THEFORUM
Letters may be edited for reasons of space
From Muriel Smith, Berkshire
If there were a posthumously awarded prize for the best-written unhistorical novel of the nineteenth century , I would nominate Robert Louis Stevenson's The Black Arrow ( 1888) .He dedicated it to his wife , speaking of her "unavailing attempts" to read it ; so that he would "lack humour indeed if I let the occasion slip and did not place your name on the flyleaf of the only book of mine that you have never read - and never will read" . If she had any interest at all in English history , nobody can wonder at this because, as history, this "Tale of the Two Roses" is simply rubbish. No exact date is given, but we are in the reign "ofold King Henry VI" (1421-1471), apparently between the Yorkist disaster of Wakefield (Monday, 29 December 1460) and the triumph pf Towton (Palm Sunday 29 March 1461). There are various footnotes to make plain that deviations from fact are deliberate variations, not the result of ignorance. One acknowledges that "at the date of this story" Richard "could not have been created Duke of Gloucester" ; another that he "would have been really far younger at this date", eight or so, not eighteen or so as represented.
Second, in a photo-finish, comes Sir Walter Scott's Old Mortality (1816) John Buchan'sSir Walter Scott (1932) is of course on Scott's side and , being himself a minister's son, he dealt gingerly with the Covenanter legend. He says of Scott, "if he errs at all in fairness it is in his portrait of Claverhouse" That is putting it mildly. In a letter to Southey , he says of Claverhouse "I admit that he was tant soit peu savage, but he was a noble savage; and the beastly Covenanters against whom he acted hardly had any claim to be called men, unless what was founded upon their walking upon their hind feet."
.Claverhouse's letter to Queensberry of Sunday, the third of May 1685 , reporting the execution of John Brown, the "Christian Carrier" was first used by Mark Napier in 1857 but Scott had stayed at Drumlanrig, where it was kept - he belonged to a junior branch of the Buccleuch family and they would have let him rummage in the attics ; he had only to ask.
From Jasmina Svenne, Mansfield
Both as a novelist and a reviewer, I agree wholeheartedly with Teresa Basinski Eckford ' s article on the importance of accuracy in historical fiction We will never capture an alien period perfectly, but
ISSUE 21 AUGUST 2002
we have a duty to our readers to avoid making silly mistakes or perpetuating myths. I imagine every would-be pedant has his or her own pet hates. The following is a selected list of mine.
I would love to see the word 'dandy' banned from any book set prior to the 19th century, when it was coined. Similarly 'pannier' is a 19th century term for 18th century fashions. Nor was there need for her to carry a reticule, since she had capacious pockets hidden under her full petticoats.
A total ban on anyone writing about the aristocracy unless they know how to use titles correctly (Lady Elizabeth X vs Elizabeth, Lady X).
The myth that all highwaymen were bored aristocrats looking for excitement. Records suggest two sorts of men took to the road -career criminals, unwilling or unable to find honest jobs, and the occasional thief, who only attacked when there was no other way to feed his family. Most were smart enough not to commit too many crimes in the same area, so that if they were caught, they could plead it was a first offence. And by no means were all of them gallant with ladies.
The myth that it was possible to wander into employment without a proper apprenticeship. Frances Burney's last novel, The Wanderer is a grim example of the difficulties a well-educated girl faced even in getting a job as a seamstress. Similarly, Edith Wharton's Lily Bart discovers there is a huge difference between trimming hats for friends and attaining the correct professional standard to work in a milliner's shop.
The myth that duels and elopements were considered romantic. In fact either one would be enough to permanently blight a young woman's reputation
Because of my experience of historical dance, my radar lights up at the slightest mention of dancing in historical novels. There is no reason why a layperson should be an expert but I am baffled, however, that an academic like Philippa Gregory should be apparently unaware that the waltz is a 19th century dance.
I know these are things few people will notice apart from me and I'm sure there are mistakes in my novel that critics would be only too pleased to point out. No doubt there will be mistakes in my next book too, but it won't stop me from trying again and failing better, as Samuel Beckett once said.
From Glenys Derwent George, East Sussex
Many congratulations on combining the UK and US/Canada sections. However, I notice that the Review no longer has an index of books reviewed in each issue. I wonder if it is possible to re-introduce it.
(The reason, as ever, is space However, I can supply a list ofall books reviewed so far and in which issue. Please contact me for details. Ed)
Glenys goes on to say: There are many authors whose books cry out to be re-issued. John Cowper Powys (a favourite) and Harrison Ainsworth, although his, The Lancashire Witches does hit the bookshelves occasionally. I am fortunate enough to have an almost full set of both: JCP collected over the years, together with a few by his brothers, TF and Llewelyn. I believe there is or was a society to keep his name to the fore. I remember years ago seeing them newly reissued in French in the English Bookshop in Paris, but unfortunately, not here! Harrison Ainsworth's were given to me by my mother-in-law whose father bought them for her as a child; second hand even then with a beautiful copperplate 1/- annotated therein! (that's one pre-decimal shilling - value 5p - for those too young to remember. Ed)
PHOENIX PRESS RE-ISSUES CLASSIC HISTORICAL NOVELS
Imagine my delight when I discovered that Phoenix Press were to publish new paperback editions of seven classic historical novels. After all, the reason the HNS was founded was to promote the genre which at the time was considered 'old hat'. I remember the flurry of letters from members naming old favourites that were out of print and therefore woefully neglected. One novel in particular caught a collective nerve: The Man on a Donkey by HF M Prescott. Thanks to information supplied by several members I was able to compile some biographical information about the author (See HNR issue 14, December 2000) but as for securing a copy of the novel itself, the trail went cold. Until now - thanks to Phoenix Press's inspired decision.
Stylishly presented and at a very reasonable cover price, they are a welcome addition to the everincreasing range of available quality historical fiction. I was fascinated to find out why Phoenix Press took this brave plunge. Bing Taylor, Phoenix's Managing Director was clear in his reply: 'The last five or ten years have seen an enormous upsurge in interest in history books of every kind. Historians such as David Starkey, Simon Schama and Amanda Foreman have achieved immense literary and media success simply by telling good stories. That is what these seven novels are. Amanda Foreman comments that people believe history is true whereas fiction is untrue. "But really", she says, "fiction is always true in an artistic
ISSUE 21 AUGUST 2002
sense Whereas history ranges from crude propaganda to personal bias, with actual fact occupying a tiny space in the middle. Although history has a claim to truth , it is rarely more than a collection of truths." All these novels are true not only in an artistic sense, but in the meticulous way in which they recreate the remote and exotic time of their setting . Whether a reader wants to be transported to the last days of the Roman Empire in Eagle in the Snow , or to sixteenthcentury India in Th e Root and the Flower , there can scarcely be a better source of information on what it was actually like to live there The inventions of plot and character are designed to snag readers ' interest, to propel them into a universe which might otherwise seem inaccessible .'
' So ,' I added, 'Phoenix , like the Historical Novel Society has noted the resurge of interest in historical novels ? '
' The genre is very healthy ,' replied Mr Taylor. ' Bernard Cornwell's books are constantly at the top of the best-seller lists and Beryl Bainbridge has achieved great critical and commercial success with novels that are set in the past, although she does not tend to be viewed as a ' genre author ' . Allan Massie ' sTh e E vening of th e World has been a considerable success , with a further two books in the Dark Ages trilogy to follow . We aim to position the seven novels so that they appeal to these sorts of buyers. Early indications are very encouraging. '
But why these particular novels , I asked 'The definition of a classic is a book that has stood the test of time . We think that applies to all these novels . They have been published and re-published over many years , recruiting new generations of readers with every incarnation. They Were Defeated is Rose Macaulay' s only historical novel, which in itself makes it significant. Th e Root and the Flower was very highly regarded by Penelope Fitzgerald and has been in print almost continuously since 1935. The World is not Enough is one of several historical novels by Zoe Oldenbourg. Oldenbourg was not merely a great writer but a great historian too, as her numerous non-fiction works demonstrate Desiree sold millions of copies when it was frrst published in the 1950s and revived the age of Napoleon for a whole generation. Eagle in the Snow is set in the dying days of the Roman Empire. The book not only explores bravery in the field , but throws light on the political machinations back in Rome which , of course , was about to be sacked by Alaric. On a more personal level Maxim us , the hero of the book, struggles to uphold his loyalty to the pagan religion in a Christian world . Flambard 's Confession by Marilyn Durham - author of Th e Man who loved Cat Dancing - cannot be bettered in its depiction of the murky and chaotic aftermath of the Norman Conquest and William II's often brutal attempts to impose order.
The Man on a Donkey is the most famous book by a great English writer H.F.M. Prescott. First published in 1952 , it tells of Henry VIII's despoliation of the monasteries and how the Pilgrimage of Grace almost destroyed him and his dynasty. All in all, as diverse a range of authors and subjects as you could hope to find.'
I was keen to know whether Phoenix planned to republish any more. Here Bing Taylor was more cautious . ' We will have to evaluate the performance of these books frrst.' I could hardly expect a shrewd publisher to say more , but was cheered by his final words. 'The intention is that this should be an ongoing initiative.'
Amen , says the Historical Novel Society. The Phoenix Press deserves our gratitude but as usual in the highly volatile world of publishing, good intentions can so often be thwarted. So do your bit. Spread the word and , more to the point, buy the books , read and enjoy them and let Phoenix Press know how much you appreciate its initiative.
Six titles are available now; Flambard's Confession will be published in October 2002.
Mary Moffat, the HNS
Children's Fiction editor considers Jewish History and Children's Books
It was not until the end of the Second World War and the entry of the Allied forces into the concentra tion camps, that people realised the true horror of Hitler 's policy regarding the Jews. Since then much has been written about the brutalities and savageries of the Holocaust , but it tends to be studied in isolation. Is that perhaps because it is easier for us to believe that Hitler was something unique? Is that what we want to believe? Or are we just closing our eyes to an unpleasant series of facts? Hitler's Jewish policy was the culmination of a long tradition Hitler was far from being an originator; he was a copycat, an imitator. The roots of the Holocaust go back to the Middle Ages - and many of them are found in England. This is something largely ignored by history.
I have long known the bare facts which I gleaned from a footnote in a university textbook , from a pamphlet produced by York Tourist Board, and from a novel by one of the greatest of children's historical novelists. But these basic facts tended to wash over me until quite recently when a few children's historical novels really forced me to think . I then
ISSUE 21 AUGUST 2002
decided to gain a more definite background. I did this by going into a few sites on Jewish history on the Internet. In the centre of York - what is known as the Eye of York - there stands a memorial. It does not look like a memorial, but it is. Clifford ' s Tower stands on a steep mound with wooden steps leading up to a stone keep This is all that is left of the medieval Castle of York. Today it forms a tourist attraction and a starting point for the various processions of the holiday year. But Clifford ' s Tower is actually a memorial to the Jews who perished there during the massacre of 1190 ln March 1190 there were several riots against the Jews all over the country The Jews of York took refuge in the Castle, which was besieged by a savage , enraged mob which was led by a nobleman who was in debt to the Jews . At that time the Castle consisted of a motte and bailey and wooden keep. The Jews were running short of food and, rather than fall into the hands of the frenzied mob , many of them killed themselves after first setting fire to the keep. The York riot and massacre were only one of several in England at that time. As I have already said , I knew this but I had never really thought deeply about it - until a book by Pamela Melnikoff really forced me to think. The Star and the Sword tells the story of two children who live in the Jewish quarter of a Yorkshire village. One day they are given permission by their parents to go out into the surrounding countryside. They return to find the Jewish houses ransacked and in flames and all the Jews of the village hounded together in the market place confronted by a crazed mob. The children, Benedict and Elvira , are saved by a friend of their father ' s who hides them in his cellar and smuggles them out of the village in the morning and there follows an account of their adventurous journey. Pamela Melnikoff has written an exciting story which explains simply some of the political ramifications behind the riots of the time, and also throws light on the Jewish religion and its rituals A book which forces the reader to confront the roots of anti-Semitism
But no matter how well written , a historical novel does tend to leave gaps in the reader's knowledge So what had led up to these riots ? Before 1066 there were a few Jews living in England but it was not until the Norman Conquest that their numbers increased to any significance William the Conqueror encouraged Jewish merchants and artisans to move to England They settled in a number of towns and had their own quarters - or ghettos. They took up jobs trading and lending money to the government - something which only they could do as Christians were forbidden to lend money for interest. This meant that successive Kings of England found the Jews very useful and taxed them heavily These taxes meant that the Jews had to raise their interest rates , which in tum caused
THE HISTORICAL
great ill-feeling and resentment. Then something turned this bitterness into fear and hatred This was the charge of ritual murder which began to be raised against the Jews. They were accused of killing Christian children and using their blood in Passover celebrations. This was widely believed despite the Pope himself dismissing the charges as ridiculous. The position of the Jews further deteriorated with the religious fervour of the Crusades. Then the government started restricting Jewish rights. One particularly interesting fact ; in 1217 English Jews were forced to wear yellow identification badges (something Hitler copied seven hundred years later) Finally, in 1290, Edward I expelled the Jews from England . (His example was later followed by other European countries).
But how do you banish a whole people? And what do they do? Where do they go ? I did not ask these questions but someone else did , Geoffrey Trease , one of the greatest historical novelists for young people . Red Towers of Granada was the result. This book is by many considered to be his best work. It has one of the most memorable openings of any book ever written "It is a strange and terrible thing to listen to one's own funeral service " Robin is in church while a priest says the Office for the Seclusion of Lepers over him. Stunned and numb , Robin trudges away from the village in which he grew up. In Sherwood Forest he comes across Dr Solomon, a Jewish doctor who tells him he isn't suffering from leprosy and takes him to his home in the Nottingham ghetto where Robin meets his son and daughter , Susanna and David. Then the Jews are ordered out of England but before they all leave for Spain the doctor is given a secret task by Queen Eleanor of Castile , Edward I's wife He asks Robin to help him. A threat to the success of the mission forms the basis of an exciting story. But as this was written by Geoffrey Trease there is far more to it than thrills and spills. There is meticulous research and a magnificent , authentic background : details about the Nottingham ghetto and the lives and religious rituals of its Jewish inhabitants: details about the Jewish communities in Spain: details about the Spanish Moors. Above all , Geoffrey Trease has given us some wonderful descriptions of the Spanish countryside Incorporated into the thrilling story is also a message of conciliation Robin and David become friends and later, they both become friendly with their Moorish guide Yusuf: " And so we took the road to Granada , a Christian , a Jew and an infidel , yet from that first moment the best of friends ." It is a dreadful commentary on the state of modern publishing that such an outstanding book as this, is , for the present at least , out of print. *
After a gap of about two hundred years we begin to hear about the Jews in England again at the end of the 15th century and by the time of Queen Elizabeth
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there was again a Jewish community in London. But this time they were practising their religion in secret. The position of these Marrano Jews, as they were known, has been described in another book by Pamela Melnik.off: Plots and Players. This describes a Marrano family living in London at the time of Queen Elizabeth. The main character is Robin Fernandez who is 'discovered' by William Shakespeare as a natural actor and offers him work. At first Robin's father forbids it but is later persuaded by an old family friend, Dr Lopez. And so Robin is initiated into the magic of the Elizabethan theatre. But at the same time Robin is also drawn into something far more sinister. Dr Lopez is the Queen's physician. He is accused of treason - on very flimsy evidenceand condemned to death. Anti-Jewish hostility sweeps through London and scurrilous pamphlets are on sale at every bookstall. Robin has to watch his tongue and is on constant guard not to accidentally reveal that he is a Jew. Then Robin finally turns against his beloved theatre. This happens after the execution of his friend Dr Lopez. His father tells him of a play by Dr Marlowe The Jew of Malta. The central character is a Jew, Barabas, who is a dreadful monster. Robin is appalled and turns his back on the theatre for ever but first he confronts William Shakespeare with his opinions. A year later he meets Robin again and tells him that their conversation made him think. He has just written a play about a Jew who is a human being - The Merchant of Venice. He hopes that Robin will come to see it because, in a sense, it is Robin's play.
There is another more recent book written around The Merchant of Venice. This is Shylock's Daughter by Mirjam Pressler. As the title suggests the story is one of teenage angst and rebellion but the background is full and illuminating. We are given much detail about the Jewish communities in Venice in 1568descriptions of the ghetto and the Jewish rules and customs: descriptions of the way in which the Jews are treated the distinctive clothes they had to wear when they leave the ghetto, the raid on the ghetto and the burning of the sacred Jewish books; all things we associate with the Third Reich - only 400 years before it.
In England, shortly after the time of Shakespeare events began to take a turn for the better. Rather surprisingly it was Oliver Cromwell who readmitted the Jews to England. In 1656 they were once again allowed to practise their faith openly and, when he came to the throne, Charles II issued further royal statements protecting the Jews. In England at least the slow road to acceptance of the Jews had begun. But three hundred years later, in Nazi Germany, the medieval policy of the banishment of the Jews was extended and transformed into one of slaughter and extermination
References:
Unfortunately the website I consulted has a long URL: http://www.usisrael.org/jsource/vjw/England.htrnl If that does not bring up the page, then use a search engine to locate "The Virtual Jewish History Tour England"
The Star and the Sword by Pamela Melnik.off is published in paperback by the Jewish Publication Society of America at £7.50 and $9.95 Plots and Players by Pamela Melnikoff is published in paperback by the Jewish Publication Society at £8.95. Other editions are available but are in limited supply
Shylock's Daughter by Mirjam Pressler is published in the UK by Macmillan Children's Books, £4.99 paperback, and in the US by Phyllis Fogelman Books at $17.99 hardback. For review see HNR 19 (February 2002)
* Red Towers of Granada by Geoffrey Trease (Editor's note: although this novel is indeed out of print, I found 19 second-hand copies for sale via www.alibris.com. There are also other internet second-hand book sites. www.abebooks is excellent.)
HNS BOOK ORDERING SERVICE
UK.Members
The HNS Book Ordering Service can supply any book reviewed in Historical Novels Reviews, including books published abroad. Please contact Sarah Cuthbertson at sarah76cuthbert@aol.com or 01293 884898 with the title(s) you want and she will give you a quote from the cheapest Internet source, to include postage and packing. Customers can benefit from discounts on many titles, and will usually pay only UK postage on overseas books. Books will be delivered directly to the customer whenever possible.
Alternatively, the US Reviews Editors will buy books for you in the US to trade for UK titles: please contact Sarah Nesbeitt (cfsln@eiu.edu), Trudi Jacobson (tj662@csc.albany.edu OR readbks@localnet.com. Home tel: +01518/439-3989), or Ilysa Magnus (good1aw2@aol.com). Sarah Cuthbertson can contact them on your behalf if you don't have Email.
Overseas Members
The following UK members are interested in trading books with overseas members, including wishlists and secondhand books: Rachel A. Hyde, Meadow Close, Budleigh Salterton, Devon EX9 6JN, Tel: +44 1395 446238, Email: rachelahyde@ntlworld.com (Rachel will also trade Fantasy & SF). Sarah Cuthbertson (contact details above). Please let Sarah know if you would like to join this list.
ISSUE 21 AUGUST 2002
REVIEWS
General fiction is classified by period. Within each section, the books are listed in alphabetical order of author.
While the HNS takes every care to provide accurate and up-to-date information about the books under review, sometimes errors creep in We apologise for these, and advise all our readers to cross -check our information with booksellers before attempting any purchase.
If you experience any difficu lties in obtaining any book p lease contact the HNS book ordering service. Details on page 6 opposite.
PRE-IDSTORY
THE SHELTERS O F ST ONE
Jean M Auel , Hodder & Stoughton , 2002 , £18.99, hb, 765pp, ISBN 0340821957 Pub in North America by Crown , 2002, $28 95 /C$44.95, hb , 720pp, ISBN 0609610597
This book is the fifth in the Earth 's Children series , a saga set in the last Ice Age T he central character is Ayla, a Paleo lithic woman , raised from childhood by a group of Neanderthals. The book opens as Ayla and Jonda lar have completed their epic journey across Europe (dealt with in ear lier books) and have arrived at Jondalar ' s family settlement. Th e Sh elters of Stone is the story of Ayla ' s assimi lation into the Zelandonii tribe whose customs are as strange to her as she is to them. As she learns their way of life she a lso has much to teach them But the main thrust of the story is Ayla's discovery of her own powerful spiritua l gifts and her re luctance to accept her true destiny
Ms Auel's know ledge of the archaeo logical sites of Southwest France is impressive. The ' painted caves' of the region provide the setting for some of the ceremonial rites in the story. She has created a be lievable set of rules , beliefs and customs for her tribes. Yet I wasn't absorbed by this tale I found it overlong, with irritating and unnecessary repetition The centra l character is much too good to be true, though other characters are well drawn. More importantly, I had no sense of being in a past time T he characters felt too modem, the dialogue too slick, constantly jerking me back to the present. My suspension of disbelief was overstretched by some of the words that came from the mouths of these prehistoric characters : ' bi-facially ', ' affiliated', 'ephemeral', to name a few OK, this is prehistory and no one knows how peop le communicated, so perhaps the dialogue shouldn't matter. For me it did , but since Ms Auel ' s books have already so ld 34 million copies in 28 languages, I cou ld be a minor ity of
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
one. No doubt those who have read and enjoyed the previous four books will enjoy this one no less Ce lia Ellis
BIBLICAL
AD IEL
Shlomo DuNour , Toby Press , 2001 , $24 95 (£15.17), hb , 303pp , ISBN 190288132X
This novel translated from the Hebrew purports to be a narrative by an angel named Adie !, reassigned from his regular task as a Urie l, dragging and pulling the sun from East to West. His new job is to tell the story of mankind from the Garden of Eden to the Flood, filling in the gap that exists before written history For the most part , the angelic narrator recaps the story of Adam and Eve and that of Noah, but with some flourishes added. The temptress demon Lillith arouses the initial lust in Adam, but she can ' t cross the barrier between angel and human.
The narrator's inability to cross the same barrier leaves him out of the action for the most part . He rather likes Noah and fears Cain's jealousy , but he can do nothing to prevent the traged ies which occur. He does credit himself with stopping the vomiting after Noah ' s sons indulge in a binge of sodomy and meat-eating , the latter activity presumably causing the Extinction of the eaten species.
The narrator has a homoerotic crush on the archangel Michael. They listen to each other ' s heartbeats , bathe together , and Adie! is jealous when Michael works with other angels While the sexuality of angels is a matter of debate , this seems to go well beyond what wou ld be acceptab le to most fundamenta list Christians The entire book is too Biblica l for most nonbelievers and too unorthodox for most be lievers.
James Hawking
MARY,
CALLE
D MAG DALE E
Margaret George , Viking , 2002, $27.95 (£16.49), hb , 64l pp , ISBN 0670030961
Those looking for New Testament sexuality will be disappointed in this book , as it follows the tradition of the Eastern Church, which recognizes Mary Magdalene as a wise woman who was among the ear li est discip les of Jesus and after His death an apostle in her own right , the recognized leader of the early Church in Ephesus. To emphasize that this Mary is not the prostitute nor the woman who lavished unguents at the feet of Jesus on Maundy Thursday, those characters are clearly distinguished from our heroine.
The book begins by portraying Mary as a young Jewis h girl who has preserved an ancient idol , presumably to the goddess who ruled the parts before. Mary's father is in the fish trade,
described so vividly that one can almost smell the rotting garum. When she appears to be possessed by demons , her husband and family reject her, but a wandering preacher from Nazareth drives them out. She joins a band that contains fishermen , a publican , a rebelliou s Zealot and eventually all of the others whom th e Church has come to regard as apostle s. George presents an implicit argument for women in the clergy, challenging the patriarchal contention that on ly men can be priests becau s e that is the way it was at the time of th e apostle s. As in the Gospel of John, Magdalene is the fir s t to see the risen Christ, a logical occurrence given that she was the disciple most gifted with supernatural visions. The last part of the book portrays her role in the early Church , inc luding such controversies as the primacy of Peter and the necessity of circumcision before con vers ion The novel ' s feminist mes sage does not interfere with an absorbing story with well - rea lized Biblical characters.
James Hawking
CLASSICAL
CLE OPATRA'S HE IR
Gillian Bradshaw, Forge , 2002 , $25 95 (£15.31) , hb , 447pp , ISBN 0765302284 This latest tale of adventure by one of our fine st historical novelists begins with the premi se that Caesarion survived an attempted execution by hiding under a pile of dead bodies Bradshaw portrays a youth rai sed in the Hellenic culture of the palace at Alexandria, now only alive because he is believed to be dead In a world where the Romans are supplanting the Greeks after the defeat of Antony, the son of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar adopts the alias Ar ion and drifts into the world of camel caravans and merchant ships. His be lief that "a crocodile is more clement than Octavian" makes him flee from his "second cousin once removed "
A caravan driver with ambitions to become a merchant helps the young kin g to adapt to the world of trade. Arion remains suspiciou s, secretive and arrogant, but as he learns more about the world outs ide the palace, we see him grow Like his father , he suffers from epilepsy, which is delineated in a master ly fa s hion Hi s se izures influence both the plot and the style of the book . Particu larly effective is the de scription of his reaction to the news of his mother ' s suicide.
Bradshaw has once again combined quirky characters , a suspenseful plot and accurate representation of the historical milieu to produce a novel that is satisfying on many levels
James Hawking ISSUE 21 , AUG 2002
THE EYE OF CYBELE
Daniel Chavarria , Akashic , 2002, $27 00 (£20) , hb, 463pp, ISBN 1888451254
The novel is set in Athens, roughly 430 BCE. The plot revolves around the hero , Alcibiades , a stuttering, physically beautiful general whose Olympic and battlefield successes have made him the darling of the masses. His political competition is the ruthless Nicias. A third central character is the lascivious Lysis , a beautiful , ambitious sacred prostitute Finally , there is The Keeper of the Sum, a slightly deranged priest who starts a bizarre new religion. At the heart of the plot is the disappearance of a sacred jewel, the Eye of Cybele , and the search for it, around which the intrigues and conniving revolve.
Chavarria constructs a complex story portraying the political, social , and religious landscape of the time. It is a vibrant time , erotic and violent , and he leaves nothing out , including detailed descriptions of cult sex and torture His s tyle includes third person narrative and streamof-consciousness , among others , that keeps the novel from sinking but can be distracting. He a lso includes a seventy-eight page glossary of "s undry reference to Ancient Greece" that is essential. For an immersion in the historical period , this is the book, but otherwise a reader could grow weary keeping names and action straight.
Gerald T Burke
ARISTOTLE
AND POETJC JUSTICE
Margaret Doody , Century, 2002 , £12 .99, pb , 324pp , ISBN 071261560 I Margaret Doody ' s delightfully wise and unlikely detective , Aristotle , is back on the case again after a re s t of twenty-five years This time an heire ss ha s gone missing and both he and his friend Stephanos , (in the clear again after the la st adventure) , have been asked to find her. Young Anthia ' s family are rich and influential s ilver merchants and where Aristotle sees a worthy puzzle , Stephanos ' thoughts are worldlier. Spring is springing and he is looking for a wife . The quest will involve them chasing off into the wild countryside , and end with them con s ultin g with the Delphic Oracle, e ncountering a body or two along the way Thi s is what the s tory is basically about , but Doody has drawn on Greek drama and come up with a tale that Aristophanes would have been ench anted with I ' m not saying that this is a comedy - there is too much drama and tragedy in here to categorise it so narrowly - but there are some funny moments such as when the beautiful but wordy slaves decide to tell their stori es at great length.
Th e re is al so the delightfully priggish and pompou s narrator , Stephanos , who seems so much a man of his time with his attitude toward s women , foreigners and trying to
impress his betters and rise in society Like the wonderfully wild countryside and the g lorious descriptions of spring this novel truly brings Ancient Greece to warm and real life again , politically incorrect (to us that is) , and barbaric alongside the trappings of democracy and art Even Aristotle , who has a less chauvinistic outlook on life and is our window into the novel because of this , is a product of his time and it all fits together like a well made jigsaw puzzle.
To its slight detriment the Agatha Christie method of declaiming how the crime was done goes on for many pages and is very long and convoluted Enough so as to leave many readers scratching their heads. And the maps ought to be at the front. (I was halfway through and cursing the lack of a map before I accidentally found them ) But these minor gripes aside this is one superb book. If the average historical whodunit appears too much like a costume piece featuring a time traveller from the present as protagonist, try this one for size.
Rachel A Hyde
MURDER AT THE PANIONIC GAMES
Michael B. Edwards , Academy Chicago , 2001 , $23.50 (£15 88) , hb , 260pp , ISBN 0897335007
A new entry in the ancient historical detective subgenre , Murder at th e Panionic Gam es introduces us to Bias, a minor priest of Prirene in 650 B.C Center of the Ionic League , Prirene is host to the Panionic Games in which (like the Olympics on mainland Greece) athletes from each of the member cities - Colophon , M iletus, Chios , Samos and others - meet to compete. However , something goes terribly wrong at the opening ceremonies and the greatest of Prirene's athletes is poisoned. It falls to Bias, who has been polluted by his contact with the athlete's dead body , to rid himself of that corruption by solving the murder.
Life in Ionic Greece - its traditions, customs , daily activities - is folded seamlessly into the action. Frankly, my own ignorance about ancient Greek life intruded on my enjoyment of the book initially, but this was soon resolved in favor of liking Bias and going along for the ride. As a character, I found Bias a bit less compelling than some of the other ancient detectives with whom I'm familiar. However, for historical accuracy and impeccable detail, this is worth reading Ilysa Magnus
PHARAOH
Karen Essex , Warner Books , 2002, $24 95 / C$34 95 (£18 99) , 406 pp , hb , ISBN 0446530255
The name Kleopatra (Greek spelling) conjures up a multitude of images in our mind ' s eye , and Karen Essex ' s two excellent novels (the first , entitled Kleopatra) about this enigmatic queen , Egypt's last pharaoh , give many thought
provoking insights into this controversial woman ' s life and times. ln Pharaoh Kleopatra allies with Julius Caesar, both personally and professionally, in hopes of killing two birds with one stone. Her younger brother has usurped her throne, and she needs Caesar ' s strength to regain it. At the same time, she also hopes to influence Caesar to loosen Rome ' s evertightening grip on her country so that she can resume her reign from a cooperative rather than an adversarial position. Her hopes are realized during Caesar's lifetime but when he is brutally murdered , Kleopatra finds herself and her beloved country again threatened by Rome and its new ruler , Octavian. Kleopatra then allies herself with Mark Antony , who eventually becomes the greatest love of her life . Together they attempt to neutralize the new threat posed by Octavian ultimately to both their sorrows Essex depicts Kleopatra as a highly intelligent, politically savvy woman rather than a conniving femme fatale who conveys sexual favors on Rome's two most powerful men for her own selfish ends, as history has so often painted her. Interestingly and convincingly, the author portrays Kleopatra as a monarch with a Graeco-Roman vision rather than as one desiring to conquer Rome In-depth research and compelling writing. Highly recommended . Pat Maynard
LAST OF THE AMAZONS
Steven Pressfield , Doubleday 2002 , £10 99 , pb , 372pp, ISBN 0385602669. Published in US by Doubleday , $24.95 , ISBN 038550098X Theseus is king in Athens , the time is 1250 BC, or thereabouts , and the Trojan War lies a generation or two in the future Plutarch says that Theseus , in his expedition again st the Amazons , carried off their Queen Antiope . They , in turn , together with their Scythian allies invaded the City State, overcoming and destroying the region of Attica and penetrating into the midst of Athens itself That is where mythology and Steven Pressfield ' s novel begins. Using the bones of early Greek legends , he constructs a nation of almost indestructible female warriors. Interpreting the rites of a primordial religion based on Selene the Moon and Huntress , mother of all living thing s, he make s the Amazons into an embodiment of female love They us e the male only at the annual festival. With the ultimate triumph of Theseus the time of the free and equal woman is over. They are forever to be constrained within the wider concept of masculine domination. Pressfield gets into his stride when he turn s to war , on which most of the book is ba sed , however, the first and last chapters would have been better written as Prologue and Epilogue re spectively. He tells of the Ama zonian capacity for barbarity and appalling cruelty where the pitilessness and horrors of war are graphically
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ISSUE 21 , AUG 2002
explained.
