At the beginning of the 20th century, Stockholm is a city in transition. While the rich dream of larger homes with all the new facilities that money can offer, the poor dream of food for their families, a reasonable salary and fewer rats on the streets.

On the waterfront opposite the castle stands the Grand Hôtel, the much-talked-about jewel in the tourism industry. But the hotel is in financial trouble and the board needs a special woman's talent to lift the hotel to new heights. Wilhelmina Skogh owns a string of hotels along the Swedish railways, and sees the Grand Hôtel's potential and importance for the city. But she is as much a feared as she is a respected manager.

At the same time, the young Ottilia arrives in the big city from Rättvik to start her employment at the legendary hotel. Together with a group of other women, she has to fight against injustice and obstacles in a male-dominated industry. Women are expected to take care of the home - but what is a hotel if not a home?

The phenomenal women at the Grand Hôtel is a sweeping historical feel-good novel, with wonderful characters and a hefty dose of fucking love. Ruth Kvarnström-Jones has gained a unique insight into the history of the Grand Hôtel and offers us a spectacular journey through our cultural history. This is the first part of the series S tockholms pärlor .