Vox’s posts tagged historical fiction

A Tudor England Historical Fiction

2008-10-06T02:34:01Z

I've always been a fan of historical fiction. Not only do they give you a personal, unique perspective on how that period in history might have unfolded, but it also lets you relive that period in time - at least in your mind. The history of England is one of those periods where historical fiction almost does a better job then straight history books. The interpersonal relationships between the royal family, the political jestering of the elite class, and the social dynamics of the era all lend themselves to historical fiction. The recent book by Alison Weir - The Innocent Traitor- is the perfect example.

Alison Weir brings new life and fascinating detail to this tragic and familiar tale of the Tudor Royal History. What if your parents were so bent on furthering the family name that they would bring you into a known danger and ultimately be the cause of loosing your head - literally. Lady Jane Grey was sixteen years of age when she was beheaded after being declared Queen of England for nine days. This is the story of a highly educated girl, who would have been England’s first Protestant Queen.

Weir fleshes out Lady Jane’s childhood with its cold, harsh environment where she recedes into solitude and study as defense. She is intelligent and private and goes not want public office forced upon her, but her parents and Lord Dudley (father to future Queen Elizabeth’s long time love Lord Robert Dudley) care only about possible her claim to the throne.

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The Map Thief: A Must Read Historical Fiction

2008-10-03T03:23:42Z

I’ve always been fascinated by the past. Ancient civilizations, mysterious ruins, grand temples, and archaeological sites – they all provide a window into helping us understand the past. But how much do we really know? When did Native Americans really arrive in the New World and how? Did the Egyptians sail to other parts of the world and teach other civilizations how to build giant pyramids? Were the Portuguese the first to sail around the world and map it? These intriguing questions have always intrigued me, and the question of just how much we know about each one is still debated. The last question has been accepted as fact for quite some time. Or has it?

The new book by author Heather Terrell questions this commonly accepted fact with mystery, intrigue, and adventure. The Map Thiefis a thriller of a book – involving archaeological finds, mysterious maps from ancient voyages, and secret Portuguese societies, and more.

During the Ming dynasty’s reign in China, a vast naval fleet was assembled and commanded by Zheng He. His mission was to sail around the world and map it. According to legend he was successful, but upon returning to China the map was destroyed and Zheng He disappeared. Now, 400 years later an archaeologist has unearthed a mummy clutching onto a mysterious map. Word gets out and suddenly the map disappears. Who is this map thief?

Read more about The Map Thief: A Must Read Historical Fiction here.

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Primavera by Mary Jane Beaufrand

2008-09-19T19:23:26Z

Primavera

Obtained: Brooklyn Public Library
Finished: 17-September 2008

Story Synopsis:

The Italian Renaissance was a cultural explosion of art, architecture and learning, but it had a darker side. Two powerful families, the tyrannical Medici and their biggest rivals, the Pazzi, are tangled in a bloody struggle for ultimate power. Caught in the whirlwind is Flora,the last daughter of the Pazzi. As her beautiful older sister is being painted by the famed artist Botticelli, Flora is dreading her fate.Destined for life in a convent, Flora is determined to take matters into her own hands, even as her world crumbles around her. When Flora decides runs away, she has no idea that the decision will save her life. As her family falls to their murderous enemy, Flora must find anew life and a new identity.

Inspired by actual events, Primavera is a dazzling coming of age story set during a time of beauty and wealth, ambition, rivalry and brutality. Historical art references to Boticelli and his famous painting, Primavera, give this book an appeal similar to Girl with a Pearl Earring.

Commentary:

I was totally blown away by how good this book was. I wasn't expecting much; at the very least, it would have been a refreshing little romp through Renaissance Florence. However, you can tell from the crafting of the story that the author did her history homework. Florence under the Medicis wasn't all music and art and poetry. There's a lot of politics and machinations and brutality in there as well. And the author was able to capture the essence of that time without being too preachy or without softening her story to not offend.

Having read Girl with a Pearl Earring, I think that it's almost an injustice that this book be compared to that. Primavera is an honest-to-goodness refreshing book that does start with references to famous figures/items from history, but in this novel, there is less focus on the painting but more on the actual life of the protagonist, Flora.