One can only wonder if the Amazons were so savage. By the time the Greeks had colonised what is now southern Russia, there were none to be found and it was necessary to explain what had happened to them.
I should have liked this book more but the blood-letting and cruel battles are all rather ghastly. For those who like a blood feast there is enough here to satisfy most readers. Gwen Sly.
A MIST OF PROPHECIES
Steven Saylor, St. Martin's Minotaur , 2002 , $24 95 /C$34 95 , hb , 265pp, ISBN 0312271212
Pub in the UK by Constable & Robinson , 2002 , £16.99 , hb , 320pp , ISBN 1841195103
The brutal Roman Civil War pitted the followers of the upstart Julius Caesar against the equally determined supporters of Pompey the Great. Rome and her territories were torn asunder, and the Roman world took on a very different look with Caesar's victory. Saylor's indefatigable Gordianus the Finder must navigate his way through the dangerous political world of thi s unstable Rome in the latest adventure of our ancient "Shamus. " Gordianus is presented with a dilemma in attempting to resolve the untimely death of a lovely young prophet of whom our hero has more than a passing acquaintance Family members of those close to both rival political camps are implicated, and the task of Gordianus is made infinitely more complicated by the intrigue of civil conflict as well as by his previous relationship with the murdered woman (which is best kept secret from the Finder's wife and family!).
Saylor knows his Rome and succeeds once again in bringing this city and time period to life as Gordianus steers his usual uncertain course between truth and survival. A fair amount of knowledge of Rome and Roman society will benefit the reader , but a patient novice will find the effort rewarding.
John R Vallely
1ST CENTURY
THE JUPITER MYTH
Lindsay Davis , Century, 2002, £16.99 , hb , 342pp , ISBN 0712680446. The fourteenth Marcus Didius Falco book finds Falco and his family still in Britain. They are now staying in Londinium with Helena ' s uncle , who is the Procurator for the province. They are officially on holiday before returning to Rome , but when a British noble is found murdered in extremely unusual circumstances, stuffed headfirst down a well , Falco's talents are called upon. The investigation leads Falco and his friend Petronius through the underbelly of the
fledgling frontier town , encountering gangsters , corrupt soldiers and female gladiators (and picking up the odd waif and stray along the way).
Fans of Falco will know what to expect and will not be disappointed with Th e Jupiter My th . It contains the usual excellent mix of action , humour and an credible feeling for the period. Lindsey Davis ' cynical hero may have the personality of a 1920s private eye , but she successfully blends him into the historical period so that the reader feels he is at home there. The author uses the latest archaeological evidence to create an extremely believable picture of early Londinium , now rising from the ashes of Boudicca ' s Rebellion I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it for summer reading.
Graham Harrison
DOMINA
Paul Doherty , Headline, 2002 , £10.99 , tpb , 274pp , ISBN 0747272921
' If you are born into the Imperial Purple, life and power are synonymous ; you can't have one without the other.' So states Agrippina , daughter of Germanicus . Domina is the story of her involvement in the deaths of three emperors: Tiberius , Caligula and Claudius. Schooled in the atmosphere of the house of Livia , Agrippina knows every poison available and makes frequent use of them But, like Livia before her , Agrippina has one overriding weakness : her ambitious love for her son , Nero
This is Ancient Rome at the height (or depth) of its decadence , ostentation and sensual depravity , a treacherous society that is like a gladiatorial arena The main events are well known to us but the story , told from the viewpoint of a servant, gives a slant on the characters and their motives that makes compelling reading For me , Paul Doherty has two great strengths : the apparent ease with which he brings period to life, and his ability to tell a cracking story. Domina will not disappoint his fans
Celia Ellis
3RDCENTURY
FINN MACCOOL
Morgan Llywelyn , Tor , 2002 , $15 95 (£9.41) , tpb , 400pp , ISBN 0312877374
Finn MacCool , hero of third century Ireland , is the subject of a cycle of myths called the Fenian Cycle Here , Llywelyn gathers many of the tales together and fashions them into a coherent narrative. The youthful Finn emerges as a warrior-leader of the Fianna, the Army of Erin , at the same time legendary king Cormac MacAirt takes the throne at Tara Finn forges a new relationship between the Fianna and the
king , fashioning a ragtag fighting force gathered from the lower classes of society into the mo st skilled and prestigious military unit in the kingdom Physically disciplined and trained in music and poetry , the Fianna upholds and enhances Cormac ' s power
Finn' s origins are humble His father , commander of the army at Tara, is killed before Finn ' s birth. Finn, fostered by two old women , never knows his mother, the elusive Muirinn of the White Throat, a shape-changer by Finn' s accounts Finn 's golden tongue wins him honor and prestige with his men and with the king , but how much is true and how much embellished ?
The tales of Finn , Muirinn , Goll MacMoma , Finn's true love Sive and their son Oisin , hi s hounds , Bran and Sceolaun , Dairmait the Fair, among others , come to life in Llywelyn 's writing. Strong , lilting dialog ha s a modem , vernacular Irish cadence Skillful pacing and vivid descriptions , from exciting battles to restrained love scenes , appeal. Anyone interested in Irish legends will want to read thi s wonderful novel.
Mary
L. Newton
4TH CENTURY
EAGLE I THE SNOW
Wallace Breem , Phoenix Press , 2002 UK/$15.95 , USN$24 95, (in Nove 200 2) Canada , pb , 326pp , ISBN 1-84212-519-2
This novel was first published , to great succe ss, in 1970 , and has been re-issued to tie in with a forthcoming film version.
In the fourth century AD, Maximus , the son of a Roman officer, goes with his father to Britain Maximus becomes a soldier himself and is posted to Hadrian ' s Wall, where he makes hi s greatest friend , the cavalryman Quintu s Veronius , and also his greatest enemy , who will return to confront him again and again in distant places in the future in the guise of the Man with no Hair.
Maximus and Quintus serve on the Wall for many years, until they are sent to Germany by Stilicho , the able chief general of the worthle ss Emperor Honorius , to see to the defence of the Rhine frontier. Thousands of Germanic tribespeople have assembled on the far shore , driven westwards by the Huns The Germans are desperate to cross the Rhine to find new land s to feed and support themselves , and the Roman s are desperate to stop them Maximu s, in command of the Twentieth Legion , organi ses imaginative schemes to hold the Rhine frontier , but he knows that he is trying to do the job with completely inadequate resources He must rely on the discipline of hi s soldiers , and on fomenting dissension among the Germans He has to deal with revelations of treason and personal betrayal and then everything is
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ISSUE 21 , AUG 2002
place and time not often portrayed in fiction and having Zeno as a narrator made it all seem even more immediate If you are looking for something a bit different, or just a jolly good read , I can recommend this one Rachel A Hyde
10TH CENTURY
THE SO UL THIEF
Cecelia Holland, Forge, 2002, $24.95 /C$34.95 (£14.72) , 300 pp, he, ISBN 0312848854 Holland has done it again. Spanning centuries and ages in her twenty-three historical novels, Ho ll and here meets the tenth century head-on in this engrossing and entertaining first volume of an anticipated five-part series.
Corban and Mav are twins cut out of one piece of cloth. Their souls are inextricably connected, facilitated by Mav's second sight. After their family is killed and their farm in coastal Ireland is destroyed by Viking invaders , Mav is taken off into slavery or worse. It is then that Corban faces his fears , beginning a journey of selfdiscovery which , he hopes, will result in his finding and freeing Mav. From Dublin to Jorvik, across raging seas, facing starvation, capture and death, Corban grows from a meek young boy to a powerful, insightful and clever man. In his travels, Corban learns that Mav has been bought by the Lady of Hedeby , who, recognizing the power which the twins share -a power the Lady intends to use to expand her authority beyond Hedeby - intends to lure Corban into her trap.
Holland draws historical personages , like Eric Bloodaxe and his witch-wife, Gunnhi ld, beautifully, while a fine layer of the supernatural overlays the entire story. The villagers of Jorvik, common people struggling to survive, are paid the attention they are due by this remarkable writer. You cannot come away from The Soul Thief without a finer understanding of both the fragility of life and the resiliency of the human spirit. I can't wait for the next volume in this series!
Ilysa Magnus
12TH CENTURY
KN IGHT WIT H ARM OUR Alfred Duggan, Cassell, 2002, £6.99, pb, 306pp, ISBN 0304362204 . Pub in US by Sterling Publications, $9.95, ISBN0304362204 First published in 1950 , this is a reissue under Cassell's military history imprint. Knight With Armour is the tale of Roger de Bodeham, a younger son who takes the Cross in the hope of finding honour and riches in the Middle East. Somewhat retiring and not a particularly accomplished warrior, Roger sets out in the train of Robert, Duke of Normandy. The hardship,
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
the suffering, the brutality of the First Crusade is seen in grim, realistic and minute detail through Roger's eyes.
Here are the chivalry and doub le-dealing of twe lfth century politics. Here is the daily grind of an army on the move, or sweltering in stinking camps outside besieged cities. Once can almost smell the sweat and feel the sores of the beleaguered pilgrims . While the novel is crammed with battle scenes and detailed descriptions of armour and weaponry it is not a tale that glorifies war. Rather, through Roger's experiences, it stresses its futility.
Despite being more than fifty years old this novel has weathered time well. Occasionally the relent less plod of the army towards Jerusalem becomes a plod for the reader too Duggan handles prose better than he does dialogueespecially the exchanges between men and women. The conversations conducted by Roger and his ladylove , Anne, are often more like old black and white public information films than natural talk. The descriptions of the armour are somewhat dated and perhaps would have benefited from what has been discovered since 1950 , but the latter is just a nit-pick . Knight With Armour is rather like a reference work executed as fiction. As well as being a fine novel for the average reader, this would make useful background reading for any writer contemplating a novel about the crusades.
Susan Hicks
T HE G RIM REAP ER
Bernard Knight, Simon & Schuster, 2002, £17 99 , hb, 35lpp, IBSN 0684860708
This is the sixth novel in Professor Knight's Crowner John series of medieval mysteries. The fact that the books were originally advertised as a trilogy demonstrates the popularity of Knight's writing. This time Sir John de Wolfe, County Coroner for Devon , is hunting a serial killer in Exeter. There seems no link between the victims , except for an appropriate quotation from the Bible left with each body. As the vast majority of the population is ill iterate , this makes it almost certain that the killer is a priest. Sir John finds himself at odds with his brotherin-law, the Sheriff, as is usual , and also on this occasion with the King's Justices , before he finally tracks the killer down.
Fans of Crowner John will not be disappointed with this book which once again combines the grim realities of 12 th century life with an underlying humour. Sir John remains a likeable and sympathetic hero , without becoming a 20 th century character in a medieval setting. The author draws on his experience as a Home Office patho logist to present extremely believable descriptions of the dead bodies and the clues they offer on examination. Graham Harrison
13TH CENTURY
THE TREASURE OF M O NTSEGUR
Sophy Burnham, HarperSanFrancisco, 2002, $23.95 /C$36.50 (£ 14.13) , hb, 288pp, ISBN 0060000791
Jeanne was raised by a Cathar holy woman . The man Jeanne loved married her best friend , and eventually the three of them faced death by burning after the siege of the Cathar enclave at Montsegur. A bitter reprieve , however , sent Jeanne out of harm's way and on a mission to save precious remnants of her Cathar religion She cannot forgive herself for failing in that mission and for not mounting the pyre with the two people she loved most.
Thirteenth-century France is a perilous place for Christians whose doctrine differs from that of the Roman Catholic Church , but poverty confers the protective mantle of invisibility Once lady of her own manor, Jeanne is now just another beggar , a hag dependent upon the charity of her betters. When her late s t benefactor recognizes her for a Cathar -a heretic -Jeanne must flee for her life.
With the Inquisition bearing down upon her , Jeanne stumb les upon an unlikely deliverer--but her past continues to haunt her. At the lowest point in her life, she discovers the true treasure of Montsegur and finds in herself the grace and courage of perfect faith Ms. Burnham recreates her setting with integrity. Though her story is more about religious wars in general than medieval France , she paints historical detail over her narrative with spare but sure strokes. Th e Treasure of Montsegur is worthwhile for its illumination of the Cathars' plight and for the extraordinary character of Jeanne.
Kelly Cannon
B AUD O LIN O
Umberto Eco , Harcourt, 2002 , $27.00 , hb , 528pp, ISBN O151006903
Pub. in the UK by Secker & Warburg, 2002 , £18 , hb, 512pp, ISBN 0436276038
The story begins in 1204, with Crusaders plundering Constantinople. The hero , Baudolino, rescues Niketas, a historian and court official , and, while absconded safely in a tower, begins telling him the tale of his life. He was born a peasant, but , at fourteen, he fortuitously met a wealthy man who , charmed by his wit and intelligence, adopted him The man is Fredrick Barbarossa , the Holy Roman Emperor. Later, Baudolino is sent to university at Paris where he teams up with a band of co lorful and charismatic characters Spurred by the Legend of Prester John, the band sets out on a quest, filled with danger and romance, to discover Prester John's mythic kingdom and find the Holy Grail.
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
The plot turns from story to legend to myth to fable and back again. Typically with Eco, there are digressions aplenty and a murder mystery to boot. The novel is a gem, sparkling with meticulous detail, historical as well as mythical. The journey motif, central to the story, actually becomes a journey within a journey, which Eco uses to keep the narrative tightly knit and bridges to a satisfying conclusion . This is a fantastic novel, with Eco at his best.
Gerald T. Burke
14TH CENTURY
THE DEVIL'S AC
OLYTE
Michael leeks, Headline, 2002, £17.99, hb, 395pp, ISBN 0747269203. To be published in US in Nov 2002 by Headline Books Pub Ltd, pb, $9.95, ISBN074726725 l
Disfigured Brother Peter loves terrifying the novices at Tavistock Abbey with scary folktales, especially the story of Dartmoor's Abbot's Way. Years before, young acolyte Milbrosa started his life of crime with the theft of his Abbot's wine and ended up with fellowmiscreants murdering travellers on the moor, until the Devil appeared to carry them off. Now history seems to be repeating itself Abbot Robert finds his own wine missing and when tinners arrive in Tavistock they leave a body behind. Bailiff Simon Puttock is there to help solve the case but he can't even remember his hammer - is he losing his touch, and will he lose his job?
There's a good sense of misty Dartmoor, and leeks knows his local history - the book's greatest strength. But it's wordy and repetitive, there isn't enough action, and the whole needs bringing together. Entertaining, but not one of the strongest in what is, on the whole, an engaging series.
Rachel A Hyde
THE KNIGHT AND THE ROSE
Isolde Martyn, Berkley, 2002, $14 /C$20 (£8.26), pb, 452pp, ISBN 0425 I 83297
The year is 1322 and the rebel Lancastrian forces have just been defeated at the battle of Boroughbridge One of those men, Geraint, has escaped and is posing as a poor scho lar. Wounded and caring for his master's even more wounded son, he comes across Lady Constance, who sees in him a man she can use. Meanwhile, her daughter, Lady Johanna, is married to the brutal wife beater Sir Fulk of Enderby. She will do anything to escape from the horrendous marriage. Her mother comes up with a plan: merely convince everyone that Johanna had been married before she married Fulk, married to Geraint the supposed scholar. This is how wonderful romances begin.
Ms. Martyn has a great grasp of history, and
she doesn't hesitate to throw in various bits of historical knowledge. The story is good, too, and she does make us wonder if these two people could ever possib ly get together in the end. Her writing is uneven and there are times when the story drags. Still, The Knight and The Rose is definitely worth reading.
Alexandra Ceely
A SP Y FOR THE RE DEEME R
Candace Robb, Mysterious Press, 2002, $23.95 / C$32.95, hb, 305pp, 0892967625
See Review in UK section, Issue 11
15TH CENTURY
THE W ORL D , THE FLESH AND THE DEVIL
Reay Tannahill, Headline Review, 2002 (reissue), £6.99, 498pp, pb, ISBN 0747267154 Ninian Drummond leaves her idyllic childhood in Avignon behind when she marries Harry Graham. She travels to a remote castle in the Scottish High lands. Soon, she is immersed in the turbulent politics of the Scottish Court. She finds herself drawn to the priest, Gavin Cameron, who is also Chancellor and a sworn enemy of her guardian, Archdeacon Columba Crozier. Her path to maturity is a tragic one and her honest nature revolts at the treachery of both her family and their enemies. Throughout, her capacity for love never diminishes despite disappointments and betrayal.
This re - issue is a timely reminde r of just how good historical fiction can be in the hands of an assured author. Superb storytelling is combined with rounded, consistent character development. The historical detail provides an admirab le backdrop to the story and it never intrudes as lecturing
The author cleverly weaves reality with fiction. Some of the characters are real people who were involved in the events described. The author has fleshed out those about whom very little is known. Others, such as James I (of Scotland) and Queen Joan, are central to the narrative and they make a convincing coup le
Having heaped praise upon this novel and its author, I reserve my criticism for the publishers, whose promotional literature for the novel spelled the author's name incorrectly at various points. It isn't the first time that such literature has showed a want of attention to detail. When it is so very easy to get these things right, slapdash is not good enough.
Geraldine Perriam
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
16TH CENTURY
D AY O F WRATH
Iris Collier, St. Martin's Minotaur, 2001, $24.95, hb, 306 pp, ISBN 03 12290209
Pub. in the UK by Piatkus, 200 I, £ 17 .99, hb , 306pp, ISBN 0749905662
In her first historical crime novel, Iris Collier focuses on two seemingly discrete events: the murder of protagonist Nicholas Peverell's loyal steward and the desire of King Henry VIII to dismantle the monasteries of England. We learn, as the action progresses, that these events are inextricably intertwined.
Plots and counterplots abound. People both integrally involved and tangentially related to the plots die at a larming rates. The plot to overthrow Henry VIII for his anti-papist policies is carefully woven into the storyline In fact, Co ll ier does a fairly good job of making the story interesting. Her description, for instance, of the tortures employed at the Tower of London are not merely accurate but palpably real.
Unfortunately, wh ile attempting to remain historically accurate in the details of the plot , Collier forgets that we're supposed to be in the sixteenth century. With i n pages of starting the book, I found myself cursing audibly at Collier's use of modem slang. When she began a piece of dialogue with the phrase, "What's up? ", I realized that I was going to have a difficu lt time not taking my red pen and slashing the dialogue to pieces. I'm not saying that an author needs to use antiquarian usage, but let's try to be minimally consistent.
Ilysa Magnus
FACE D OWN AC ROSS THE WESTERN SEA
Kathy Lynn Emerson, St. Martin's Minotaur, 2002, $22.95 / C$32.95 (£13.54), hb, 227pp, ISBN 0312288239
In this, the seventh Susanna, Lady Appleton mystery, Emerson invo lves her characters in a convoluted p lot by England to prove its claim to the New World Susanna's friend Sir Walter Pendennis, spy and diplomat to the Court of Elizabeth I, invites a number of scholars --as well as noted herbalist Susanna--to his estate to investigate the discrepancies in the sailors' accounts of the land beyond the Western Sea and to resolve, at long last, the question of whose land it is.
But not before one of the scholars is murdered. Susanna's job then becomes one of sleuth ing to uncover the murderer as well as looking into the scholarly texts to ascertain whether there is a case to be made for Eng land's claim.
Although true to the period and useful in their historic detail, I find the Appleton mysteries to
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
be unnecessarily complex. Too many characters with too many different agendas involve us in way too many subplots for my taste This entry simply didn't capture my imagination although the subject matter is, or should have been , fascinating.
Ilysa Magnus
THEROOTANDTHEFLOWER
L H Myers , Phoenix Press, 2002, £8.99, pb , 640pp, ISBN 1842125206
For Review and North American publishing details, see Issue 18, Dec 200 I, US/Canada section.
THE RUFFLER'S CHILD
John Pilkington , Robert Hale , 2002, £17 99, hb , 224pp, ISBN 070907058
1586: Thomas is falconer to Sir Robert Vicary , Lord of the Manor of Petbury and is devoted to Sir Robert's wife, Lady Margaret. When her brother , disliked by everyone, is found dead and badly mauled , it's assumed he was attacked by wild animals until Thomas discovers an arrow mark in the body and realises the man was murdered. Escorting Lady Margaret as she buys two gyrfalcons in London, he uncovers a trail leading to mystery upon mystery , and to great danger in the backstreets of Eli zabethan London.
The story moves at great pace but I was a little disappointed with the ending, which is more a series of hastily knotted strands than a smooth, rational denouement. However, it made a welcome change to discover Elizabethan England through the eyes of a lesser mortal, unlike the more usual novels set in the glittering court or revolving round the nobility Marilyn Sherlock
THE TWENTIETH WIFE
Indu Sundaresan, Pocket, 2002, $24.00/C$36.50 (£14.16), hb, 371pp, ISBN 0-7434-2714-9 In Mughal India , even the most powerful emperor always had one deadly enemy: his own son. In the late 1500s , the great Akbar rules while his son Salim impatiently waits to grasp the reins of empire. And as much as Prince Salim desires power, a girl named Mehrunnisa desires him.
Mehrunnisa's life begins in drama: she's born by the roadside and abandoned there by her desperate, impoverished parents But as so often happens in her life , a benevolent fate steps in; the infant is saved. Raised in Akbar's court, the bright and beautiful Mehrunnisa becomes the protegee of Ruqayya , Akbar's chief queen Prince Salim ignites her heart , but politics decree her marriage to Ali Quli , a soldier twice her age. Salim seems an impossible dream , especially when Akbar dies and the prince mounts the throne as the emperor Jahangir (World Grasper).
Helpless , Mehrunnisa watches history repeat itself; Jahangir's son Prince Khusrau rebels and Mehrunnisa's husband plots against the new emperor. When Ali Quli is killed , Mehrunnisa is free at last and schemes to come to Jahangir's notice. And when she does, love triumphs, and the thirty-four-year-old widow becomes Jahangir's wife at last--Nur Jahan (Light of the World)
Overshadowed in popular imagination by her niece Mumtaz Mahal , the dynamic and politically active Nur Jahan was a brilliant figure in seventeenth-century India. Her tumultuous life is an engrossing story. Unfortunately, The Twentieth Wife is less than enthralling, for although its subjects are fascinating people, its setting is exotic, and momentous historical events shape its plot, the book is rather prosaic and colorless. However, it covers a sadly under-used historical period and will appeal to those interested in Indian history. India Edghill
17TH CENTURY
SUSANNAH MORROW (UK title: THE FATAL KEY)
Megan Chance, Warner , 2002, $24.95/C$36.95 (£ 14. 72), hb, 402pp, ISBN 0446529532 Pub. in the UK by Headline, 2002, £18.99, hb , 384pp, ISBN 0747269963
Salem Village, Massachusetts , during the horrific episode of the witch trials in 1692 is the setting for Chance's new novel. Teenaged Charity Fowler meets her newly-arrived aunt Susannah and loses her mother in childbirth on the same night in 1691. Charity's father, the righteous and distant Lucas, is unable to cope with the loss, but soon finds himself attracted to the lovely and sensual Susannah. Denied her father's love and unwilling yet to trust Susannah , Charity becomes involved with a secretive group of girls who entertain themselves with gossip and fortunetelling When several of the girls fall into unexplained convulsions, they cry out on certain townspeople as their tormenters. Charity, knowing the truth , finds herself accusing Susannah of witchcraft, and the distraught Lucas must find the strength and means to bring them all through the crisis.
Using factual details and real historical figures, Chance weaves a plausible mix of suspense, drama, and romance. The result is an entertaining saga of one family's tragedy , heartbreak and ultimate redemption in the face of mass hysteria and death.
Michael I. Shoop
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
VELVET AND STEEL
Elizabeth Daish, Robert Hale , 2002, £17.99, ($US 29.95), 174 pp , hb , ISBN 0709070853
This is a romance set during the English Civil War. Hope Levett is lady 's maid to Lady Hester who, knowing she is the bastard daughter of a French nobleman , educates her and makes her her companion. This does not sit well with the man who married Hope 's mother and has promised her to an unpleasant Roundhead , Francis Turner, a fate Hope dreads. She falls in love with Jerard , a French visitor to the manor house , but fears he will try to make her his mistress not his wife as she would wish.
The manor house is just outside Lichfield and while the town changes hands between the two sides, Hope is in danger of falling into Francis's hands The resolution of the story is dramatic and unexpected. A light but satisfying read Pamela Cleaver
SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD
Robert McCammon, River City, 2002, $29.95 (£17.67), hb , 676pp, ISBN 1880216620 McCammon's latest is an overlong, plodding mix of horror and mystery set in Carolina in 1699 . The story concerns the hamlet of Fount Royal and the possibility that it has been cursed by a witch. The accused, Rachel Howarth , a recent widow whose husband died horribly , is beautiful , exotic, disliked by many , and provides a convenient scapegoat for the many ills plaguing the community. Charles Town Magistrate Isaac Woodward and his young clerk, Matthew Corbett, are summoned by town founder Robert Bidwell to hear the case against Rachel. They find themselves quickly enmeshed in situations concerning several gruesome deaths , adultery, unexplained fires, Spanish spies, piracy , hidden treasure, and involving a host of almost unbelievably bizarre townspeople. When Woodward falls desperately ill , young Corbett is challenged to untangle the web of lies and deceit to discover the truth of what really ails Fount Royal.
Accurate details of colonial daily life and customs add to the overall atmosphere, but there's not enough action or sustained suspense to propel the story or keep the reader turning pages. Disappointing Michael I. Shoop
EMBRACE THE DAWN
Kathleen Morgan , Tyndale House, 2002, $12.99 (£7.66), 399pp, pb, ISBN 0842340971 With her husband's escalating abuse, Killian Campbell and her son flee Alexander pursue s and strangles her, but a stranger intervenes. When the Campbells arrest him for Alexander's murder, she must help him escape--to save his life as well as her own.
Ruarc MacDonald wonders why Killian risks her life to save his, but he's not in a position to
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
Casanova, thought to be a devil by some, was banned from several continents, but he was insatiable for knowledge as well as the charms of women. Laura is attentive and enough of a flirt to inspire her new master to recount his life aloud so she can ask questions about life that have been burning in her brain.
Although Casanova was the libertine of his reputation, be was also a man of literary achievements as well as musical skills. He was no small influence on Mozart, and he witnessed the stirrings of the French Revolution. Casanova's influence did not end with his death, although his work was not published until 1960, having influenced persons from the Doge of Venice to Jean-Paul Sartre and beyond. Indeed, Andrei Codrescu's devotion to his subject does him justice, and he finally rescues Casanova from the "previous assassins of his character." With a lively mixture of historical fact and fancy, the novel is a good read from start to the fanciful finish.
Tess Allegra
THE HISTORY OF SIR HENRY
Netta Cruse, iUniverse, 2002, $23.95 (£20.49), pb , 455pp, ISBN 0595195350
Sir Henry Morland, the infamous scoundrel, has reserved all of his affection for his orphaned niece , Lady Frances Pleckbam, whom he has not seen since she was five years old. One year before Lady Frances comes of age to inherit her fortune, Sir Henry insists that she come to live with him. They soon discover that although they are alike in intelligence and temperament, their views are diametrically opposed. While Lady Frances has a strong affection for her uncle, she also has a strong aversion to his lifestyle. Sir Henry tries to force Lady Frances into a marriage that is abhorrent to her. In response, she flees from his home and takes refuge as a lady's maid to a stranger, Miss Avenington. Miss Avenington is living in the home of her uncle , Mr. Beauclerk, who happens to be an enemy of Sir Henry. When they learn of Lady Frances' disguise, they decide to protect her, eventually causing Lady Frances and Mr. Beauclerk to make a marriage of convenience that is not very convenient for either of them.
This first novel by Netta Cruse, set in eighteenth century England, is written in the style of Jane Austen. The formal language of conversation between the characters, which may be hard for the modem reader to follow at times, is necessary to capture the formality of the age. This is a cleverly and beautifully written novel. It will be a pleasure to await Ms. Cruse's next offering.
Nan Curnutt
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
THE GRENADILLO BOX
Janet Gleeson , Bantam 2002, £12.99, hb , 429pp, ISBN 0593048032
It is New Year's Day 1755 and Nathaniel Hopson, journeyman to Thomas Chippendale, finds himself involved in a chilling affair. While working at the country borne of Lord Montford Nathaniel discovers his patron dead in his magnificent new library. In his band, a small, elaborately carved box of grenadillo wood.
The obvious conclusion is that Montford, burdened by gambling debts, has taken his own life. Nathaniel is not convinced and he sets out to investigate He is aided by Alice Goodchild who turns out to be more closely linked to the events than expected.
The investigation takes Nathaniel from the drawing rooms of the aristocracy to the slums of Fleet Street and London's Foundling Hospital where the identity of a child abandoned twenty years previously may hold the key to the grenadillo box and solve the mystery of Montford's death.
I enjoyed this book with reservations. The author has taken real characters and events and created an ingenious plot around them. The historical setting is an integral part of the story but the attempts to show ' Scenes from Everyday Life in Georgian England' have been inserted clumsily into the narrative by an author as keen to educate the reader as she is to entertain. It is obvious that a lot of research was carried out but one ends up feeling beaten over the head by it.
Although I did not feel connected with the hero some of the secondary characters leapt off the page : particularly Lord Foley, the dead man's neighbour who charges Nathaniel with the task of discovering the truth Large chunks of plot exposition and crucial back stories ('I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but I' II tell you anyway.') are dealt with by way of letters received by Nathaniel which shows lazy plotting Given the attention to detail lavished on other areas this is disappointing
In all, a B minus. Nevertheless, I will look out for further books by this author.
Shirley Skinner
THE MASQUERADE
Nicholas Griffin , Little Brown, 2002, £16.99, hb , 320pp, ISBN 0316859168
This is a fine historical novel set in the early years of the eighteenth century in Italy. A trio of Englishmen are on the Grand Tour: Viscount Stilwell, his tutor Lucius Jelbourne and Stilwell's servant Thomas Noon. But this is not just a standard narrative of the exploits of the English abroad, for Jelboume is on a secret mission to raise funds from wealthy Italian Catholics for the restoration of James to the English throne, following the coronation of George I. When Stilwell is killed during a roadside robbery , Noon is persuaded to assume
the identity of the dead man so that the project to drum up funds can continue. All sorts of adventures follow for Noon, who slowly slips into his new role. This is a highly intelligent novel , with both keen observation and an absorbing plot, full of surprises and mystery.
