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Beyond "The Nightingale:" Historical Fiction that Transports You
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items I LOVE history, especially the social aspects like how did they live? What were their houses like? Hence I'm always drawn to historical fiction, where I can immerse myself in times gone by. Here are a few of my recent favorites! (oh and no shade to “...
I just finished this novel which was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize and it was weirdly engaging, yet peaceful. It takes place after WW2 in Amsterdam in a time and place in history I've never thought much of, so was happy to spend some time the...
The Safekeep - van der Wouden, Yael: Books
Margaret Fuller was a contemporary of The Existentialists, like Walden and Emerson, however we've never heard of her! She is incredible and I loved this book. PS Alison Pataki is a great author! Big fan of her writing!
Finding Margaret Fuller: A Novel
My brother-in-law recommended this book and I was so glad he did! It drops you into early aviation and a (fictional) female pilot. I'll be honest early aviation is not a huge interest of mine but I couldn't put this book down!
Great Circle: A Read with Jenna Pick
A story of a female physician in 15th century China?! So cool! Written by Lisa See, who also wrote the popular “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” which I also recommend.
Lady Tan's Circle of Women
This book is actually a bit “historical mystery” as two siblings living in Manhattan during WW2 find a mysterious woman living under their stairs.
The Half-Life of Ruby Fielding: A Novel
Marjorie Post is the daughter of the Post Cereal Family AND (fun fact!) she designed and was the first inhabitant of Mar-a-Lago! She lived from 1887-1973 and her life directly intermingled with soo many fascinating people from history.
The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post: A Novel
I went from having never heard of Empress Sisi of Austria to becoming OBSESSED with her!
The Accidental Empress: A Novel
This book starts with the Great Fire of Chicago and ends with the establishment of of America's first glamorous Department Store. So fun to read about the Gilded Age ladies entering a department store for the first time!
What the Lady Wants: A Novel of Gilded Age
There are scenes from this book that are still imprinted in my mind! It's a fictional take on the historical family of William Shakespeare- turns out his son was named “Hamnet,” not the more obvious “Hamlet.”
Hamnet
Woah. This takes place in biblical times! Like the main character meets 18 year old Jesus! I find it incredible to think of the lives people lived all of those thousands of years ago and how they're inherently so much like ours.
The Book of Longings: A Novel
Winston Churchill's mom, Jennie, is a RIOT! This is her story and she's such a breath of fresh Gilded Age air.
That Churchill Woman: A Novel
Poor Consuelo Vanderbilt! Her mom, Alva bullies her into a marriage she has no interest in. For Fans of the “Gilded Age” on HBO: Bertha and Gladys are based on Alva and Consuelo!
American Duchess: A Novel of Consuelo Vanderbilt
This is a deeper dive into the Vanderbilts and more of a backstory on Poor Consuelo's crazy family.
A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts
This is about Thomas Jefferson's daughter, and how she performed “First Lady” role before the term was even coined.
America's First Daughter: A Novel
I picked up this book bc it was ALL THE RAGE in the early 1930s and I was curious about it. It's one of those sweeping stories that starts with one character's grandparents and ends with their children. It takes place in early 1900s in China, another...
The Good Earth (The Good Earth Trilogy Book 1)
Much of this book takes place in France along side Benjamin Franklin. It's an interesting perspective on the Revolutionary War and very engaging/fun to read.
The Paris Mistress: A Revolutionary War Mystery