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Historical Fiction
The Hamilton-Wenham Public Library received a LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) Readers’ Advisory Grant in 2008. The library staff spent a year studying Historical Fiction. This page is devoted to sharing our discoveries and continuing commitment to this fascinating genre.
A Word From The Director
Staff Reviews
Purchases for October-November '09
Purchases for August-September '09
Purchases for June-July '09
Purchases for May '09
Purchases for April '09
Purchases for March '09
Subgenres
Events
More Stuff
A Word From The Director:
Despite the many repetitive tasks that we librarians must accomplish every day, we should never be too busy or immersed in details to forget our first love that initially brought us into library work: our passion for the beauty of words. After all, connecting books and readers is what it is all about. Remember the book that changed your life? How you longed to share your discovery with another person! We cherish the writers and their books and, as Doris Lessing wrote in her acceptance speech for the Nobel Prize,
We have a treasure-house of literature, going back to the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans. It is all there, this wealth of literature, to be discovered again and again by whoever is lucky enough to come up on it. Suppose it did not exist. How impoverished, how empty we would be.
- Jan Dempsey, Director
Staff Reviews
TITLE: Burning Bright
AUTHOR: Tracy Chevalier
REVIEW: Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier takes us through the streets of London where we visit poet, artist and printer William Blake. It is 1793 and the French Revolution is raging. How did this affect Mr. Blake? A good historical fiction novel piques our interest in finding out more. I am now listening to Blake’s poems. The Songs of Innocence and Experience were put to music by William Bolcum and the CD is available at the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library.
REVIEWED BY: Jan Dempsey
TITLE: The Bridge of San Luis Rey
AUTHOR: Thornton Wilder
REVIEW: Great premise! On July 20th, 1714, a rope bridge at San Luis Rey in Peru breaks and five travellers die. Who were these people? What led to their crossing the bridge at that fateful moment? What meaning can be found in their deaths, or in the lives they lived? Bridge of San Luis Rey won a Pulitzer in 1928; reactions in 2009 from Hamilton-Wenham's Readers' Advisory Squad were less favorable. For my part, I liked the book but I will say it is a slender, ethereal sort of read. I would recommend it for readers who like The Little Prince and other such meditative fables.
REVIEWED BY: Sarah Lauderdale
TITLE: Elijah of Buxton
AUTHOR: Christopher Paul Curtis
Elijah is a young boy who lives in a settlement of runaway slaves in Canada. This thoughtful boy worries about his delicate nature and doing the right thing, while managing the changing expectations of growing up. Elijah is compelled to go on an adventure back to America, where slavery is still practiced, that goes beyond the reaches of bravery. Full of memorable characters and experiences that bring a new respect for humanity, this book was difficult to put down. It made our Reader's Advisory Squad want to learn more about the final destinations of slaves traveling through the Underground Railroad, and other lesser known parts of history.
REVIEWED BY: Tara Mansfield
TITLE: Mirage (also published as Mayhem)
AUTHOR: J. Robert Janes
December 1942, German-occupied France. Investigator St-Cyr of the French Sûreté and Kohler, a Gestapo detective, are uneasy partners under the new Regime. Together they work the case of bicyclist murdered in Fontainebleu Forest. A constantly shifting POV between St-Cyr, Kohler and the various characters with whom they interact makes disjointed reading: not the kind justified on stylistic grounds. I was annoyed. Still, Kohler and St-Cyr are well-characterized (especially Kohler, who is crass and ruthless but a fiercely loyal partner) and Janes displays a formidable knowledge of time and place. I'll be reading more of the Jean-Louis St-Cyr and Hermann Kohler Investigation series.
REVIEWED BY: Sarah Lauderdale
TITLE: Run for the Hills
AUTHOR: Elva Knavel
This book takes us back to the year 1889. Precisely, May 31, 1889, the day of the Johnstown flood in Pennsylvania. It tells of the story of a young girl named Anna who grew up very quickly, experiencing the tragedy of flooding when the dam filled the valleys. Anna and her family displayed courage and the ability to reach out to others when they experienced the death of a family member. This book is written through the eyes of Anna who could do many of the chores the adults did and proved herself an excellent rider of horses and driver of wagons in muddy terrain. Both adventure, and tragedy, make this historical novel real and readable for the young reader. It is also an excellent book for parents to read with their children.