Doug Kemp
THE CANEBRAKE MEN
Cameron Judd, Cumberland $16.95/C$25.95 (£10), pb, 1581821549 House, 320pp, 2001, ISBN By the end of this, the final of three volumes, Tennessee has at long last become a state, but more than the history books will tell you, it was a long and bloody path that was taken to get there.
Joshua Colter and Cooper Haverly, the two [fictional] brothers featured in the earlier books, also appear in this one, but a new arrival in the land of the canebrake is Owen Killefer, a young boy of fifteen, whose life is a harsh one. Both of bis parents were murdered before his eyes, his sister kidnapped to become a crazy man's squaw, and himself left for dead. Nor is that all, but you'll have to read the book to learn more. Life on the frontier was hard on everyone. The Cherokees grew increasingly unwilling to share their land with the white settlers, who never stopped coming, and constant warfare never ended. There was a political struggle going on in the late 1700s as well, with many in the territory behind the creation of the state of Franklin, their initial attempt to break the land away from North Carolina.
It's all part of the tale. Judd 's work is always action-filled, and this is no exception. His books are also very dark in tone, mixed with times of joy and happiness , and likewise , so is this one. Steve Lewis
CANALETTO AND THE CASE OF BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE
Janet Laurence, Macmillan, 2002, £16.99, hb, 434 pp, ISBN 0-333-90768-X
As the title suggests, the 'detective' is Antonio Canaletto, the Venetian painter. His assistant is his fictional apprentice, Fanny Rooker. Canaletto is commissioned by the Duke of Beaufort to paint Badminton. Then Canaletto is approached by the Paymaster General, William Pitt, who has heard that Bonnie Prince Charlie may be in England in disguise He asks Canaletto to tell him if the Prince approaches the Duke of Beaufort. Canaletto is now in a dilemma. He cannot betray a client but on the other hand Pitt has the power to either advance or destroy his career in England.
Still not knowing what he is going to do Canaletto leaves for Badminton with Fanny. On the way they help a priest, Father Sylvester, whose horse is injured and who later turns up at Badminton Right from the first meeting it is
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
quite clear that the priest is the Prince in disguise. But this does not occur to Canaletto until half way through the book leaving the reader with a sense of superiority, and also a feeling that Canaletto is rather dim Then, when he finally begins to have his doubts about the false priest, there is a murder and two cases of arson to keep him busy.
Part of the success of this book is due to the fact that the pace is much slower than that of many modem books. Characters are introduced gradua lly giving the reader time to get to know them. This means that it avoids the muddle and confusion of all too many modem detective stories historical or not. Throughout the plot is clear and easy to follow. The pace increases at the end to lead up to a climax where all the main characters converge on Bath
The portraiture of Bonnie Prince Charlie is ingenious and amusing. He finds his disguise as a priest impossible to maintain and we are shown his eye for the ladies , his fondness for wine and spirits and even an attempted elopeme nt.
This is a well crafted story with a carefully researched background which the reader is g iven time to enjoy. There are details of Canaletto's painting techniques together with the life of a large country estate, to say nothing of the inns and baths of Bath.
A book to be enjoyed. The detective genre at its very best.
Mary Moffat
CAROLAN'S CONCERTO
Caiseal Mor, Earthlight, 2002, £6.99, pb , 49lpp, ISBN 074342901X
After writing about clashes between Christians and pagans in Dark Age Ireland in his Wanderers Trilogy, Caiseal Mor turns his attention to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries with this tale of Ireland's ' last gleeman', Turlough O'Carolan. It starts with young Edward Sutler, a Dublin rebel who is trying to win freedom for Ireland while on the run from the English redcoats. He falls into the hands of distiller Hugh O'Connor and his friend the harper Denis Hempson , two old blind men who remember the old days and like to talk about them. While sipping their whiskey Edward is told the story of Turlough, the son of a blacksmith who was born in 1670 Uust over a hundred years earlier), his life, adventures and loves and how he lost his sight but was given the gift of harping by the fairy folk . Threaded though a ll this is Edward's romance with Hugh's beautiful grand-daughter, Mhairghead, and his own adventures as a rebel on the run and wanted for murder.
Australian Caiseal Mor manages to portray the Ireland we all imagine replete with harpers, whiskey, little people and good stories. To the book's detriment it could certainly stand editing
- quite a lot of editing - but it jogs along well enough. Despite the mentions of fairy folk I wouldn't class this as a fantasy, so it is surprising that it appears under the Earthlight imprint - but then so did his earlier trilogy.
Rachel A Hyde
FOR LOVE OR COUNTRY
Kerrelyn Sparks, Forge, 2002, US $6.99/ $C8.99 (£4.12), 292 pp, pb, ISBN 0765340372
Frothy as a syllabub, For Love or Country has a sparse texture with minimal description , except when it serves the character interplay Sparks' lively circle takes part in a society embroiled in conflict during the American Revolution.
Quincy Stanton, a rebel spy, disguises himself as a loyalist dandy to obtain information on the British strategy. He first meets Virginia on board a ship bringing indentured servants to Boston, and asks her price. Seeking to hire a servant, not to become one, she is offended, although she is attracted to him. He buys the papers of the young pickpocket, Josiah, and she, those of a young urchin named George, who finds himself in the lap of luxury , while Quincy puts Josiah to work in the hazardous spy game. Virginia soon joins the patriots and shows a talent for the spy game herself.
Elements of a bedroom farce cause giggles, but author Sparks also knows how to involve the emotions, as when the orphaned Josiah pours his heart out to Virginia Sparks skillfully blends historical fact with intrigue. The result should satisfy anyone looking for a beach read or a romance that springs from America's founding. Marcia K. Matthews
FREEDOM IN MY LOVE
Linden Salter, Robert Hale , 2002, £17 99, 240pp, hb , ISBN 0709070543
For ten years, since eloping with an heiress , Joshua has been a slave on a South Carolina rice plantation. He keeps the memory in his heart of the beautiful Althea Freeman and rises to become an overseer. Then he helps two other slaves to elope and is nearly flogged to death Saved by his master's youngest son, he finds himself the property of the disinherited and dissolute Luke. Recalling Puss in Boots, he suggests Luke goes to London pretending to be a Duke's bastard son and possessor of a gold mine, while Joshua poses as his manservant. Together they will take the aristocracy for a pretty penny and have a damn good time.
This isn't your run-of-the-mill romance. Nor is it a story about the slave trade, although Salter gives an accurate and chilling picture of a s lave 's lot , and choosing to have Joshua narrate the tale is her masterstroke. It's an entertaining romantic adventure, reminiscent of Diana Norman: a romance with teeth, although they aren't very sharp.
Rachel A Hyde
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
THE DUCHESS AND THE DOXY
Janet Mary Tomson, Robert Hale, 2002, £17.99, (US$29.95), 272 pp , hb, ISBN 0709071132
This book might have been called The Luck of the Irish (although I like its real title better). It is based on the story of the classic racehorse Eclipse and is an engaging, well-written story with good period details.
Penniless Finbar O'Neil travels to London in the reign of George II to make his fortune. By the merest chance he is taken into service by a duchess - her chairman by day and her bedmate at night. The job doesn't last and he takes to gambling and is put in the Fleet prison for debt. He is rescued from near death by Nancy, a prostitute who lends him money to finance his gambling. He is mad about horses and has a way with them. Through an unlucky mischance Fin and Nancy lose touch when they come out of prison but Fin finds another patron and continues to make money at the races. He hankers after a black colt called Armageddon and makes an extraordinary bet to try to gain him He meets Nancy again unexpectedly and there is a happy ending.
Pamela Cleaver
THE SCOTTISH THISTLE
Cindy Vallar, Nove!Books, Inc ., 2001, $17.95, pb, 389pp, ISBN 1591050340
This romantic historical novel chronicles the events of Scotland's Rising of 1745 for "Bonnie Prince Charlie," as experienced by Rory MacGregor and Duncan Cameron, members of two Highland clans. Rory, the 22-year-old female chieftain of the outlawed MacGregors, was secretly betrothed by her father as a child to Duncan Cameron, foster son and bodyguard of Sir Donald Cameron of Lochiel (who really lived). Leaming of the betrothal when Duncan comes to her village to claim his bride, Rory is angry she wasn't given a choice, but reluctantly accepts due to the benefit to her clan of Cameron protection Duncan soon grows to love her , but Rory is reluctant to love one who shares the blood of her family's enemy, Clan Campbell. In an author's note, Valer explains her decision to write the dialog in a blend of Scots (a Lowland dialect) and English, with occasional Gaelic words to give a Scottish flavor ; during this period, the real Highlanders spoke Gaelic. She also describes other instances of literary license and anachronistic usage
The Scottish Thistle features a wealth of actual historic detail, a colorful setting, and characters that genuinely care for each other. The love scenes are restrained and tasteful. However, Rory 's improbable attributes, from her name--a man's--to her pro-M:ss with all kinds of weapons, to her chieftainship of the clan, detract from enjoyment of the story as one reflecting its stated era.
Mary L. Newton
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
ANGELINA
Janet Woods, Robert Hale , 2002 , £17 99, hb, 255pp, ISBN 0709069790
As his wife and newborn daughter lie close to death, the Earl of Winterboume makes a rash decision. Eighteen years later the past catches up with him when Angelina is reunited with the family from which she was separated at birth, and turns the household upside down. And who is the highwayman terrorising the neighbourhood?
Angelina is an enchanting and original heroine. Unfortunately, some of the other characters verge on being stereotypes. Woods clearly believes nature is stronger than nurture. Thus a slut's daughter will be a slut and a nobleman's bastard is a gentleman , regardless of upbringing . The blurb does this novel no favours , since it reveals plot developments that only take place in the last quarter of the book. Overall, the vision of the 18th century conveyed in Angelina owes more to Margaret Lockwood/ Stewart Granger movies than to serious historical research. A harmless bit of escapism . Jasmina Svenne
19TH CENTURY
A QUESTION OF HONOR
Nita Abrams, Zebra, 2002, $5.99/C$7.99 (£3.54), pb, 382pp , ISBN 0821773267
Nita Abrams' first book is an anomaly in two senses: it is marketed as a historical romance, but the physical aspects are much tamer than in most books in the genre , and it also features a Jewish heroine The action begins in Spain in 1813 , where the hero is a part of the Duke of Wellington's battle against Napoleon. Captain Drayton , who has no background in espionage, is asked to venture behind enemy lines to gain crucial information. When he is wounded, he is sent back to England to recuperate, which he does in his sister ' s house He is vexed and intrigued by the new governess, Rachel Maitland Ross, who has done wonders with her charge, but who seems very unlike a proper governess. When Drayton is asked to help the war effort again by finding out who is passing British information to the French , Rachel and her brother unfortunately appear to be implicated.
This brief outline ill serves the rich and complex plot of the book. Rachel's role is a large one, and much of the suspense lies in her circumstances. The author shows very clearly the great difficulty Jews had with the prejudices of English society at the time , and explains further in a historical note. I eagerly await the next book by this promising author.
Trudi E. Jacobson
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
THE COURTSHlP
Lynna Banning, Harlequin , 2002, $4.99/C$5.99 (£3.27), pb, ISBN 0373292139
Jane Davis has lived in Dixon Falls, Oregon for years without meeting most of the town's inhabitants Her parents , displaced from South Carolina in the period just after the Civil War, were determined that she live the life of a Southern belle , and their neighbors in Dixon Falls just don't live up as fit company • However, Jane's father has died , and she and her mother are destitute. Jane boldly conceives of a plan to earn money by setting herself up in business as a seamstress. Now she just needs to convince Rydell Walker , the only banker in town and one of the hated Yankees , to lend her enough money to start her business Rydell agrees to a deal : he will lend her money , but if she can not repay it, she must marry him. It is refreshing to find a heroine who is willing to follow her desires where Rydell was concerned, though her continuing determination to see him as the hated Yankee begins to ring false The bicycle on the cover is, unfortunately, about a decade too early, and pointing out that women couldn't vote in Oregon at this time as a strike against remaining there just isn't logical-women couldn't vote anywhere in the US at that time
Trudi E. Jacobson
NO OTHER PLACE: The Women of Paragon Springs Book Three
Irene Bennett Brown, Five Star, 2002 , $26 95, hb , 322pp , ISBN 0- 7862-2816-4
Paragon Springs is an imaginary town in western Kansas emerging over the last three decades of the 19th century . The series moves forward through the lives of women settlers. Although each book features a particular character (here it is Aurelia Symington) it is not difficult to pick up the narrative Allusions are made to the other characters' background stories, but it is more enticement than distraction.
The reviewer , a native Kansan with a history background, can attest to the accuracy of the details herein. Flashbacks describe Aurelia's coming to Kansas in 1872 from Kentucky as a recent widow Expecting a ranch, she gets a lone soddy. Cow chips for fuel? She picks them up with gloves. When the book begins, she has overcome her initial revulsion of the prairie , remarried, and with her stouthearted women friends is building a town with an eye on a railroad as well as becoming the county seat. The boom of the late I 870s and early I 880s contributes to the town's growth. There is a tornado, of course. The town divides between those who would keep it "dry" and those who want to allow saloons. A power struggle develops between Paragon Springs and another town, which erupts into violence Drought and
the Cherokee Land run of 1893 threaten to empty the town Despite the obstacles, the story ends on a positive note.
The book can be recommended as a gentle read.
Mary K. Bird-Guilliams
KISS THE BRIDE
Patricia Cabot, Sonnet Books, 2002 , $6 99 (£4.12), pb, ISBN 0-7434-1028-9
It is May 1833 , in the Shetland Isles village of Faires , and it is raining Emma Van Court Chesterton is having a very bad day Her husband had died nine months earlier, and his cousin and guardian , the Earl of Denham , is here to pick up his body. Only Emma cannot give him the body And then there's the matter of Emma's inheritance, as she is the ward of the man who killed her husband . How will sh e explain that to the Earl ? As if all of that weren ' t difficult enough, how does she fight her growing attraction to the Earl?
Patricia Cabot, author of Th e Prin cess Diaries, has once again created a wonderfully entertaining story of love and adventure Ms Cabot imbues even minor characters with interesting personalities as well as purpo se , making this book sparkle with charm
Nan Curnutt
MOON OF BITTER COLD
Frederick J. Chiaventone, Forge, 2002 , $26 95 / C $37 95 (£15.89), hb , 400 pp , ISBN 0765300931
Set in 1866 , with the Civil War finally at an end , General Henry Carrington is assigned to lead troops and their families into the Wyoming Territory in an effort to open new areas for settlers to homestead. At the same time, the Indians are becoming more and more agitated by what they see as the ever-encroaching white man. In an effort to drive them out permanently, Red Cloud, a Lakota Sioux war leader, succeeds in uniting the Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho , and Crow into a massive strike force to do just that. Chiaventone very effectively gives his readers both points of view and a much deeper understanding of what eventually culminated into the only war the Western Indians ever won against the encroaching settlers Tragically , General Carrington spent most of the rest of his life defending his reputation Although the Army's official investigation fully exonerated him, the findings were filed away in obscurity by the government and the military to avoid having to admit their own culpability in what became known as the "Fetterman Massacre." Pat Maynard
ISSUE 21 , AUG 2002
THE BONDWOMAN'S NARRATIVE "Hannah Crafts" (edited by Henry Louis Gate s, Jr.), Warner, 2002, $24.95/C$34.95 (£14.72), hb , 338pp, ISBN 0446530085
Pub. in the UK by Virago, 2002, £10, pb, 393 pp , ISBN 1860490131
Allegedly the first publication of a novelized account of her life by a slave named Hannah C rafts, The Bondwoman's Narrative is an intriguing puzzle Crafts' text is bulwarked by an erudite introduction by Professor Gates, the Harvard professor who bought the manuscript; there are also several appendixes, including the authentication report by Joe Nickell, the expert who established the manuscript 's nineteenthcentury bona fides These frame a text once described as "a fictionalized biography written in an effusive style ," and it is certainly that.
Hannah, a lovely girl who can pass for white, grows up as a house slave at Lindendale. She does not know her mother, who was sold when Hannah was young; Hannah grows up good-hearted and intelligent, longing for knowledge. She is taught to read by a kindly neighbor. The master marries , and Hannah swiftly realizes the new mistress has a troubled mind , as well she might; she is an octoroon passing as white! But a villainous lawyer knows her sec ret, so Hannah and her mistress flee. But after months living in the woods, the two women are captured. She faces adversity and cruelty but remains always true to herself.
The Bondwoman 's Narrative is being accepted as a newly-recovered long-lost manu sc ript , and it is presented as such. Still , it has an oddly playful tone , as if it is meant to be a literary amusement in a past style. For those familiar with that perennial nineteenth-century best-selling plot , "the tragic octoroon, " Hannah's tale will sound very familiar indeed Every conceivable cliche of the Gothic novel is invoked , as is every cliche of the "tragic octoroon" novels So the work lacks a true voice of its own. Perhaps its author--whoever she or he may have been , and whenever the book may hav e been written--borrowed just a bit too heavil y from such popular works as Clote/ and The Octoroon?
A fascinating read , and an even more fascinating literary and historical puzzle. India Edghill
A HOME IN THE VALLEY
Diann a Crawford, Tyndale House , 2002, $9.99 (£5.90), 325pp, pb , ISBN 0-8423-6010-7
This novel opens in Cane Ridge , Kentucky , in I 80 I at a weeklong camp revival meeting Not all the attendees are good Christian folk seeking e nlightenment , however , as the large assembly also draws hucksters and gamblers. When Sabina Erhardt's stepfather loses her in a poker game, she puts her trust in the Lord and hides in a departing wagon belonging to Baxter Clay, a
widower with four children. He hires the beautiful, hard-working young woman to keep his house The Clay children adore Sabina, and her strong Christian values win her acceptance by the other families in the farming community. The only obstacle to her happiness is her secret love for Baxter, who is determined to marry for material gain.
Although her heroine seems too na"ive for a woman of twenty-two , and her portrayal of farm life on the Tennessee frontier is more civilized than expected, the author tells a convincing love story, written with emotion and intelligence Throughout the story, the reader is reminded of God's love and mercy as Sabina puts her trust in Him to help her find her way.
Audrey Braver
CUT TO THE HEART
Ava Dianne Day, Doubleday, 2002 , $22.95 (£13.54), hb , 323pp , ISBN 038549470X
The author of the Fremont Jones mysteries has written a suspenseful historical novel about Clara Barton, the Union Army nurse who eventually became the founder of the American Red Cross In 1863, Clara Barton is sent to the Union Army's outpost on Hilton Head Island off the coast of South Carolina. While waiting for the next battle, she works among the Gullah people of the Sea Islands , caring for the former slaves in the Freemen's Clinic and learning Gullah folk medicine. Clara, although determined to remain s ingle , finds herself increasingly attracted to the wounded, and married , Colonel John Elwell, leader of the forces at Hilton Head. Meanwhile, a demented doctor carries out gruesome experiments involving severed body parts ; he also has a strange obsession with Clara.
The novel alternates between Clara's viewpoint, in the third person , and sections that are told in first person from the demented doctor 's point of view. These sections may be disturbing for some readers , but I found them compelling as well ; the author does a great job taking the reader inside the mind of a madman. But I found the best part of the novel to be the depiction of Clara Barton's life. Clara emerges as a strong, independent woman, but she also has a vulnerable side. Her position with the Union Army is uncertain , since she is officially a "relief worker ," not a nurse. Day has done thorough research , which involved studying Clara Barton's unpublished diaries and letters , and it pay s off in this excellent novel.
Vicki Kondelik
WALK THROUGH DARKNESS
David Anthony Durham, Doubleday , 2002, $23.95 / C$35.95 (£14.13), hb , 290pp, ISBN 0385499256
Walk Through Darkn ess is a look at two forms of human torment told from the viewpoints of
William , a young mulatto born into the degradation of s la very, and Morrison , an aging Scotsman who is free physically but psychologically bound by his own personal demons
The story begins when William escapes from the planter to whom he has been leased by his owner. William is in pursuit of two things: freedom and his love, Dover. Pregnant with his child, Dover has gone to Philadelphia , and presumably freedom, w ith her own sympathetic mistress. During his days on the run , William 's thoughts reveal much about his past and his dreams for the future Morrison enters the narrative at this point , though his motives are mysterious. He has spent several years on the edges of civ ilization, in more ways than one , but a letter from someone in his past has brought him back from his personal exile. He begins to search for William as just another of the many men search in g for the escaped slave. Later , it becomes evident that he is much more than that. This is, at heart, the story of good triumphing over evil. It is a thoughtful and penetrating look at the way American society was divided by the institution of slavery in the years leading up to the Civil War. There is no simplistic formula that equates good or evil with racial background or geographic origin. Durham delves into the complex motivations and faces of humanity and in doing so, exposes the links through which we can connect.
Alice Logsdon
THE WEDDING DRESS
Virginia Ellis, Ballantine , 2002, $21.95 /C$32.95 (£12.95), hb , 304pp, ISBN 0345444825
Set during Reconstruction in Virginia, Julia Lovejoy is a war widow, and her sister's husband is missing , presumed dead. They begin a mission to restore joy and some normalcy to their lives by sewing a wedding gown for their younger sister, Claire. At their plantation, they entertain a guest, Monroe Tacy , who has arrived to fulfill a dying man's final request.
Anachronistic words and phrases , such as "gelled" and "round the bend ," riddled the book Besides dialogue, there were other research slips, and I detected shades of political correctness with the mention that only large plantations in the county had owned slaves. The token black character was well-educated and had always been free.
After writing a dozen romance novels , thi s is the author's fir s t attempt at main s tream The premise is a beautiful and sentimental one, and I believe that readers with little concern for historical accuracy will enjoy the book I, however , found the plot predictable and would have preferred reading the story the characters were begging to tell had they truly be e n of their time.
Kim Murphy
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
REDWATER
Judith Freeman, Pantheon, 2002, $24 (£14 16), hb, 324pp, ISBN 0375420924
The Mountain Meadows Massacre continues to blight Mormon history today , as the church recently used its might to put a halt to excavations on the site when the first child's skull with a bullet hole in it was found . In 1857 a band of settlers , 120 men , women and children , had the misfortune to pass through Mormon territory , what is now southern Utah , on their way to California. Here they were massacred , save a few youngsters who were later adopted into Mormon households Mormons blamed the local natives , but other evidence eventually led to the execution of a leader of the church in the region , John D . Lee . Still further evidence suggests Lee died as a scapegoat to divert attention from where the orders really originated--church headquarters in Salt Lake , the Prophet Brigham Young himself. This is the backdrop against which Freeman weaves her tale. She has a wonderful flair for describing the bleak, gritty Southern Utah landscape where water runs blood-red with ironrich mud . She has made the bold choice to tell the tale from the point of view of three of Lee's eighteen wives who found him , generally , a man worth sharing This gives a well-rounded picture of the ripple effects of the terrible deed so no one is completely all black or all white The scene where one of the meadows' orphans sees unsuspecting wife Emma , proud in a new dress given her by her husband, and cries: "That's my mama's dress. What have you done with my mama?" is a masterstroke
At some points I felt cheated when the narrative led me into over-worn tropes of the western genre Even if the hunter is a woman , the chase after horse thieves is still pretty much a chase after horse thieves. And I did wish for a closer glimpse into Lee's mind , longed for a telling of the massacre's actual events by their participants as they happened, not years later by wives who , in two cases , weren't even married to the man in 1857. But this novel was not the place for that. Maybe that is a place so dark that fiction cannot go.
Ann Chamberlin
CLARA
Janice Galloway , Jonathan Cape, 2002 , £ I 0 99 , pb , 423pp , ISBN 0224050494
My heart sinks whenever I come across a Press release which tells me what to think. When the prose turns purple, as here ' luminously written , mordantly political, and disturbingly honest' , I know I'm in for a difficult read. So it is with Clara , the story of the pianist and composer Clara Wieck, and her husband , Robert Schumann.
There is no doubt that Janice Galloway can write, but with a book that is almost all
narrative , with too many long paragraphs , and conveying a sort of dense claustrophobia, reading it is uphill work The author takes us so close to Clara and Robert ' s emotional disturbances that , in spite of concert tours, eight children , poor Robert's recurring bouts of mental illness , and revolutions sweeping Europe in 1848, the outer world seems scarcely to impinge. I only became absorbed during the last fifty or so pages, with Robert ' s unbearably poignant death in an asylum.
Perhaps this emotional claustrophobia is the effect the author intended , and it certainly conveys 'a life of increasing isolation and alienation ' as the Press Release puts it, but , to this reader, it was like wading through high class mud. A worthy book, but be prepared for a slog.
Elizabeth Hawksley
PARADISE PARK
Iris Gower, Bantam Press 2002 , £16.99, hb , 303pp , ISBN 0593040 I 71 Rhiannon Beynon's life is turned upside down by the death of her employer. His sister knows that Rhiannon was once a prostitute who also lived in sin with Bui Beynon and she throws her out onto the streets Luckily , Jayne Buchan takes a liking to the fiercely independent girl and employs her as a housekeeper. Jayne ' s husband , Dafydd treats his wife so badly that she runs away and once again Rhiannon finds herself jobless.
Luck favours her when she is taken on at the Paradise Hotel. An elderly lady named Mrs Paisley has bought the dilapidated hotel and together the pair set out to transform it into one of the finest in Swansea. All that Rhiannon needs now is the love of Bull Beynon for her life to be perfect.
Paradise Park is the final book in Iris Gower ' s Firebird series and it features many of the characters from the previous books . Unlike some of the earlier novels this one avoids too many large chunks of backstory clogging up the action and, as a result it is faster paced and easier to digest. The heroine is more interesting than usual as she hits rock bottom before bettering herself.
It is a shame that the emotional lives of the characters are told to the reader rather than shown. Their inner thoughts are repeated so frequently that they become an irritation rather than an enlightenment. Nevertheless , Iris Gower has produced a competent and readable saga. Sara Wilson.
DAUGHTER OF THE GAME
Tracy Grant, Morrow, 2002 , $24 95 / C$37 95 , hb, 485pp, ISBN 006621133-6
Pub in the UK by Headline, 2002, £17 99, hb , 373pp, ISBN 0747269505
This gripping novel of suspense takes place in
1819. Colin Fraser, the six-year-old son of Charles and Melanie Frazer, is kidnapped from his home. The kidnapper says that he will trade Colin for a talismanic ring , one that has a long and bloody history, the most recent blood being shed over it during the Napoleonic Wars He is convinced that the Frazers have the ring or know where it is. They don ' t; however, Charles and Melanie have no choice but to undertake an anguished and dangerous search for it , hoping desperately to find it before the deadline in just a few days time Charles , the grandson of a duke and a member of Parliament, was a spy during the Napoleonic Wars He met his half-Spanish , half-French wife under highly traumatic conditions in the course of a desperate mission to obtain this very ring in Spain in 1812
The Peninsular War plays a critical role in this novel , as do the politics surrounding England ' s support of the Spanish monarchy following the French defeat. Choices made during the war have greatly affected the lives of Charles, Melanie and many of the other characters. Relationships within families are a central theme within Daughter of th e Gam e and provide a number of stunning revelations The author, who has written a number of regency-era romances, has grounded her work within the period Readers unfamiliar with this era will gain a good sense of some of the issues at stake Charles and Melanie are highly sympathetic, capable , and intelligent characters, in the midst of a nightmare with layers within layers This reader wouldn ' t have minded spending more time in their company Might we hope for a sequel?
Trudi E Jacobson
MAID OF HO OUR
Melinda Hammond, Robert Hale , 2002 , £17 .99 , (US$29 95} , hb , 19l pp , ISBN 0709070586 Young and inexperienced in the ways of society , Lucilla Chambers seems an unlikely chaperone for her widowed sister Charlotte But although Lucy manages to protect her manipulative sister, she neglects to guard her own heart from the notorious flirt Dominic Vanderley When Napoleon ' s exile proves short-lived , renewed war brings the threat of tragedy to Lucy's life.
Maid of Honour has all the required ingredients of a Regency romance : an unselfconscious heroine, a hero with a roguish grin and a shady past , posh frocks and period slang I have only a few minor reservations We are told repeatedly that Lucy is shy , yet she never displays any symptoms of shyness , such as blushing or becoming tongue-tied And I ' m not convinced the central crisis between the heroine and hero works as well as it should. Nevertheless, this lively novel is more skilfully written than the majority of Georgette Heyer imitations.
Jasmina Svenne
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
THE TENDER VINE
Kristen Heitzmann, Bethany House , 2002, $11.95 (£7.07), pb , 382pp, ISBN 0-7642-2417-4
Readers will find Kristen Heitzmann in top form in her latest novel. Third in the inspirational Diamond in th e Rockies series, the novel continues the somewhat rocky marriage of Carina, the headstrong Italian beauty , and Quillan , the wealthy , reserved hero. In the midst of recovery from a brutal beating and resulting miscarriage , Carina realizes how much she needs her family ' s support . As Carina returns to health , Quillan realizes he needs to establish a solid home for both of them and find acceptance from both his maternal grandparents and Carina ' s family , the DiGratias. They leave the friends they ' ve found in the Colorado mining town and head for California to begin a new life. Readers will cheer for the couple as their love strengthens during their trip and their stay at the DiGratia homestead
Despite a slow start, the action and suspense really picks up after about a hundred pages. Heitzmann delicately mixes soothing inspiration , s izzling romance, and tense suspense in this novel , and I look forward to reading more of her work Readers are encouraged to read the first two books of the series first , starting with Th e Rose Legacy Melissa Galyon
THE MULBERRY EMPIRE
Philip Hensher, Flamingo, £16.99, hb , 535pp, ISBN 000711226 2. To be published in the US in Sept 2002 by Knopf at $26.00, ISBN0375414886
As a devoted reader and admirer of Philip Hen s her ' s literary criticism , I looked forward to reading a novel by him. Set during the 1830s, it is an account of Sir Alexander Burnes , a government agent who was to play a major role in the Great Game between Russia and Britain , both of whom wanted control of Central Asia Set mostly in Afghanistan and partly in London and India , the novel weaves a narrative that is inters pers e d with Afghani story-telling, politicking and es pionage
Alexander Burnes becomes a drawing room lion after writing a book about his travels in Central Asia In London he meets Bella Garraway (a fictional character?) , who is attracted to him. Burnes returns to Asia, carrying out his secret work for the British Government. Intrigue, betrayal and personal ambition carry the story to its conclusion, after an Afghani rebellion sees the British expelled from Kabul.
There are some lyrical passages in the book and it is clear that the author knows bis period and hi s background well. Burnes and bis dev ote d friend , Mohan Lal are well portrayed , as is the wily Dost Mohammed. The playing out of the Great Game is cleverly executedbut while
1t 1s clearly written by an expert hand, the narrative is let down occasionally by descriptive passages which become a trifle florid. Some of the dialogue has a self-conscious air about it as well, particularly the conversations between Bella and Burnes.
