These dog days of summer (in my hemisphere) are a great time for a rewarding new look at a familiar story.
How did Abraham Lincoln, arguably the greatest U.S. president, make the amazing leap from country boy in rural Kentucky to the White House?
Nancy Horan’s recent historical novel, TheHouse of Lincoln, offers hints as it reveals how Lincoln’s years in Springfield, Illinois, impacted him.
Brief Summary:
In an entertaining and suspenseful yet historically accurate way, Horan focuses on the complicated background shapinglife in the Illinois capital through the stories of three families:
Mary Todd Lincoln (the family she and Abraham created, as well as her family of origin)
a Portuguese immigrant family, the Ferreiras, whose daughter, Ana works as a domestic for the Lincolns
a free Black family, the Donnegans, whose members play varied roles in the Underground Railroad
TheHouse of Lincoln begins with Ana’s arrival in 1849 at age 9 as part of a group of 130 Portuguese immigrants from Madeira who escaped after harvesting sugar cane in Trinidad.
The author weaves together the story of the Lincolns and Springfield, Illinois—with its Portuguese immigrants, state government, Underground Railway participants, and slave catchers.
Early in the story, the author gives a clue about the historical (and future) conflict in Springfield, when Mrs. Alsop, a White abolitionist widow whom Ana companions, tells her, “This area was settled early on by New England abolitionists. But it was also settled by Kentucky corn crackers and other uplanders from down South. We may live side by side in this town, but we don’t always understand each other.”
The novel ends in 1909 after a celebration of Lincoln’s 100th birthday.
Characters:
Ana Ferreira – protagonist, a sympathetic young Portuguese immigrant who works for the Lincoln family. The story unfolds mostly through her eyes.
Cal (Calli Patterson) – Ana’s childhood best friend; her mixed racial heritage plays a major role in their relationship and the story as a whole
Mary Todd Lincoln – Abraham Lincoln’s wife; the author fairly portrays Mary’s strengths and weaknesses, revealing the background from which the contradictory aspects of her character developed.
Abraham Lincoln – the author shows Lincoln’s roots and humanity as well as the elements of his character that made him great
William Donnegan – adventurous Black cobbler, he conducted escapees from slavery to their next destination in their struggle for freedom
Spencer Donnegan – William’s brother, a barber (to Lincoln and many others) and African Methodist Episcopal preacher in Springfield; he used his talents to write an eloquent address to the people of Illinois, expressing Black demands for the education of Black children, and the repeal of the new Black exclusion laws restricting the settlement of free Blacks in Illinois
Owen Evans – Ana’s husband, he’s a journalist who reports on the Lincoln-Douglas debates. He supports Lincoln and volunteers for the Union Army.
Joao Ferreira – Ana’s younger brother: along with his Portuguese friends, he supports Lincoln and volunteers for the Union Army
Cameo appearances:
Frederick Douglass – enslaved and orphaned as a boy, he became a famous Black orator who opposed colonization of Blacks to Africa; in 1866, after the Civil War and Lincoln’s assassination, he speaks in Springfield, arguing for Blacks’ right to vote and warning about the danger that Blacks’ rights (that had only recently been won) would be stripped away.
Stephen Douglas – Lincoln’s opponent in both the campaign for the U.S. Senate from Illinois (in which Douglas defeated Lincoln in 1858) and the presidential race (which Lincoln won in 1860). Douglas didn’t want to offend Southern states by opposing slavery. He declares that only all White men are created equal, while Lincoln insists that Blacks are equal to Whites. His character comes across as weak, especially after Ana hears him tell a lie–that Lincoln would make war on slavery in slaveholding states.
Strengths:
The House of Lincoln brings to life the historical figures of Abraham and Mary Lincoln and their sons, Stephen Douglas, and Frederick Douglass, as well as the fictional characters. The novel also helps readers understand the characters’ (and U.S. society’s) underlying motivations and conflicts.
Weakness:
I found this novel’s beginning a bit slow, but it lays the groundwork for the story, and the pace picks up.
Content review:
The House of Lincoln includes descriptions of some of the violence inflicted on Blacks during this era.
My recommendation:
This novel’s plot is somewhat complex, yet entertaining, suspenseful, and historically accurate. If you appreciate a well-spun plot full of twists and turns, rich characters, and desire a deeper understanding of people and events, you’ll enjoy The House of Lincoln.
Reader, which historical novels have given you new insight into a familiar story?