I highly recommend this book. I don't feel that it's almost unfortunate that it was marketed as a young adult book, because adults who wouldn't ordinarily read YA have missed out on it.

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The Invention of Hugo Cabret : a Novel in Words and Pictures, by Brian Selznick.

2008-08-18T13:57:42Z

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Brian Selznick

The Invention of Hugo Cabret : a Novel in Words and Pictures, by Brian Selznick. * * * * * finished 02/24/2008

[http://www.amazon.com/Invention-Hugo-Cabret-Brian-Selznick/dp/0439813786/]

544 pgs. 2007. Fiction: Historical fiction.

Audience: grades 4-8

Summary: When twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan living and repairing clocks within the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, meets a mysterious toyseller and his goddaughter, his undercover life and his biggest secret are jeopardized.

Review: This was a simply beautiful book. Selznick uses hundreds of illustrations to tell the story of Hugo. It's one of the closest things to a graphic novel without the requisite word bubbles-- it's certainly sequential art, as Selznick uses the artwork to move large portions of the narrative forward.

It's obvious that Selznick is a fan of early cinema and automatons; the care with which he covers both topics makes this clear. He is also a fan of simple, clean storytelling. The result is a beautiful book that compels you to return to the illustrations again and again, looking for details that you missed the first time around.

Awards: Caudill Nominee, 2009; Caldecott Medal, 2008; National Book Award finalist, 2007; Wilson's Children 10/01/07.

Similar: There really isn't anything similar to this one. If you like the pictures, try The Arrival by Shaun Tan. If you like the mystery, maybe Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach.

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The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

2008-07-28T15:36:40Z

The Book Thief

Markus Zusak

★★★

The Book Thief is by no means a feel-good book. It's hard to imagine a book about Nazi Germany could be anything but depressing. Throw in the fact that the book is narrated by Death, and you can understand why so many people say they cried their way through the last part of this book.

When I think about books and movies about the Holocaust I think of the stories being told from the point of view of the Jewish citizens mostly. It makes sense, as they were obviously the ones who suffered the most. But this book made me question that assumption a bit.

The family in this this story are not those in the concentration camps, not those hiding in an attic, not the Nazis themselves. They are just ordinary, average citizens living in Nazi Germany.

I have often wondered what it would have been like to see people being marched to death camps and others being whipped in the streets. How could those people have gone along with it all? Take a pinch of conformity, a dash of fear, and bake it really slowly. That's how it can happen.

Some have said Death as narrator is a bit hokey or pretentious, but really it's rather inspired. Who else could be an objective narrator of such a tale?

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Currently reading

2008-07-03T17:28:12Z

I am currently reading this. I came upon it by chance. I am deliberately slowing myself because while the writing is clear, the characters get themselves into sticky situations. The first scene is as funny as anything I read, but ultimately rather pathetic. The main character struggles with a bum leg and a strange name all his life, and in this scene we are made to understand why: a botched birth and the name on the character's death certificate. I wouldn't ruin it for you by trying to explain.

I am about half-way through, so I have nothing more to add. I do recommend it.

The Spanish Bow

Andromeda Romano-Lax

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Am rereading The French Executioner

2008-06-22T12:48:13Z

The French Executioner

C.C. Humphreys

I found a copy of this some time ago. Where? Who knows? Perhaps at a used book store (Yes, we still have those in New York City) or perhaps discarded. Wow, was I lucky.

Jean, a former mercenary with a sword with a squared end, is summoned to the Tower of London to execute Ann Boleyn. He is shocked to discover that the queen (technically the former queen because Henry had stripped her of her title) has a six fingered hand. Overnight Ann befriends Jean. She makes an unusual request, that he remove and bury her unusual hand in a secret place. So begins an amazing adventure.

Stories with magic sometimes skimp on character if not plot. Don't worry. Strange twists of story seem logical, if not normal, at the time of the reading, and it is always motivated by an amazing cast of characters. At each critical point all would be lost except for the need for one of the several adventurers to face a core fear and to grow.

I am afraid to say more for fear of ruining it for you.

It turns out the author is an actor and theatrical fight coordinator. Here is the link to his web site and blog, starting with this and other titles.

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