This is not to say that the novel is not worth reading. It puts much of the fiction currently on offer (both historical and contemporary) to shame. It is delightful to read fiction that assumes the reader is intelligent enough to grasp the intricacy of plot and the subtleties of good characterisation. This is also demonstrated by the exquisite endpaper map; author and publisher having decided that readers are intelligent and interested enough to use them. Another reason for reading this book is for an insight into the history of Afghanistan. It seems that power struggles and politics from both within and without the country have meant that it is never at peace.
NB. For a non-fiction account of the Great Game , Peter Hopkirk's book, The Great Game, published by OUP, is highly recommended.
Geraldine Perriam
SNOW MOUNTAIN PASSAGE
James D. Houston , Harcourt, 2002, $14.00 (£8.85) , tpb, 336pp, ISBN 0156011433
See review in Issue # 17, US section.
SHADOWS AND ELEPHANTS
Edward Hower, Leapfrog, 2002 , $14.95 (£8 82) , pb, 3 l 7pp , ISBN 0967952034
Sent to cover a spiritualists' gathering for the New York Daily Graphic , lawyer, war veteran and journalist Capt. Benjamin Blackbum expects to find the usual spook show. Instead , he meets Irena Milanova, a charming Russian emigre equally dismissive of the "flapdoodle" widely peddled as spiritualism to enthusiastic crowds in post-Civil War society. The two join forces , eventually founding the Alexandrian Society Dedicated to the exploration of an eclectic mix of Eastern spirituality, and guided by revelations from Masters Moreya and Kuthuri , with whom Irena communicates across the astral plane , they attract a veritable Who's Who list of New York society to their meetings, at first. Later, dwindling resources coupled with the threat of a scandal convince "the Founders" to move their base of operations.
After the action shifts from New York to India , the author's gift fa- colorful description is given full rein Hower brilliantly brings to life the sights and sounds of India as Ben and Irena travel from Bombay to Ceylon to Madras in pursuit of their dreams and schemes. The story of the pair's enduring friendship is equally intriguing. Hower takes great care to show that despite their professional weaknesses and personal foibles their love and support for each other is truly pure
This story is based on actual events and loosely mirrors the lives of Madame Helena Blavatsky and her partner , Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, founders of the American Theosophical Society Alice Logsdon
REGENCY R UNAWAY
Gillian Kaye, Robert Hale , 2002 , £17.99 (US$29.95), bb, 205pp , ISBN 0709069855
Rather than be forced to marry the odious Jocelyn Broome, Amanda Welford runs away from her home near Whitby . Her plan is to seek refuge from her brother in York, and luckily she meets two helpful young men who pledge to help her.
So begins a harurn-scarum race around the countryside , punctuated by a series of misunderstandings and romantic encounters. Her scheming brother and stepmother bring about a final confrontation between Amanda and Mr Broome, but some quick thinking from Bertie ensures a happy ending.
The exploits of Amanda and her chums are very entertaining and the plot gallops along at a great lick. Historical details are deftly sketched and sufficiently evocative of the era. True, the heroine is maddeningly impulsive and her determined perkiness begins to jar by the end , but overall Regency Runaway is an enjoyable piece of nonsense for anyone with a few hours to fill.
Sara Wilson
THE WAY OF THE COYOTE
Elmer Kelton , Forge , 200 I, $23.95 / C$33.95 (£14.13), hb , 285pp,, ISBN 03 I 2873 I 82
In this novel, Kelton concludes his three-book saga of life in Texas at the end of the Civil War
As he tells the story of one-time Texas Ranger Rusty Shannon, Kelton also depicts the massive upheaval that took place as the South began to lose and the post-war polfocs, graft and misery that reconstruction left in its wake In The Bu ckskin Line, Rusty was captured by Comanches , to be rescued later, but grew up never to know his parents. Badger Boy followed , with young Andy Pickard the one rescued in turn by Rusty. But growing up with the Comanches for too many years , as a teenager Andy has a lot of "coyote" still in him, and this final book in the trilogy revolves about his struggle to find a place in the world
Kelton has a knack for vivid description, but the pacing is uneven. There's a lot of background to fill in but when Andy's adventures begin, the pages rush by quickly. And yet , a sense of real anticipation is somehow lacking. With events as firmly under the author ' s control as this , at book 's end, there ' s just not enough left that most readers won ' t have already foreseen or anticipated
Steve Lewis
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
ISSUE 21 , AUG 2002
AMERICAN SCOUNDREL
Thomas Keneally , Chatto & Windus , 2002 , £20.00 , 397 pp, hb , ISBN 0-7011-6974-5.
Published in US by Doubleday at $27.50 , ISBN038550l390
Love , betrayal , murder , and war all the ingredients of a Hollywood movie are packed into the latest effort of Booker Prize-winning author, Thomas Keneally , best known for Th e Great Sham e and Schindler 's Ark Telling the story of powerful New York congressman Daniel Sickles getting away with murder (protected by a United States president, no less) and reinventing himself, Keneally uses his considerable dramatic skills to present a true story as readable and intriguing as a novel. Sickles , a Tammany Hall politician of the highest calibre , shot his wife's lover in Washington D.C. 's Lafayette Square. Gathering his friends round him, he finds himself acquitted and redeems his character during the Civil War, nsmg to the rank of Brigadier-General. Unfortunately, his wife , Teresa, doesn ' t fare quite as well and is socially ostracized for the remainder of her life Sickles, allowed to rehabilitate his reputation, continues to court controversy as evidenced by what many consider to be his botched handling of his troops at the Battle of Gettysburg Keneally brings to life a bold , caddish man infamously known for presenting his favourite New York madam to Queen Victoria. As well, the author recreates an extraordinary period of American history during which men lived by a code honour and women were bound by strict mores and socially punished for breaching them. Daniel Sickles leapt from the pages , keeping me interested in the unfolding drama of his life. Keeping the pages turning was easy as I wondered what ole Dan would get up to next! Overall, an interesting read for lovers of 19th century history, Civil War buffs or devourers of 'scandal' stories . Dana Cohlmeyer
THE WAY UPCOUNTRY
Barrington King, Five Star, 2002, $26.95 , hb , 3 I 5pp, ISBN 0786244070
The American Civil War is raging into its last year and the lives of lovers Joel Devereux and Susannah Goode are flung into disorder by the final bout of chaotic fighting. Although she now lives with her Presbyterian missionary uncle , Susannah was brought up in a brothel. This fact , plus Joel ' s anti-slavery beliefs , caused his rich Southern father to force him into exile in Spain. Joel returns to bis homeland only to find himself caught on the wrong side oftbe Union lines. Nonetheless, Joel is determined to return to Susannah in Catesville and so begins the first of many adventures. Army deserters , bushwhackers, and Union soldiers both help and hinder the lovers. Matters are confused by the
theft of a large amount of gold from the Devereux Bank in Catesville. The couple's only hope is to find a route into the Smoky Mountains , where they can hide out together until the end of the war.
This is a really enjoyable story in which the romance and adventure elements are remarkably evenly balanced. There ' s plenty of action to keep the plot racing along and a likeable hero and heroine for readers to care about. Barrington King has skilfully sprinkled in enough details about the progress of the war to inform, without recourse to large and indigestible chunks of fact.
There are some nicely observed scenes of everyday life in the mid-19th century and even the dramatic ' set-pieces' - the kidnap of a pair of well-to-do unmarried ladies , for exampleare so well thought out that they avoid degenerating into cliche.
Sara Wilson
MAG OLIA CREEK
Jill Marie Landis , Ballantine, 2002 , $19 .95 /C$29.95 (£11.77), 384 pp, hb , ISBN 0345440412
A woman in widow's blade joins the exodus of displaced people after the Civil War. Sara Talbot carries a little girl, not her husband's child , but that of the Yankee who abandoned her . She ' s going home to Magnolia Creek, Kentucky , a small town where she faces condemnation
The beloved husband she believed dead is on his way there, too. Dr. Dru Talbot still wants her but cannot accept her betrayal. His rejection of her daughter and his cold love-making hurt her. Important themes of time and change arise when the town ostracizes Sara. All she wants is her old life back Dru ' s reclusive sister Louzanna takes her in, but can Sara win back the husband she loves?
Someone once said that to succeed with the public , a novel should have a doctor, a dog and a golden-haired child. This novel has these sympathetic elements, plus a bard-working, good woman who isn't getling her just due It has heart, and a down-to-earth appeal in the determined way Sara solves her problems. Author Jill Marie Landis recalls a time when children ran between fireflies in the gloaming Times were hard , but beautiful.
Marcia K. Matthews
LOST ATION
Jeffrey Lent , Atlantic Monthly , 2002 , $25 /C$40.95, hb , 370pp, ISBN 0871138433
To be published in the UK by Picador in March 2003
The unique characters who settled extreme northern New Hampshire--whicb in 1838, was disputably Canadian rather than American territory--are tested by each other, the harsh landscape , and an unrelenting fate in Lent ' s
exceptional historical novel. This is a story of place and of people, and the quest by the latter to fit into the former
Blood , a determinedly mysterious drifter , arrives in the Indian Stream country leading an ox-cart filled with rum , ammunition , dry goods , food staples , a mastiff guard dog , and Sally , the uncivilized teenaged girl he purchased at a brothel in Portland , Maine. He sets up as a merchant , selling supplies and drink to the local men, and selling Sally, too . The locals regard the ill-matched pair with suspicion All the while , Blood and Sally engage in a personal struggle for acceptance in each other 's eye s, an effort hampered by their sordied historie s, and the fact that neither can afford tenderne ss, or emotional ties.
Blood and Sally are both caught up in the ongoing disputes between white settler and native, the law-enforcing sheriff to the south and the lawless trappers to the north . Death and dismemberment , battles and brutality , cannot quench their thirst to survive , or satisfy their hunger for an accumulation of cash that might safeguard them from the horrors they have escaped.
In his evocative yet graphic style , Lent brings to life the hardships and bleakness of early American life, and just as skillfully depicts the spirit and the dreams , and even the madness , that ensured the survival ofa new nation
Margaret Barr
SHADES OF HONOR
Wendy Lindstrom , St. Martin's Press , 2002 , $6.50/ C$8.50 (£3.83) , 320 pp , pb, ISBN 0312982836
Radford Grayson finally returns to his hometown five years after the end of the Civil War. Much bas changed, especially his younger brother Kyle , who has taken over the family' s sawmill business Even more of a surpri se is neighbour Evelyn Tucker, Kyle' s fiancee , who is now running her father's livery . She has grown into an attractive and resourceful woman. Evelyn herself is disturbed by her attraction to Radford , but yearns to heal bis wounded spirit.
What follows is a fairly traditional romance from a debut author. The historical aspects of the period are woven nicely through the narrative and the story moves along at a good clip. But while the protagonists are reasonably well-drawn , I didn't find myself caring for them as much as I'd like
It was , however, interesting to see a heroine not afraid of hard work or getting her hands dirty The secondary characters, especially Evelyn's father and Raiford ' s daughter, shone . Fans of post Civil War era romance fiction will likely enjoy this book from a novelist who shows promise.
Teresa Eckford
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
ISSUE 21 , AUG 2002
INVITATION TO A DYNAMITE PARTY
Peter Lovesey, Allison & Busby, 2002, £6.99, pb, 172pp , ISBN 0749005521
Older readers may recollect the Granada television series 'C ribb' featuring Alan Dobie as Peter Lovesey's ferret-eyed, sharp-boned and laconic detective, Sergeant Cribb, of the High Victorian Scotland Yard. As well as the period detail, the series was enjoyable for featuring a practical and relatively lowly police officer who has to contend with pompous and wrong-headed superiors as well as ingenious villains. This novel is a reprint from I 974, of one of the books that resulted in crime buff's admiration for Lovesey's character and doubtless lead to the Granada series.
The plot is based on the genuine series of Fenian explosive attacks in London in the I 880s, which struck at several public buildings and looked as if they might spread terror throughout the city and consternation in the ruling classes. Cribb's staunch sidekick, Constable Thackeray, even seems to be mixed up in the conspiracy. I enjoyed the counterpoint between the dry wit of Cribb and the bluff inanities of his superior and thought the author did not put a foot wrong in evoking the atmosphere of the time. The pacing and twists and turns of the plot are both nicely calculated. A minor cavil is that on several occasions characters are made to expatiate on background historical detail to an extent which seems rather more than their interlocutor would really need , such as on pages 93-6, when a potted history of Irish risings and cabals is conveyed. However , the writing in general is crisp and controlled and the research into what is now a relatively little known episode seems thorough and convincing and subtly deployed Will certainly be a treat for enthusiasts of gaslit crime and hansom cab conspiracy.
Mark Valentine
SEDUCING MR. HEYWOOD
Jo Manning, Five Star, 2002, $26.95, hb , 246pp, ISBN 0786234008
Beautiful, wicked, seductive Lady Sophia Rowley is bored by her forced seclusion on her late husband 's country estate. Add to her boredom the fact that her children, whom she ha s virtually ignored since toddlerhood , are now given over to the guardianship of the local vicar, Mr. Charles Heywood This worthy gentleman, upon first meeting Sophia, ungracefully loses his footing, tossing wine on her new gown then grasping the front of it and tearing it as he falls, thus displaying her charms. It is quite obvious to see why Lady Sophia is disgruntled. What she needs is a diversion. She invents one for herself by seeking to seduce the unworldly vicar. What she learns is that an innocent vicar can often have unconscious seductive powers of his own.
Jo Manning accomplishes the unthinkable in
this, her second Regency novel, by transforming the villainess of her first novel into a heroine. Ms. Manning's novels are peopled with multifaceted characters that seek to do good or bad according to their own set of principles. Events are most often resolved satisfactorily regardless of the machinations of these characters. The author's historical research into the Church of England and a mathematical prodigy of the time add historical interest to this already charmingly written novel.
Nan Curnutt
THE PIANO TUNER
Daniel Mason, Knopf, 2002, $24/C$36, hb , 317pp, ISBN 0375414657.To be published in the UK by Macmillan in Jan. 2003
Edgar Drake, Piano Tuner, Erards-a-Specialty, receives an urgent request for service in the name of Her Majesty. He reports to the War Office in 1886. Shortly afterwards, Drake leaves his wife and London for Burma . During the journey across Europe, the Red Sea , and India, Drake meets prophets , thieves , soldiers, and tale spinners. Their stories are pondered in the suspenseful days ahead. The owner of the piano is Surgeon-Major Carroll, whose loyalty is questioned. Heat and rain draw the pleasures of work back to the startling realities of life in this tropical jungle.
This is a highly recommended historical novel with international appeal. Readers who are curious about Burma 's culture, politics, and the rugged tropical life of the times may read this book twice. The author has employed a writing style detailing the difficult journey, unimaginable beauty of the terrain and struggles within Burma. It is a story of passion and romance in a rich plot that will be well remembered.
Jetta Culpepper
AINDREAS, THE MESSENGER: Louisville, Kentucky, 1855
Gerald McDaniel , VanMeter , 2000, $14.95 (£8.82), pb, 293pp, ISBN 0967366712
He 's poor, Irish , epileptic, thirteen years old, and brilliant. Aindreas (Andrew) Rivers knows 1855 Louisville, Kentucky from its tenements to its mansions , from its docks to its slave pens. First of four in the Aindreas series, this story captures mid-century Louisville with deft precision.
Over the objections of his teacher and his mother, the boy leaves school to take a job as a courier for a local furniture maker. Throughout the spring and summer as he trots about the town on deliveries, he must deal with the prolonged death of his mother as well as a loutish older brother, a bitter father, and recurring seizures. The sensitive lad also takes pity on the plight of a slave family who has befriended him To keep the family from being broken up and sold, he works for their run to
freedom. With the help of a sympathetic boat captain, the escape attempt joins raw emotion to vivid action serving to hold the reader spellbound.
Aindreas also meets bigotry at its ugliest. In Louisville that August, the Know Nothing Political Party that flourished throughout midcentury America instigated a bloody riot against all foreigners which resembled Krystallnacht , the "Night of Broken Glass." The story of how this young teen keeps his dreams alive, surv1vmg squalid surroundings and ugly circumstances, makes for poignant reading.
Meredith Campbell
AINDREAS: The Scribe, 1865
Gerald McDaniel , VanMeter , 2002, $14.95, pb, 35lpp , ISBN 0967366747
Sequels are difficult to write, but McDaniel has admirably met the challenge--for the most part. The Scribe-1865, a worthy second entry in the Aindreas Rivers Saga , is rich in accurate historical details and colorful characters. However , harmful differences occur
During the last four months of the American Civil War, the poor, epileptic 13-year-old Irish boy is now a 23-year-old veteran with a passion to write. Reporting for The Scribe, a Louisville newspaper, Aindreas is confined to dreary assignments and tolerates owner-editor Thomas Witherspoon's verbal abuse.
The reporter happens upon a fire at a prominent hotel , causing him to rescue a stranded family. His valor and his written account afterwards gain him Witherspoon 's permission to write more meaty stories. Aindreas reports his 1864 encounter with a historical figure , the infamous guerrilla Sue Mundy, and writes up his haunting experiences as a medic at Perryville, Kentucky , one of the war's bloodiest battles. Some readers may experience a problem here. The interjection of historical narrative as Aindreas stops to pen it halts the flow of the tale A second problem is the graphic sexuality that abounds throughout. One particular description borders on the pornographic and is decidedly anachronistic.
Regardless of its flaws, the story makes for quality reading. For as Aindreas struggles with his own blindness , his oppressive job , his loutish family, and his doomed love affair with an ex-slave, he emerges optimistic , confident of his talent and able to move out into the post-war world that will need his reporter 's skilled eye. Meredith Campbell
LEE AT CHATTANOOGA
Dennis P. McIntire , Cumberland House , 2002, $ I 6.95/C$25.95 (£ I0), pb , 276pp, ISBN 158182257X
Subtitled A Novel of What Might Have Been , this story is just that. The author revisits one of the South's most perplexing defeats and
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
wonders what would have happened had the great General Robert E. Lee been there. Would Lee have usurped overall command from General Braxton Bragg? Would he have run afoul of Bragg's stubbornness and ineptitude? And most importantly , would the outcome have been different?
McIntire shares his opinions right up front and then wraps the novel around them. As a vehicle, he tells the story through the eyes of a former Confederate major who was assigned to Lee at Chattanooga. The major and a one-time aide to Jefferson Davis meet up while traveling to pay respects to an ailing Lee several years after the war. In a series of flashbacks, the major gives the aide the inside story of Lee's efforts at Chattanooga Except for the obvious changes, the story is accurately written and well researched. However , I found the vehicle the author uses to relate the story more interesting than the story itself. In all, the story barely dents history; hardly the intriguing change of events I had expected.
Mark F. Johnson
SIN KILLER
Larry McMurtry, Simon & $25 /C$38 (£14.74), hb, 0743233026
Schuster, 2002, 300pp, ISBN
A whim, it was, that led the large Berrybender family to pack up and leave England, a fancy, that is , to travel west from Portsmouth, to Baltimore , to Pittsburgh , and eventually up the Missouri River heading for Yellowstone. And as daughter Bess would invariably add, "in this year of our Lord 1832."
On board the steamer Rocky Mount are the two parents , Lord and Lady Berrybender, six of their huge flock of children, a dozen or more servants, three Indian chiefs, the captain and other assorted boatmen, altogether a "rabble of displaced Europeans" with no sense and no manners, mostly interested in fornicating with each other left and right , totally indifferent and/or oblivious to the death or disappearance of any of their party.
No wonder oldest daughter Tasmin finds it so tremendously liberating to take up life (and frontier marriage) with Jack Snow, who grew up adopted by Indians, also variously known as Raven Brave or Sin Killer.
Comic at times, certainly over-the-top in terms of stretching one's smse of utter disbelief; but in no uncertain terms I must caution you that this extravagantly wildcap ride up the river also has moments of mind-breaking darkness. Nature does what nature does best, and this includes the already present human inhabitants of the land.
There are glitches in the telling, I thought , but this, the first of four such tales , ends with plenty of room for more to come. Often fascinating in a you-can't-look-away sat of way, like a train
wreck you see about to happen but you're utterly powerless to prevent, this is in many ways a book like no other you've ever read.
Steve Lewis
THE RUNNING IRON
Lauran Paine, Leisure, $4 99/ C$6.99 (£3.27), pb, 0843949937
2002 (c2000), 238pp, ISBN
Lauran Paine isn't a household name, but over the past 50 years he's been a small powerhouse in the world of traditional westerns. His overall output, including mysteries and romances, includes over 1000 books published, many only in England, under nearly I 00 pseudonyms One difference between Paine and his younger contemporaries is that he's lived closer to the time period he writes about, rather than learning about it second-hand. The characters in his stories are taciturn and close-mouthed. They don't feel obliged to talk about what they're thinking, what they're doing or why. Newer writers seem to explain everything
In this story, after Old Joe Jessup dies, his ranch is left to May, his Indian wife, and his adopted son, Little Joe. A neighboring rancher wouldn't mind adding the land to his own spread. Can one boy, an old woman, and an even more ancient hired hand manage to hold on without him?
In close conjunction to this, the army is called in to move a small tribe of Indians, May's extended family, onto a reservation. In terms of action, there's very little. Each chapter moves six inches forward, then five to ten inches back The end result is a book that 's both frustrating and captivating.
Steve Lewis
SYMPTOMS OF DEATH
Paula Paul, Berkley, 2002, $5.99/ C$8.99 (£3.54), pb, 213pp, ISBN 0425184293
The time period of this first mystery solved by Dr. Alexandra Gladstone is never stated, but it's definitely England, and a reference to "the queen" makes it appear to be early Victorian. Assisting the lady doctor is Nicholas Forsythe, a London barrister, who is attracted to her unconventional mind, not to mention her other more visual attributes.
Dead is Lord Dunsford, a man of some wealth and (as is gradually revealed) secret vices, such as philandering, blackmail and-more I cannot say. Accused is a maid who threatened him the same evening with a knife. A quick hanging would come as certain relief to many in the earl's own social circles. Alexandra's investigations come at some risk to herself, and sightings of the dead man walking keep the common folk at alarm as well as the pot boiling. Good use is made of the country village setting, and the dangers of childbirth in the days before simple blood transfusions are
described in touching fashion.
In comparison to Agatha Christie's puzzle plots , however, this one fails to match up. Dr. Gladstone's observations, disregarded by those who believe medicine is no profession for a lady , make it make it extremely unlikely that the maid is the killer, and there are too few others who could be.
Steve Lewis
THE WHITE CROW
Cynthia Peale, Doubleday , 2002, $24.95 / C$37.95 (£14.72), hb, 324pp, ISBN 0385496389
The belief in spiritualism has found a ready audience amongst the upper echelons of society in late nineteenth century Boston. Having lost her mother several years prior, Caroline Ames, an attractive spinster of thirty-six, is hardly immune . At a seance conducted by Evangeline Sidgwick, the "best medium in Boston," the elderly gentleman at Caroline's left makes contact with his late wife--but when the light s come on, he has passed on to the next world. Regrettably for Caroline's reputation, the cause of death is discovered not to be shock, but coldblooded murder, and the medium's next message reveals that an Ames may be the next victim.
Peale 's Beacon Hill Mystery series, of which this is the third volume, keeps improving over time. The author has an excellent sense of time and place, particularly when it comes to evoking the atmosphere of a Boston that existed just over a hundred years ago. She does not neglect character development , either; in particular, readers are allowed greater insight into Caroline's brother , the enigmatic Addington Ames, whose infatuation with the gorgeous, socially unacceptable actress Serena Vincent is finally allowed to run its course. The Ames siblings' squabbling over that intrusive new invention , the telephone, is picturesque and delightful. Out of the flood of historical mysteries currently on the market, this is surely one of the best.
Sarah Nesbeitt
SOUTHAMPTON ROW
Anne Perry, Headline, 2002, £17.99, hb, 282pp, ISBN 0747268886
Reviewed in Issue 20 with US publication details.
CHILD OF FIRE
Maureen Peters, Robert Hale , 2002, £17.99, {US$29.95), hb , 255 pp, ISBN 0709070861
The easiest way to describe this book is to quote from the blurb: ' Was Charlotte the dutiful, loving daughter who rose with courage above the blows life dealt her, as Mrs Gaskell alleged? Or was she the cold-hearted, manipulative woman who may even have had a hand in the
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deaths of her siblings, as James Tully has argued? [The Crimes of Charlotte Bronte, reviewed Issue 9]. Did she have a lesbian affair with her close friend Ellen Nussey? Or was she wildly infatuated with her Belgian tutor Monsieur Heger?'
This version of the Bronte story includes all the main, and well-known, details of Charlotte's life. Among my books is the definitive biography The Brontes (1994) by Juliet Barker, formerly curator of the Bronte Parsonage Museum. If new information has come to light since then, I would have appreciated an author's note saying so. Failing this, I am left wondering what is fact here and what is artistic licence.
To give just two examples. Juliet Barker writes that following the deaths of Maria and Anne , the third sister, Elizabeth, sickened. While she was taken home to die, all the remaining pupils, including Charlotte and Emily, were removed to Silverdale, a seaside holiday home in Morecambe belonging to Carus Wilson. In Child of Fire , only Charlotte and Emily were taken away, and the author suggests that Carus Wilson sexually abused Emily. ln 1833 (again from Barker), Emily was bitten by a stray dog to which she had given a drink of water. Terrified at the thought of rabies, for which there was no cure , she cauterised her arm with a hot iron from the fire. She died in 1848 , and only Anne , Charlotte , their father and Martha the servant were present. Ms Peters , however , moves the bite to just before Emily's death Patrick's brother , Hugh, is also placed in the house, having remained to do 'what ' s necessary , if it's necessary.' Victims of hydrophobia were, apparently , put out of their misery by being smothered between two feather mattresses, and it is implied that he gave Emily laudanum first
Teresa Basinski Eckford, writing in Review, Issue 20, sums up my feelings exactly. There ' s nothing inherently wrong with artistic licencebut I'd far rather an author tell me about it. Not knowing leaves a feeling of dissatisfaction , as well as making the review more difficult to write. Perhaps the publishers felt the same way : the final sentence of the blurb reads: ' Here is Charlotte Bronte. Make of her what you will' . So I shall - not recommended. Val Whitmarsh
RIVERS OF GOLD
Tracie Peterson , Bethany House , 2002, $11.99 (£7 .07) , pb , 383pp, ISBN 0-7642-2380-1 Miranda Colton awakens in a stranger's cabin after being washed overboard on a trip to the Yukon in 1898. During her recuperation, the frigid winter prevents her from rejoining her friends who believe her dead. Teddy Davenport, an English botanist, is thankful God spared Miranda , but considers her a distraction She interferes with his fulfillment of a deathbed
promise to his father.
When they finally reach the gold-mining town of Dawson , Miranda faces more challenges. How will she find her friends? How will she contact her family? How will she survive? How can she abandon Teddy? Her faith is tested daily , but she never wavers from trusting God
This inspirational romance paints a gritty portrait of frontier life in the waning days of the gold rush. Greed, murder , and other sins intrude into the characters' daily lives, but faith sustains them. Frequent religious references may dissuade some readers, while those unfamiliar with previous titles in the series may become puzzled when the story switches to a minor character's viewpoint. At times the characters' belief in God detracts from the story's suspense, and solutions to problems come across as too neatly solved to satisfy Those who enjoy inspirational romance , however, will enjoy this latest by Tracie Peterson.
Cindy Vallar
COURTING SHADOWS
Jem Poster, Sceptre, 2002, £14.99, hb, 278pp, ISBN 0340822570
In a remote English village in 1880, architect John Stannard is overseeing the restoration of the decaying village church. Stannard is a priggish individual who considers that his authority over others has been conferred on him by his 'birth and breeding'. However, his meeting with young village beauty Ann Rosewell brings problems he never anticipated. Their association takes away Stannard's rational view of the universe and he consequently develops a fever during which tortured visions compromise his sanity From the start of the project his unwillingness to listen to the views of others puts him at loggerheads with the rector, so he is drawn into the company of bachelor and amateur naturalist, Redbourne , who has a questionable interest in some of the poor village boys, including Ann's brother.
An authentic feel for the late 19th century comes across through the characters, settings and language. The novel is full of suspense and is a mesmerising tale of a man determined to cling to his self-important, warped ideas, regardless of the effect on others - a fascinating story told with meticulous attention to detail, which sets reason against emotion , progress against preservation and emotion against control. An impressive first novel.
Greta Krypczyk-Oddy
THE BARTERED BRIDE
Mary Jo Putney, Ballantine, 2002, $22.95 (£13.54), hb, 336pp, ISBN 0345437055
This novel, joining Th e Wild Child and The China Bride as the final installment in the Bride Trilogy , combines passion with suspense as we
follow Alexandra Warren's descent into slavery in the East Indies and her rescue by the surprising Gavin Elliott. Gavin's bravery and dexterity allow him to win her freedom from her captures , but finding the additional skills to break her emotional chains provides an additional challenge. Conflict arises when Gavin is plagued by enemies who begrudge his new position as the Earl of Seabourne and his marriage to Alexandra.
Putney begins the novel in England with Gavin imprisoned for the death of Alex . Then we return to the fictional island of Maduri , where Gavin and Alexandra first meet, to watch their developing relationship and Gavin's own personal quest for acceptance in England. Alexandra's fear of intimacy provides the conduit for bedroom innovation, as the two discover each other's strengths and weaknesses . Historical details run secondary to the romance, but are still true to nineteenth century England. Cleanly plotted and well-written, The Bartered Bride is recommended for those who enjoy historical romance novels
Suzanne Sprague
THE BOOK OF SHADOWS
James Reese , Morrow, 2002 , $25 95 /C$39.50 (£15.31), hb, 480pp , ISBN 0066210151
Reese has wrought a tale of old century gothic combined with an Anne Rice-ish erotica , which is a catalyst for his small cast of magnificently strained and excited characters. The Book of Shadows is set in 19th century Brittany; however, its saga takes us into bygone eras bursting with descriptions of witches , familiars and defrocked priests Herculine, an unusual child abandoned to a convent by her mother ' s strange and bloody death , becomes the focus of this extraordinarily woven tale. As she matures , there is something very different , very odd concerning Herculine, too odd for her academic yet sheltered mind to comprehend.
Various events , chronicled in such a way that the very words drift from the pages and smother the reader with an eerie atmosphere of gruesome, wondrous delight, bring a charge of witchcraft to Herculine ' s breast. And witch she is! Liberated from the convent gone mad by two 'elementals' (ghosts) , Father Louis and Madeline , she now journeys toward the unearthing of her own Book of Shadows , a journal of sorts meticulously recording the life and spells passed on of the 'craft' by each witch.
Reese binds each character with a history so purely his own and so expertly interwoven into Herculine's tale that the reader is wholly engrossed page after page until a masterful climax is achieved--leaving not one loose plait unbraided in this tremendous debut novel.
