’s daughter from his first marriage, is a complicated figure who grows to accept Belle’s role in her father’s life. Her initial response to Belle is one of aloofness, but over time, she and Belle develop a cordial, even friendly relationship.

Clara’s character highlights the social constraints and judgments women faced during the Gilded Age. Her ill-fated marriage to a Bavarian prince, who marries her only for her fortune, further underscores the limitations placed on women, regardless of their wealth or social standing.

Clara’s acceptance of Belle mirrors Collis’s gradual integration of Belle into his public and private life. Though Clara’s story is more of a subplot, it adds depth to the novel’s exploration of family dynamics, wealth, and the role of women in society.

Lucy Clarence

Lucy Clarence, the publishing house employee, appears in the Prologue and Epilogue as a minor but significant character. She represents the external threats Belle faces from her past.

Lucy’s employer’s attempt to blackmail Belle over her history as a “Champagne Girl” forces Belle to confront her own legacy and defend the life she has built. Lucy’s brief interactions with Belle serve to highlight Belle’s strength and resolve in protecting her secrets and preserving her dignity.

Though Lucy’s role is small, her presence reminds the reader of the ever-present danger posed by society’s judgment and the lengths to which others will go to exploit Belle’s past for financial gain.

Themes

The Societal Constraints and Power Dynamics of Gilded Age Gender Norms

One of the central themes in An American Beauty is the intricate web of societal constraints and power dynamics that governed the lives of women during the Gilded Age. These constraints, especially in terms of wealth, gender, and class, play a significant role in shaping the decisions and actions of Arabella “Belle” Huntington.

The novel highlights how women like Belle were trapped within a patriarchal structure that left little room for autonomy. Belle’s relationship with Collis Huntington, transitioning from mistress to wife, reflects the delicate balance between female agency and societal limitations.

Her rise in status is marked by careful manipulation of expectations and public perception. The theme explores the intersection of power, sex, and wealth as crucial tools for survival.

The Corrosive Intersection of Morality, Sexuality, and Class Mobility

The novel delves deeply into the morally ambiguous choices Belle makes in her quest for social and economic ascension. Her early life as a “Champagne Girl” and her affair with Collis Huntington illustrate the societal judgment placed on female sexuality.

Belle’s decisions, while securing her future, expose her to public shaming. The novel critiques the cultural hypocrisy that vilifies women for pursuing economic security through relationships with powerful men, while ignoring the exploitation inherent in those relationships.

Catherine’s role in pushing Belle into a life of sex work adds another layer to this theme. It reflects the harsh realities faced by women from impoverished backgrounds, where survival sometimes demands moral compromise.

The Intricacies of Love, Betrayal, and Emotional Survival in Strategic Relationships

At the heart of Belle’s journey is the complex dynamic of love as both an emotional experience and a tool for survival. Her relationships with Collis, Johnny, and Edward are marked by a constant negotiation of affection and self-preservation.

With Johnny, Belle’s relationship is one of convenience, while with Collis, it becomes a blend of genuine love and strategic alliance. Belle’s emotional survival depends on her ability to navigate these relationships without losing sight of her long-term goals.

Her suppressed feelings for Edward further complicate her emotional landscape. The novel suggests that in a world where survival often requires sacrifice, love must sometimes take a backseat to ambition.

The Evolving Role of Maternal Ambition and Sacrifice in Female Empowerment

Belle’s relationship with her son, Archer, and her mother, Catherine, highlights the theme of maternal ambition as a driving force in the narrative. Catherine’s decision to push Belle into a life with Johnny reflects the desperate lengths to which a mother will go to secure her family’s future.

Belle faces similar challenges as a mother, having to make difficult choices to protect Archer’s future. Her decision to send him away, only to later reclaim him, shows how maternal ambition is often complicated by societal pressures.

Both women, though motivated by love for their children, are forced into moral compromises. This theme explores how maternal ambition, far from being purely selfless, can be steeped in difficult and often painful choices.

The Hidden Costs of Wealth, Class Ascension, and the Pursuit of Social Acceptance

Wealth, while offering Belle liberation and social status, comes with significant personal costs. The novel explores how Belle’s pursuit of financial security isolates her, creating new vulnerabilities even as it grants her luxury.

Belle’s life is shaped by the constant judgment of New York society. She faces extortion, blackmail, and suspicion due to her past, revealing how class ascension is not simply about accumulating wealth but managing social politics.

The narrative critiques the belief that wealth can buy peace or acceptance, particularly for women of scandalous origins. Belle’s story demonstrates that with each gain in wealth, new challenges arise, reflecting the double-edged nature of her success.

The Illusion of Respectability and the Double Lives of Women in Patriarchal Societies

Belle’s life is defined by the theme of double lives, as she navigates multiple roles throughout the novel. She transitions from a “Champagne Girl” to Johnny’s pretend wife, then Collis’s shadow wife, and finally his legitimate spouse.

Each identity reflects the performative nature of respectability. Belle must carefully craft her public persona while hiding the illicit details of her past.

The novel portrays respectability as a fragile construct for women. Belle’s ability to succeed depends on her talent for manipulating public perception, reflecting the broader theme of women leading double lives in a patriarchal society that restricts their freedom.