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Historical Fiction January 2019
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| The General's Cook by Ramin GaneshramIntroducing: Hercules, the enslaved chef who commanded the kitchen of President George Washington's Philadelphia residence. Although Hercules' talents earn him privileges, they're no substitute for freedom.
Is it for you? Although this debut paints George Washington in a less-than-flattering light, it should appeal to readers who appreciate detailed settings and mouth-watering descriptions of food
Try this next: Erica Armstrong Dunbar's Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge, about Oney Judge, who, like Hercules, liberated herself from bondage. |
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The Paragon Hotel
by Lyndsay Faye
What it's about: Fleeing to 1921 Oregon, Alice takes refuge in the city's only black hotel and helps new friends search for a missing child, hide from KKK violence and navigate painful secrets.
About the author: Lyndsay Faye is the author of five critically acclaimed books: Jane Steele, which was nominated for an Edgar for Best Novel; Dust and Shadow; The Gods of Gotham, also Edgar-nominated; Seven for a Secret; and The Fatal Flame. Faye, a true New Yorker in the sense she was born elsewhere, lives in New York City with her husband, Gabriel.
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| The Kinship of Secrets by Eugenia KimWhat it is: a sweeping story of sisters separated by war and geography.
What happens: Traveling to the United States in 1948, Calvin and Najin Cho bring toddler Miran with them but leave infant Inja in Seoul with relatives. The Korean War makes their temporary separation permanent.
For fans of: the family drama of Min Jin Lee's Pachinko or the moving depiction of relationships shattered by the Korean War found in Crystal Hana Kim's If You Leave Me. |
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| The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding by Jennifer RobsonWhat it's about: the friendship between the seamstresses responsible for the intricate embroidery on Princess (soon to be Queen) Elizabeth's wedding dress.
Why you might like it: Parallel narratives, set in 1947 and 2016, converge as a present-day woman solves a family mystery.
You might also like: Liz Trenow's The Forgotten Seamstress, in which vintage clothing similarly connects two women from different eras. |
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Washington Black
by Esi Edugyan
What it's about: Unexpectedly chosen to be a family manservant, an 11-year-old Barbados sugar-plantation slave is initiated into a world of technology and dignity before a devastating betrayal propels him throughout the world in search of his true self.
You may also like: The House Girl by Tara Conklin, an unforgettable story of love, history, and a search for justice, set in modern-day New York and 1852 Virginia.
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| The After Party by Anton DiSclafaniStarring: rebellious glamour girl Joan Fortier and Cece Buchnan, her "best friend since infancy, her modern-day lady-in-waiting." Inseparable since childhood, the women's complicated bond is unraveled by Joan's increasingly alarming behavior.
Why you might like it: Set amid the debutante balls, cocktail parties, and garden-club luncheons of 1950s Houston, Texas, The After Party boasts in-depth characterizations and strong period atmosphere. |
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| Belgravia by Julian FellowesWhat it is: a dramatic novel from the creator of TV's Downton Abbey.
What happens: A fancy dress ball held the night before the Battle of Waterloo sets in motion events whose ramifications won't be fully felt for decades.
Why you might like it: The posh London district of Belgravia serves as the well-appointed stage on which a compelling and atmospheric tale of family secrets and class conflict plays out. |
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| The It Girls by Karen HarperMeet: the Sutherland sisters: fashion designer Lucy and writer Elinor.
What they want: Wealth and fame, desires sparked by their impoverished upbringing on the Isle of Jersey as well as a chance encounter with socialite Lily Langtree.
How they get it: Elinor's scandalous novels lead to a lucrative screenwriting career in early Hollywood, while Lucy launches Maison Lucile in London, New York, and Paris before marrying a baronet. |
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Murder on Fifth Avenue
by Victoria Thompson
What it's about: Sarah Brandt's wealthy father, Felix Decker, who belongs to one of New York's oldest families, reluctantly partners up with Irish Catholic police detective Frank Malloy when a member of his private club is murdered.
Series Alert: Murder on Fifth Avenue is the 14th novel in the Gaslight Mystery series. You can start at the beginning with Murder on Astor Place.
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| The Other Daughter by Lauren WilligWhat it's about: When governess Rachel Woodley discovers that she's the illegitimate daughter of an earl, she joins forces with gossip columnist Simon Montfort, who helps her infiltrate society as "Vera."
Why you might like it: Set in 1920s London, The Other Daughter features memorable characters, surprising plot twists, and (light) romance.
About the author: Best known for her Napoleonic War-era Pink Carnation series, author Lauren Willig branches out to the Bright Young Things in this stand-alone novel. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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