Wendy Zollo
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THE PROBLEM OF THE SURLY SERVANT
Roberta Rogow, Robert Hale, 2002, £17.99, hb, 268pp, ISBN 0709070527. Pub in US, 2001, by Minotaur Books, hb , $24.95, ISBN0312266382 This is a Charles Dodgson and Arthur Conan Doyle mystery and although the characters are mainly historical, the story is entirely fictional. Dodgson (Lewis Carroll of Alice fame) is an elderly Oxford scholar, while Doyle is a young physician and would-be author. The two, aided by Doyle's young wife, set out to solve several apparently unrelated mysteries, blackmail , petty thefts and murder, involving undergraduates of both sexes, scouts, police and College authorities.
The American author has thoroughly researched her subjects and included much of the result. The reader is regaled with history, atmospheric description and the activities of everyone in Town and College at any given time.
The crimes and mysteries are well thought out and the characters diverse, but the pace seems too slow for the genre and identification with the protagonists is difficult. Overall , the general tone is juvenile, yet the book would probably not appeal to young people.
Monica Maple
THE ADVOCATE'S WIFE
Norman Russell, Robert Hale, 2002, £17.99, hb , 240 pp, ISBN 0709071167
London 1892: Detective Inspector Box and his new sidekick, Sgt K.nollys , have two cases on hand. An expensively-dressed young woman has been garrotted and dumped in a canal, and a wealthy art connoisseur is suspected of planning a bank robbery. Before DI Box can get to grips with either case, the well-known advocate, Sir William Porteous , is blown up by a bomb planted in his coach.
Apart from a tendency to purple passages in the more emotional parts , this is a great read. The chirpy, sometimes cocky Box struts through crowded thoroughfares and murky passages in a way which brings late Victorian London to life With no forensic specialists to help him , he is reliant upon hard evidence, intuition and local knowledge to solve not only his current investigations but several other murders too.
I hadn 't come across DI Box before but I hope we meet again: this is a classy whodunit. Val Whitmarsh
ALL THAT LIVES
Melissa Sanders-Self, Warner, 2002, $34.95 / C$32.95 (£14.13), hb , 450pp, ISBN 0446526916
All That Lives begins in 1815 with a short, eerie chapter telling "how it began ." The "it" in question is the curious story of events that began nearly four years later at the Bell plantation in
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
Adams, Tennessee. The Bells are a respected , prosperous family with a rich tobacco plantation and strong religious beliefs. Suddenly, though , their lives change At first , the family's sleep is disturbed at night by unexplained noises, but soon their problems escalate. Reluctantly , the Bells look to their community for spiritual aid and assistance in ending their nightmare Word spreads across the countryside of the disembodied voice and spiteful pranks perpetrated by the "Bell Witch ," bringing curious, thrill-seeking visitors and causing further strain within the household.
The story of the Bell Witch is based on oral tradition and published accounts. Readers familiar with the phenomenon will recognize many of the scenes from this novel. SandersSelf adds an explanation for the malevolence focused primarily on certain family members, and an exploration of its origins. Overall , the descriptive passages are well written, generating tension and suspense. However , the dialogue is at times unnatural. Further, I find the resolution of the story involving daughter Betsy Bell and her first love to be out of place , considering their youth, time and circumstances. Nevertheless, I am certain this haunting tale will appeal to many.
Alice Logsdon
DISQUIET HEART
Randall Silvis, St. Martin 's Press , 2002, $24.95 /C$34.95 (£14.72), hb , 322pp, ISBN 0312262485
Joining the ranks of Stephanie Barron (the Jane Austen mysteries) and Sharon Kay Penman (the medieval mysteries) , Randall Silvis has embarked on a series of historical thrillers featuring Edgar Allan Poe as the sleuth and a quick-witted guttersnipe by the name of Augie Dubbins as his sidekick. Disquiet Heart is the second book of the series.
It is 1847 , seven years since Poe and Augie solved the famous Mary Rogers murder in New York City (On Night's Shore, Issue 17). Augie had been sent to Ohio as a farmer's apprentice. The years have hardened him in mind and body. Hearing of the death of Poe's beloved wife, Augie flees the abuse and rescues Poe from his cups. They then travel to Pittsburgh , where a wealthy benefactor has offered Poe speaking engagements and boundless hospitality. In Pittsburgh, they come upon a mystery: six women have vanished in as many weeks. When a seventh is found murdered , Augie is arrested. It takes Poe's intelligence, Augie's courage, and the help of a few friends to find the murderer.
Silvis depicts Edgar Allen Poe as a painfully human , deeply flawed character. Yet Augie Dubbins is Silvis's greatest creation: a ragamuffin-turned-journalist, wily and honorable , complex and tormented, and in this book, a boy becoming a man Disquiet Heart
lacks the glamour of On Night's Shore, with its detailed depiction of 1840s New York City, but it probes just as deeply into the heart of darkness. Highly recommended.
Lisa Ann Verge
GOD'S FOOL
Mark Slouka, Knopf, 2002, $24.00 US/ C$36.00, hb, 272pp, ISBN 0375402160
Pub. in the UK by Pan , 2002, £10.99, pb , 240pp, ISBN 1405000033
Chang and Eng were the original Siamese twins. Born conjoined in Siam in 1811 , they went on to become a household word. God 's Fool is the story of these two men, told in the first person by Chang. He tells us of their hard childhood in Siam, and how as babies they were almost killed by superstitious palace officials. Chang tells us how they lost most of their family to a cholera epidemic when they were eight, and how they made a living for themselves afterwards. But life was unkind to them in their younger years, and they were forced to abandon all they knew and leave Siam for Europe at the age of seventeen. They became a drawing room curiosity in the courts of Europe. Later, the y were discovered by P.T. Barnum and brought to the United States, where they became rich and famous.
Slouka tells a fascinating story of two men destined to be tossed about by fate. There is a subtle longing in both Chang and Eng to be normal , to be free of one another which bursts through to the surface only once in a while. When fate isn't being cruel, men are, men who take advantage of young, foreign, naive boys But the most interesting thing that happen s to them is how they become Americans, taking the name Bunker and marrying s isters. They manage to take all of their earnings from their years with P.T. Barnum and build a life for themselves , one as close to normal as they could possibly come.
Mark Slouka's writing style is easy and lyrical. However, the first part of the book, which takes place just before the Civil War, is rather confusing. Slouka writes in a vignette style, which tries to create an atmosphere rather than tell a story. It is not until he takes the reader back to Siam and the twins' birth that we start to see the fascinating and exotic story that is the life of Chang and Eng Bunker.
Alexandra Ceely
A DARK AND DISTANT SHORE
Reay Tannahill, Headline Review , 2002 (reissue), £6.99, pb , 755pp, ISBN 0747267146 This is the epic story of Vilia Cameron's lifetime struggle to regain her family home , the West Highland castle ofKinveil. When a severe lack of money forces Theophilus Cameron to sell the estate to Mungo Telfer, a Glasgow merchant, seven-year-old Vilia vows that she
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
will return to her birthright one day. It seems a vain hope until Vilia is orphaned and invited to live with Mungo's son and daughter-in-law. Friendships are made and broken. Marriages are arranged and children are born. The Cameron and Telfer families grow and mingle together until their bloodlines are blurred, and all the while Kinveil remains Vilia's first love.
This is a fantastic novel that captures the very essence of the 19th century. Family ties , imperialism , and industry are set against the backdrop of the British Empire in its heyday. A Dark and Distant Shore journeys through I 00 years of history and visits Scotland, England, America, India and the Crimea along the way.
Powerful characterisation combined with a strong sense of place and time are the key strengths of Reay Tannahill's storytelling and she effortlessly sweeps the reader into the past. Vilia may not always be a pleasant or sympathetic person, but she is absolutely believable and definitely a woman of her era.
The result is a robust and satisfying read. It's hard to believe that this huge doorstop of a book is only £6.99 - what a bargain
Sara Wilson
THE RESTLESS SEA
EV Thompson, Time Warner, 2002, £6.99, (US$7 .95), pb , ISBN 075153240 I
This book represents EV Thompson's writing at its best. The story of Nathan Jago moves swiftly between two very different and geographically described settings. Firstly, the world of the East End of London and the harshness of the unforgiving life of the prize fighter, and Nathan's home , the fishing village of Pentuan, Cornwall. After becoming the prize fighting champion of all England, Nathan returns to Pentuan to start a fishing business. Life is not as smooth as he had hoped and he soon realises a major change of attitude will have to take place if he is to save the local industry by converting them to drift fishing. His family is, like others in the village, historically seine-fishers who see the drifters as the enemy.
This is just one of Nathan 's problems. His father, preacher, Josiah Jago, a dedicated Methodist, is seen by the Church of England to be a rabble-rouser. Methodists preached to anyone, they reached out to the poor and were accessible. To the establishment they were viewed as dangerous Sir Lewis Hearle, MP and Justice of the Peace, is hostile to both father and so n Jago and their interests, whether fishing or religion. Elinor Hearle, Sir Lewis's strongminded and spoilt daughter and Arny, the daughter of a smuggler, further complicate Nathan's life.
The story is packed full of adventure and moves at a swift pace. The atmosphere created by the author is convincing regardless of the location . Life in 1810 is harsh. In London the
poor are cramped into intolerable narrow streets. In Cornwall life is hard and cholera epidemics are life threatening to all. Meanwhile the establishment sees uprisings at every tum wherever the common people meet. This book is a thoroughly entertaining read that gives a realistic flavour of living history, and has a very satisfying ending.
Val Loh
ELEAZAR, EXODUS TO THE WEST
Michel Tournier, Univ of Nebraska Press , 2002, $16.95 (£10), pb, 89pp, ISBN 0803294451
This novella retells the Biblical story of Moses leading the Exodus out of Egypt, with a setting in 19th Century Ireland followed by a trip across the US in wagon trains, heading toward the promised land of California. The comparisons between the Protestant minister who is the protagonist and the Biblical prophet are explicit, since Eleazar notices that he is reenacting the Exodus and sometimes recalls the appropriate chapter and verse.
In Ireland, Eleazar kills an abusive landlord's steward, the first of many incidents which parallel the career of his counterpart. While he takes his family across the continent, a snake bites his unsuspecting son, and the boy is saved by an Indian named Brass Serpent, not unlike the function performed by a brass serpent on a pole in the Book of Numbers. This peaceful Native American is consistent with the French view of the Wild West, explic itly described as a place where the ecologically correct Indians li ve in harmony with the land while the savage Americans pile up dead buffalo In protest, Eleazar vows to begin a vegetarian colony in the promised utopia of California
The language is fittingly solemn, and the translation by Tournier scholar Jonathan Krell captures the Biblical style of the original. The themes of the potato famine, the wagons west and the tale of Moses make for a crowded 89 pages , and the story suffers in comparison to the original source.
James Hawking
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
Jean Vautrin (Translator: John Howe),Weidenfield & Nicholson, 2002, £17.99, hb , 481 pp, ISBN 1-86159-174-8
This is a passionately written tale set in Paris during the brief days of the French Commune in the spring of 1871.
The book is made up of one hundred short chapters of five or six pages each with the result that a story which could have proved indigestible taken in large lumps is split into a series of short cinematic scenes that make a great effect on the mind.
There is a huge cast of characters, many of them grotesques in the larger than life Dickens manner but the three at the heart of the novel ,
the soldier Tarpagnan, his enemy Grondin, who holds him responsible for the sixteen years he spent in prison for a crime he did not commit and the love of Tarpagnan's life , Gabriella Pucci, are a trio not easily to be forgotten.
It is a long while since I read a novel containing so many horrific scenes and of so melodramatic a tone but the terrible events that happened during the crushing of the Commune ideals more than warrant the treatment and I can recommend this book most warmly.
Lalage Clay
THE DARK CLUE
James Wilson , Faber & Faber 2002, £7.99, pb , 472pp , ISBN 0571202764. Pub in US 2001 by Atlantic Monthly Press, $25.00, hb , ISBN 087113831X
This is a sequel, of sorts, to Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White using the main characters set in a different plot.
Walter Hartright is asked to undertake a biography of the artist, JMW Turner in order to counteract a scurrilous biography intended to blacken the artist's name. Hartright sets out to gather material assisted by his sister-in-law, Marian Halcombe.
It becomes apparent that Turner was a complex, secretive individual and both researchers get sucked into his bizarre story. Both are affected by their discoveries and Hartright unwittingly imitates some of the more sordid aspects of Turner's behaviour.
It is written in the style of Wilkie Collins and deals with the complexity of truth; whether there can be any objective truth or just a mass of subjective assertions. Even at the end, the reader cannot be sure about Turner or of Hartright's views on the man Was Hartright deceived and the victim of a subtle conspiracy, or did he deceive himself?
It is an absorbing story although there were too many sequences of interviews with people who knew Turner which gave it a predictable feel.
Doug Kemp.
20TH CENTURY
BITTER EDEN
Taturnkhulu Afrika, Arcadia, 2002, £11.99, pb, 233 pp , ISBN 1900850702
Of the forty or so books I have reviewed for the HNS , the majority have been well written, informative and entertaining, but only one or two have had a profound effect upon me. Bitter Eden is such a novel.
The author is an 80-year-old man writing of events half a century ago, in a thinly disguised biography that lays bare the whole spectrum of human emotions.
During WWII, Tom, the narrator , is taken
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ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
prisoner in North Africa, held first by the Italians and then the Germans. Along with hundreds of others , he experiences the sudden, appalling loss of freedom , denied adequate food or basic sanitation. This is coupled with loss of privacy and intense overcrowding. A harsh reality emerges, dominated by dysentery and diarrhoea.
A new type of society is born , with entrepreneurs and gamblers, bullies and the bullied. But the human spirit prevails and in the end , what really matters is the friendship of those who will support and care for you in this world where life is always under threat - and where there are no women.
Tom is 'adopted' by a man called Douglas. It is not a friendship that Tom would choose, but Douglas is selfless and gentle and so he gives himself up to a loyalty that might mean the difference between death and survival. All is well until he meets Danny. Danny is sharp, a boxer, holding onto his sanity by keeping up his fitness routine. Gradually a tenuous friendship develops between the two, but in this all-male world, Douglas feels himself betrayed The three find themselves part of an eternal triangle until inexorably , Tom's loyalty is transferred from Douglas to Danny.
I cannot begin to convey the power of the growing relationship between Tom and Danny, the unacknowledged physical need that holds them apart, yet draws them together. Here , two macho , heterosexual males , battle to hang on to their former self-image, but the prisoner-of-war experience has alienated them from that former world and they cannot go back. As the book reached its climax, I felt almost an agony of longing for their love to be fulfilled.
The story is beautifully written. Perhaps the opening lines , which also form the closing scene, will convey something of this magic : 'I touch the scar on my cheek and it flinches as though the long-dead tissue had a Lazarus life of its own.'
This is a profound book about human emotion and eternal truths.
Janet Mary Tomson
PARADISE ALLEY
Kevin Baker, HarperCollins , 2002, $26 95 / C$41.50 , hb , 676pp, ISBN 0060195827
Five days during the draft riots of the Civil War are realistically recreated in this bold historical novel. Excellent writing skills draw readers into the daily lives of three Irish women. Each already struggles with the atrocities of a difficult life , and they are burdened now with this additional turmoil. The blood and brutality of public outrage presents New Yorkers in an unforgettable political conflict. The rich plot incorporates the starvation of the potato and turnip famine plus the troubles of Tammany Hall.
The book is highly recommended for adults, but those offended by murder, rape and other grotesque violence, sometimes involving the innocent, should be aware. The writer employs a highly creative imagination combined with historical fact, and his story is intensely descriptive of individual terror, emotional conflicts and destructive hostility. The pages keep turning as one eagerly hopes for an account of brighter days.
Jetta Culpepper
THE FLOATING CITY
Pamela Ball , Viking, 2002, $23.95 / C$34.99 (£14.13), hb , 262pp, ISBN 0670894729
The central metaphor of The Floating City is that of a whale that stayed on the surface so long that trees and plants grew on its back. Hawaii in the 1890s during the fall of the royal family was a shifting, unsafe world.
A corpse washes up in Honolulu Harbor. Eva sees rope burns around his neck. She reports the body, but keeps a jade necklace that was wrapped around his wrist. Then the body disappears.
Eva is a Norwegian fortune-teller. Her friend Lehua is half-Hawaiian, half-white, a hula teacher. They socialize with the gracious Queen Lili 'uokalani, whose momrchy is under threat by the United States. After the Queen's forced abdication, the Royalists quietly organize and arm themselves. Political intrigue weaves throughout as the soldiers, the police, and the "haoles" from the United States strive for power. Each chapter begins with a brief summary of events , then moves from the political to the personal. Eva, who lives under a false name , forms a relationship with McClelland, a Scot who favors the monarchy.
Author Pamela Ball writes in poetic style: "Every shade of green that existed was right in front of them. The yellow-green of bamboo , the falling down green of an old hut , the young green of banana leaves , the dark grass where the mongoose hid , the chartreuse of the kukui tree." She uses color like Gauguin: "She walked up a path littered with lavender petals , took a deep breath , and then knocked on a door painted the dark blue color of deep water."
What makes a novel literary and raises it from a commonplace retelling of events to a work of art? This could have been a hard-boiled detective mystery , but it transcends its plot to become the saga of a nation subsumed.
Marcia K Matthews
BEFORE HIROSIDMA: The Confession of Murayama Kazoo
Joshua Barkan , The Toby Press , 2000, $12.95 (£7.64), pb , 148pp, ISBN 1902881133
Joshua Barkan's first collection of stories , Before Hiroshima , includes a novella and five short stories. Though only 148 pages in its
entirety, Barkan's book packs a powerful punch The novella, Before Hiroshima , tells the story of a young Japanese intelligence officer during World War II Murayama Kazuo , tom between wanting freedom from his responsibilities and his grandfather's stem expectations, may have the power to save Hiroshima from attack. When Kazuo links together several large bombings across the nation , introducing the pos si bility of a major United States bombing , Kazuo 's superior officer, Mizuoshi-san, refuses to believe th e evidence. When the bombing in Hiroshima actually takes place , the two men are forced to carry the tremendous burden The following five short stories are quick bursts of powerful fiction, and readers will most definitely want to read more . My favorite was Shanghaied, in which two co-workers, involved separate ly , find themselves sharing a hotel room on a bargain vacation to China. The most effective story, The Warrior , gives life to a young man recovering from a short , almost non-existent , entanglement with a disturbed young woman. Fans of short stories and those of World War II , in particular, should find a copy of Before Hiroshima Readers will be asking for more from Barkan , who is a versatile author with much to explore. Melissa Galyon
THE CHESTNUT TREE
Charlotte Bingham , Bantam 2002 , £5 99, pb , 5 l 2pp , ISBN 0553812777
Set just before and during WWTI this is a kaleidoscopic view of the activities of the inhabitants of a small Sussex vi llage and the changes wrought in their lives and att itude s because of the demands made on them The chestnut tree, a seedling in 1939 , grew on the village green as the men and women of the village grew and changed . As usual Charlotte Bingham provides an immensely readable story and controls her large cast of characters with great skill although it is difficult for the reader to follow the separate stories of so many characters and keep the interest in all of them alive. Just occasionally I wanted to know more about some of them. To hear , for example , how Meggie made her escape from occupied Europe. Once or twice , perhap s because they had been offstage for a while , I had to disentangle names which were confusingly similar - Mattie , Meggie, Maude , Michael and Mickey. Nonetheless , this was a compulsive read with the attitudes , mores and conditions of the 1940s accurately portrayed Marina Oliver
MURPHY'S LAW
Rhys Bowen , St. Martin's Minotaur , 2001 , $22.95 / C$32.95 (£13.54), hb , 226pp , ISBN 0312282060
Rhys Bowen takes us back to the beginning of the 20 th century and allows us to follow the road
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ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
so many have taken, from Ireland to Ellis Island to New York City. This he accomplishes through the eyes of a spunky young woman, Molly Murphy, whose journey is marked by several murders. Forced to flee Ireland, Molly boards a ship masquerading as the mother of two young children. While waiting on Ellis Island, one of Molly's fellow shipmates is murdered and she becomes a prime suspect. Assisted by a NYPD cop, Daniel Sullivan, Molly strives to prove her innocence while trying to begin a new life.
Bowen paints a lively and believable picture of life on a liner and makes us feel the immigrants' anxiety, waiting to pass through the gates of Ellis Island. The life of New York at the time is vibrantly described, especially from the perspective of the Irish immigrant. Molly is vivacious and resourceful, but I often found her too modem in the way she acted and thought. The story also relies too often on chance occurrences, actions difficult to believe. For instance, would a mother let her children go off alone to another continent with a woman she has just met and who is accused of murder? I also found the style repetitious, a fault difficult to forgive in a veteran author. However, the story moves along very well and the characters are endearing, making for a nice, breezy read. Nicole LeClerc
ANY HUMA HEART
William Boyd, Hamish Hamilton 2002, £17.99, hb, 490pp, ISBN 024 l l 4177X
These are the fictional diaries of Logan Mountstuart, a half English half Uruguayan writer born in 1906. He lived a full and vigorous life and died in I 99 I after a peaceful retirement in the French countryside.
The diaries commence when Mountstuart is at boarding school and follows him through Oxford and his career as a successful writer and journalist then his role as a spy in WWTI and his various marriages and romantic entanglements. Throughout, Mountstuart meets and gets to know a range of eminent literary, artistic and other leaading figures of the day. These pop up with a too regular convenience as if the reader needs to be constantly stimulated by the presence of real events and characters. There are explanatory footnotes as if the diaries were edited following Mountstuart's death, as well as a curious index which mixes fictional and real life characters and events. Initially this seems false but as the personality of Logan Mountstuart unfolds the reader is increa singly drawn into his life and emotions. He is, at times, a selfish, unsympathetic figure.
This novel takes a while to absorb and involve the reader. When it does it is masterful. A splendid book by a consistently fine writer. Doug Kemp.
THE MASTER OF RAI
Tom Bradby, Bantam Press 2002, £9.99, pb, 476pp, ISBN 0593048164. Pub in US by Doubleday, $24.95, hb , ISBN 0385503970
Shanghai in 1926 is a city of British Imperial civil servants, American gun-runners, Russian princesses and Chinese gangsters. Exotic, sexually liberated and pulsating with life it is a time and place where anything seems possible. When Richard Field was seconded to the Shanghai police force he was trying to escape his past. His first case was the sadistic murder of a young White Russian; as he peers through the glittering surface to investigate the murky depths beneath he sees a world beyond the superficial glamour of the city's ex-patriate life.
This is a tautly plotted exciting page turner which kept me guessing until the last few pages although I did guess the identity of the murderer three pages before the hero did. Tom Bradby is an ITN journalist who has spent many years reporting from the Far East. This shows in his spare writing. The pace never lets up and details of the historical background never intrude on the story. The love affair between Field and Natasha Medvedev, neighbour of the murdered girl, is finely portrayed. All the characters, including Shanghai, come to life with minimal description. Enormously entertaining and highly recommended.
Shirley Skinner.
WARNING OF WAR
James Brady, Thomas Dunne, 2002, $11.95/C$17.95 (£14.72), hb, 34lpp, ISBN 0312280183
Don't start this book on a Friday unless you have no plans for the weekend, because you won't be able to put it down. In pre-WWII China, US Marine Captain Billy Port draws the unenviable assignment of leading a platoon of Marines across China to collect up various Marine detachments assigned inland and lead them to friendly territory. It is mere days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese military already controls most of the country and will capture or destroy any US military personnel unlucky enough to find themselves with Japanese neighbors when war breaks out. Port's unit evacuates Shanghai for the Philippines, leaving Port and his small band entirely one their own.
Faced paced and perfectly written, Brady's story has all the makings of a hit. His hero, Billy Port, is smart, tough, dashing, wealthy, and in an off-handed way, funny. His other characters are expertly brought to life and fit military "lifers" to a tee. This was the first book by Brady I've ever read, but it certainly will not be the last.
Mark F. Johnson
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
THE I CANTATION OF
FRIDA K. Kate Braverman, Seven Stories, 2002, $23.95/C$34.95 (£17.99), hb, 235pp, ISBN 158322-469-6
This is a fictional autobiography of Frida Kahlo, the Surrealist painter who died at 46 in 1954. While on her deathbed, Frida recalls the major events of her adult life through memory that is sometimes lucid , sometimes hallucinatory. She recollects her horrific accident at 17 when a trolley strikes and impales her through the hip, back, and lower abdomen and leaves her sterile and mutilated. These wounds become a defining part of Frida's life as both artist and woman. She also sifts through her marriage to Diego Rivera, the Mexican artist. In retrospect, it is a troubled and disturbing relationship fraught with humiliation and callousness. The novel reveals how she not only endures, but, despite physical pain, drug addition, and frustration, grows as an artist of intense vision.
Braverman paints an extraordinary portrait in language that is lyrical and sensual. Her prose style is serried, yet poetic, in its rendering and perfect for her subject. This novel is not so much about an early twentieth century artist as about the experiences of all artists. Like good poetry, this novel bears rereading. Gerald T. Burke
SKELETO CREW
Beverly Connor, Cumberland House, 200 I (cl999), $7.99/C$12.95 (£4.72), pb, 413pp, ISBN 1581822871
Forensic anthropologist and amateur detective Lindsay Chamberlain JOms a crew of archaeologists excavating a long-lost Spanish Galleon off the Georgia coast. Within days she has two murders to solve, one over four hundred years old. Joining her once again is engineer John West, while bounty hunters, angry biologists and the engineer who lost the bid to work on the dig complicate matters. The cast of characters is large, but the author manages them well.
Though not strictly a historical mystery, this 5th volume in the Lindsay Chamberlain Series contains enough historical atmosphere (most notably through the inclusion of a diary from one of the galleon's pasg;:ngers) to satisfy the reader. It starts slowly but picks up speed about halfway through. The final third of the book is rivetting as the author brings everything together in a heart-pounding scene in which Lindsay fights for her life. Connor's characters are real people with foibles, not cutouts, while her plot and subplots intertwine effectively. Readers of historical mysteries might want to give this book a try for a slight change of pace. Teresa Eckford
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
GREEN GROW THE VICTIMS
Jeanne M. Dams, Walker, $23.95 / C$35.95 (£14.13), hb, 210pp, 0802733557
2001, ISBN
Third in the Hilda Johansson mystery series set in South Bend, Indiana in 1902, this story unfolds within the context of a county fair, the coal mine strikes and local politics. The flavours of the times are subtly hinted at with details of clothing or customs, which makes it easy for the reader to slip in that era. Hilda, a live-in maid in Studebaker's mansion, gets embroiled in the hunt for her friend Patrick's uncle, suspected of killing his political opponent. The set-up allows the author to explore the differences, similarities, suspicions and clashes between and within races (Swedish/Irish/Polish) and religions (Methodists/ Catholics) through a mild Romeo and Juliet scenario where family takes precedence over individual preferences.
The characters and their various lifestyles are well-defined, although the temperaments do seem uniformly centered around tempers flaring or being curbed. It requires a stretch of the believability factor to accept that anyone would tum to a maid to solve a murder, but Hilda-wilful and independent of thought while remaining a woman of her times--does fill the role well. The plot is satisfactory, even if it involves lucky hunches, and unfolds in a lively manner. This is a good entry in a nice cosy series, which I suspect should be read in order to make Hilda's involvement more plausible.
Nicole Leclerc
TANGLED THREADS
Margaret Dickinson, Pan Macmillan 2002, £5.99, pb, 448pp, ISBN 0330490494
A turn-of-the-century novel set in rural Lincolnshire and Nottingham this is the story of Eveleen and her family. Flattered by the attentions of Stephen, their employer's son, Eveleen defies her mother who violently opposes their meetings. When Eveleen's father dies the family is homeless and Stephen does not seem to care. When she appeals to her mother's family for help Eveleen discovers secrets and has to fight to control and care for her feckless brother, depressed mother and her cousin's orphaned baby.
I found some of this story hard to believe and the research into the intricacies of the textile industry was too detailed. Nevertheless, this is a good read in what seems like the perennially popular family saga market. Marina Oliver.
THE TEA ROSE
Jennifer Donnelly, St. Martin's, 2002, $24.95 / C$34.95, hb, 560pp, ISBN 0312288352 Fiona Finnegan loves Joe Bristow, and he love s her. For years, they've penned their future: their own shop, and an escape from the band-to-
mouth existence their families have always known, as costermongers and tea warehouse workers in the Whitechapel area of London. Just when her dreams of life and love seem to be coming true, Fiona's work! crumbles, when her father dies and Joe is snatched from her by a scheming society girl. Distraught, Fiona sails to America, to start over and to exact revenge on those who have injured her and her family. Donnelly describes tum-of-the-century New York City with the same authenticity as she did London, with vivid scenes of wide residential avenues and narrow, crowded industrial areas.
Fiona's achievement · of independence and vengeance are not gained without cost, however, and the main victim of her success is the credibility of the story itself. Donnelly relies heavily on coincidence to move the narrative, and having Fiona's life nvolve Jack the Ripper, murderous tea house thugs, several revolutionary ideas in the tea industry of the time, and the amassing of a fortune that involves further coincidence strains the believability of the narrative. The characters are strong and well-drawn, and would be able to achieve much on their own without the author's very-visible string-pulling. Donnelly holds promise as a historical novelist, and one hopes to see that potential fulfilled in future tales.
Helene Williams
MEET JOHN TROW
Thomas Dyja, Viking, 2002, $24.95, hb, 356 pp, ISBN 0670030996
Thomas Dyja's latest novel may prove to be a summer favorite for historical fiction fans. Set in 1999 Salisbury and Mt. Riga, Connecticut, burned-out advertising professional attempts to disconnect and then reconnect with his family in the most unexpected way. Steven Armour has recently moved his wife and their two children from the big city to small-town Connecticut. Armour quickly learns that working from home and spending more time with the family does not necessarily grant him more freedom. His relationships are falling apart, and his job performance reaches an all-time low. As a method for escape, he joins the local Civil War re-enactment group.
Once assigned as Private John Trow, an actual Union soldier bailing from Mt. Riga, Armour learns as much of Trow's life as possible. When letters arrive from Trow's secret lover during the War, the wife of his Colonel, Steven obliges and begins an affair with his counterpart, the pretend Mrs. Kellogg. Each weekend at Mt. Riga leads John farther away from his own life and deeper into Private Trow's. Readers will wonder if he can stop himself before it's too late.
Melissa Galyon
THE HISTORICAL
NOVELS REVIEW
PEACETIME
Robert Edric, Doubleday 2002, £12.99, pb, 352pp, ISBN 0385602979
A thought provoking, atmospheric novel set in the English Fens in 1946. After WWII everyone is trying to resume their normal lives but life in this close knit community is far from peaceful. James Mercer, a former captain in the engineers, arrives to help with the demolition of old gun platforms. In common with the people he meets, his life has been disrupted by war. He befriends Jacob, a sickly Dutch Jew who is tormented by memories of a beloved sister who died in a prison camp. Mathias is one of a group of German POWs waiting to be repatriated. Mary is a young local girl who lives with her mother and younger brother. This family is waiting the return of their aggressive breadwinner who is serving time in a military gaol.