REVIEWED BY: Julie Preston
TITLE: Snow Apples
AUTHOR: Mary Razzell
I am sort of shocked by this book. I wanted to read another YA book in order to be able to recommend it since for me, the patrons who ask for recommendations the most, are YA readers and their parents. The writing is sometimes in incomplete sentences, I found a misused word and I was hoping to learn more about British Columbia but the story is pretty timeless, taking place in any economically stressed place during wartime. Plus, I would never recommend this book to anyone under 21 because it is very sexual and the heroine, Sheila, who is only 15 and 16 is constantly making the wrong choices and putting herself in danger. Maybe WWII Canada was a place where women were still expected to stay in their traditional roles in society (unlike the U.S.A.), but the protective measures always in place were falling away, like escorts. Let’s just say, there is a description of a self-inflicted abortion. Like I said, horrifying.
REVIEWED BY: C.C.
TITLE: Uncommon Faith
AUTHOR: Trudy Krisher
The reader is immediately drawn to learn the story of the characters who have just survived a devastating fire. Viewpoints and opinions of so many varieties in the 1830s regarding slavery, women’s issues, vocations, Biblical interpretation and educational rights are woven into this work of historical fiction based in a small Massachusetts town. The famous Grimke sisters also make their appearance. Good book!
REVIEWED BY: J.D.
TITLE: The Bomb
AUTHOR: Theodore Taylor
What an eye-opening book of historical fiction! The Bomb is based on Taylor’s experiences and I was riveted from beginning to end. Learning about more persons displaced form their homeland by the U.S.A. is a somber and disquieting experience.
REVIEWED BY: J.D.
TITLE: Abundance: a novel of Marie Antoinette
AUTHOR: Sena Jeter Naslund
This fictional tale of the life of Marie Antoinette from teen years until…well you know. This was a dramatic and romanticized version of the life of this historical character. There was a large focus on the love life (or lack thereof) between the king and queen, but overall I thought it was a nice book. I enjoyed the way in which the author used the history and filled in the gaps with her own ideas.
REVIEWED BY: C.G.
TITLE: Outlander
AUTHOR: Diana Gabaldon
Time travel, Battle of Culloden, Scotland 1746, Jacobite Rebellion 1745-1746. 7 book saga. An English nurse from WWII is visiting Scotland and transported through time to 1745. She meets a young man and together they experience life during the Battle of Culloden. As the saga continues they become involved in the American Revolution.
REVIEWED BY: K.D.
TITLE: The Great Scot
AUTHOR: Duncan A. Bruce
A young man meets Robert the Bruce in 1306. When the story begins Robert the Bruce is a claimant to the throne of Scotland and it ends with Robert as king acknowledged by both England and the Pope. In spite of all the battles the book is moderate in speed, told by a young man who becomes a man and a warrior. Much good history told through the eyes of one individual.
REVIEWED BY: D.B.
TITLE: No Shame, No Fear
AUTHOR: Ann Turnbull
A story about the religious persecution of Quakers in England told in a simple, yet engaging style through the developing romance of a country girl and a wealthy boy. The descriptions bring to life this period in time. Told from alternating viewpoints of the two main characters allowing a fuller picture of the conflicts. Recommended for character and historical qualities.
REVIEWED BY: K.C.
TITLE: Listening for Lions
AUTHOR: Gloria Whelan
This was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time! While the story is not necessarily fast-paced, or action packed, the heroine, a young girl named Rachel, perseveres through some serious losses and setbacks and even becomes a doctor [in] early 20th century England. Rachel is a phenomenal heroine for young girls, though I could see this book as a tough sell for boys.
REVIEWED BY: L.C.
