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Historical Fiction September 2014
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"Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold, And many goodly states and kingdoms seen; Round many western islands have I been Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold." ~ John Keats (1795-1821), English Romantic poet, "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer"
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New and Recently Released!
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| Song of the Shank: A Novel by Jeffery Renard AllenBorn a slave in 19th-century Georgia, Thomas Wiggins -- better known as "Blind Tom" -- distinguishes himself as a piano prodigy before his tenth birthday and tours the United States, dazzling a nation on the brink of war with his highly inventive compositions. But even as he inspires those around him, Thomas, a savant whose musical genius is accompanied by child-like naiveté, falls prey to a succession of unscrupulous individuals who would exploit his gift for their own personal gain. Leisurely paced and rife with vivid sensory detail, Song of the Shank is a lyrical, moving exploration of race and identity in the United States before, during, and after the American Civil War. |
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| Painted Horses: A Novel by Malcolm BrooksIn the 1950s, archeologist Catherine Lemay heads to Montana as a member of the River Basin Survey, tasked with searching for evidence of indigenous human habitation in a canyon soon to be inundated by the flood waters generated by a proposed hydroelectric dam. When Catherine realizes that her guide, Jack Allen, may have been hired by the power company to lead her astray, she enlists a Crow Indian woman named Miriam as her assistant and finds an unexpected ally in reclusive horseman John H, whose intimate knowledge of the terrain masks his tragic life story. For more historical novels about forward-thinking women who journey to the American West to pursue unconventional careers, try Diane Smith's Letters from Yellowstone or Pictures from an Expedition. |
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| O, Africa! A Novel by Andrew Lewis ConnWith the advent of the "talkies" threatening their livelihood and Harlem gangsters threatening their actual lives, twin brothers Izzy and Micah Grand -- a debt-ridden duo of silent film directors -- decide that a change of scene may prove beneficial. Backed by their producer, they travel to Africa for their next project, determined to capture never-before-seen footage of the continent. But nothing can prepare these Brooklyn-born sons of Russian Jewish immigrants for what they'll experience in their travels -- or what they'll learn about themselves in the process. This witty, often bawdy romp through the early years of movie-making also deftly examines issues of race, class, religion, and sexuality. |
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| Sisters of Treason by Elizabeth FremantleReaders interested in Tudor history are doubtless familiar with Lady Jane Grey, who at the tender age of 16 became Queen of England for just nine days in 1553 before her execution. However, her younger sisters, Lady Catherine and Lady Mary, are less well-known. Although their family may have fallen out of favor at court, their Tudor blood makes the girls a potential threat to Queen Mary I, who imprisons them lest her rivals use them as political pawns. Although the sisters are as different as night and day -- beautiful Catherine is flirtatious and impetuous; shy, sensible Mary is sensitive about her small stature and hobbled by her deformed spine -- both long for the freedom to make their own choices, even as they're forced to depend on Flemish court painter Levina Teerlinc to protect them. |
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| Us Conductors: In Which I Seek the Heart of Clara Rockmore, My One True Love by Sean MichaelsTasked by his government to demonstrate Soviet scientific ingenuity to an American audience, Russian physicist Leon Theremin travels to New York to unveil his curious invention: an eerie-sounding musical instrument comprised of two metal antenna attached to frequency oscillators, which is played without physical contact on the part of the musician. Equally untouchable -- at least for Leon -- is Clara Rockmore, the unrequited love of his life whose career as a theremin player makes her world-famous. And once his own country brands him a traitor, she's forever beyond his reach. Based on the life and career of Lev Sergeyvich Termen, real-life inventor of the theremin, Us Conductors tells the story of a man whose desire was to bridge art and science, yet whose fate was to become a victim of geopolitical intrigue. |
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| The Illusionists by Rosie ThomasDespite mutual antipathy, self-made men Devil Wix, an aspiring impresario, and Carlo Boldoni, a dwarf contortionist-turned-illusionist, join forces to turn London's run-down Palmyra theater into a destination for world-class stage magic. To this end, they recruit Heinrich Bayer, a Swiss craftsman specializing in lifelike automata, as well as Devil's childhood friend, artist Jasper Button. Into their orbit comes aspiring actress Eliza Dunlop, whose combination of intelligence, beauty, and feminist ideals proves life-changing for all parties involved. Leisurely paced and character-driven, this dramatic, highly atmospheric exploration of Victorian England's street grit and stage glamour may appeal to fans of Sarah Waters' Tipping the Velvet or Michel Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White. |
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| Fire the Sky: Book Two of Contact: The Battle for America by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal GearIn this standalone sequel to Coming of the Storm, set in the 1540s, Chicaza (Chickasaw) trader Black Shell and his wife, Pearl Hand, witness the invasion of the Kristianos -- led by Hernando de Soto -- and their escalating hostility towards the indigenous peoples of "La Florida." Long exiled from their respective tribes, the couple attempts to unite other "orphans" to take a stand against de Soto and protect their homeland. This fast-paced, gripping series continues with A Searing Wind. |
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| Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow by David GemmellAs Agamemnon of Mykene leads the Greeks in a war against the city of Troy, archer Helikaon -- also known as Aeneas, Lord of the Silver Bow -- prepares to defend his beloved city as well as the woman he loves, who's married to another. Although loosely based on Homer's Iliad, this opening volume of author David Gemmel's Troy trilogy (followed by Shield of Thunder and Fall of Kings) takes considerable liberties with the original story, making it best suited to readers who enjoy ancient battlefield epics similar to those by Steven Pressfield or Conn Iggulden. |
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| Lionheart by Sharon Kay PenmanThe ranks of Eleanor of Aquitaine's sons, introduced in Devil's Brood, have thinned considerably since three of them attempted to overthrow their father, Henry II. Lionheart, the 1st book in a new series, focuses on surviving son and new king Richard I, "Coeur de Lion," as he launches the Third Crusade. But before he can fight the Saracens in the Holy Land, he must first travel to Sicily to rescue his imprisoned sister Joanna and then to Cyprus to wed his bride, Berengaria. Meanwhile, back in England, his brother John has his eye on Richard's throne. Love Lionheart? Check out its sequel, A King's Ransom. |
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| The Virtues of War: A Novel of Alexander The Great by Steven Pressfield"I have always been a soldier. I have known no other life," says Alexander the Great in this novel by bestselling author Steven Pressfield, which recreates the life and reign of the legendary Macedonian king and conqueror. Ascending to the throne of Macedon at age 20, Alexander immediately embarks upon a successful military campaign that brings most of the known world (including Egypt and the Persian Empire) under his rule. By the time he dies, just shy of his 33rd birthday, he has never been defeated. Narrated by Alexander himself, this "splendid fictional biography" (Booklist) will enthrall fans of ancient military history. |
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