The scene is set for chaos. Against the background of a dying summer in the marshy beauty of the flatlands people find it impossible to hide their prejudices and frustrations. When the disgraced soldier, Lynch i~ released from gaol his return unleashes the pending chaos. Like a thunderbolt he stirs up the community. His nastiness is in stark contrast to the compassion shown by Mathias.
There are many layers to this novel and the author carefully reveals the emotions of the main characters as the scars of war slowly heal. From the author of The Book of the Heathen this latest novel is just as disturbing and haunting.
Sarah Crabtree
MIDDLESEX
Jeffrey Eugenides, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2002,$26,hb,544pp,ISBN0374199698
To be published in the UK by Bloomsbury in Oct 2002
Cal Stephanides, third generation GreekAmerican, spent the first 16 years of his life as Calliope, dressing and behaving as a girl. Misidentified at birth due to ambiguous genitalia, Calliope obsesses that she is not developing like she should. When her condition is finally discovered, tests conclude that she is really a male. The deviant chromosome that caused Cal to be born a hermaphrodite is traced back to his grandparents' village in Asia Minor, which is where the saga begins. When the Turks invade their tranquil mountain, bis grandparents are forced to abandon their silk farm and flee to a cousin's home in Detroit, Michigan. There his colorful family becomes a part of Detroit's growing Greek community.
Eugenides, author of The Virgin Suicides, deftly juxtaposes the history of Cal's genetic mutation with his present struggle with his physical abnormality. The story is as much about Detroit's Greek community as it is about
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
Cal's gender confusion. The antics of his extended family, the evolution of his family's business ventures, and the historic events that influenced Detroit's development are all presented in a humorous yet poignant way. Sprinkled throughout are clever observations such as the theory that Americans prefer their Presidents to have no more than two vowels and two syllables in their last names, explaining Dukakis' 1988 defeat to Bush.
This is a coming-of-age story combined with a healthy dose of Detroit history. The quirky characters, ingenious plot, and Eugenides' exemplary writing style make this book delightfully original.
Suzanne Sprague
RED GOLD
Alan Furst, Random House, 2002 (c1999), $11.95 /C$17.95, 258pp, pb, ISBN 0375758593 Pub. in the UK by HarperCollins, 1999, £6.99, pb, 288pp, ISBN 0006499031 For review see Issue 8
HIGH ON A HILL
Dorothy Garlock, Warner, 2002, $21.95/C$29.95 (£12.95), hb, 385pp, ISBN 044652946X
Prohibition, bootleggers, moonshine, mobstersthese are volatile ingredients during the Roaring Twenties. When they intersect in a small Missouri town, Annabel Lee Donovan's life changes forever.
Annabel, daughter of a bootlegger, yearns for the day her father retires. She's tired of moving, but fears Henderson is just another stopping-off place. Corbin Appleby, a former sheriff, arrives in town to locate a friend's brother and help a colleague. Falling in love with Annabel takes him by surprise, yet he's not the only one with eyes for Annabel. Marvin Carter wants her for himself, and he won't take no for an answer. The twists and turns in this romantic tale force the reader to turn the pages. For those who read Ms. Garlock's The Edge of Town, where she first introduced Corbin, reading High on a Hill is like meeting an old friend. The depth of the characters, the inclusion of a poignant secondary love story, and the immersion into a time that captures the imagination are like spice added to apple pie. Without them, this would be an ordinary tale. With them, this is a book to savor and enjoy.
Cindy Vallar
SEA ROOM
Norman G Gautreau, MacAdam/Cage, 2002, $25, hb, 311 pp, ISBN 1931561079 Jordi is the son and grandson of Maine lobsterfishers and farmers of French-Canadian descent. In 1941, the three see a fine ketch that inspires them to build one of their own. But Pearl Harbor intervenes. Jordi's father Gil joins the army and
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
is sent to fight in Europe, eventually becoming a battlefield medic. Meanwhile, Jordi grows up, learning about life and fishing from grandfather Pip, while his mother and grandmother cultivate their land for the war effort. Pip, a WWI veteran, senses that all is not well with Gil despite his cheerful letters home, but he shields the family from what he knows Gil must be going through. Hardships bring a close family even closer, but the aftermath of war, including a murder charge, will test each member's loyalty and integrity to the full. And the ketch? Well, you'll have to read the book.
In less sure hands this story would have been a soggy tear-jerker, but Norman Gautreau has crafted it into an absorbing, moving and thoughtful novel, rich in the qualities of character and setting that allow the reader to enter into the lives and moral dilemmas he portrays. The author gave up a lucrative career to write Sea Room - his self-belief is amply justified.
Sarah Cuthbertson
PROVINCES OF NIGHT
William Gay, Anchor, 2001 (c2000), $13/C$20, pb, 292pp, ISBN 038549928
Pub. in the UK by Faber and Faber, 2001, £9.99, pb, 292pp, ISBN 0571203744
You know you're in the h:nds of a master by the way he uses his tools: details, vocabulary, verbs. They all add up to a craftsmanlike work of art that you savor and hope you can trust as the zany characters veer out of control.
William Gay uses a stripped-down style: sentence fragments, no quotation marks. He gives characters colorful names like Raven Lee Halfacre, and entrusts several with revolving points of view. His rich description and witty dialog evoke Tennessee in 1952.
Boyd and his son Fleming and Boyd's younger brother Brady prepare for the return of the patriarch, E.F. Bloodworth. Con-artist and musician, Bloodworth wangles a ride with a cattle rancher, who later exacts revenge. Boyd goes to Detroit to kill the man with whom his wife ran off. Fleming's friend Albright, a fool always looking to make a buck, paints a car yellow and calls it a taxi. The theme is that in a violent world, love is a negation of death. Fleming loves Raven even though his wild cousin Neal used and abandoned her. He sees beauty in fireflies: "a moving river of light that flowed above the dark water. and attained a transient and fragile dominion over the provinces of night." As Bloodworth puts it, "Death, you'll sleep at the foot of the bed tonight."
Marcia K. Matthews
SWIMMI G TOW ARD THE OCEAN Carole Glickfeld, Anchor, 2001, $14 (£8.26), pb, 388pp, ISBN 0385721765
This warmhearted family drama opens in Brighton Beach, New York in 1953. Chenia Arnow, a Russian-Jewish immigrant, discovers that she is pregnant with her third child at age forty-five. She is distraught. Her self-indulgent philanderer of a husband, who thrives on his extramarital affairs and get-rich-quick schemes, doesn't relish the prospect of a new addition either. Despite Chenia's eccentric attempts to rid herself of the child, Devorah arrives safely into the world. Her arrival sets the stage for the Arnow family's evolution and Chenia's personal voyage of self-discovery.
Devorah narrates the family's story, recounting her parents' conflicts and their relationships with their children. What she does not witness, she extrapolates using her own fertile imagination.
Although the story is told from Devorah's point of view, Chenia is the focus of the story. The books delves into the very heart of Chenia's struggles, particularly being an "old" world immigrant in a "new" world. She possesses conflicting traits that draw our sympathy and make us check our judgment: she is both strong and vulnerable, superstitious and rational, dispirited and sanguine. She engages the reader powerfully with her wit and intelligence.
Swimming Toward the Ocean is a beautiful tale, overflowing with candor, humor, and compassion. The prose is lucid and unpretentious. The plot is mesmerizing from the fist page and never fails to hold the reader's attention. I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a satisfying family drama brimming with poignant life lessons.
Andrea Connell
FALLING FROM THE SKY
Tim Goodwin, Robert Hale, 2002, £17.99, hb, 272pp, ISBN 0709070519
This is really a modem detective tale, the only 'historical' aspect being a rather tenuous link to the Cold War. Our hero is Tomas Larsen, a Danish policeman from Greenland of Inuit (Eskimo) extraction. He is investigating a missing plane incident, which soon links to a riot in a club he had previously been called to. From there the case becomes more serious, with murders, drug dealing, kidnapping, international terrorism and seedy undercover espionage. It's all nicely paced and page turning, with some nice twists, although the ending is rather weak.
Martin Bourne
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
THE FUTURE HOMEMAKERS OF AMERICA
Laurie Graham, Warner Books, 2002, $14.00, pb, 440pp , ISBN 0446679364
Pub. in the UK by Fourth Estate, 2001 , £9 99 , pb , 38 lpp , ISBN 1841153125
Reviewed in HNR # 19 in UK section
THE LONG JOURNEY
Wayne Greenhaw, River City, 2002 , $25.95, hb, 312pp , ISBN 1-57966-028-2
Harold Reed is only sixteen when his father asks him to leave Town Creek , Alabama for the "big city" of Decatur to meet his adored elder brother, returning home from the Great War.
After a fatherly lecture on the evi Is of the big city, Harold loads a horse and a mule, anticipating a solitary trek Suddenly , a wayward hot air balloon being misguided to earth by a Greek circus performer frightens Harold's animals away , and the garrulous Greek offers him a lift in the balloon to scout for them. The acrophobic Harold has little choice since his food and his expen s ive barber tools disappeared with his animals.
Eventually , Kazantakis and Harold spy a tiny man in a Confederate costume , leading the animals along Sean O'Donohue , "second cousin to leprechauns of County Cork" joins the duo. Soon, they befriend a Choctaw woman who reluctantly joins the group. Unexpectedly , tragedy precedes their arrival in Decatur. With no sign of his brother at the station , Harold looks up a Mrs. Prudence Longshore , whom his father advised would see him through safely. Harold ' s life opens up further as he learns more than he bargains for from the denizens of Decatur
This novel of the South draws deeply on the author 's Alabama roots , giving the reader a fresh look at Southern history Harper Lee states on the book jacket: "Wayne Greenhaw is one of the best-e ver writers of narrative fiction." This reader agrees with her completely. Tess Allegra
STEINHOF
Carola Hansson (translated from the Swedish by Irene Scobbie) , Arcadia , 2002 , £11.99, (US$13 95) , pb , 220pp , ISBN 1900850664 Magda is working as a schoolteacher when she is forced to flee from Budapest by the Russian invasion in 1956 She takes a group of children through the mountains into Austria , leaving behind her fiance , Sandor, and her ageing grandparents. Yet although she has found sanctuary and even marries a young doctor called Thomas, she cannot shake off the past. Gradually she descends into a catatonic state and is admitted into Steinhof, the local mental in stitution She is visited frequently by her husband and through listening to his rambling conversations she begins on a journey of
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
recovery.
Steinhof is a beautifully structured account of a woman's reaction to trauma and exile. It examines the validity of the commonly held wisdom that forgetting the terrible events of the past is always for the best. In taking the wellmeaning advice of her husband and her doctors, Magda condemns herself to a life without an identity of her own. The more she tries to shut off the past, the more she shuts herself down.
This is a very low-key story , all the more effective because of the powerful emotions its main characters hold in check The language is intense and, because most of the action takes place within Magda's mind , there is an enhanced sense of intimacy This novel is essentially a psychological study and , as such , is both memorable and highly original.
Sara Wilson
THE SEAL WIFE
Kathryn Harrison, Random House, 2002 , $23 95 / $35.95 , hb , 224pp, ISBN 0375506292 Pub in the UK by Fourth Estate, 2002 , £10.00 , pb , 240pp , ISBN 1841157791
Kathryn Harrison is best known for her memoir, The Kiss , detailing the incestuous relationship she had with her father. It is no surprise, then , that her fiction is sensuous and unnerving
The Seal Wife , her fifth novel, is a wellresearched, tightly wound tale of a scientist sent to Anchorage, Alaska in 1915 to set up a forecast station for the U.S. Weather Bureau A city boy in the last frontier , Bigelow is confounded by his inability to communicate with the world. The natives don ' t respond to the Chinook he has learned , the woman he courts stammers, and the Aleutian woman for whom he yearns is all but mute Even the information he collects with his precise instruments cannot consistently predict the weather.
Struggling with loneliness , isolation and frustration , Bigelow becomes creative. He builds an enormous kite to hold his instruments and sends it into the heavens in an attempt to better understand weather patterns. He probes the female mystique: in the mouth of a gaptoothed pickpocket, in the arms of a whore, in the parlor of a ' respectable ' woman.
A moody rendering of one man's attempt to understand wind , women and the world, Th e Seal Wife is whiskey-strong literary erotica Harrison is a master of the form
Lisa Ann Verge
THE BROTHERS
Milton Hatoum , trans John Gledson , Bloomsbury 2002, £15.99, hb , 256pp , ISBN 0747557845. Pub in US by Farrar Strauss and Giroux , $23.00, hb, ISBN 0374141185 Set in the Amazonian port of Manaus during the first half of the twentieth century this is about identical twin brothers , Omar and Yaqub, who
compete for their mother , Zana ' s love. Other main characters are the father , Halim , daughter Rania , the housekeeper, Domingas and her son who acts as narrator.
Hatoum's prose is an assault on the senses as the reader is bombarded with the sights , sound s, smells and tastes of the Amazonian land scape and the bustling port. The drama of this immigrant Lebanese family is played out again s t the rich backdrop of South American culture shifting back and forth in time in an episodic rather than linear fashion. Over many decades family dynamics dictate the varying currents of relationships between parents and their children
The Broth ers is a fine novel of almo st filmic quality. A word of praise must also go to the translator for maintaining fluency and readability A rewarding read from an author who deserves to be better known Ray Taylor.
THE LONG SILENCE OF MARJO SALVIATI
Etienne van Heerden , Hodder & Stoughton , 2002 , £16.99 , hb , 438pp , ISBN 0340819987 Ingi Friedlander, a young , one-time arti st who currently works as art administrator, travels into the depths of the Karoo in South Africa to buy a work by the very reclusive sculptor Jonty Jack She finds herself in a society where inbreeding and inter-racial alliances have produced a people who are suspicious of outsiders in postapartheid society. As the reader is led through the challenges Ingi encounters in an attempt to complete a successful purchase of the artwork , the history of the area since the Boer War and the emergence of the main influencing characters are interspersed with the storyline Mario Salviati was a deaf-mute Italian prisoner of war, a highly skilled stonema son , employed to build a water channel to provide irrigation to the dry dust plains When lngi finally made his acquaintance he had lo st hi s sight too and was kept as a virtual pri soner by his daughter and son-in-law in the expectation of him divulging the whereabouts of a legendary wagon of gold. The silence surrounding both Mario and the townspeople made it difficult for Ingi to get the full picture without mu c h frustration. There is more frustration for the reader , I feel , in the presentation of repeated information throughout the text. The depth and strength of characters is limited and none is more than two-dimensional , including the main cast. Ingi ' s treatment of Mario is devoid of mature consideration for his predicament and her approach to Jonty Jack self-centred in the extreme Whilst the author's choice of name s may appeal to some , personally I found them childishly irritating.
Cathy Simmons
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
A SIMPLE HABANA MELODY
Oscar Hijuelos , HarperCollins , 2002 , $24 95 /C$37 .95 (£14.72), 342 pp , hb, ISBN 0060175699
Stifled by the oppressive Machado dictatorship , Cuban composer Israel Levis leaves Havana for Paris. But after a few years in the city of love , Levis again suffers oppression, this time beneath the occupying Nazis. Mistaken for a Jew because of his name and his Jewish lover, he is sent to Buchenwald. He survives, but returns to Cuba a disillusioned man. There he reminisces about his early life : his dutiful care of his mother , his escapades in brothels and nightclubs , his relationship with famous entertainer Rita Valladares , and his composition of Rosas Puras, "a simple Habana melody" that became known the world over
Despite an imposing outward presence , Levis is a timid man. Through Levis ' s experiences , the author shows how fear of breaking with convention, of taking chances , can affect the course of an individual's life How questions of destiny , religion, and love shape thoughts and actions. He provides an intimate picture of early 20 th century Cuba, at times drawing subtle parallels with the Cuba of today Haunting , thought-provoking , earthy , and entertaining , Oscar Hijuelos's latest novel is well worth the read.
Claire Morris Bernard
THE JAZZ BIRD
Craig Holden , Simon & Schuster, £ I 0, pb 314pp , ISBN 0743220404 . Pub in US by Simon & Schuster, $25.00, ISBN 0743212967
This novel is based on a true story During the Prohibition period in the US, bootlegger George Remus amassed an $80 million fortune by buying up small pharmacies, applying for licences to purchase pure alcohol , and selling it on to distilleries . Truck loads of liquor poured into the social system during the post-FirstWorld-War era as people from all walks of life partied frenetically Remus married a beautiful girl , Imogene, who introduced him into society. Guests left his parties with solid gold gifts and even new cars, but never really accepted him. Then, in October 1927 , Remus forced Imogene ' s car off a busy , rush-hour road and shot her dead.
The book weaves to and fro between what happened to their relationship and Remus' trial for murder, during which his defence was temporary insanity. Prohibition , which started in a few states and then spread , had got out of hand. Just as gangster Al Capone was only eventually tried for tax evasion , so Remus was put away on various small charges , leaving his business in the hands of so-called friends he could not trust, and Imogene, who could not cope His fortune disappeared. Frank Dodge, a Federal Agent determined to keep Remus in jail,
became entangled with Imogene - but was she desperately trying to double-cross Dodge and get her husband out of jail, or double-crossing Remus with the intention of keeping him behind bars ? And was Remus sane or quite mad?
I don't usually like trial scenes , which I find boring, but in this book they are among the best I've read . Charlie Taft, the chief prosecutor (whose wife becomes to jealous of his interest in the dead Imogene that she goes home to her mother), his team, and the opposing, defendant's team , all move at a smart lick trying to upstage each other, while the jury are all rooting for the popular Remus. The end isn't at all what you expect either.
An excellent and thoroughly enjoyable book about a very strange period.
Val Whitmarsh
WHEN THE ELEPHANTS DANCE
Tess Uriza Ho Ithe , Crown , 2002 , $24.95 / C$37.95 (£14.72), hb , 368pp, ISBN 0609609521
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 , American and Allied troops retreated from the Philippine Islands, which were first bombed and then occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army The Filipino people suffered as the Japanese Army commandeered housing and food , closed schools and destroyed schoolbooks. In October 1944 , General Douglas Macarthur kept his promise to return to the Philippines and battled through to Manila with four Allied divisions.
As the Americans and Japanese fight for possession of Manila from February 3 to March 3, 1945, Alejandro Karangalan , his family, and a group of neighbors hide in the cellar of their home to avoid bombings, sneaking out only to search for food or medicine. Each time , they risk capture, torture , and death. To feed their courage, maintain their hope , and forget the devastation of their city and homes, the people tell stories. The three principal narrators , Alejandro, his sister Isabelle, and the guerilla fighter Domingo, tell of their experiences in and around Manila during the siege. Interspersed with these narratives, the other neighbors recount allegorical tales of their own pasts and of Filipino folklore Some of the tales are long, but the people are huddled together in the cellar for days at a time--their spirits are fed on the stories although their bodies are starved for food.
Holthe's language is lyrical in its evocation of the culture and mystique of the Philippines. Although fiction , parts of the novel are based on real events , and the characters are fully dimensional. In her first book, Holthe tells the story of a people of great resilience and courage who have previously received little literary attention.
Mary L. Newton
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
A PARCHMENT OF LEAVES
Silas House, Algonquin Books, 2002 , $23.95 / C$34.95 (£14.13), hb, 288pp, ISBN 1565123670
In his first novel, Clay's Quilt, Silas House explored how the ties to family and land influence life in eastern Kentucky. In his new novel , he continues to probe that theme. A Parchment of Leaves begins in 1917 when Saul Sullivan first climbs Redbud Mountain for a job , despite rumors of a Cherokee girl up there who can curse men to their deaths. Set in fictitious Crow County in eastern Kentucky, the novel is narrated by Vine, the beautiful girl who has bewitched the men of the county. She tells of Saul's courtship, their subsequent marriage , and her move to his home on God's Creek. She misses her family, but finds acceptance within her new family, Saul's mcther Esme and brother Aaron. Complications ensue with the outbreak of WWI , when Saul ' s job requires him to leave home for an extended period. Disturbing events forced by Aaron's unbalanced lust, coupled with a longstanding conflict between cultures, cause Vine to doubt herself and question her place in the world.
Silas House has a wonderful talent for writing the dialect and accent of rural Kentucky. His characters, although they speak differently , are thoughtful, intelligent, and spiritual. They feel an intense connection to their land , which House renders in luminous , lush detail. The action is perfectly paced from beginning, middle to end. This story of love and redemption succeeds without being overtly mawkish. I highly recommend it.
Alice Logsdon
WHISPERS O THE WATER
Audrey Howard, Hodder & Stoughton, 2002, £17.99, hb, 424pp , ISBN 0340769327
The only daughter of a working-class family in 1911 Liverpool , young Grace Tooley's carefree life is over when she falls in love with Rupert Bradley, her eldest brother's handsome , well-todo friend from university. Over the years , through much hardship and tragedy, Grace's unrequited affection for Rupert becomes the driving force of her existence. In the end, it is up to her to prove to him that, despite circumstances that leave them both profoundly changed, he is still worthy of her love.
This is a well-rounded coming of age story, centered on Grace but also, through the Tooleys, providing a detailed picture of how the Great War destroyed the lives of many while forcing strength to appear from unexpected avenues. The novel suffers from an overly abrupt conclusion, but perhaps this only serves to demonstrate the impact that this engrossing, emotionally intense page-turner had on me. I didn't want it to end.
Sarah Nesbeitt
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
BURNING MARGUERITE
Elizabeth Inness-Brown, Knopf, 2002, $23 /C$35, hb , 238pp, ISBN 0-375411968
To be published in the UK by Weidenfeld & Nicholson in Feb. 2003
At its heart, Burning Marguerite illustrates the truism that a child never realizes that a parent had a life prior to him or her. The book begins with the death of ninety-four-year-old Marguerite Deo. Her adopted son, thirty-fouryear-old James Jack, finds her dead in the snow outside her New England island cabin. His response reveals that although be is not her child by blood, he is her child in every way that counts. As James Jack ducks the sheriff, who wants him to report her death, and prepares for the type of leave taking Marguerite would want , the story begins to alternate between James Jack's present and Marguerite's past. To James Jack, she has always been Tante, the woman who raised him after his parents drowned while ice fishing. But her early life was far more volatile, taking her from her parents' farm on the island to a sort of exile in New Orleans between the two world wars and back again to the island after her parents' death.
Although not a mystery, the story does unfold a piece at a time, in nonlinear fashion, so it is not until the very end that it comes full circle and we see that Marguerite's life ended so that James's could begin. Beautifully written, the reader feels the cold of New England and the steaminess of New Orleans, and the bond between Marguerite and James, while not sentimental, is palpable. A haunting read. Ellen Keith
IN THE KINGDOM OF MISTS
Jane Jakeman , Doubleday 2002, £15.00, hb , 425pp, ISBN 038560370
In this psychological thriller the author has followed a current trend to make its central theme the life and works of a leading artist: Claude Monet.
The action takes place in London in 1900. Monet is staying at the Savoy hotel in a suite overlooking the Thames. As he covers canvases with bold strokes in an attempt to capture the river shrouded in winter mists his life is told by means of introspective flashback.
Other leading characters are Oliver Craston, a young recruit to the Foreign Office, Michel Monet, (Claude's son), Rosa Darby, Michel's lover with whom Oliver falls in love; Inspector Garrety who is investigating a series of macabre murders and his wife, Aline. There is a mysterious doctor , returned from service in a field hospital during the Boer War. He is also on the sixth floor of the Savoy where be tends wounded soldiers in rooms given over to for use as a hospital.
Oliver discovers a woman's body floating in the Thames and becomes involved in Garrrety's
investigations. The author does not pull her punches when describing the field hospital or the autopsies. She raises the tension so high that at one point I wondered whether I could continue reading. I did and the outcome I dreaded was avoided. Although more palatable for the reader, I found it a distasteful cop-out.
The writing is excellent and, as an amateur painter myself, I found the descriptions of Monet's works and methods fascinating. Although I realised the identity of the serial murderer early on the tension was cleverly maintained throughout. The plot did seem contrived in several respects and the end was not entirely satisfying. Nevertheless, this is an unusual and superior psychological thriller which will be enjoyed by many.
Monica Maple.
THE GOOD GERMAN
Joseph Kanon, Little Brown, 2002, £16.99 hb, 482pp, ISBN 0316851965. Pub in US at $!4.00, Picador UK, pb, ISBN 0312421265
This is a love story, a murder story and a Cold War thriller all in one, set in Berlin in 1945, as the Allies take over a devastated city that looks like the dark side of the moon, haunted by the wan spectres of the displaced. An American newspaper correspondent wangles an assignment there so he can look for the woman he left behind before the war. He becomes enmeshed in much more than this when an American officer's body is washed up in a lake, a large cache of occupation currency floating around him, just before a Potsdam photo-shoot of the Allied war leaders. The journalist decides to investigate, but I wondered about his motivation here. Would he really have wanted to become so embroiled at the risk of deflecting his search for his lost lover? Fortuitously - too fortuitously really - he finds that the two mysteries are strangely intertwined.
In his mission around the ruined city, and its black market underworld, he encounters both the tragic and desperate and the vicious and opportunistic. Kanon tries to explore moral questions of betrayal and survival and the dilemmas of those charged with dealing with the aftermath of the Nazi atrocities. The people he depicts have an authenticity about them and earn our interest, but his descriptions of the city seem somewhat too staged, an overly-obvious deployment of research and too broad brush, rather than relying on telling details. Kanon struggles to hold all the threads of his plot together, which makes the pace of the book uneven and results in a rather crammed denouement. There are also some over-emphatic devices, such as giving most of the American occupation characters German surnames, and his protagonist is a bit too sympathetic, without any redeeming vices. The New York Times has suggested Kanon is 'fast approaching the
complexity and relevance 'of Le Carre, Green and Orwell. It is true that he is operating in the same territory, but his raising of moral issues seems more forced, while his writing lacks the necessary finesse of understatement and obliqueness.
Mark Valentine
EVA'S COUSIN
Sybille Knauss, trans. Anthea Bell, Doubleday 2002, £12.99, hb , 399pp, ISBN 0385603606. Pub. in North America by Ballantine, 2002, $24.95 /C$37.95, hb, 336pp , ISBN 0345449053
In the words of the author; 'This story is as true as the facts on which it is based and as fictional as any novel.'
In the summer of 1944 Eva Braun invited her cousin, Marlene to stay with her at Hitler's retreat in the Bavarian mountains. Marlene is twenty years old, dazzled by her elder cousin 's glamorous life style, she is an innocent observer of the final disintegration of the Nazi regime. As the two women go skinny-dipping in the mountain lakes and flirt with SS officers the allies advance. Eva advances towards her own particular destiny.
This is the first of Sibylle Knauss' novels to be translated into English. The writing has an immediacy which involves the reader and questions whether anyone can be an innocent bystander in such circumstances.
Ann Oughton.
BILLIE'S KISS
Elizabeth Knox, Ballantine, 2002, $24/C$36, hb, 343pp, ISBN 0345450523
Pub. in the UK by Chatto & Windus, 2002, £12.99, hb , 288pp, ISBN 0701173505
This novel opens in 1903 as Billie Paxton, her pregnant sister, Edith, and her brother-in-law , Henry, are traveling to a remote Scottish Island where Henry has been employed to catalogue the eccentric Lord Hollowhulme's library at Kiss Castle. As their ship docks, Billie is seen jumping from ship to shore just moments before an explosion on board causes it to sink--leaving only a few survivors and many unanswered questions. Why did Billie jump just in time to save her life? Did she know or, even worse , plant the explosive that caused so many deaths ? Murdo Hesketh, one of the survivors and a kinsman of Lord Hollowhulme, is detennined to find the answers. Due to Billie's highly suspicious and very timely exodus from the ship , he sees her as the prime suspect. As Murdo delves into his investigation , Billie begins her own painful process of coming to terms with her losses , and the reader soon realizes there's a lot more involved than initially meets the eye.
Billie's Kiss is a complex, thought-provoking novel full of finely drawn characters, a number of whom, as the story progresses, are slowly but surely stripped of their masks and pretensions
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ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
and, ultimately , exposed along with the answers Murdo has so determinedly been seeking. Although Knox's earlier and superbly written novel , The Vintner's Lu ck, remains my favorite, I found Billie's Kiss to be another page-turner and highly recommend it.
Pat Maynard
THE IMPRESSIO 1ST
Hari Kunzru, Hamish Hamilton 2002, £12.99, hb, 48lpp, ISBN 0241141699. Pub in US by E P Dutton , $24.95, hb , ISBN 052594642X
In a remote corner of India in 1903 a brief encounter between a Hindu girl and an E nglishman results in the creation of Pran Nath. Hi s mother dies giving him birth and he only discovers his Anglo-Indian status whenfue man he believes to be his father dies The one person who knows the secret of his origins lets the cat out of the bag and at the age of fifteen .he loses his privileged lifestyle as he is cast onto the street.
As a ' half and half he belongs nowhere. Forced to live by his wits, he assumes various guises designed to fit any predicament in which he finds him se lf. Thus, he manages to improve hi s lot. His light skin colouring enables him to pass as a European and in Bombay he takes advantage of a tricky situation when a drunken Englishman is killed. Pran , like the chameleon he has become, assumes the persona of Jonathan Bridgeman. This takes him to London then Oxford University. He has dragged himself out of the gutter to become one of the elite, a perfect English gentleman. Eventually, Pran discovers that whatever caste, colour or creed he adopts none of them fit comfortably nor do any offer an easy solution to his dilemma
This is an epic tale about identity ; the essential elements, those indefinable ingredients which combine to make an individual what he is. In Hari Kunzru' s debut novel the writing is sharp, the story compelling. It is at once funny and serio us and refreshingly original.
Ann Oughton
RUSH HOME ROAD
Lori Lansens, Virago, 2002, £10.99, pb, 387pp, ISBN 1860499376. Pub in US by Little Brown & Co, $23.95, hb, ISBN 0316069027
Five year old Sharla Cody is living with her mother and a series of 'uncles' in the Lakeview trailer park on the outskirts of Chatham, Ontario. One summer she is dumped with a seventy year old neighbour , Addy Shadd; supposedly 'j ust for a short time' , a promise Sharla's mother does not fulfil. Soon a deep bond has formed between Sharla and ' mum Addy' and it is this unlikely alliance which is central to the plot. Addy Shadd's own childhood in 1920s nearby Rusholme , where hardship and loss played a big part, ended dramatically at fifteen when she learned to cope alone.
Central to this novel is the power of memory , love and loss as well as a se nse of family and belonging. Parallels drawn between the l 920s childhood of Addy Shadd and that of Sharla show how little has changed for some in three quarters of a century, especially for women who are black. The world as seen though the eyes of a child is not always as convincingly written as it is here and the grim life which Sharla suffers in her first five years is told in a way which is both moving and credible. The story moves from past to present and back again with almost every chapter, but is carried by the intriguing plot and convincing characters. The grim events which befall both Sharla and Addy are so numerous that sometimes impact is lost. Also, some of their problems are resolved a little too easily and because of this the big question as to what will happen to Sharla and how the novel will end, was for me predictable However , this is a powerful and unusual first novel.
