Civics & Coffee: "Grief, Love, and Connection: The Missing Pages with Alyson Richman"
Episode Released: March 10, 2026
Host: Alycia Asai
Guest: Alyson Richman

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Alycia Asai sits down with bestselling author and painter Alyson Richman to discuss her newest historical novel, The Missing Pages. The discussion dives into the intersection of grief, love, art, and history, focusing on the story behind Harvard’s Widener Library and its connection to the Titanic tragedy. Richman reflects on the process of writing historical fiction, blending research with imagination, and the universal threads that connect people across time.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Alyson Richman’s Path to Historical Fiction

• Art history as inspiration: Alyson shares how her studies in art history shaped her narrative interests.

  "I absolutely loved learning about different artists and looking at their paintings as portals into history. ... I was infinitely curious about how an artist chose their particular subject, what historical clues they were putting into their painting, what was the psychological relationship between artist and muse." ([01:38])

• Professor’s influence: A college professor noticed Alyson’s gift for storytelling, specifically regarding the stories behind artwork.
• First novel origins: After receiving a grant to research Japanese artists who painted with Impressionists, this research became her debut novel, The Mask Carver’s Son.

  "If I could do anything in the world, what it would be, it would be to write novels about creative people against historical backdrops." ([02:29])

Inspiration for The Missing Pages

• Story discovery: Alyson was introduced to the legend of Harry Elkins Widener—the 27-year-old Harvard graduate, Titanic passenger, and book lover—by her daughter after a Harvard campus tour ([04:02]).
• The Widener Library myth: The tale of Harry’s mother building a grand library in his memory after he allegedly perished retrieving a rare book during the Titanic disaster captured Alyson’s imagination.

  "I was so drawn to this story immediately because of it being a story about a mother and son. Not really, because it was the Titanic." ([05:28])

• Fact and fiction: Learning Harry may have returned for a tiny, rare 16th-century copy of Bacon’s essays gave historical credence to the legend.

Structure of the Novel: Blending Timelines

• Dual narrative: The novel is told through both Harry’s perspective (as a ghost haunting his memorial library) and Violet, a modern-day (1992) Harvard student dealing with her own loss ([08:46]).
  • The library emerges as a place (and symbol) of grief, healing, learning, and connection.

  "I wanted to show in the modern day storyline, which is 1992, how the library continues to be a space of healing and learning and discovery of books..." ([09:16])

• Character of Ada: Harry’s love interest, Ada, is inspired by actual women in early 20th-century antiquarian bookselling, notably Charlotte Quaritch ([11:06]).

Challenges of Historical Fiction Research

• Immersive research: Alyson describes her research process as "all-encompassing," with rabbit holes leading to fascinating detail ([13:04]).
  • Richman visited Quaritch Limited, read Harry Widener’s original letters, and studied archives to build authentic voices and nuance.

  "I have a tremendous thirst to uncover as much, you know, historical detail as I can. And then, like a civ ... it kind of bubbles to the top." ([13:17])

• Using real stories: Notable example—Harry reportedly told the bookseller he would keep "the little Bacon" in his dinner jacket pocket "in case I'm shipwrecked, I'll have something to read." ([15:32])

Weaving Fact with Imagination

• Alyson prioritizes authenticity:

  “I really don’t like to invent things that there is no way that that could have happened. It really, really bothers me.” ([17:01])

• Her ratio: "80% true, 20% imagined… but never 50/50."
• Emotions and relationships are often invented to fill historical gaps, but events and details remain faithful to sources, right down to decor in Widener’s family home ([18:46]).

The Role of Historical Fiction

• Fostering empathy: Experiencing history through personal stories helps readers "walk in another person’s shoes," fostering compassion and understanding ([19:25]).

  "Reading historical fiction and seeing history unfold through the lens of a character and feeling emotionally tethered to that character and rooting for that character makes you feel more empathetic to their plight..." ([19:30])

• Making history approachable: Humanizing historical figures breaks down barriers and connects the past to the reader’s present.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Alyson on the book’s core:

  "I think for me writing this book, and it is a departure for me from my other typical historical novels, because there is this voice of a ghost, and it's a soulful voice that Harry basically meditates on mortality and immortality and grief..." ([21:46])

• On grief and memory:

  "That love is that connective thread. Right. That we continue to love after we're gone. We continue to love those who are gone." ([22:31])

• On the power of books as gifts:

  “I've had a lot of readers say that they've started to gift more of their favorite books to their friends when they think that they need a little boost... Paying it forward with books. So I would love that. I would love that to be the takeaway.” ([24:36])

• Description of the library’s memorial room:

  "...the room is all varnished oak with a black marble. And above is this beautiful painting of Harry, his desk and chairs, obviously, with the flowers there. ... It feels alive. It feels, you know, vital. And I think that's what Eleanor wanted because of the flowers, you know, to make it feel that he still lived there." ([27:46])

Important Timestamps

• [01:38] Alyson discusses her origins in historical fiction and art history
• [04:02] Discovery of the Harry Widener legend and the inspiration for the novel
• [08:46] Dual narrative structure introduced; Violet’s role as a modern counterpart
• [11:06] The inclusion of women in early-20th-century rare book culture (Ada’s character)
• [13:04] Alyson’s immersive and meticulous approach to research
• [15:32] Quaritch’s letter and the “Little Bacon” story
• [17:01] Where fact ends and fiction begins in her writing
• [19:25] Alyson’s belief in historical fiction’s power to build empathy and understanding
• [21:46] Grief, connection, and ghostly presence as running themes
• [24:36] The importance and power of gifting books
• [27:46] Vivid evocation of the Widener memorial room

Upcoming Work & Where to Find Alyson Richman

• Next book: The Golden Ribbon, about Edith Wharton’s humanitarian work in WWI Paris (dual timeline with present-day Lenox, MA) ([25:23])
• Connect with Alyson:
  • Website: alysonrichman.com
  • Instagram: @alysonrichman
  • Facebook: Alyson Richman Author
• Books available in bookstores and libraries; readers encouraged to request library orders ([26:33])

Closing Image

The episode closes on the evocative scene of Harry’s memorial room at Widener Library—described as the "beating heart" of the library, a space that feels "alive" rather than static, thanks to the constant renewal of flowers and Eleanor’s enduring love ([27:46]). This image encapsulates the central themes: memory, grief, love, and the power of books to connect lives across time.

For more information, book links, and future updates, visit Alyson Richman’s website or look for details in the episode show notes.