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Historical Fiction August 2019
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| Star Path: People of Cahokia by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal GearStarring: Morning Star, god incarnate, and his mortal sister Night Shadow Star, who must defeat their evil brother Walking Smoke.
Why you might like it: Written by a pair of archaeologists, this dramatic novel of pre-Columbian North America recreates the Cahokia settlement (1100 CE) and Mississippian culture in vivid detail.
Should you start here? This 4th book in the Morning Star series follows plotlines established in previous books; newcomers should start with People of the Morning Star. |
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| Rouge: A Novel of Beauty and Rivalry by Richard KirshenbaumWhat it is: an engaging rags-to-riches story of competing cosmetics empires and their feuding founders.
Inspired by: the real-life rivalry between beauty moguls Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden, as well as the groundbreaking career of African American entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker.
Why you might like it: In addition to a trio of strong female protagonists, Rouge boasts a richly detailed depiction of the 20th-century cosmetics industry and plenty of glitz and glamour. |
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| The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel by Jeanne MackinParis, 1938: A young American widow begins working for Elsa Schiaparelli, gaining a front row seat to the flamboyant fashion designer's long-running feud with her arch-rival, Coco Chanel.
Why you might like it: Dueling designers create iconic looks against an atmospheric pre-WWII backdrop in this well-researched historical novel.
You might also like: Meryle Secrest's biography Elsa Schiaparelli, if you're Team Schiap. If you're Team Coco, try C.W. Gortner's Madamoiselle Chanel or Gioia Diliberto's The Collection. |
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Death In A Desert Land: A Novel
by Andrew Wilson
What it's about: Agatha Christie travels to the excavation of the ancient city of Ur where she must solve a crime with motives that may be as old as civilization itself.
Series alert: This is the latest in the Agatha Christie series, if you'd like to catch the beginning, pick up a copy of A Talent For Murder.
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| A Darker Sea: Master Commandant Putnam and the War of 1812 by James L. HaleyWhat it's about: War hero Lieutenant Bliven Putnam receives a promotion and a ship of his own, the USS Tempest, a twenty-gun brig.
Why you might like it: Written by an award-winning historian, this sequel to The Shores of Tripoli features authentic nautical details and well-researched depictions of naval warfare during the War of 1812.
For fans of: C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower novels and Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey-Maturin books. |
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No Greater Love
by Danielle Steel
What it's about: Returning home from her engagement trip with her fiance and her family, Edwina Winfield finds her life forever altered when the ship on which they are sailing--the Titanic--hits an iceberg, and soon she is playing mother to her five orphaned siblings
More from the Titanic?: If you're looking for more tales regarding the famous oceanliner give The Watch That Ends The Night by Allen Wolf a try.
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The House At The Edge of Night: A Novel
by Catherine Banner
What it's about: Four generations of women on a Mediterranean island fight to safeguard their family against the forces of history and bitterness that divide them from World War I through the 2008 recession
Want more?: Try The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, another family saga bidging past and present.
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The Glass Ocean: A Novel
by Karen White
What it's about: The New York Times best-selling authors of The Forgotten Room trace the stories of three women, including a present-day writer and two from the early 20th century, who become connected by the tragedy of the RMS Lusitania.
Want more?: Karen White, Lauren Willig, and Beatriz Williams all have more great novels available on our shelves and in BRIDGES. Log on or stop in to discover a new favorite.
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Moby Dick: The Illustrated Novel
by Herman Melville
What's inside: Presents an illustrated version of Melville's classic tale of life aboard a New England whaling ship whose captain is obsessed with the pursuit of a large white whale.
Want more?: Take a look at the story from another perspective with Ahab's Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund. Discover what the famous captain was like before the whale.
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The Widow's War
by Sally Gunning
What it's about: When Lyddie Berry's husband is lost in a whaling disaster, she becomes the dependent of her nearest male relative, her ruthless son-in-law, who tries to take everything she and her husband had worked for, but as Lyddie's social and legal defiance separate her from friends and family she discovers a deeper sense of self and a potential new love.
Want more?: You might also like To Capture What We Cannot Keep by Beatrice Colin, another story of making your life a-new after the loss of the one you love.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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