Greta Krypczyk-Oddy
CROW LAKE
Mary Lawson, Chatto & Windus , 2002, £12.00, pb , 295pp, ISBN 0701173211. Pub in US by Dial Press, $23.95, hb , ISBN 03853361 IX Family life in the rural badlands of Northern Ontario is the setting for this novel. The landscape is awesome, dramatic and beautiful on the one hand and uncompromising , and relentless on the other. A location where life is hard and past and present are the same place The Morrisons are central to the story and it is Kate who tells it. Kate , orphaned at seven, is now a specialist in the field of invertebrate zoology; more adept at recognising microbes under a microscope that tragedy in her own emotional life She is also unable to outgrow her past when her brothers Luke and Matt and baby sister Bo were her life. Family destiny is also overshadowed by the spectre of their paternal great-grandmother who fixed a book rest to her spinning wheel. But making education the priority of life proves to be a dangerous thing. For the nearby Pye family, life is a sequence of brutal , horrific events which re-occur with each generation.
This is a novel to relish and lose yourself in (I did!) The assured, controlled writing and attention to minute detail has a maturity rarely found in a first novel. Publication rights to Crow Lake were sold in nine countries and it was chosen to be read on Radio 4 ; showing some of the recognition it has already received. No specific time is given as to when the events are taking place, this indicating that history can be about more than mere dates: this is one of the many thoughts this book left me with. Crow Lake was for me a refreshing reading experience.
Greta Krypczyk-Oddy
BLUES I THE WIND
Whitney J LeBlanc, River City, 2002, $23.95 (£14.13), hb , 333 pp , ISBN 0-913515-47-7 LeBlanc, in his first novel , has covered an oftenoverlooked period in American history. Set in the early to mid-1940s , a Creole family in Estilette, Louisiana , experience first-hand the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement, and with it, the spread of blues music. Phillip Ferguson and his family remind readers of the long and painful fight for racial equality in the United States through a fictional tale dotted with factual events. LeBlanc skillfully illustrates the shades of gray often missed , showing that there are very few instances where issues are strictly black and white.
The novel opens as Phillip and his wife, Martha , raise four children and board Martha 's brother, Johnny. Tension arises when Johnny insists on spending evenings playing the blues and consorting with any person with skin darker than Martha. Her self-perceived superiority leads to a stilted relationship with Johnny , and eventually, the deterioration of her marriage. As the years pass, the Ferguson children leave the homestead , often refusing to follow the path Phillip set out for them. Phillip and Martha must put the pieces of their family back together time after time and determine if their relationship can last When Johnny expands his love of the blues to opening a club in Estilette, many of the blues greats make cameo appearances, and the novel even has its own song (lyrics in back of book).
LeBlanc gives life to what many ofus read in the newspaper or learned in school and movingly covered an entire family's relationships over a long period of time , particularly during such a tense section of history.
Melissa Galyon
0 CERTAIN REST
Jim Lehrer, Random House, 2002, $23.95/C$35.95 (£14.13), hb , 224pp, ISBN 0375503722
The Battle of Antietam was the most violent single day in the history of the American Civil War More Americans were killed in this one day of fighting than in any other single twentyfour hour time period in the recorded history of the American continent. This fact is well understood by Don Spaniel , an archaeologist with the US Parks Department. His job becomes more complicated when a new body of a Federal officer is unearthed on the battlefield. The body and its location lead Spaniel to believe murder played a role in the battle The search for a killer (or for the killers) leads Spaniel to relatives of the Union officer and his regiment , who have spent the intervening years keeping one another at arms' length.
The search for truth is an interesting one and will interest both the Civil War buff as well as
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those interested in modern day investigation techniques. In the end, the story is not as captivating as one would hope. The novel is Lehrer's thirteenth, and a reader may be forgiven for expecting more in the way of plot and character from a writer as experienced and polished as Lehrer.
John R. Vallely
DARLINGTO 'S FALL: A Novel in Verse
Brad Leithauser, Knopf, 2002, $25/C$38 (£14.74), hb , 311 pp, ISBN 0-375-41148-8 Set in Indiana , Darlington's Fall follows the triumphs and tragedies of naturalist Russel Darlington. In 1895, the precocious Russel embarks on a life-long quest to understand "bugs." By the time he enters college, it appears he will have a brilliant career discovering new species in the remote jungles of the Pacific But tragedy alters his aspirations. Russel, however, refuses to give up on life , and finds joy down another avenue.
I have never read a novel quite like this one. Written entirely in verse, it mixes details of biology , history, and philosophy with the narrative of Russel 's life , and the occasional glimpse of the author's search for who Russel was. The use of verse results in a rich novel: dense with meaning , its phrases delivered with wit and poignancy. Literary, yes, but never obscure. Although this novel could be read in an evening, I think it should be savored chapter by chapter. Its wealth of images remains in the mind long after the book is put down.
Claire Morris Bernard
WRITTE ON GLASS
Judith Lennox, Pan Macmillan 2002, £10.00, hb, 512pp, ISBN O 333 900561
This is the story of two neighbouring families in the period after WWII. The children who played together before the war have grown up , changed by their wartime experiences. The novel follows their interwoven lives for some years until a kind of equilibrium, rather than a conventional happy ending, is achieved.
The characters are to some extent stereotypes. The brothers, one strong and masterful , the other shy and gentle both love the same woman. A younger cousin is an ugly duckling who becomes a swan. The story moves at a good pace and is strong enough to compensate for this The atmosphere of the post-war years is captured in spite of some minor factual inaccuracies For me , the chief merit of Written on Glass is the sensitive descriptions of places. These I re-read for sheer pleasure It is wellwritten and a relaxing good read.
Ruth Nash
LOVELY GREE EYES
Arnost Lustig, Arcade, 2002, $24.95 US/C$39.95, hb , 248pp, ISBN 1559706295
Pub in the UK by Harvill , 2002, £12, pb , 248pp, ISBN 1860467164
Fifteen-year-old Hanka Kaudersova must make a choice. Does she seize the opportunity to pass herself off as an Aryan to work in a German military field brothel ? Or does she remain at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp to face an almost certain death? Hanka chooses life, but her decision is not as clear-cut as it seems. She exchanges forced labor, starvation, and the looming probability of being sent to her death in the gas chamber for the constant fear of being discovered , the appalling working conditions and inhumane treatment of the prostitutes under the deadly tyranny of the brothel's callous, volatile commanding officer.
This is a powerful , unsettling, and unconventional Holocaust tale about the human desire for survival under the bleakest of circumstances. The book documents Hanka's dismal methods of coping with the unimaginable But it also offers insight into the minds of Hanka's "c lients ," some kindly, lost , and lonely soldiers amid the insanity of war, and others chillingly brutal and sadistic, representing the elite of the Nazi regime.
The language is sparse and poignant, each sentence loaded with meaning and emotion, yet at the same time, quiet and thoughtful. Due to the nature of the subject and the dark and disturbing imagery , Lovely Green Eyes is difficult to immerse oneself into for long periods of time. Yet it is worth the time and the expenditure of emotional energy to ponder the complex issues this book raises.
Andrea Connell
MIRACLE AT ST . A NA (UK title: MIRACLE AT SANT'ANNA)
James McBride, Riverhead, 2002, $22.95/C$34.95, hb, 266pp, ISBN 1573222127 Pub. in the UK by Sceptre, 2002, £14.99, 277pp, hb , ISBN 0340823178
For those not old enough to remember overt racism, this story will reveal just how bad it was for the soldiers of the 92" Infantry Division during their heroic advance through Italy in the closing days of World War II. The story follows four soldiers who manage to get detached from their unit and become lost in No Man's Land. One of them , a huge, not-too-bright farmhand, finds a dazed and injured young Italian boy. He comes to believe the boy is an angel and that it's his responsibility to protect the boy at all costs. The group finds refuge in a village. At first distrusting each other, the soldiers and the villagers slowly become allies in the quest to save the young angel.
McBride's tale is exceptionally well written without becoming too literary. He clearly illustrates the attitudes the white commanders had toward their black soldiers, the soldiers had toward their commanders, and most
interestingly, the varied attitudes the soldiers had toward each other--the last being a direct result of where in the States they originated. Against today's climate of patriotic backslapping , this story shows us a fascinating, if disturbing look into the military 's checkered past.
Mark F. Johnson
THE MAIN CAGES
Philip Marsden, Flamingo, 2002, £ 12.99 , hb , 264pp, ISBN 0007136390
In 1934 Jack Sweeney leaves the Dorset farm of his youth and tries his luck in Polmayne , a Cornish fishing village. Luck is what he needs if he is to make a go of fishing , the traditional way of life there. And luck is what he seems to have His business does well. He earns the respect of the locals , especially when as the newe st member of the lifeboat crew he saves the life of a ship's captain whose vessel is wrecked off the shore, a victim of the Main Cages of the title, a group of treacherous rocks just off shore.
It is also a time of change. Fishing is slowly giving way to tourism. New houses are being built and the locals turn to crewing pleasure boats. Even electricity is imminent. And Jack falls in love But tragedy still stalks these modem times and the Main Cages silently await those who dare defy them.
Cornwall gets a raw deal in fiction. More often than not , it is portrayed as a land of evil smugglers and wreckers, dashing pirates and feisty ladies From Daphne du Maurier to Winston Graham , romance and passion hold sway. The Main Cages, thankfully, is not that sort of novel. Although fictitious, Polmayne is every inch a true Comish village. It has its s hare of eccentrics and petty crooks, its chorus of old men astride a seafront bench , a depressed vicar and a community of artists and poets whom the locals view with both suspicion and derision. But Polmayne is no Comish Clochemerle. Everyone has a living to earn and despi te the distractions of regattas, carnivals, jubilees and a distant Spanish war, its inhabitants remain at the mercy of the tides and the weather.
This is Marsden 's first novel after several acclaimed non-fiction works including The Branski Hou se. His prose is sharp yet lyrical , especially when describing weather and its effect on the sea. With consummate ease, he builds the tension to a tragic and yet inevitable conclusion. Although I finished it some time ago, its power and beauty remains with me.
Sally Zigmond
STORMY WEATHER
Michael Meehan, Arcade, 2002, $24.95/C$39.95 (£14.72), hb, 204pp, ISBN 1559706201
In 1955 , a company of shabby, over-the-hill vaudevillians arrives at the tiny Australian town
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ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
of Towaninnie, beginning the novel's adventures that take place over the course of one rain-soaked day Meehan transposes The Tempest to this dreary town and, echoing Shakespeare's characters, sketches the inner turmoil of his own. For example, in the guise of Prospero is the compere whose schemes both on stage and off keep the fragile troupe together. Another more intriguing character is the rabbiter, i.e. Caliban. This orphaned, oddball native lives a reclusive life with his mangy dog Spot at the edge of the local swamp. The town folk loathe and fear him because of his relentless pranks, which include attempting to sabotage the troupe's performance by boobytrapping the theater Finally, the central character of the novel is the transformative power of art, which is marvelously executed throughout by Meehan's extraordinary lyrical prose, climaxing in the extended scene of the evening's performance.
As the author notes, this is based on the reallife Blind Concert that performed in Australia for 30 years raising money for the blind , but ceased in 1956 with the introduction of television. This is an exceptional novel that deserves a second read.
Gerald T. Burke
THE HAUNTING OF L
Howard Norman, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux , 2002, $24, hb, 326pp, ISBN 0374168253
To be published in the UK by Picador in Jan. 2003
Peter Duvett, photographer's assistant, tells his story of work in Churchill, Manitoba , Canada and later in his home city of Halifax in 1927 . A thread of shocking immorality runs throughout the book. Duvctt, a young man, begins work for Vienna Linn who is employed by Radin Heur of London. In doing so, Duvett has unwittingly walked into the lives of criminals. The plot is rich with the production and use of "spiritpictures ," photographing distressing accidents, and dodging accountability.
This final book in a Canadian trilogy follows The Bird Artist and The Museum Guard. Norman is a writer skilled in turning a tale filled with psychological elements and sufficient mystery to intrigue readers The author has provided a collection of distinctive characters whose fate in life is--in fiction--entertaining. In Norman's creative style, Duvett recalls the past, tolerates the present, and keeps his own secrets.
Jetta Culpepper
THE SILENT VOYAGE
James Pattinson, Robert Hale, 2002, £17.99, (US$29.95), hb, 207pp, ISBN 0709070268
This book was contemporary when written in 1958 and is therefore only historical because a new edition has been published. It's a run-of-the mill Cold War adventure by a prolific author.
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
Brett and his huge friend Grill are shipwrecked in the North Sea and picked up by the Soviet merchant ship which had rammed their vessel. They are kept on board the ship on its journey from the Arctic to Antarctica, where they discover its secret destination and purpose They must escape or die. How they manage to save themselves is the most exciting part of the story.
Brett isn't a charismatic hero and Grill is short for gorilla - which tells its own story. Despite long and detailed physical descriptions of even minor characters, none truly comes alive.
Whether this book was really worth a reprint is dubious but it will probably be popular in the libraries.
Monica Maple
THE SNAKE, THE CROCODILE AND THE DOG
Elizabeth Peters, Robinson 2002, £6.99, pb , 440pp, ISBN 1841194840. Pub in US by Warner at £7.50, pb, ISBN 0446364789
This is the seventh in the Amelia Peabody series of adventures following on from The last Camel Died At Noon, where Nefret is rescued from the secret city and brought back to England.
Amelia and Emerson return to Egypt to enjoy a romantic second honeymoon combined with a search for Nefertiti's tomb. They are also worrying about how to keep the secret of Nefret's origins from the press and their fellow archaeologists.
Needless to say their well-laid plans go completely astray when they are attacked and Emerson is kidnapped. When Amelia rescues him he seems to be suffering from amnesia and fails to recognise his wife. The search for the tomb continues with the usual mayhem and murder involving a slave girl, a stray cat and a nest of conspirators.
At the remote dig in Arnarna Amelia comes very c lose to the most amaz in g archaeological discoveries. At the same time she is threatened with the loss of her husband's love , more precious to her than any tangible treasure.
This latest romp is a joy to read full of comic action, terrifying villains and love of Egyptian archaeology.
Mary Tucker
THE GOLDEN ONE
Elizabeth Peters, Constable 2002 , £16.99, hb , 320pp, ISBN 1 84119 527 8. Pub in N. America by Morrow, 2002 , $25.95/C$39.95, hb, 429pp, ISBN 0380978857
The year is 1917 Risking winter storms and German torpedoes the Emerson family have been lured back to Egypt by the promise of an archaeological dig. No sooner do they arrive in Cairo than they are plunged into a new adventure by the news that a royal tomb has
been ransacked by robbers The mystery is compounded by the discovery of a body which turns out to be a murdered thief.
Ramses Emerson is asked to travel to Gaza on a mission for British Intelligence. The story moves from the colourful street markets of Cairo to the Egyptian desert where it is easy to imagine the gods sleeping still. Amelia and her clan close ranks to guard their own and solve another intriguing mystery.
Mary Tucker
THE SEPARATIO
Christopher Priest, Scribner, 2001, £17.99, hb, 320pp, ISBN 0743208366 Trade pb, 2002, £10.99, 467pp, ISBN 0743220331
' Humankind cannot bear very much reality' wrote T.S. Eliot, and this intriguing and imaginative book, set against the backdrop of the Second World War, exemplifies this. As war breaks out, identical twins, Joe and Jack Sawyer, choose different paths. Jack becomes a fighter pilot and Joe a pacifist, working for the red Cross. We see the course of the war refracted through their very different personalities. What fascinates the author is how we alter reality to fit our own needs. For examp le, Jack accompanies Churchill on a morale-boosting tour of the East End - and realises that 'Churchill' is, in fact, an actor look-alike Are the beleaguered East Enders less cheered because they have been conned? Many people in the book develop alternative realities to cope with the stresses of war. Joe goes on a secret peace mission which may , or may not have taken place Is Birgit, Joe's wife, really having an affair with Jack; or is this Jack's , or Joe's, fantasy? How much influence do our fantasies have over our perceptions of the past? Indeed, what is reality?
I found this shifting realities very intriguing, and long after I'd finished the book , they reechoed in my head. Recommended.
Elizabeth Hawksley
THE DIARY OF ELLEN RIMBAUER: My Life at Rose Red
"Edited by Joyce Reardon, PhD, " Hyperion, 200 I, $6.99/C$9.99, pb, 277pp, ISBN 0786890436. Pub. in the UK by Hodder & Stoughton, 2002, £12.99, hb, 252pp, ISBN 0340825588
This associational material to the Stephen King mini-series Rose Red is packaged as if it were the edited diary of Ellen Rimbauer, mistress of the haunted Seattle mansion Rose Red, and edited by parapsychologist Joyce Reardon, another character from the mini-series. The entries cover the period 1907-1928 , with framing material and "editorial" notes dated to 2000. It is essentia lly a haunted house story, with light historical interest.
Fans of Stephen King will note a few clever
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
in-jokes , such as references to fuestarting girls and possessed dogs , but the restrictive nature of the diary format creates a distancing effect, so the book does not really succeed as a horror story. Strong interracial lesbian themes , sexual violence, and racial attitudes accurate to the period are depicted and implied No actual author is given for the work, nor is a familiarity with the mini-series necessary to read and appreciate the book (Note from TJ: in late June , Ridley Pearson was announced to be the author.)
Rosemary Edghill
THE FOOLISH VIRGIN
C W Reed, Robert Hale , 2002, £17.99, (US$29.95), hb , 256pp, ISBN 0709070705 WWII land girl Ruth Palmer wakes to the sound of bombs falling and the news that a German plane has crashed up on the hills. Sent to clear out an old hut the Civil Defence want to use , she discovers a wounded ainnan and instead of running away screaming (as a foolish virgin would), she helps him. Naturally, they both get caught, and at this point many writers would have lost me. Instead, I found it compelling. A saga from a publisher perhaps better known for other genres, with a title I didn ' t much like, a reasonable cover and written by a man: Disaster, I thought. Men can't write love scenes. Expectations weren't high, but a few pages in, like Ruth , I was caught. This is an intense , passionate love story. I liked the way it was written ; this man can do love scenes. Please , sir, may we have some more ?
Linda Sole
SONG OF THE WATER SAINTS
Nelly Rosario , Pantheon , 2002, $23 (£ 13 .56), hb , 246pp, ISBN 0375420878
Set against the backdrop of the United States' occupation of the Dominican Republic in the early 1900s , Nelly Rosario's debut novel paints a colorful, seductive, and often heartbreaking portrait of one young woman and her descendants
Impoverished, restless , and passionate , Graciela yearns for a life beyond her small island. Following the death of her lover, she is left with her infant daughter Mercedes and little else. Graciela's dream of a turquoise palmwood house lead s her to Casimiro, a patient charmer who tries to quell her restlessness by taking her on a boat ride to "Puerto Rico "--a voyage that turns out to be village a few miles down the river. Graciela is not content with Casimiro's prescription ; her quixotic search includes journeys to brothels and convents, and ultimately results in her death. Mercedes, left largely to her own devices , grows to be resourceful and self-reliant. Fifty years later when Mercedes' own journey leads her from the rural poverty of the Dominican
Republic to the urban poverty of New York City, Graciela's spirit is reborn in Mercedes' granddaughter, Leila.
Rosario does a superb job of portraying the desperation of the Dominican Republic at the hand of the "yanguis" and brings the imagery of Caribbean life alive in her writing. However, the novel suffers from hurried and incomplete portraits of Graciela's descendants. For example, Mercedes's daughter Amalfi receives only a brief mention in the narrative Despite this, Rosario delivers a moving tale that is hard to put down and leaves the reader waiting for more.
Deb Schmidle
EARLY ONE MORNING
Robert Ryan, Headline Review , 2002, £12.99, hb , 343pp, ISBN 074726872X
William Grover-Williams and Robert Benoist are great rivals , both striving for dominance in the European racing circuits and both falling in love with the same woman, Eve Aubicq. They are also great friends and when war breaks out the pair join the Special Operations Executive to help the Resistance undermine the Nazi occupation of France.
Using speed as their ally, they successfully carry out various covert missions, until they discover a factory manufacturing Zyklon B gas and learn of its deadly use in the notorious Nazi concentration camps. Even when betrayed and captured by the Germans, their determination to thwart the enemy remains firm.
This is a nail-biting thriller after the style of Robert Harris and is perhaps all the more gripping because of its basis in fact. Williams and Benoist were real , as was their membership of the SOE. Although Williams remains enigmatic, this is never allowed to detract from the main thrust of the plot. Actually, it serves to emphasise the shadowy nature of the real-life SOE.
This is a novel that manages to be both romantic and suspenseful. There is an allpervading undercurrent of fear, which never fails to raise the hairs on the back of the reader 's neck. Although the fate of Benoist and, more especially Williams , remains the subject of speculation, Robert Ryan uses his Author's Note to pay tribute to his two heroes and goes some way towards clarifying the points where fact and fiction diverge
Sara Wilson
CARNIVAL OF DREAMS
Barbara Soper, Xlibris, 2001, $19.54, pb , 315pp, ISBN 1402025021
Barbara Soper's novel opens with an intriguing premise--the introduction of execution by electrocution juxtaposed with an exhibition celebrating the marvel of electricity. The electric chair, touted as a " humane" device in
1890 , was invented by a dentist from Buffalo , New York, the same city that , eleven years later, would host the Pan-American Exposition. It was during a visit to this celebration of light that a self-styled anarchist assassinated President William McKinley. Soper surveys this period in history through the eyes of Tony Gruener, a young musician who has an uncann y "Forrest Gump" facility for being at the center of history in the making. Tony runs away from home to join the circus, in this case a traveling animal show camping on the Pan-Exposition 's midwa y. This time period is a rich one; it is a shame, therefore , that the history is hijacked by the circus soap opera that ultimately envelops the storyline. Soper's narrative is simplistic and her characters, saddled with monikers such as the Animal King, the Doll Lady, and Queen of the Jaguars, are one-dimensional. Those seeking a look at Buffalo during the Pan-American Exposition would be better served with City of Light, Lauren Belfer's 1999 historical mystery. Deb Schmidle
THE REAL MCCOY
Darin Strauss, Dutton , 2002, $24.95 / C$35.99 , hb , 326pp, ISBN 0525946519
Born in 1880s Indiana , Virgil Selby's father tells him that falsity is in his blood and encourages the youth to seek "somet hing finer." Gil Selby runs with the advice, but not in the direction his father intends . He heads west after stealing the name and agenda of the real McCoy, a prizefighter who practically died in Selby's arms after a fight.
En route to his first fight, Gil meets a clever and flashy Chinese who decide s that building America's railroads with his imported countrymen is not for him He takes McCoy under his wing and shows him Chinese boxing as well as the art of the con. Traveling medicine shows and doing odd jobs soon brings McCoy into the wilder side of life. He perfects hi s "corksc rew " punch and soon wins the Welterweight Championship and the heart of a dancer who becomes the only true love of his life Life is good. Meeting people high above his humble ongms, McCoy feels successful. However, his balloon bursts when his father shows up at his door to congratulate him on his success. Eventually, he reinvents himself completely. Again.
Loosely based on a real, tum-of-the-century character, this fast-paced novel is partly for boxing fans, but also for those who read for intensity of human character, relative truth, and watching people interact under the pretense of what is real.
Tess Allegra
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
DEATH'S OWN DOOR
Andrew Taylor , Hodder & Stoughton , 2001 , £5.99 , 373 pp , pb , ISBN 0340696928
Se t in 1950s Lydmouth , a fictional AngloWe ls h town , thi s forms part of a series featuring De tec tiv e Richard Thornhill. At the funeral of a man who apparentl y committed suicide , a number of peopl e re-connect after years apart , including Richard 's wife Edith The funeral reminds them of 1938 , when dashing Hugh Hudnall died beneath a train - an accident ? What is the link between these two deaths , a mi ss in g paintin g, and a woman s hut away for havin g a baby out of wedlock ?
The mystery proves fairly easy to solve. But the story is very absorbing , and the author de picts place and time well. The characters are flawed , real human s, whose problems become the reader 's
Reading the previous Lydmouth novel s s hould not be a prerequisite, but readers who wi s h to determine Thornhill ' s age might wish to At least , I hope the author gives a clearer pi c ture of his protagonist in the earlier novels!
C laire Morri s Bernard
EVE'S DAUGHTER
Michael Taylor , Hodder & Stoughton , 2002 , £ 18 99 , hb , 438pp , ISBN 0340818247 Se t in the early 20th-century Black Country , Eve's Daug hter follows the life of Lizzie Bi s hop After her father ' s death , Lizzie and her mother Eve look to each other for support until Lizz ie meets Ben Kite and falls in love. Their marriage is s ucce ss ful and they are overjoyed with their eve r-expanding family. Happiness come s to an abrupt end when Ben follows his se nse of duty and goes to fight in the Great War But he return s as a cripple , and although Lizzie 's love for him remains intact , she turns to a childhood sweetheart for physical affection It is an affair with far-reaching ramifications and almo s t ruins her best chance of future happine ss Thi s no vel follow s the best traditions of the saga genre The plot provides enough twists and turn s to make it pleasingly unpredictable and an interesting cast creates a heart-warming community backdrop to the action .
Sara Wilson
S OWISLAND
Katherine Towler , MacAdam/Cage, 2002 , $XX , hb , 287pp , ISBN 1-931561-01-X
Alice Daggett is sixteen years old in the summer before WWII. Unlike most young women her age , she li ves on an isolated and provincial is land off the New England coast, where the main occupations of the few eccentric yearround re s idents are quahogging (catching clams) and waiting for the wealthy "summer people" to arrive.
Alice carries a heavy burden on her s houlders. She still mourns her father who died
s ix years earlier m a tragic accident. Preoccupied with her own grief, her infuriatingly weak mother depends on Alice to take care of the family business , a small grocery store Left on her own, Alice is forced to grow up too quickly and makes some costly mistakes along the way
George Tibbits is a veteran of the First World War, a reticent , reclusive , and mournful soul. He returns to the island like clockwork every spring. The inhabitants of Snow Island are immensely curious about this mysterious loner. As WWII casts its shadow over this secluded is land , things change for both Alice and George Their lives become intertwined in unexpected ways , quietly touching each other when most needed and least expected.
Sno w Island is a gentle coming-of-age tale and a compassionate story of coping and healing. The narrative moves gracefully and slowly, matching the placid pace of provincial island life
Andrea
Connell
SOPHIE AND THE RISING SUN
Augusta Trobaugh, Little Brown , 2002 , £12.99 , hb , 230pp, ISBN 03 I 6859710. Pub in US by E P Dutton , $22 95 , hb, ISBN 0525946276
The delicate feel of this postcard-size book is in keeping with the story it tells ; a fable of love and understanding against a backdrop of one sleepy American town ' s reaction to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941.
For two years Mr Oto has worked for Miss Anne Everybody in Salty Creek , Georgia calls him ' her Chinese gardener '. Everybody , except Sophie, a fading beauty who lives alone and cherishes the dream of the man she loved , killed in World War One.
The language and imagery are rich and atmospheric You can hear the distance cries of gulls , the whisper of the wind I the oak tree and the palmetto fronds beyond the salt marsh, feel the sand under your feet and smell the earth in the breeze off the river. Sophie's dream on p 166 is one of the most exquisite pieces of writing I have read. Whatever your usual preference, do read this book It is timeless, gentle and transcends genre
Janet Hancock
THE TABLE
Matthew Waynee , Galt Art House , 2002 , $15 .00 , pb, I 96pp , ISBN 193 I 170266
Andrzej Kowalczyk, born in Poland but now living in Bay City, Michigan, always wanted to be important. In the waning days of the Great War he enlists , although he is too old for service When he returns to his hometown he is bewildered to find himself hailed as a war hero Andrzej has a secret that he can ' t reveal so he reluctantly allows himself to be praised by his Polish neighbors in the South End of Bay City.
The term "dysfunctional family" might not have been coined in 1918 , but nevertheless , it fits the Kowalczyk family The characters of Andrzej and his brother are extremely unlikable Andrzej ' s treatment of his sons , the doomed Ty and the dreamer , Stanley, is heart-rending . The boys only want to please him , and he doesn ' t know or understand them at all. Tekla , his wife , is the strong one in the family, and pos s ibly the one to survive this depressing story intact.
The descriptions of the lively Poli sh community in this midwestern city were interesting The writer calls this Book One of a trilogy , and if there is a future book, I would like to learn more about the Poles in America in the early days of the twentieth century Lorraine Gelly
WILL'S WAR
Janice Woods Windle, $25 /C$35.50 (£14.74) , 1563526395
Longstreet , hb , 366pp ,
2002 , ISBN
In 1917 , at the height of anti-German sentiment in America , the German-American families of Seguin , Texas, are finding themselves the victims of prejudice, persecution , and even violence This, despite the fact that these families have been loyal American citizens for many years. At this time of misplaced patriotism , Windle ' s maternal grandfather Will Bergfeld is accused by the federal government of participating in a conspiracy to assassinate President Wilson . His real crime? No more than being a well-known union sympathizer with a German last name. Unfortunately for his attorney , Will is a kind but exasperatingly hotheaded young man who would prefer to handle his own defense. His loving wife and family must draw on all their wisdom, strength , and patience as they fight an uphill battle to clear Will ' s name.
As always , Windle's research is thoroughly documented , this time based on the lengthy original transcripts of her grandfather ' s trial as well as her mother ' s memories of the event. Although Will 's War is less nostalgic and action-oriented than the author ' s previous novels of her family history (Tru e Wom en and Hill Country), it is nonetheless equally compelling Windle does a superb job of dramatizing this historic event , and , as always , her belief in the strength of family shines through. Despite her close relationship to the Bergfelds , she doesn ' t allow sentimentality to get in the way of character development. Once again, the author has served both her chosen historical period and her family well indeed.
Sarah Nesbeitt
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
ISSUE 21 , AUG 2002
A RARE RUBY
Dee Williams, Headline, 2002, £17.99, hb, 313pp, ISBN 0747271380
A Rare Ruby follows the well-trodden path of poverty and endeavour, but manages to speak to the heart in a way that many similar books do not achieve.
Ruby's father returns from the Great War a broken shell of a man, unable to support his family. Despite her mother's ceaseless struggle to work and make ends meet, it is Ruby's money that makes the difference when she finds a job in the laundry Unfortunately for Ruby, tragedy soon wipes out her stroke of good luck and she is left to struggle against the odds for some time
A good plot with several twists, and thoroughly enjoyable.
Linda Sole
A RIVER IN MAY
Edward Wilson , Arcadia , 2002, £11.99, pb, 282pp, ISBN 1900850729
When a rich American couple adopted Francis Lopez as a young boy he escaped grinding poverty on the streets of Mexico, but as an adult he feels adrift and cut off from his own identity. After leaving college, he is anxious to escape from his luxurious yet claustrophobic life, and when personal tragedy strikes he takes the first exit he can find - he joins the army.
Lieutenant Lopez arrives for a tour of duty in Vietnam and is stationed at the remote border camp of Nui Hoa Den. Although he considers himself to be a lapsed Catholic, Lopez views this experience as a penance for past mistakes. Surrounded by a nightmare world of death and destruction , Lopez relies on drink and drugs to blot out the horrors of warfare. Eventually he emerges from his numbed torpor and becomes tortured by the senseless waste of life and the callous attitude of his fellow soldiers towards the local Vietnamese. Once again in control of himself, Lopez is given the opportunity of redressing the balance, but only at the expense of his comrades.
