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Historical Fiction
January 2014
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"All strange and terrible events are welcome,
But comforts we despise; our size of sorrow,
Proportion'd to our cause, must be as great."
~ William Shakespeare (1564-1616), English playwright and poet, Antony and Cleopatra |
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New and Recently Released
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| The Housemaid's Daughter by Barbara MutchSince her birth in 1930, 17-year-old housemaid Ada Mabuse has never once left Cradock House, the Harrington family's estate in the arid Karoo region of South Africa. Although her race prevents her from pursuing most opportunities, her mistress, Irish immigrant Cathleen Harrington -- a.k.a. Madam -- takes the girl under her wing, teaching her to read, write, and play the piano. However, when Ada attracts the unwanted attention of Madam's husband, Edward, she flees her familiar surroundings and attempts to survive in a racially segregated society made more brutally unjust by Apartheid (which becomes official policy in 1948). With its vividly described setting and sympathetic characters, this lyrical, thought-provoking debut skillfully depicts a turbulent era in South African history. |
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| The Peerless Four by Victoria PattersonThe 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam were the first to permit female athletes to compete. Based loosely on the real-life "Matchless Six," a sextet of Canadian women whose hard work and perseverance paved the way for future female Olympic medalists, The Peerless Four is narrated by Marybelle Eloise Lee "Mel" Ross, a former runner who becomes the chaperone of the Canadian women's track and field team. As Mel observes the groundbreaking triumphs (and heartbreaking setbacks) of Ginger, Bonnie, Flo, and Muriel, she also reflects on her own deferred dreams of athletic glory. This thoughtful, character-driven novel elegantly combines feminist and sports history. |
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| Dollface: A Novel of the Roaring Twenties by Renée RosenWith the 1920s roaring, Vera Abramowitz bobs her hair, moves into a boardinghouse, and haunts the speakeasies of Jazz Age Chicago, downing bourbon and dancing the bunny hug, the black bottom, and the Charleston. Although Vera's enthralled by the city's glamorous nightlife, she soon gets a glimpse of its seamy underbelly through her relationships with two made men: handsome Tony Liollo, one of Al Capone's henchmen, and Shep Green, a flashy bootlegger-turned-nightclub owner. Richly detailed and atmospheric, this fast-paced tale of mobsters and gun molls stars a plucky Jewish flapper who reinvents herself during Prohibition. |
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| The First of July by Elizabeth SpellerBest known for her Laurence Bartram mystery novels (starting with The Return of Captain John Emmett), author Elizabeth Speller presents a sweeping chronicle of World War I through the eyes of four different men: London carpenter and bicycle messenger Frank Stanton, homosexual musician Benedict Chatto, Manhattan-based industrialist Harry Sydenham, and French blacksmith's apprentice Jean-Baptiste Mallet. Although they come from different backgrounds, all four will experience the worst of the conflict in this gritty, moody novel that culminates in the Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916. |
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Focus on: The Ancient World
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| The Sun's Bride by Gillian BradshawIntercepted by pirates en route to Rhodes, Isokrates of Kameiros, helmsman of the warship Atalanta, fends off the attackers and rescues Dionysia, the beautiful concubine of King Antiochos of Syria. Prior to her abduction, Dionysia was traveling to Alexandria, to inform Egyptian King Ptolemy of Antiochos' impending attack on Cairo. Isokrates, drawn to Dionysia, decides that he must accompany her to Egypt and deliver her to Ptolemy's court -- a choice that will place them both in grave danger. This rousing historical adventure, set in 266 BCE, will transport readers to the ancient Mediterranean. |
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| Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore by Stella DuffyUnlike most child prostitutes in 6th-century Constantinople, Theodora can't dance, isn't beautiful, and possesses only an average singing voice. She does, however, have intelligence and ambition, which stand her in good stead as she rises above her humble beginnings to become, in turn, a famous comedic actress, a governor's mistress, a Christian convert, a spy, and the wife of Byzantine Emperor Justinian. And that's just the beginning: Theodora's amazing adventures continue in The Purple Shroud. |
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| Spartacus: The Gladiator by Ben KaneAfter a decade of service in the Roman army, Spartacus returns to his home in Thrace, ready to hang up his sword and shield, marry, and start a family. Upon arrival, however, the weary warrior discovers that his parents have been murdered and the former king deposed. Jealous of Spartacus' relationship with Ariadne, a priestess of Dionysus, the usurper King Kotys sells his romantic rival into slavery, which leads to Spartacus' career as a gladiator. More violent and visceral than Howard Fast's 1950 novel of the same name (which inspired the 1960 film), this book by the author of the Forgotten Legion trilogy relies on historical accounts to reimagine the life of a legendary leader. |
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| Cleopatra's Daughter: A Novel by Michelle MoranWe know what happened to Cleopatra and Marc Antony, but what about their children? In this novel by the author of Nefertiti and The Heretic Queen, Cleopatra's daughter, Selene, takes center stage. After her parents' deaths, she and her twin brother, Alexander, are sent to Rome, where they're taken in by Octavia, sister of the future Emperor Augustus. As a foreigner and the child of Rome's enemies, Selene must tread carefully if she wants to survive. If you like your historical novels full of danger and intrigue, check out this book, in which ancient Rome is "authentically and vividly brought to life" (Booklist). |
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| Men of Bronze by Scott OdenCharged with defending Egypt's borders from the Persians, Phoenician mercenary Hasdrubal Barca -- as ruthless in battle as he is cunning -- strikes fear into the hearts of both his enemies and his own men. However, after a rival mercenary betrays him to the Persian army, Hasdrubal may not be able to protect the pharaoh from his enemies. At least, not without the help of educated and resourceful slave girl Jauharah. Although this gripping novel plays fast and loose with historical chronology, its emphasis on bloody battles and political maneuvering will please fans of sword and sandal epics. |
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| The Caspian Gates by Harry SidebottomIt's 62 CE. Rome teeters on the brink of collapse as political power struggles destabilize society, while Ephesus, the once-thriving center of the Eastern Empire, lies in ruins after a devastating earthquake. In the midst of this chaos, warrior Marcus Clodius Ballista is dispatched to the Caspian Gates to confront a new threat: the invading Goths. But Ballista, born in Germania and trained to serve in the Roman army, straddles two worlds -- which may give him an advantage when it comes to defeating the enemy. If you enjoy meticulously researched yet action-packed historical fiction set in the ancient world, don't miss this 4th book in the Warrior of Rome series, which begins with Fire in the East. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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