Orphaned by the influenza epidemic in British East Africa in 1919, 13 year-old Rachel is sent by dishonest neighbors to visit an elderly man in England, to pass her off as his granddaughter – to pave the way for their return and inheritance of his estate. She comes to love the grandfather and, terrified that to reveal her secret would hasten his death, and fearing life in an orphanage, she goes along with her new identity as his granddaughter. The descriptions of her world and the people of what is now Kenya, as well as early 20th century English estates, are rich. An old-fashioned and enjoyable read.
REVIEWED BY: L.D.
TITLE: Year of Wonders
AUTHOR: Geraldine Brooks
The story takes place in 1665-1666 in a small village north of London during the bubonic plague. It is told through the eyes of 18 year old Anna Firth, the mother of two sons. As the villagers begin to die from the plague, it is decided by Vicar Michael Montpellion that they will isolate themselves from the villages around them to contain the plague. The story is about their struggles, grief, hope and despair. It is a well-written, engaging and emotional read.
REVIEWED BY: J.C.
TITLE: The Help
AUTHOR: Kathryn Stocket
Three black women from Jackson Mississippi who raise and clean the house for white women. A young girl returning home from college trying to find her place in this society.
REVIEWED BY: D.M.
TITLE: Chains
AUTHOR: Laurie Halse Anderson
“Chains” is a young adult novel set in 1776 in New York City. The narrator is a slave named Isabel, who is promised freedom upon her mistress’ death, but instead is sold along with her sister to a loyalist family. The new mistress is petty and cruel, and eventually separates the sisters and sets her mind to breaking Isabel’s spirit. The book explores freedom and oppression from many different perspectives: slavery, women’s rights, socio-economic classes, political affiliations, military rank, and even prisoners of war. Each chapter begins with a real historical quote that sets the tone for the chapter and brings an exciting authenticity to the story. The pace is leisurely; the story line is interesting with suspense steadily building in each chapter, as Isabel finds herself and ends up a very likable, well developed character. The ending is abrupt, yet optimistic, with a sequel guaranteed on the last page.
REVIEWED BY: T.M.
TITLE: Property
AUTHOR: Valerie Martin
Contains some references to sexual behavior which make it more appropriate for adults.
Slavery as seen through the eyes of a young newly-married woman slave owner. Manon discovers shortly after her marriage that her husband is an inconsiderate, boorish pervert, and she loathes him to the degree that she vehemently wishes him dead. She recognizes that her own status in society is dependent upon her husband, and so is her freedom – much like his salves. She comes to detest her slave-maiden who is her husband’s preference in bed (because he has total control over Sarah, as opposed to his wife). Throughout the book, Manon fails to recognize that Sarah has no choice. Rather than empathizing with Sarah, Manon simply reinforces the prejudices of her society and persecutes Sarah to the bitter end, feeling nothing but self-pity.
REVIEWED BY: L.A.
TITLE: The Good Earth
AUTHOR: Pearl S. Buck
I thought I’d read a classic. Once the famine got to the point they were eating bark and dirt and they decided to move to another place I couldn’t go on. I didn’t finish it. If you’re reduced to bones and living on dirt you can’t possibly then migrate successfully on foot. My journey with them ended, end the misery! I didn’t want more detail. Instead I tried again with the Orient...
TITLE: Pearl of China
AUTHOR: Anchee Min
This was more like it – nobody eats dirt in the Forbidden City! Transportive detail of lush imperial court, complete with rivalries, intrigue, and a fall from grace. Plot is more character-driven, not much going action-wise but the careful crafting of setting, time, and place is wonderful, Main character is believable and sympathetic.
BOTH REVIEWED BY: R.S.
TITLE: Flygirl
AUTHOR: Sherri L. Smith
Ida Mae has always wanted to fly as her father did, but in WWII-era America, her race and gender held her back. When she finds out that the US Army is training women as “ferrying pilots” she determines to ender the program by using her light skin to pass. The employment of women pilots during WWII is an interesting and overlooked aspect of history: adding the slant of an “under cover” young black woman made this irresistible. Of course reading such a premise one is waiting, half dreading, for a big reveal. Smith hews to historical record, though: there were no (known) black women pilots, so those waiting for this kind of payoff – a discovery or final showdown – will be disappointed. All in all, though, an interesting book and one that I would recommend to aviation buffs or those interested in a WWII narrative that does not focus on a white character for a change.