If you had to choose between obeying your king or risking everything by staying true to your convictions, what would you do?
That’s the agonizing decision Jehan (Jean Pierre) Bondurant must make at the age of 18, after 11 years of captivity in a Dominican priory.
The Muse of Freedom takes place during the reign of France’s King Louis XIV, who spared no effort to rid his kingdom of any threats to his power. Though he was known as the Sun King, his policies were anything but sunny for many of his subjects. His dragonnades (troops) terrorized the Huguenots (French Protestants) whose faith called them to obey God instead of the king, breaking up their families and killing many.
Before writing The Muse of Freedom, author Jules Larimore explored his family’s genealogy. Now he crafts a deeply-researched novel (that he labels as historical fiction) in which his ancestors’ lives and choices play a major role.
Characters:
In spite of Larimore’s natural sympathy for his ancestors, his nuanced portrayal of Protestants and Roman Catholics avoids one-dimensional characters.
Jehan (Jean Pierre) Bondurant – conflicted protagonist inspired by the author’s ancestor born in 1677, perhaps a descendant of Jewish refugees persecuted in Aragon who eventually had to convert to Catholicism or flee to avoid further persecution
Amelia – female protagonist who strongly influences Jehan; she’s a sage-femme (wise woman) healer whose life history has brought her to embrace universalist beliefs, rather than either the Roman Catholic or Protestant faith.
Lucrèce – childhood friend of Jehan, she married his cousin André while Jehan lived in the priory; she helps Jehan adapt to life outside the priory
Curé Gellion – parish priest; Jehan’s nemesis who tormented him during and after his years in the priory
Prieur Chabert – Jehan’s tutor during his years in the priory; a more tolerant and sympathetic face of French Catholicism
Children of God – breakaway Protestant group that held clandestine assemblies to evade persecution by French king’s dragoons; they did not always choose pacifism in response to persecution
Strengths:
This novel uses beautiful description to show the complex background of the people of Cévenoles, in the Languedoc region of southern France, as well as the conflicting forces tugging at Jehan and his countrymen.
Weakness:
The slow pace of plot development demands patience on reader’s part.
Content review:
The novel contains numerous references to violence.
The Muse of Freedomwill appeal to readers with an interest in the era of France’s Sun King (Louis XIV) who desire a fuller picture of how he obtained and maintained his absolute power, and especially to those ready to challenge themselves with the question, “What would I do if I were in Jehan’s situation?”
Reader, can you recommend other novels whose characters must choose between loyalty to their rulers and their faith?
How could a tobacco-chewing, defiant, small Polish peasant woman thwart the Nazis’ attempt to exterminate the Jews?
As summer begins in the northern hemisphere, I hope you’ll have opportunities to get away from normal routines, relax and read—perhaps J.L. Witterick’s My Mother’s Secret.
This short historical novel is based on the lives of Franciszka and Helena, a Polish mother and daughter recognized as “the Righteous among the Nations” in Israel.
In the midst of the German occupation of Poland in World War II, they risked everything to save the lives of people they barely knew.
The author weaves the stories of these desperate people with the lives of Franciszka and Helena, crafting a suspense-filled plot that keeps readers turning the pages.
Characters:
Helena – narrator, protagonist, and daughter of Franciszka. Her mother and brother shape her character, but she must make difficult choices on her own.
Franciszka – Helena’s mother, the heroine of the story, hides two Jewish families and a German soldier. She says “If you choose to do the right thing, it’s a conscious decision at first…Your actions with time become your character.” Her life exemplifies her words, and readers will root for her.
Bronek – Jewish carpenter who appeals for help for somewhere to hide his family from the Nazis
Mikolaj – son of prominent Jewish doctor whose family also needs a place to hide from the Nazis
Vilheim – young German vegetarian who values every living being. After being drafted into the GermanArmy, he’s disgusted by the Nazis’ actions and deserts. If caught, he will face death by firing squad.
Strengths:
This story cuts to the core of every character and reveals how each one responds to danger and moral dilemmas.
Weakness:
Heroic characters seem almost too good to be true.
Content review:
Contains references to violence that occurs offstage.
My recommendation:
According to publishing industry veteran, Howard Wells, My Mother’s Secret is “authentic and reads like poetry.” From my perspective, this novel is a quick read that was hard to put down, with characters, events, and themes that challenged me to reflect on what I would do in similar circumstances. I hope you’ll consider it as a worthy addition to your reading list.
Reader, can you recommend a story of heroism to inspire other readers?
