PUTNEY-Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, presents an evening with author Victoria Redel in conversation with award-winning writer Robin MacArthur Friday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:45 p.m.) The event will also be available via livestream.
Redel will discuss her new novel, I Am You, an imagined story set in 17th-century Amsterdam.
Inspired by historical fact, the novel follows Gerta Pieters, a young girl raised as a boy in service to a Dutch household, and Maria van Oosterwijck, a gifted painter navigating the constraints of the Dutch Golden Age. Through their intertwined lives, Redel explores themes of love, artistic ambition, gender, and identity, illuminating the often-overlooked struggles faced by women in history.
I Am You has garnered widespread attention, including recognition as a Bustle Most Anticipated Book of Fall 2025, a Zibby Books Most Anticipated Book of Fall 2025, and a Book Riot LGBTQ historical fiction highlight, as well as several other awards. Foreign rights have sold in multiple international markets.
The conversation will be led by MacArthur, whose debut short story collection Half Wild won the PEN New England Award. MacArthur’s work has appeared in Orion, LitHub, The Washington Post, and on NPR, “and she brings a thoughtful and engaging perspective to discussions of literature and craft,” event organizers wrote in a news release.
This event offers audiences an opportunity to hear directly from Redel about the inspiration and research behind her novel, as well as the broader questions it raises about identity, history, and artistic expression.
Tickets are $10 for in-person attendance and $5 for livestream access. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit nextstagearts.org. ByWay Books & More of Brattleboro will be on site, with copies of I Am You and select titles by both authors available for purchase.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.