The Photograph Upstairs

About the Book

Mrs. Philip Wellstone 111, Newport socialite, born, many would say, with a silver spoon in her mouth - is presently embroiled in several life threatening collisions. Anne has collided with her deepest needs: with her family who have always been first in her life, with all the traditions of wealth and social position in which she was comfortably raised. Anne has fallen in love,with another man, a man not her husband.

When her two children and social commitments permit, Anne is an artist. She prefers her studio and her painting to any Newport social activity.

Anne has had an uneasy relationship with her mother who is ill now with Alzheimers, and in a nursing home. Anne´s guilt is heavy; she wishes she had been a more loving daughter. When she was young, love was largely unspoken. A holdover from the Victorian years, feelings were carefully concealed. Anne learned to love her husband, Philip. Until now there has never been another man in her life.

Anne´s lover is Latin, he is a dark exciting stranger. Roberto writes plays; he is ambitious, and a member of that art world Anne has only dared dream about. Her stolen New York weekends with Roberto have awakened needs in herself she has never before acknowledged.

Roberto is insisting Anne come to live with him. Philip, Anne´s husband, aware of her confusion and deceit, tells her she must make a decision concerning their marriage.Though convinced she cannot live without Roberto, Anne knows deep in her heart there is no choice. Philip has always been first in her life - Phillip and her two children.

Tormented with guilt, wanting a way out, Anne seeks familiar moorings. She has always found solace in Prescott Hall, a 19th century mansion, one of Newport´s fabled summer cottages. Once the house of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Prescott, Anne´s great great great aunt and uncle, it is now a tourist attraction. The rooms are haunted with Anne´s childhood memories. The walls are hung with portraits and photographs: Ann´;s mother, grandmother, and, upstairs, in the ladies reception room a large photo of Hermione Prescott, known to the family as Aunt Minnie.

Ever since she can remember Anne has sought her Aunt Minnie´s counsel. As a troubled girl, Anne stood in front of the photograph upstairs, demanding Aunt Minnie´s counsel.

Prescott Hall has always been Anne´s Never Land of rose gardens, glittering balls, and love ever after. Nothing bad ever happened at Prescott Hall, or so the family stories insisted. The great lawn was unshadowed; the weeping beeches sheltered only lovers´ trysts and children´s tea parties.

Anne has wondered: What was Aunt Minnie´s secret for a perfect life?. A devoted husband, wealth, Paris clothes, liveried footmen - 28 servants in all - Prescott Hall had surely been perfection. Anne was certain that Aunt Minnie would never have permitted herself to fall into the dilemma that presently faced Anne.

Day after day now, Anne stands in front of Aunt Minnie´s photograph: "Tell me what to do!"

It is the force of Anne´s need that spins Anne to Aunt Minnie´s "other side of time". She takes Anne into her world, into the past, into that Gilded Age of balls and teas, silk gowns and veiled bonnets. Anne visits a previous life, that of Rose Wilson, a spoiled debutante who, as she matured, learned to conquer her fears. Anne recognizes herself in Rose. She learns Aunt Minnie was no angel, her marriage was not made in heaven. Human emotions were the same then, in Aunt Minnie´s time, as they are today.

Surprisingly, Aunt Minnie needs Anne´s help. Minnie Prescott wants to live again but fears she will repeat the same mistakes. Meddling in people´s lives spoiled her previous existence. For reasons of her own, Aunt Minnie longs to help Anne. .

Enlisting the help of a Transpersonal psychologist, Dr. Grey, Anne attempts to resolve her difficultiies. It is through

About the Author

Anita McAndrews' first book was Cuna Cosmology, Legends of the Cuna Indians (Three Continents Press, Washington,D.C.). A Panama publishing house, Focus Publications, S.A. published Taboga, Island of Flowers, written with Alison Date. Anita has published two books of poetry: Catwalk, and Joie de Vie. In 1990, Fithian Press published Anita's Guatemalan historical novel, Conquistador's Lady. Anita's first children's book, Blessed Be! will be published by The Brookfield Reader in the fall of 2001. Anita is, presently, a resident of Newport, R.I.. A writer and artist, she is an active member of the DeBlois Gallery, Newport. She is a member of the Preservation Society of Newport County.