If you know any librarians, can you imagine them as heroic spies?
Neither can I, so Madeline Martin’s recent novel, The Librarian Spy, sparked my curiosity.
I discovered a spy-filled World War II story set in Lyon, France, and an intriguing, new-to-me location—Lisbon, Portugal.
Here’s the plot in a nutshell:
The Allied Special Libraries and Information Bureau in Lisbon brought in research librarians from the U.S. and U.K to track down facts about clear or possible Nazi plans and activities, which helped shorten the war.
At the same time, German spies in Lisbon soughtinformation about Allied plans.
Into this mix arrived a constant flow of refugees (especially Jewish) seeking safe refuge from parts of Europe under threat or occupation by the Nazis.
In occupied Lyon, France, under threat of torture or immediate execution, the Resistance continues to work actively against the Nazis, printing and distributing truthful news about the progress of the war and the Nazis’ crimes.
The stories begun in these two locales converge at a certain point in the story (sorry, no spoiler here!)
Characters:
Each must make heart-wrenching choices with potentially fatal consequences:
which risks to take
whom to trust
whom to help
Most are heroic, so readers will root for many, among them:
Ava Harper – 1st protagonist, she’s a Rare Book librarian recruited from the Library of Congress to aid the U.S. intelligence effort in Portugal
James MacKinnon – Brit in Lisbon who takes an interest in Ava, who thinks he works for the Special Libraries and Information Bureau
Elaine Rousseau (alias of Hélène Bélanger) – 2nd protagonist; she’s a resident of Lyon, France, who sympathizes with the Resistance, but her husband, Joseph, forbids her from volunteering and scolds her for not being a proper Vichy wife
Etienne – Joseph’s best friend, he connects Elaine with the Resistance
Josette, Nicole, Denise, and Manon – all Resistance sympathizers in Lyon who interact with Elaine
Sarah – Jewish refugee desperate to escape with her young son, Noah, to join her husband in the U.S.
Kommander Werner – cruel German known for torturing Resistance captives in Lyon so they would reveal names of their fellow anti-Nazi sympathizers
Strengths:
This suspenseful story keeps readers on the edge of their seats, while weaving in setting details and interesting information that’s not widely known about Portugal and Lyon in World War II.
Weakness:
Although this is a compelling story, a major premise is fictional. This may disappoint readers seeking a completely historically-accurate novel. The author admits that the U.S. sent no women librarians to Portugal during World War II to uncover potentially useful information.
Content review:
Descriptions of violence committed by the Nazis will make this story disturbing for some, especially young readers.
I recommend The Librarian Spy, an entertaining and informative dual-protagonist novel, to readers who enjoy suspenseful reading about the World War II era, with a fresh twist.
Reader, what are your favorite novels of World War II?
This month we focus on The Betrothed, an Italian literary masterpiece Italians revere, but most Americans have never heard of.
Why read this nearly two centuries-old novel about a young couple, priest, and a local strongman set in 1628 in Italy’s Lake Como region?
The Betrothed (I promessi sposi) offers a deep, yet entertaining, portrayal of life in the Lombardy region in the 1600s.
In Italy, this historical novel is considered the nation’s literary masterpiece, penned by Alessandro Manzoni, famed as a poet and philosopher, as well as a novelist.
Thanks to a new English translation, the first in 50 years, the novel is now a much smoother read for English readers.
What’s the story?
Lucia and Renzo, an endearing peasant couple anticipate their wedding the following day. Disaster strikes when a local baron who wants Lucia for himself uses his power to prevent their marriage.
The remainder of the novel (a years-long saga!) reveals the extensive fallout of that single evil deed, as well as the beneficial repercussions of some characters’ positive choices.
Although The Betrothed has high as well as low moments, the author spares no effort to detail the suffering and powerlessness of innocent, low-born people. He raises questions:
How can God, the Church, and the justice system allow this?
How do people cope with all these crises?
