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Historical Fiction October 2018
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| Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah BirdInspired by: the life of Cathay Williams, a former slave and the first African American woman to enlist in the U.S. Army.
What happens: After describing her life in bondage, Williams recounts how she became Union Army "contraband" during the Civil War and how, disguised as a man, she later served as Buffalo soldier "William Cathay."
You might also like: James McBride's The Good Lord Bird; Paulette Jiles' The Color of Lightning. |
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The Glass Ocean by Beatriz WilliamsWhat it's about: The lives and loves of three remarkable women—two in the past, one in the present—and the tragic final voyage of the HMS Lusitania, a passenger liner sunk by a German U-Boat in 1915. Character from the present: Sarah is at her wit’s end after squeezing every last penny from her successful first novel. Desperate for her next book idea, she uncovers a secret inside a family heirloom that leads her to the Lusitania and its doomed passengers. Character from the past: In 1915, readers follow Caroline who hopes the transatlantic voyage will save her marriage. Sailing first class, she's surrounded by luxury but cannot find happiness, with her husband or with her lover.
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| The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes GowarWhat it's about: When London merchant Jonah Hancock becomes the owner of a mummified "mermaid" specimen, his decision to display it publicly results in some colorful new acquaintances, including brothel madam Mrs. Chappell and beguiling courtesan Angelica Neal.
Read it for: well-developed characters; witty, period-appropriate dialogue; and a vividly drawn setting that captures the sights, sounds, and smells of 18th-century London.
For fans of: the panoramic view of British society in Michel Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White. |
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A Forgotten Place : A Bess Crawford Mystery
by Charles Todd
What it's about: Working in an amputee clinic in Wales, Bess Crawford advocates on behalf of disabled former soldiers who endure life-risking conditions in coal mines while trying to discern the whereabouts of a missing Army captain.
Why you might like it: Regular readers of this satisfyingly rich historical mystery series (this is the tenth) know that Bess Crawford is simply unable to turn away from someone who needs her help.
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The Orphan's Tale
by Pam Jenoff
What happens: Cast out after becoming pregnant by a Nazi soldier and being forced to give up her baby, 16-year-old Noa snatches a Jewish infant bound for a concentration camp before passing herself off as a circus performer and inciting the wrath of rival aerialist, Astrid.
For fans of: Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants, which shares the themes of family, love, and loss.
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| Fools and Mortals by Bernard CornwellStarring: Richard Shakespeare, younger brother of playwright William.
What happens: A junior member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, Richard leaps at the chance to prove himself when the company's scripts are stolen by a rival playhouse. Meanwhile, Puritans would shut down every theater in London if they could.
Author alert: Known for fast-paced, action-packed series about soldiers (Sharpe) and warriors (Saxon Stories), Bernard Cornwell shifts gears in this stand-alone, which brings to life the world of Elizabethan theater. |
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| The Tumbling Turner Sisters by Juliette FayFeaturing: Kit, Gert, Winnie, and Nell Turner, sisters who -- under the direction of their overbearing mother -- form an acrobatic troupe after their father loses his job.
Why you might like it: Set in 1919, this upbeat novel offers an authentic depiction of Vaudeville shortly before the nascent motion picture industry transforms American entertainment.
Did you know? Author Juliette Fay is the great-granddaughter of a Vaudeville performer. |
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| Church of Marvels by Leslie ParryWhat it's about: Shortly after a fire consumes the Church of Marvels, their mother's Coney Island sideshow, teen sword-swallower Belle Church disappears, prompting her twin sister, Odile, to search for her.
Why you might like it: This richly detailed novel, set in a gritty 1895 New York City, takes place within a 24-hour period and contains four interwoven storylines.
You might also like: Alice Hoffman's The Museum of Extraordinary Things. |
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Dancing for Degas
by Kathryn Wagner
What it's about: Entering the ballet in the hopes of supporting her farming family, aspiring dancer Alexandrie finds her plans challenged by her growing love for enigmatic Impressionist artist Edgar Degas, whose self-imposed isolation reflects the darkest secrets of Parisian culture.
You might also like: The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan
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| The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie WisemanWhat it's about: Lilly Blackwood, a nine-year-old with albinism, becomes a sideshow attraction after her mother sells her to a traveling circus. In a parallel narrative, set 25 years later in the 1950s, 19-year-old Julia Blackwood investigates her family history.
Why you might like it: The Life She Was Given introduces resilient young protagonists thrust into difficult circumstances and provides a well-researched depiction of circus life during the Great Depression. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Forsyth County Public Library 660 West Fifth Street Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101 336-703-2665www.forsythlibrary.org |
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