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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. |
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| Deep River: A Novel by Karl MarlantesIntroducing: Ilmari, Aino, and Matti Koski, Finnish siblings who immigrate to the United States in the early 1900s and settle in Deep River, a hardscrabble logging community in the Pacific Northwest.
What happens: Brothers llmari and Matti risk life and limb in the timber industry, while sister Aino becomes a labor activist.
Author alert: Karl Marlantes' debut, Matterhorn, won the Society of American Historians Prize for his haunting depiction of the Vietnam War. |
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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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Sea of Poppies
by Amitav Ghosh
What it's about: China's nineteenth-century Opium Wars.
Why you might like it: A motley assortment of sailors and passengers, including a bankrupt rajah, a widowed tribeswoman, and a free-spirited French orphan, come to experience family-like ties that eventually span continents, races, and generations.
Series alert: The story continues in River of Smoke and Flood of Fire.
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Sharpe's Trafalgar : Richard Sharpe and the Battle of Trafalgar, October 21, 1805
by Bernard Cornwell
Introducing: British soldier Richard Sharpe returning from adventures in India.
What happens: Sharpe's ship is attacked by a French warship and he discovers that the French vessel is carrying a treaty that ignites hostilities against the British in India.
Should you start here? This is the fourth book in the Sharpe series. Check out the introductory book in this series, Sharpe's Tiger.
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| The North Water: A Novel by Ian McGuireWhat it's about: In 1859, the whaling vessel Volunteer sets sail for the Arctic under the command of the corrupt Captain Brownlee.
Featuring: A crew that includes Patrick Sumner, a former army surgeon with a laudanum habit and a trunk full of secrets, and Henry Drax, an alcoholic harpooner with a thirst for brutal violence.
Is it for you? If you like fast-paced, violent sea stories that leave you wondering who (if anyone) will survive, check out The North Water. |
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| The Bermuda Privateer by William WestbrookWhat it is: A swashbuckling maritime adventure story perfect for fans of Alexander Kent and Seth Hunter.
Starring: Nicholas Fallon, formerly of the Royal Navy and now the privateer captain of the schooner Sea Dog; and Beauty McFarland, his (female) friend and first mate.
Is it for you? The story is action-packed and intricately plotted. |
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The French Prize
by James L. Nelson
Introducing: Jack Biddlecomb who takes command of an American merchant vessel bound for Barbados.
What happens: Jack Biddlecomb prepares to fight off French attackers while hiding a secret agenda with repercussions on an international scale.
For fans of: Dewey Lambdin's The Captain's Vengeance.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Anne Arundel County Public Library 5 Harry S. Truman Pkwy. Annapolis, Maryland 21401 410-222-7371https://www.aacpl.net |
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