Heavy-handed military domination of their region (by Spain), followed by German invasion
Corrupt justice system allowing virtual free reign of petty strongmen and criminal gangs
Church officials (with notable exceptions) who often turned a blind eye to injustice and oppression of common people
Famine
Plague (perhaps brought by soldiers) in Milan and surrounding areas in 1630
Characters:
This novel has many characters, but it follows the lives of several key individuals, revealing how each one responds to these hardships:
Renzo – a hard-working young man who has saved his earnings in preparation for marriage to Lucia; he endures many undeserved perils
Lucia – Renzo’s fiancée, a simple, pious peasant whose circumstances force her to choose between terrible options
Don Rodrigo – main villain, a local baron/strongman who wants Lucia for himself and will stop at nothing to have her
Don Abbondio – the parish priest who cowers under threats from henchmen of Don Rodrigo; he refuses to marry Renzo and Lucia
Padre Cristoforo – Capuchin friar rescued from a death sentence; he responds by showing mercy to peasants
Federico Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan – wise, compassionate cardinal
Agnese – Lucia’s well-meaning mother, she schemes to trick the priest into marrying Lucia to Renzo
The Unnamed – greatest robber baron, his change of heart transforms the lives of many
The Nun of Monza – an unfortunate woman sentenced by her family to life in a convent, she plays a key role in the story
Strengths:
The plot is fascinating, with many entertaining twists, and it plunges the reader into the culture and events of the era.
Weakness:
This novel is very long, and modern readers may wish to skim through the many pages of historical background.
Content review:
This novel contains violence and suggestions but no explicit descriptions of physical intimacy.
I recommend this novel to intellectually curious readers ready for an immersion into the culture of 17th-century Lombardy, especially if they plan to travel to the regions near Lake Como and Milan.
As we in the northern hemisphere hope for signs of new life and spring, I’ve discovered a new (to me) author—Sandra Dallas, who has written more than a dozen historical novels set in the American West, focused on common people often ignored by historians. I’ll share my reflections on two of her novels:
Little Souls—latest novel of Sandra Dallas, set in Denver around 1918.
Why does the world need another novel about the 1918 Influenza Epidemic?
Author Sandra Dallas creates a multifaceted plot. The epidemic is only one of several intriguing elements.
Others include:
The drama and impact of the U.S. entry into World War I
Ethical challenges young men face in deciding whether to enlist
Life in Denver in this era, particularly for young single women
Denver’s underworld of bootlegging, gambling, kidnapping, and violence directed toward children
Characters: range from dregs of society to saintly
Lutie (Lucretia) Hite – protagonist, she’s an aspiring artist who designs ads for women’s clothing store
Peter Howell – Lutie’s fiancé, a seminary student from an affluent family
Anne Howell – Peter’s mother, a wealthy woman with a surprising past
Helen Hite – Lutie’s sister, a nurse who faces daily the pandemic’s horrors
Gil Rushton – Helen’s fiancé, a young physician
Dorothy – young girl orphaned by the pandemic, she faces multiple difficulties no child should encounter
Ronald Streeter – Dorothy’s father, involved in nefarious crime network
Gus Vincent – criminal associate of Mr. Streeter
Beulah Vincent – wife of Gus, she’s Ronald Streeter’s sister, also involved in criminal activities
Strengths:
Sympathetic, unique characters
Setting details that draw in readers
Well-written, engaging plot
Weakness:
The conclusion may wrap up the story a bit too neatly. (If you read this novel, let me know what you think!)
Content review:
This novel includes references to violent crime and sexual violence.
I recommend Little Souls
to readers who enjoy plunging into a new era and place, and who can tolerate the wounding of sympathetic characters.
Could a woman who has devoted her life to birthing babiesmurder an infant?
What would motivate her to commit such a crime?
In 1880, Gracy Brookens, the trusted longtime midwife of her Colorado mining town, faces a charge of murdering a struggling newborn after the town’s most prominent citizen calls her to save the baby.
Characters:
The Last Midwife tells Gracy’s story, which turns out to be a tangled web involving many people, both in and beyond the town. The mine’s owner, the sheriff, Gracy’s husband and son, and the other characters—each has secrets that, if revealed, would taint his or her reputation.
From the outset, the author portrays Gracy in a sympathetic light:
She’s a woman willing to endure exhaustion and low pay for the joy of birthing babies
She possesses a backwoods wisdom gained from her mentor and life experience instead of books
She’s aware of her own shortcomings as well as those of others, and she’s willing to forgive.
Readers’ concern for Gracy will keep them hooked, even as they fear for her fate.
Strengths:
Characters are distinct and strong
Setting is a character of its own
Plot makes the story difficult to put down
Weakness:
I challenge readers to point out a weakness; I couldn’t pinpoint any.
Content review:
This novel shows the brutality and immorality of frontier life.
I recommend The Last Midwife
to readers who enjoy a novel set deep within frontier culture, with flawed but endearing characters, and twists that will make your mind spin.
Reader, do you have a favorite novel of the American West?
