The Incorrigibles

A Novel

By: Meredith Jaeger

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell, Barrie Kreinik

Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

An Editor's Choice at The Historical Novel Society

From USA Today bestselling author Meredith Jaeger comes an emotionally resonant novel about two women whose lives intersect as one resists the gentrification of her San Francisco neighborhood, and the other, eighty years earlier, fights for her freedom in nineteenth-century America. . . .

1890, San Francisco. Seduced by her employer’s nephew, Annie Gilmurray, an Irish maid, is accused of stealing the ring he promised her. Sentenced to one year in San Quentin, Annie is heartbroken and frightened among the inmates of the women’s ward: prostitutes, murderers, and pickpockets. But Annie finds beauty and friendship in a brutal place, where the women look out for one another, dreaming of a better life after release. But their world inside San Quentin's walls is a dangerous one, and when the unthinkable happens, Annie makes a choice that will alter the course of her future forever.

1972, San Francisco. Aspiring photographer Judy Morelli is grappling with the searing betrayal of her husband’s infidelity, subletting a San Francisco apartment while she pieces her life back together. When Judy discovers Annie's mugshot, she becomes fascinated and invested not just in Annie's fate but also in the history of her gentrifying South of Market Street neighborhood, joining the fight against redevelopment to maintain its rich community.

Exploring the different ways in which we are imprisoned and how we can break free, The Incorrigibles is a story of women reaching across the barriers of time, the unbreakable bonds of female friendship, and the forgotten histories of those pushed to society’s margins.

©2024 Meredith Jaeger (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"I was completely enthralled by this powerful and, at times, gut-wrenching historical fiction about social injustice and female empowerment. With dual timelines set eighty years apart, Meredith Jaeger captivates with the inspiring story of two fierce women whose wills of steel carry them through their struggles for independence and retribution. An emotional, beautiful novel, The Incorrigibles both entrances and illuminates."—Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of A Friend in the Dark

“A story of immense strength and beauty, The Incorrigibles illustrates the way in which women fighting for justice can unite across historical and class divides. A novel for anyone who has ever found themselves a frustrated, lonely voice shouting for what’s right, this book offers one message: hope. Jaeger is a master storyteller.”—Katy Hays, New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters

“The Incorrigibles is a sensitively explored and thoughtfully rendered story showcasing the courage and determination of two strong-but-wronged women from different generations. Jaeger deftly weaves dual timelines so equally compelling that each time the narrative shifted, I was disappointed to see it end. The Incorrigibles is a heartbreaking admonition of women’s oppression, and a hopeful reminder of their resilience and grit. A triumphant tale chronicling the cruel bonds of oppression and the sweeping, invincible bonds of friendship. A captivating read! One of those rare books that both captivates and elucidates. I savored every page.”—Lori Spielman, New York Times bestselling author of The Life List

A page-turner following strong women finding their agency imbued with rich, local SF history

Meredith Jaeger’s newest book, The Incorrigibles, is my favorite of her novels to date! It's a dual timeline historical fiction set in San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood in 1890 and in 1972 as the neighborhood fights against urban renewal. Deeply researched and timelessly relevant, it touches on injustice, oppression and housing insecurity, but is also a page-turning story of hope, courage and strong women who rebel against what society expects of them. I was immediately drawn into the characters and wanted to know what would happen next in their lives, but also enjoyed how the book peeled back the layers of time in a specific place. Even though the two timelines are in the past, everything these women and the communities they find along the way struggled with remain very relevant today. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction, strong female characters, or well-researched histories of San Francisco in particular, but really any urban city.

A compelling, fascinating great read!

I’ve enjoyed all of Meredith Jaeger’s books, but this is now my favorite! I listened to it on audible and the characters were bought beautifully to life by the excellent reader. This story of two innocent yet fiercely intelligent, talented and independent women born 80 years apart captured my interest right from the beginning and made me regret having to turn the book off to get any work done. I especially loved the combination of deep research and historical perspectives around women, their rights, and the entire Bay Area. I always enjoy a book where I can learn things, and I learned a lot from this while feeling the same righteous indignation as both women felt due to circumstances in their lives. Kudos to Meredith for bringing two fascinating time periods to life equally. I was entertained and informed – a great combination exclamation, I highly recommend this book as a fascinating and rewarding read.

Powerful story

I loved the characters, the history of California and the trials that the women faced in both time periods. An excellent book.