Included below is a collection of quotes made by Miss Sara Howard from the Alienist books. For basic information about Sara Howard, a character analysis of Sara Howard, or character testimonials about Sara Howard, please use the menu.
Sara Howard Quotes
A Better Shot Than John
The Alienist, 90-1:
“Finally,” Sara continued, hesitant in the face of Laszlo’s coolness, “In the event of trouble…” She quickly pulled a small Colt Number One Derringer from a large muff she wore on her left hand and pointed it at the fireplace. “You’ll find that I’m a better shot than John.”
I took a quick step away from the gun, prompting Kreizler to chuckle once abruptly; Sara apparently thought he was laughing at her, and bridled a bit.
“I assure you, I’m quite serious, Doctor. My father was an expert marksman. My mother, however, was an invalid, and I had no siblings. I therefore became my father’s hunting and trap-shooting partner.” All of which was perfectly true. Stephen Hamilton Howard had lived the life of a true country squire on his estate near Rhinebeck, and had trained his only child to ride, shoot, gamble, and drink with any Hudson Valley gentleman – which meant that Sara could do all those things well, and in volume. She indicated the small delicately engraved pistol in her hand. “Most people consider the derringer a weak weapon; but this one holds a forty-one-caliber bullet, and could throw your man at the piano through the window behind him.”
[…]“Not that I prefer this kind of gun,” Sara finished, putting it back in the muff. “But…” She took a deep breath, swelling the pale, bare flesh above the neckline of her dress. “We are going to the opera.”
Sara’s Social Calendar
The Alienist, 95:
“I am surprised, however, to see you attending the opera with an employee of the Police Department.” He nodded rather rudely in Sara’s direction.
“If you’d like to see my entire social calendar, Mayor Strong,” Sara said bravely, “I can arrange that.”
Had The Experience
The Alienist, 148:
“But I can tell you, John — that’s a man’s work back there. Any woman would would have killed that boy wouldn’t have…” She groped for words. “All that stabbing, binding, and poking… I’ll never understand it. But there’s no mistaking it, once you’ve… had the experience.” She chuckled once grimly. “And it always seems to begin with trust…”
Not Taking Kreizler’s Temper
The Alienist, 223:
Her eyes went very thin at this last shot from Laszlo, and her voice was ice itself when she said: “Since you appear to have decided this issue long ago, Doctor, it seems pointless to have asked me to research the subject.” I was a little worried that she’d go for the derringer, but she opted for her coat intead. “Perhaps you thought it would be an amusing way to keep me occupied,” she stormed on. “But I’ll tell you right now that I don’t need to be amused, cajoled, or otherwise mollycoddled – by any of you!” And with that she was out the door.
Dealing With John
The Angel of Darkness, 21:
His eyes were closed, and in a kind of childlike way he reached out and put his arms around Miss Howard’s waist. She didn’t look too happy about it, but she didn’t move, either; and then, feeling her dress, Mr. Moore mumbled:
“No, no, Lily, you can’t get dressed, you can’t leave, this night can’t ever end…”
That brought out the derringer. To this day I can’t tell you where it was that Miss Howard managed to keep it so that it was always out of sight yet always so available; but in a flash it was in front of Mr. Moore’s closed eyes and smiling face. The smile disappeared and the eyes popped open, however, when Miss Howard pulled back the hammer.
“I think, John,” she said evenly, “that even though the sheets I could clip off both your testicles with one shot — so I advise you to unhand me.”
On The Woman’s Sphere
The Angel of Darkness, 369:
“Okay,” I pressed. “What about the others, then? The Doctor and the detective sergeants and Cyrus — even Mr. Moore? They all feel the same way.”
Miss Howard shot me a doubtful look. “Hardly an average selection of American men. I’m sorry, Stevie. Of course I value and respect how you and the others feel — you may never know how much. But to the rest of our world I’ll probably always be that strange Sara Howard, the spinster detective lady — unless and until I have a family. Not that part of me wouldn’t like to, someday. If I ever feel like I’ve really made a difference with my work, I might consider children – it’s just that I object to the notion that I won’t be whole until I do.”