REVIEWED BY: S.L.
TITLE: Here's the Church, Here's the Steeple
AUTHOR: Tempa Pagel
Set in Newburyport, MA. A mystery – which are my favorites. Woman begins updating history of church. A storm exposes a skeleton and silver that has been missing from the church since 1811. While investigating that, a second body from present day is found. Are they connected in some way? Characters were well developed. Plot moved right along and the local flavor added to it. I enjoyed the combination of the present and the past.
This was Pagel’s first book.
REVIEWED BY: N.D.
Purchases for October-November '09
Devil's Dream / Madison Smartt Bell
This is a novel about Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest and his life both off and on the battlefrield, and before and after the war.
Rainwater / Sandra Brown
"In a time of drought and economic depression in 1934, Ella Barron runs her boardinghouse in Texas [...] and responds to the calm influence of one of her boarders, David Rainwater..."
Sand Daughter / Sarah Bryant
Khalidah, a Bedouin woman, runs away with a mysterious stranger named Sulayman after she discovers that she and her impending arranged marriage are part of a plot involving her feuding tribe and the Templar Knights.
The Day the Falls Stood Still / Cathy Mary Buchanan
During WWII, Niagara Falls resident Bess Heath's life changes drastically after her father loses her job. Loosely based on the history of Niagara river man William "Red" Hill.
To Try Men's Souls / Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen
This novel of the American Revolutionary War is told from the point of view of General George Washington, Thomas Paine, and Jonathan Van Dorn, a private in Washington's army.
Gorgeous East / Robert Girardi
"Girardi's Gorgeous East follows three French Foreign Legionnaires of very different backgrounds from the cliffs of Mont Saint-Michel to Istanbul's ancient alleyways, from Parisian bars to the desolate Sahara."
The Foreign Field / Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
The 31st book in Harrod-Eagles epic series about England's Morland Dynasty takes place during the Great War. "Every Briton must do his bit, and the Morlands are involved at every stage..."
The Return / Victoria Hislop
"Sonia knows nothing of Granada's shocking past, but ordering a simple cup of coffee in a quiet cafe will lead her into the extraordinary tale of a family's fight to survive the horror of the Spanish Civil War."
Purchases for August-September '09
Girl in a Blue Dress / Gaynor Arnold
Dorothea Gibson is the cast-off wife of Alfred Gibson, a Victorian literary luminary, who is left to reflect on her life and marriage after her husband's death. Inspired by the life of Catherine Dickenson, wife of Charles Dickenson.
The Curtain Torn / Larry Buttram
This book is inspired by the life of Robert Carter III, who inherrited one of the greatest slave empires in the country but was never comfortable with it and who freed more slaves than any other individual in American history.
The Archer's Tale / Bernard Cornwell
Archer Thomas of Hookton seeks to recover a stolen relic and to pursue a murderous knight. This is the first in a medieval quartet about the quest for the Holy Grain, set at the beginning of the Hundred Years War.
The Memoirs of Mary Queen of Scots / Carolly Erickson
"Born Queen of Scotland, married as a girl to the invalid young King of France, Mary fled to England, only to find herself a prisoner of her cousin Queen Elizabeth. This is Mary's riveting account in her own words."
An Echo in the Bone / Diana Gabaldon
Highlander Jamie Fraser and his time-traveling wife, Claire, find themselves in the midst of the American Revolution, while daughter Brianna and family have their own problems in the 20th century. Book seven in the Outlander series.
Homeland / Barbara Hambly
Set during the American Civil War, this is a novel in letters about two women, one from the North, one from the south, and their enduring friendship.
