SHATTERED FACES

This audiobook is narrated by an AI Voice. Shattered Faces brings to life the extraordinary, nearly forgotten story of American sculptress Anna Coleman Ladd, whose courage and compassion transformed the lives of soldiers disfigured in the Great War. In 1917, as the world reels from unprecedented destruction, Anna leaves her comfortable life—and her two young daughters—in America to travel to England and France. Her mission is to restore dignity to men whose faces were shattered in the trenches. In Paris, she establishes the groundbreaking Studio for Portrait Masks, where she and her small team of artists create lifelike, hand-painted copper masks modeled from pre-injury photographs. These masks allow soldiers to walk the streets without fear, shame, or the cruel stares that once marked them as “monsters.” Through meticulous artistry and deep empathy, Anna offers these men not just a new face, but a chance to reclaim their identity and place in society. Set against the chaos of wartime Paris, the novel follows Anna as she navigates the demands of the Red Cross, the arrival of the American Expeditionary Forces, and a world on the brink of change. She confronts personal sacrifice, the weight of separation from her family, and the barriers facing women long before they had the right to vote. As the studio grows, Anna evolves into a resilient, determined woman whose work becomes a quiet act of heroism. Rich with historical detail and emotionally vivid scenes, Shattered Faces is a powerful story of healing, identity, and the human spirit’s capacity to endure—perfect for readers who love character-driven historical fiction and book clubs seeking an inspiring, unforgettable journey.