The Ninth Daughter / Barbara Hamilton
This is the first in a new mystery series featuring First Lady Abigail Adams as a sleuth. Set in Boston in 1773, prior to the Revolutionary War, this novel sees Abigail working with both patriots and loyalists to solve a murder.
A Separate Country / Robert Hicks
Confederate General John Bell Hood retires to New Orleans after the American Civil War. As he lies dying of yellow fever in 1879, his deathbed wish is to see his "private" memoir published in place of his earlier wartime account.
Gloryland / Shelton Johnson
"Born on Emancipation Day, 1863, to a sharecropping family of African and Indian blood, Elijah Yancy never lived as a slave, but his self-image as a free person is at war with his surroundings: Spartanburg, South Carolina, in the Reconstructed South."
Private Papers of Eastern Jewel / Maureen Lindley
Eastern Jewel was banished to Japan as a child, sent to live with her father's brother. She leads a tumultous life and is eventually recruited to become a spy during the second Sino-Japanese War (WWII).
Cleopatra's Daughter / Michelle Moran
The story of Marc Antony and Cleopatra's three orphaned children, taken to Rome to be raised as hostages in the palace of Octavian Caesar, is told from the point of view of daughter Selene.
Jarrettsville / Cornelia Nixon
Martha Cairnes demands to be arrested and hanged after killing her fiance, Nicholas McComas. Based on an incident in the author's family history, this novel takes place in post-Civil War Maryland.
Chambers of Death / Priscilla Royal
This is the sixth book in Royal's medieval mystery series, featuring Prioress Eleanor of Tyndal. During their precipitous stay at a nearby manor house, Eleanor and her companions soon find bodies piling up around them.
Purchases for June-July '09
A Postcard from the Volcano: A Novel of Pre-War Germany / Lucy Beckett
A bildungsroman covering the life of a fictional Prussian aristocrat, Max von Hofmannswaldau, from 1914 to the eve of World War II.
Sacred Hearts / Sarah Dunant
The 16th century convent of Santa Carina faces disruption in the form of Serafina, a defiant teenager who has been forced to enter the convent.
Emily's Ghost / Denise Giardina
The famous Bronte sisters - Anne, Charlotte and Emily - share a love for the same man in this biographical novel.
The German Woman / Paul Griner
A combination war story and spy novel with elements of forbidden romance, set in a London constantly threatened by German bombing raids.
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane / Katherine Howe
Connie Goodwin, a Harvard PhD. candidate, becomes obsessed with finding a lost book of recipes written by a victim of the Salem witch trials.
The Devil's Queen: A Novel of Catherine de Medici / Jeanne Kalogridis
Catherine de Medici resorts to dark sorcery in her efforts to bear children for her adulterous royal husband.
The Dark Side of Love / Rafik Schami
After he is forced off the case of a murdered Muslim officer in Damascus, Detective Barudi continues his investigations privately, discovering that the crime was motivated by an old bloodfeud stretching back to the early 20th century.
Purchases for May '09
The Brothers Boswell / Philip E. Baruth
This is a literary thriller built around the relationship between two real brothers, John and James Boswell, and James Boswell's trip to Greenwich in 1763, in the company of Samuel Johnson.
Hypersonic Thunder: A Novel of the Jet Age / Walter J. Boyne
The third and final installment in Boyne's multi-generation saga of the fictional Shannon family and their involvement throughout aerospace history. Roaring Thunder, the first volume, is also available at Hamilton-Wenham, while Supersonic Thunder is requestable elsewhere in our system.
Martyr / Rory Clements
John Shakespeare, older brother of the famous playwrite, is an investigator whose current case involves a murdered cousin of Queen Eizabeth and a plot to assassinate Sir Francis Drake.
The Branch and the Scaffold / Loren D. Estleman
A western about Isaac C. Parker, also known as the Hanging Judge, that cleaves closely to historical fact as it recounts his crusades against crime in Arkansas and the Indian Territory.
The Stalin Epigram / Robert Littell
Based on the real Osip Mendelstam, a poet who wrote a searing epigram about Stalin and lived to suffer for it, this is a fictionalized account of his experiences of arrest and exile.
Woodsburner / John Pipkin
In 1844 Henry David Thoreau accidentally started a forest fire that destroyed 300 acres of Concord forest. This event dramatically influenced Thoreau's life and naturalist philosophy.
Assegai / Wilbur Smith
On the eve of World War I Leon Courtney, a much sought-after safari guide, is recruited to spy on Count Otto von Meerbach, a German industrialist with an intriguing mistress. This is the latest in Smith's series about the Courtney family, which began with When the Lion Feeds, also available at Hamilton-Wenham.
Purchases for April '09
Figures In Silk / Vanora Bennett
"In 1471 England, two daughters of a silk merchant follow different paths. Jane Shore becomes the mistress of the king and her sister Isabel becomes powerful in the silk industry."
Secrets of the Tudor Court: The Pleasure Palace / Kate Emerson
Jane Popyncourt was taken as a child to be the ward of Henry VII and a companion to his daughters Margaret and Mary, but as she grows up she must navigate the dangers of court life.
Grave Goods / Ariana Franklin
Henry II summons Adelia Aguilar, a 12th century forensic investigator, to examine the possible remains of King Arthur and his wife Guinevere. This is the third in Franklin's series about Aguilar: it is preceded by Mistress of the Art of Death and The Serpent's Tale, also available at Hamilton-Wenham.
Hand of Isis / Jo Graham
This is a historical fiction title with elements of fantasy, set in Ancient Egypt. Charmian is a handmaiden and half-sister to Cleopatra. They and their other sister, Iras, pledge to protect Egypt from the Romans.
All Other Nights / Dara Horn
Jacob Rappaport, a Jewish soldier for the Union, has orders to kill his uncle, who plans to assassinate President Lincoln. A novel set during Passover of 1862, during the American Civil War.
Genghis: Bones of the Hills / Conn Iggulden
Following his defeat of the Chinese and the Koreans, Genghis marches on the Muslim lands of central Asia. This is the second in Igguldson's series about Genghis Khan. The first two, Genghis: Birth of an Empire and Genghis: Lords of the Bow, are also available at Hamilton-Wenham.
The Color of Lightning / Paulette Jiles
Texas, 1863. Britt Johnson's family is destroyed by a brutal Indian raid, while Samuel Johnson, new agent for the Office of Indian Affairs, tries to convert the Kiowa to an agricultural lifestyle.
Etta / Gerald Kolpan
A fictional account of the historical Etta Place, member of the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. Lorinda Jameson leads a dramatic career as a Philadelphian debutante, a Harvey Girl Waitress and, ultimately, an outlaw.
The Book of Unholy Mischief / Elle Newmark
Luciano is a street urchin who is taken to apprentice in the home of a powerful Venetian, and subsequently witnesses a murder. Set in 1498, the dawn of the Italian Renaissance.
Also available in large print at Hamilton-Wenham.
The Last Dickens / Matthew Pearl
Following the death of Charles Dickens, two sleuths must journey to England to recover the manuscript of his unfinished novel, AND solve a murder.
Also available as an audio book (CD) at Hamilton-Wenham.
Give Me Back My Legions! / Harry Turtledove
Publius Quinctilius Varus has been given three legions with which to fully subdue the German tribes east of the Rhine, but a German prince who serves in the Roman army plans to use the skills he learns there to unite his people against the Roman Empire.
The Disastrous Voyage of the Santa Margarita / Richard Woodman
The real shipwreck of the Santa Margarita, a Spanish galleon, near an island off the Philippines, is the basis for this novel. Set during an unusually stormy spring of 1601.
Purchases for March '09
Paths of Glory / Jeffrey Archer
This is a biographical fiction about George Mallory, who tried to climb Everest for the third time in 1924. His body was found in 1999.
Also available in large print and as an audio book (CD).
The Wettest County in the World / Matt Bondurant
A novel based on a true story, set during Prohibition.
Also available in large print.
The Women / T. C. Boyle
Recounts the life of Frank Lloyd Wright as told through the experiences of the four women who loved him: the Montenegrin beauty Olgivanna Milanoff; the passionate Southern belle Maud Miriam Noel; the spirited Mamah Cheney, tragically killed; and his young first wife, Kitty Tobin.
Eve / Elissa Elliott
A novel about the first woman, set during Biblical times. After the banishment from the Garden, Eve and her daughters see destructive forces assailing their family, both from within and from without.
Mistress Shakespeare / Karen Harper
Spanning half a century of Elizabethan and Jacobean history and sweeping from the lowest reaches of society to the royal court, this richly textured novel tells the real story of Shakespeare in love.
The Book of Night Women / Marlon James
Lilith is born under the cruelest conditions of Jamaican slavery. The Night Women, as the slave women around her call themselves, are plotting a slave revolt and hope to use Lilith's dark power to effectuate their conspiracy.
The Forgotten Legion / Ben Kane
Two runaway gladiators and an Etruscan warrior join Crassuss' army just before a military engagement with the Parthian Empire. Kane's first novel is set in Rome, 265-30 B.C.E.
The Miracles of Prato / Laurie Lico Albanese
A novel based on the life of painter Fra Filippo Lippi, set in Italy during the 15th century. Lippi is a Carmelite monk who falls in love with the beautiful Lucrezia Buti
The Kindly Ones / Jonathan Littell, translated by Charlotte Mandell
This book is narrated by a former SS officer who reinvents himself and leads a new life in France following World War II. It was originally written in French by an American and won two of France's major literary awards!
The Rose of Sebastopol / Katharine McMahon
A novel of the Crimean War. Beautiful Rosa Barr disappears while traveling with Florence Nightigale's nursing corps, and her cousin Mariella Lingwood sets out to find her.
Ruins / Achy Obejas
As a young man, Usnavy saw promise and opportunity in the Cuban Revolution; now he tries to keep himself and his family going in mid-nineties Havana.
Revelation / C. J. Sansom
Is there some connection between Lady Catherine Parr, current love object of King Henry VIII, and a 1543 London serial killer? This is the fourth in Sansom's Matthew Shardlake mystery series. Lawyer/sleuth Shardlake's original debut was in Dissolution, also available at Hamilton-Wenham.
Drood / Dan Simmons
Based on the historical details of Charles Dickens' life, "Drood" explores the still-unsolved mysteries of the famous author's last years and may provide the key to his final, unfinished work: "The Mystery of Edwin Drood".
The Lady Elizabeth / Alison Weir
A fictional account of the early life of Queen Elizabeth and her ascent to the throne, from the deaths of her parents to the fanatacism of her sister, Mary I.
Also available in large print and as an audio book (CD).
Subgenres
Even fans of historical fiction may be suprised at the scope of this versatile genre, while those who haven't cared for it previously may find that it can intersect with other favorite genres.
Some types of historical fiction include:
- Adventure
- Alternate History
- Christian Historicals
- Historical Fantasy
- Historical Mystery
- Historical Thrillers
- Literary Historicals
- Multi-Period Epics
- Romantic Historicals
- Sagas
- Time-Slip
- Western Historicals
Events
Podcasts are available for both Ms. Paterson's discussion and an interview conducted with her.
These podcasts are supported by iTunes, so if you do not have iTunes on your computer you will receive a prompt and instructions for downloading it.
A notable author whose works include Bridge to Terabithia and The Great Gilly Hopkins, Paterson also spoke about her then most recent novel Bread and Roses, Too about the experiences of two children during the 1912 workers' strike at Lawrence Mills. Citizens of Barre, Vermont took in the children of Lawrence for the duration of the strike. Bread and Roses, Too is available in both regular and audio book (cd) form at Hamilton-Wenham.
More Stuff
Click here to view and print a great Historical Fiction bookmark! This great bookmark lists Historical Fiction titles for children of all ages. Works by Katherine Paterson are prominently featured on one side. The other side is made up of Historical picture books.
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Modified 3/3/2010