A River in May was written by an ex-US army officer and veteran of Vietnam, so there is no doubting its authenticity. The result is a profoundly shocking read and certainly not one recommended for the squeamish. The catalogue of death and mutilation is so high that by the end of the novel the reader has become almost immune to the horrors. And perhaps that is the intention , as it certainly gives a clear insight into the motivation and actions of the main characters.
The book's unremitting bleakness of outlook is only alleviated by a short epilogue offering a brief moment of comfort and hope. It is an unsettling and disturbing account, which stays with the reader long after the last page is turned. Sara Wilson
DANCING DEAD
Deborah Woodworth, $6.50/C$8.99 (£3.83), pb, 0380804271
Avon, 320pp, 2002, ISBN
This is the sixth in Woodworth's Shaker mystery series that takes place during the Great Depression of the 30s. The action returns to Kentucky 's North Homage Village after a foray to Hancock Shaker Village in Massachusetts in the last book. Sister Rose Callahan, eldress of the Shaker community, is faced with murder after the village opens a hostel to non-Shakers in an attempt to raise funds. Along with the first hostel guests arrives the seeming ghost of a 19 th century young Shaker woman.
I find it hard to believe that North Homage would be beset by murder after murder as depicted in the books in this series. But the rich description of Shaker life, their relations with the outside community, and the hardships of the Depression enable me to set aside my concerns and simply enjoy the stories. While Dancing Dead stands up well on its own and indeed was more engaging than the previous book in the series, reading the earlier books in order will provide background on the relationships already well established in this volume.
Trudi E. Jacobson
MULTI-PERIOD
THE WOMAN WHO GA VE BIRTH TO RABBITS
Emma Donoghue , Virago, 2002, £7.99, pb , 212pp, ISBN 1860499546. Pub in US by Harcourt Brace, hb , $24.00, ISBN 0151009376
In this collection of short stories Emma Donoghue shares with us 'the flotsam and jetsam of the last seven hundred years of British and Irish life'. Each tale is based on a titbit of history she stumbled across while she wiis in the middle of doing something else, a detail so compelling that she had to stop and write a story about it. Each story is accompanied by a note giving a factual outline and the author's sources, which are varied - ballads, letters, diaries , books.
Donoghue has many strengths, the most striking being the sensuality of her writing. She has a way of putting you inside her characters' skins that no other writer I know possesses, at least not in the same degree.
The themes that occupy her in her novels are also encapsulated in these stories and perhaps it is the connections Donoghue makes between past and present that mark her out as a great writer of fiction that has its origins in history. These are sensitive and plausible imaginings of past lives that may bring them closer than any ruin , museum or 'living history' experience ever could.
Lucienne Boyce
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
PASADENA
David Ebershoff, Random House, 2002, $24.95/C$37.95 (£14.72), hb , 507pp, ISBN 0375504567
This very literary novel spans a period from the end of the Civil War to the end of World War II. Though epic in scale, it restricts itself to a very small canvas: the growing city of Pasadena and the distant coastal village of Baden-Baden-bythe-Sea , and the two families whose destinies so tragically intertwine: the lower-class oniongrowing immigrant Stamps, and the rich , groveowning Poores , one of Pasadena's first families. Linking them is the dark ungiving orphan Bruder, whose emotional unavailability brings tragedy to them both.
The story is told in a series of flashbacks to Andrew Blackwood , a real estate speculator, with his own tortured past , who wishes to buy the now-vacant rancho called The Pasadena. He is told the story of Bruder, the Poores, and the Stamps by real estate agent Cherry Ney. Cherry knew them all from the very beginning , though only Bruder now survives; the secret she is keeping is that the dying Bruder is the current owner of The Pasadena , and wishes to sell it to someone who will develop it into unrecognizability.
Comparisons to Wuthering Heights are inevitable, and despite the promotion and packaging, Pasadena is very much more a "romantic Gothic" than a Michener-esque saga of grand historical sweep. There are no happ y endings or heroic characters here , and the mosaic effect of the framing device occasionally makes the storyline as difficult for the reader to follow as it is for Andrew Blackwood Rosemary Edghill
THE DANCE OF GEOMETRY
Brian Howell , Toby Pres s, 2002, $19.95 (£11.77), hb , 213pp, ISBN 1902881478
This tri-part book centers on Jan Vermeer, the 17th century Dutch painter of such engaging and suggestive interior sce nes The first episode shows Vermeer as a young child with a grow in g interest in pamtmg. The finely wrought depictions of Delft and of Vermeer's family ground the reader solidly in the place and period. The second part of the book moves to a period later in Vermeer's life , and is narrated by Frenchman Balthasar de Monconys, in the form of a secret journal The third section is set in the present, and is told from the point of view of a forger of one of Vermeer's works. His analysis of the act of forging a painting enhanced my knowledge of the art, and my appreciation of the work.
While all three sections threw different types of light on the painter, I found myself mo st involved in the first, and might have preferred this more straightforward depiction of the painter to continue. However , the book was
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
engaging , and the shifting viewpoints did add depth to my understanding of Vermeer and his work. Readers of Tracy Chevalier's Girl with a Pearl Earring might particularly enjoy this book.
Trudi E. Jacobson
CHARLESTO
John Jakes , 2002, Dutton, $26.95 /C$38.99 (£ 15 89) , hb , 506pp, ISBN 0525946500
It ' s early autumn in I 720 , and Sydney Greech is walking down the streets of Charles Town with his fiancee as they discuss marriage. She carefully hints that she doesn't like his family name and would be very happy if he were to change it. Just then he hears church bells ringing and decides on Bell as his new name Thus is born the beginning of the Bell dynasty in South Carolina
Jakes follows the Bell clan through the antebellum years and on through the horrors of the Civil War . The story is reminiscent of the author' s previous Civil War saga , North and South , which is to say that it's an excellent, enthralling story However, those who have read Jakes ' previous works may recognize some previously used themes and plot vehicles.
While North and South is a sprawling epic covering many areas of the conflict, Charleston is the Civil War in the South in microcosm. As such , it explores many of the issues that led the country to war and also shines a harsh light on those who profited from the hardships and deprivations suffered by the residents of Charleston I wouldn't be at all surprised to see this s tory turned into a TV miniseries.
Mark F. Johnson
THE SWEET BY AND BY
Jeanne Mackin , St. Martin's Press, 2001 , $24 95 (£ 16 35), hb , 293pp, ISBN 0312269978
The skillful intertwining of two stories of women living 150 years apart takes the reader's mind through the trickery and unexplained happenings of spiritualism. Helen West receives a request to write a definitive essay on Maggie Fox , the founder of American Spiritualism. The many clients of this famous Spiritualist medium included wealthy and prominent people, like Horace Greeley and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, who sought contact with departed loved ones . Aware of Maggie Fox's extensive use of knocking created by using such items as apples and string , Helen dares to question whether or not spirits really return. She ponders the unexplainable knocking in her farmhouse.
This is a highly recommended and entertaining historical novel set primarily in New York Among the figures from history in the story is P T. Barnum who found trickery to be captivating public entertainment. Readers will step into the mind of Helen as she oscillates from recreating the work and life of Maggie Fox back to her own life of mourning. Mystery
created in part by Helen's confused thinking brings the popular belief in spirits from the 1800s into the present time.
Jetta Culpepper
ANCHORESS OF SHERE
Paul Moorcraft, Poisoned Pen Press , 2002 , $24 95 , hb , 320pp , ISBN 1590580117
Pub. in the UK by Millstream Press, 2001, £6 99, pb, 296pp, ISBN 0953797716
This disturbing first novel by Paul Moorcraft juxtaposes the events of the early fourteenth century and those of the late I 960s The action is confined to one small village--Shere, in Surrey--yet Moorcraft's exploration of obsession , self-fulfillment, spiritual bondage and belief spans the centuries.
We are introduced to Christine, the daughter of a respected carpenter, born in 1311 in Shere. In 1329, she breaks her engagement and enters upon a path not chosen by many, even those in the religious life She chooses the life of an anchoress, to spend the remainder of her life entombed in the Church of St. James. Her path is not an easy one.
In Shere in 1967, a young woman is abducted. She is not the first. The abductor , Father Michael Duval, is clearly deranged . While hiding behind his clerical garb , Duval is writing the story of Christine, with whom he is obsessed. His prisoners , all young women Christine ' s age , are given the opportunity to purify themselves and live the life of an anchoress. Needless to say , the survival rate is low.
Moorcraft captures the flavor of medieval village life with passionate restraint. The events of Christine ' s life, although drawn from history, are fleshed out beautifully. Duval's insanity and the workings of the mind of a serial killer are perfectly portrayed. Duval's "Christine" is smart and clever, tenacious and endearing. You really want this young woman to survive
I'm not saying this is a pleasant book to read It isn't. But it is well written , informative and touches upon a subject that isn't widely explored
Ilysa Magnus
THE DREAM OF SCIPIO
Iain Pears, Jonathan Cape, 2002 , £17.99 , hb , 393pp, ISBN 0224060163
Pub. in the US by Riverhead, 2002, $25.95, hb, 398pp, ISBN I 57322202X
This extraordinarily good book is the tale of three men and three historical periods, all set in Provence It is about history, civilisation and what it means , loyalty and about how people cope when everything they hold dear - or take for granted - changes.
Manlius Hippomanes is a wealthy aristocrat living on a large estate and in the past, as the once might Roman Empire crumbles around
him. The barbarians are literally at the gates and law and order has collapsed. His friend and tutor , the scholar Sophia , stands aloof from him, watching as he finally forces himself to leave his books and take a stand against what is happening. Manlius is a pagan , but he becomes a Christian bishop to negotiate with the barbarians in order to preserve what he can of Roman civilisation in his province.
Olivier de Noyen is a poet, living in the fifteenth century at the time of the Black Death. By now the papacy is settled in Avignon, in Provence, and Olivier, destined by his father to become a lawyer, instead attaches himself to an ambitious cardinal. He is deeply interested in old manuscripts, and comes across part of the Dream of Scipio , the writings of Manlius. He becomes absorbed by what he learns of Sophia, now Saint Sophia, whose small chapel still exists. He befriends an elderly Jewish scholar and his Cathar servant, hoping to understand more about what Manlius has written - it is marginally less dangerous to pretend to be Jewish than a heretic. When the Black Death breaks out, law and order collapse completely and Olivier also has to decide where his loyalties lie - whether locally with his friends or in the wider context, for the common good.
Finally there is intellectual , disillusioned Julien Barn.euve, who finds Olivier ' s poems and begins to track down his story. (And it would spoil the story to say what befell Olivier or Manlius in the end This is an extremely complex novel , with many characters ) The time span is now one thousand years of history, from the Roman Empire to the Second World War. Julien , trapped in Vichy France, has two friends, one in the Resistance and one in local administration ; and a Jewish girlfriend. Vichy France is also in a state of collapse - the Germans have invaded, and the government is collaborating. 'How do we justify calling ourselves civilised, after all? Julien asks himself Are you civilised if you read the right books , yet stand by while your neighbours are massacred ? Do we use the barbarians to control barbarism ... is taking any side better than taking no side?' And in the end, Julien also has to make a decision.
The hugely ambitious and very clever book is written, not in chronological order, but in interlinking fragments. It took me until page 130 to get into it because it is so complex , but it is worth the strain on the brain After that l couldn't put it down , as it gets more and more exciting. The questions it raises keep going through your mind for days afterward.
Val Whitmarsh
THE HISTORJCAL NOVELS REVIEW
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
THE CAVES OF PERI GORD
Martin Walker, Simon & Schuster, 2002, $25.00/C$38.00, hb, 372pp , ISBN 0743222849
Pub. in the UK by Pocket, 2002, £6.99, pb , 400pp, ISBN 0743430328
Preclassical love triangles, contemporary French politics , World War II action behind enemy lines, 20 th century artistic intrigue, suave and urbane British Army officers, highly intelligent but vulnerable women artists, a story line that jumps (Leaps! Vaults!) between centuriesWhat more can a reader want? Martin Walker weaves a masterful tale of ancient cave art and the curious role it plays in the World War II French Resistance, post-war French politics , and the personal lives of the artist and soldier caught up in the tale in post-war times At times the reader may gasp for breath and call for a momentary pause as the storyline winds its way across the centuries, but it will ultimately prove a satisfying ride. The detail surrounding Lascaux-like cave art and its meaning may not prove as exciting as SOE operations in occupied France, but the role of the art in the story is critical.
John R. Vallely
TIMESLIP
FIRE, BURN!
Mallory Dorn Hart, John James, 2002, $12, pb, 395pp , ISBN 0-96759 I 5-1-1 France in the sixteenth century represents a turbulent struggle for power between Charles de Bourbon and Francis I. Charles desperately needs funds to further his campaign, so he turns to his niece , Lyse, to help him find the lost treasure of the Knights-Templar. Lyse is tormented by the memories of Magdalene, her ancestor, who knew the location of the treasure 250 years earlier. Not only must Lyse regress into the life of Magdalene, but she is forced to endure the betrayal of Magdalene's lover, who is burned at the stake. In order to safeguard herself from enemies, Lyse is forced into a betrothal with her Italian guard. While they endure many adventures during the search, Lyse and her protector fall in love
Fire, Burn ! is a historical novel with romantic and mystical aspects. It gives a rich lesson of the French Knights-Templar, the religious Cathars, and their persecution. Hart weaves a spellbinding tale with characters that captivate the reader. I truly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to all historical novel readers.
Kathy King
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
ALTERNATIVE HISTORY
STARS AND STRIPES TRIUMPHANT
Harry Harrison, Hodder & Stoughton, 2002, £18.99, hb, 246pp, ISBN 0340689218. To be pub in US in Dec 2002 by Del rey Books , no price avail., hb, ISBN 034540937X
This is the third (and hopefully final) instalment of the Stars and Stripes series [the others are reviewed in Issues 5 and 12], an alternate history that sees Great Britain intervening in the American Civil War I say final, because it 's quite the worst historical novel I've ever read.
The problem is not with the writing. Harry Harrison is a seasoned professional and the text is tightly produced with great forcefulness and economy. The difficulty is with the feeling of being constantly , and stridently, preached at. This is not a 'novel' so much as a soapbox for the author's political viewpoints. The very title , complete with a colourful cover of London in flames, gives away the ending straightaway. The characters are barely one-dimensional, and in spite of all the polemic about the 'rights of the common man' , all of them are star generals, leading politicians and major philosophers
In the first two books of the series Harrison proved that he understood neither American history nor politics This time round he conclusively proves he doesn ' t understand European history or politics either. The whole tenor of this book is so arrogant, inaccurate and hypocritical as to be laughable. The sad thing is that Harry Harrison isn't laughing. He quite honestly believes this could have happened I suspect be actually wishes it really had.
Martin Bourne
THE YEARS OF RICE AND SALT
Kim Stanley Robinson, Bantam , 2002, $25 95, hb , 768pp, ISBN 0553109200
Pub. in the UK by HarperCollins, 2002, £16.99, hb , 688pp, ISBN 0002246791
For the historical fiction reader, this review begins with a caveat: This is alternate history , a subgenre requiring some initiation. Imagine that instead of killing one third to one half of the population of Europe in the fourteenth century, the bubonic plague wiped out nearly everyone. For all intents and purposes, Christianity has become just a blip on the screen; Chinese and Islamic empires are left to divide the continents between them. Imagine how history rolls on from there. If you have an imagination as vivid and fertile as Robinson 's, you end up with The Years of Rice and Salt.
Having given that warning, I can say without qualification that this is a beautiful book. Time charts and maps are provided and necessary as the mind tries to negotiate this unfamiliar territory--we're not even talking the same
calendar here. And we're also not talking about just the lifespan of one set of characters. These people reincarnate through slave and tiger and princess and otherworld rebel and something very like a modem professor at UC Davis in a Chinese Central Valley of California given over completely to rice paddy Modern nuclear theory is discovered in terms of chi. Writing style changes subtly from poetry to Buddhist epic to alchemical tract. A hint: each character reincarnates to a person , whether Islamic or Confucian or Native American , whose name begins with the same letter. But the mind expands in wonderful ways as it makes these negotiations.
Scene after beautiful scene unfolds in thi s exotic yet strangely familiar landscape I am haunted by the Balkan man, lone survivor of all bis people , trying to describe how the plague killed everyone he knew to another lone survivor. He will never have another human being understand his language in his life Bein g no great fan of war stor ies , I thought I might pass when WWI trench warfare moves to the Himalayas and Mount Everest crumbles to make the mud for our soldiers to slog through. Then we are made to wonder if this isn't earthly battle. Our heroes may have already died and, horror of horrors , the conflict continues in the world beyond. I was perhaps most touched by the depiction of a Chinese woman poet--exquisite female writing from a guy, which may be my highest compliment. She describes the various stages of her life: the coddled childhood, the glories of being a bride , the harrowing births of children. But of them all, she loved the middle years, the every-day-the-same but warm and wholesome daily pots of rice and sa lt.
Ann Chamberlin
HISTORICAL FANTASY
THE ALCHEMIST'S DOOR
Lisa Goldstein, Tor, 2002, $23.95 /C$33.95 (£14 .1 3), hb, 286pp, ISBN 0765301504
The nominal setting of this fantasy is 16th century Prague. Dr. John Dee , alchemist and sorcerer, as well as Queen Elizabeth I's astrologer, is invited to Prague by King Rudolf of the Holy Roman Empire As an apparent matter of historical fact, Rudolf summoned occultists to his court from all over Europe, including Dee and his associate, the medium Edward Kelly.
The book is light on historical detail and not particularly evocative of place and time. The introduction of actual explicit wizardly magic late in the opening of the book comes as rather a shock, since up to that point the reader has been led to expect a more traditional historical novel. Historical characters abound, such as Dee , Kelly , Elizabeth Bathory and Rabbi Judah Loew, all of whom interact rather
ISSUE 21, AUG 2002
unconvincingly with a conventional fantasy plot about a gate between dimensions which must be sealed A competent picaresque fantasy in an underused historical setting, though less of intere st to historical readers than to fantasy readers.
Ro semary Edghill
OUTLAW SWORD
J. Ardian Le e, Ace , 2002 , $14 (£8.26) , pb , 320pp, ISBN 0441009352
In thi s sequel to Son of the Sword (Ace , 2001), Dylan Mathe son again finds him self in eighteenth century Scotland on a mission. This time , his goal is not to save Scotland from the English (although that ' s certainly what the fairy who brought him back in time would like) , but to save hi s true love Cait , and the son he has never seen , from the dark fate that awaits them in the pages of history .
Readers hoping for more brushes with characters from history will be disappointed , as Dylan 's concerns in this book are mainly to re scue Cait and their son , and attempt to stay clear of the price on his head set by the English However , those who enjoyed her compelling characters (Dylan in particular is flawed yet lovable) and the realistic setting of the 18th century will find both in abundance. Dylan's quest takes him from the bustle of Edinburgh to the wilds of the Highlands , and details about the hars hness and beauty of life in the 18th century, without modem conveniences or medicine , are not spa red This is decidedly a sequel and doesn ' t stand alone ; just as obviously , there will be others in the series. At least , one hopes so.
Tracey Callison
NON-FICTION
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ROY AL FL YI G CORPS IN WORLD WAR I
Ralph Barker, Robinson 2002 , £9.99, pb , 506pp , ISBN 1841194700
In 1910 the Chief of the Imperial General Staff described military aviation as ' a useless and expensive fad .' Nevertheless , at the outbreak of WWI the infant Royal Flying Corps was ready to cro ss the Channel with sixty aircraft heading for France and war.
The fledgling flyers of the RFC took part in all the major battles from the Somme onwards. They suffered enormous lo sses and casualties on the way Since the aircrew carried no parachutes bailing out was never an option.
Ralph Barker has made extensive use of letters , diaries and memoirs written by the airmen of the day to piece together a comprehensive overview of the increasingly valuable role of the corps in its early years . At the same time he paints a convincing picture of the terrors and excitement of the aerial combat,
temperamental aircraft, unreliable guns and a predatory enemy all contributing to the ever present peril.
No account of the RFC would be complete without mention of legendary flying aces such as Edward 'Mick' Mannock , but Barker is equally concerned with those anonymous members of the ground crew without whom the corps would not have been able to fly .
As with pre vious titles in this series, A Brief History of th e Royal Flying Corps in World War / provides a fascinating introduction to its subject.
Sara Wilson
LAST WALTZ I VIENNA
George Clare , Pan Macmillan 2002 , £7.99 , pb , 308pp , ISBN 033049077X
This is a reprint of a book first published in 1981. Georg Klaar grew up in Vienna between the two world wars in an assimilated , bourgeois Jewish family . They were Jews but they were also Austrian. Then came the Anschluss and life could never be the same again.
In this very personal account , Clare interweaves the history of his family during the nineteenth century with political events as the old order changed and his own story as he escaped from Austria to fight with the British army . It is a moving , poignant record , vivid and unsentimental. For most of the time Clare eschews bitterness. Only at the very end does this emerge
He makes the reader understand the changes which occurred in that brilliant city and why He shows how insidious the process was as Hitler and the Nazis grasped power. The Jewish community in Vienna only gradually realised the strength of the racial hatred which was being unleashed against them.
Clare brings the city itself alive and this is a more powerful argument against racism and persecution , whether religious or political , than many a polemic or academic treatise Marina Oliver
A BRIEF HISTORY OF FIGHTING SHIPS
David Davies , Robinson 2002 , £6.99 , pb , 201pp, ISBN 1841194697. Pub in US by Carroll & Graf, $12.00, pb , ISBN 078670988X
The period 1793 to 1815 encompassed the Napoleonic Wars , when the deadly Ship of the Line waged war at sea. This fascinating book contains detailed information about these battleships, from their construction and armaments , through to daily life on board and the ferocious battles they took part in.
David Davies bas approached his subject with an eye firmly fixed on clarity and detail. The text is accompanied by a number of diagrams illustrating areas of potential confusion - those dealing with the occasionally complex progress of actual naval battles and tactics are especially
useful. There are action-packed chapters concerning most of the major sea battles including The Battle of the Nile and Trafalgar
This book is useful as a social history of sailors and their officers during the late eighteenth century The processes of joining up and promotion are outlined in brief, as are the frequently brutal disciplines and training methods employed
A Brief Histo ry of Fighting Ships will appeal to those with an interest in either naval history or the Napoleonic period and will prove a valuable aid to anyone hoping to follow in C.S Forester ' s footsteps
Sara Wilson
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DRUIDS
Peter Beresford Ellis, Robinson 2002, £7 99, pb , 304pp , ISBN 1841194689 Pub in US by Carroll & Graf, $12 00 , pb , ISBN 0786709871
Although Peter Beresford Ellis is probably best known under bis pseudonym of Peter Tremayne, the author of the Sister Fidelma mysteries , he is al so a leading authority on Celtic society In this book he concerns himself primarily with separating truth from myth in an attempt to unravel what we can really know about the Druids Ellis uses classical references , archaeological evidence and etymology to glean his facts and shape bis arguments in this comprehensive study of the ancient Druids. He is especially keen to debunk the majority of modem theories about them
As well as being a useful sourcebook this brief history also contains a comprehensive bibliography It is an absolute must read for anyone interested in the Druids - with the caveat that occasionally the author ' s ponderous use of language slow s the pace
The tabloid press image of modem Druids marauding over Stonehenge should not be allowed to overshadow the reality of this ancient spiritual group. In A Brief History of th e Druids Ellis goes a long way to redress the balance.
Sara Wilson
THE TRENCH
Richard van Emden, Bantam Press 2002 , £18 99 , hb, 320pp , ISBN 1593049756
Based on the BBC 2 series of the same name , this is an account of an experiment that set out to subject a group of modem men to the rigours of trench warfare , as experienced during WWI. Volunteers from civilian life were sought to join the Hull Pals (the nickname of the 10th Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment).
The aim of the programme and the accompanying book was to produce an accurate picture of what it felt like to be a frontline soldier in 1916. To mimic the confusion, chaos and uncertainty of battle and thereby understand the sacrifices , in some small part, made by the real soldiers.
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
ISSUE 21 , AUG 2002
There will always be criticisms of this type of re-enactment. After all, mortal fear can never be improvised, although much can be learned or surmised about the day to day life of soldiers in the Great War.
In fact , this book really comes into its own when it deviates from the exploits of the modem Hull Pals and examines the history of the War. It is , therefore, a relief that this accounts for the bulk of the book There are some fascinating discussions about the real battalion , insights into battlefield archaeology and plenty of meaty interviews with surviving veterans.
As a popular history book it is well worth a read . Sara Wilson
BLOODFEU D : M urde r and R eve nge in Anglo-Saxo n E ngla nd
Richard Fletcher, Penguin, 2002 , £ 14.99, hb , 23lpp, ISBN 071399391X
Respected Historian Richard Fletcher recently retired as Professor of History at the University of York. He is the author of several titles , including The Quest for El Cid, which I remember reading some years ago in an attempt to discover fact from Hollywood. It was during the course of a similar personal quest some twenty years ago that I learnt about the events narrated and pondered over in this latest title 'a series of bloody events long known to historians of Anglo-Saxon England not widely known to readers outside this restricted circle '
In the winter of 1073 Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria , Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire, one of the few Anglo-Saxons to remain in a position of power after I 066 and married to a niece of King William sent retainers to carry out assassinations during a feast at a village near York. The supposed justification being revenge for the murder of his own grandfather which had occurred some years before Waltheofwas even born.
This event does not feature in the latest novel in which Waltheof appears as a major character Th e Wint er Mantle by Elizabeth Chadwick although it does appear in the novel which set me on my original quest, Of th e Ring of Earls by Juliet Dymoke Perhaps Chadwick did not include it for the very reason that l was so interested by it - the fact that it seemed such a strange and unexpected act from a man who had apparently even charmed William's hard heart. Fletcher's thoughtful and well put-together book untangles the complex web of ambitions , relationships , betrayals , double binds and murders that bring a kind of reason for Waltheof's actions. An accepted part of the honour code of Anglo-Saxon society, which the crown was not able to prevent , and which had its origins in another assassination in IO 16 , just after Cnut ' s conquest.
Over-might subjects and potential kingrnakers have existed in every age There was a Viking ruler in York (Eric B loodaxe) in the middle of the I 0th century and the wildness and independence of northern England is, perhaps, echoed in the prejudices of the 21st century North/South divide This is an eye-opening read not the least because it shows with great clarity that the past is 'another country' and that the people who inhabited it, even though they may have been our ancestors, cannot and should not be assessed, or seen to be motivated by a 21st century mindset.
Towse Harrison
H OPE: Adve ntures of a Di a mo nd
Marian Fowler, Ballantine, 2002, $26 (£15.34) , hb, 368pp , ISBN 0345444868
Written in a light, entertaining style yet containing a wealth of detail, Fowler's latest nonfiction work charts the history of the notorious and legendary blue diamond As skillfully as a jeweler uses a loupe to seek the imperfections of a stone , the author scrutinizes the factual record , and in so doing corrects a mythology many centuries in the making .
The known personalities associated with the gem are depicted in all their glory and their greed. Jean Baptiste Tavernier , a 17th century French merchant , conveyed it from its native India to the court of France, selling it to Louis XIV--whose successor created an unusual setting for it, assisted by his mistress, Madame de Pompadour. Stolen during the Revolution, the diamond later surfaced in England in the possession of the Hope family, with whose surname it has permanently been linked.
Whether Jocked away by 19th century collectors, fought over by millionaires' heirs, or adorning the flamboyant flapper Evalyn Walsh McClean, who blamed the diamond for her endless misfortunes and tragedies , the Hope's true history is utterly fascinating , far more so than the fabrications it inspired Cut and re-cut through the centuries , most recently by the late Harry Winston, the well-travelled diamond made its final journey to Washington, DC, courtesy of the U.S. Postal Service. Anyone who has visited its very public shrine at the Smithsonian Institute, as well as those who haven ' t, will be equally entertained and educated by Hope.
Margaret Barr
A BRIEF HISTO R Y OF THE GREAT MOGULS
Bamber Gascoigne, Robinson 2002 , £7.99 , pb, 304pp , ISBN 1841195332 . To be pub in US in Oct 2002 by Carroll & Graf, $12.00 , ISBN 0786710403
This brief history assumed that the reader had more knowledge of the subject than I did and it lost me in places. However, in the light of recent
events in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan it was a timely reminder both of the heights of artistic achievement (for example , the creation of the Taj Mahal) and the depths of violence thi s region has witnessed over the centuries
The fortunes of the Moghul emperors, descended from the Mongol leader , the infamous Tamburlaine, waxed and waned over the period covered by this book : 1526-1707
The need to establish a secure hold on the throne led to decades of war and the brutal annihilation of rivals
The book tends to read like a catalogue of those wars , unavoidable perhaps , in an overview such as this. Descriptions of life at court and in the Harem were unfortunately few This is an interesting rather than a gripping read but it did fill a significant gap in my knowledge It serves to show Tudor and Stuart diehards like myself that there was much more happening in the world at this time than the actions of Henry VJII et al.
Fleur Routley .
JOHN KNOX - DEMOCRAT
Roderick Graham , Robert Hale , 2001 , £35, hb , 368pp , ISBN 0-7079-6984-7
The man considered to have been at the centre of the Scottish Reformation was born in Scotland in 1505 and spent time in Geneva and Frankfurt as well as surviving imprisonment and time as a galley slave . Seemingly convinced that 'truth' was the word of God as found in the scriptures, Knox strove to banish Catholicism Graham relates many instances of extreme violence during the period perpetuated between warring religious and political factions as well as some bizarre incidents , including the 1563 trial of the mummified corpse of the Earl of Mar.
Graham considers the outspoken Knox to have been a 'democrat' because of his constant claim that ' the ideal state was democratic. ' Graham also makes convincing analogies between some of Knox ' s suggestions fcr Poor Law Relief and education set out in his First Book of Discipline and legislation implemented in later centuries , some of which we still have today
However, I am less convinced by Graham 's argument that Knox was not misogynistic ; here he defends Knox on the basis that his tract , Th e First Trumpet Against the Monstrou s Regim ent of Women was a condemnation of one woman , Mary Tudor, for replacing the established religion. Both Mary of Guise and her daughter, Mary, Knox condemned as ' papists ' and he constantly voiced his opposition to them both from the pulpit and out of it. Knox ' s dealings with other women also indicate to me that for him more than one woman made up this 'monstrous regiment '.
The illustrations and excellent bibliography also make this book a useful tool for anyone
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ISSUE 21 , AUG 2002
wishing to research the turbulent 16th century in Scotland as well as other parts of Europe Without doubt, this is a comprehensive, revealing and fascinating biography. Greta Krypczyk-Oddy
THECARLYLESATHOME
Thea Holme , Persephone , £10 , pb , 193 pp , ISBN I 903 155 223
Thomas and Jane Carlyle moved into a house in Cheyne Row after their arrival in London in 1834 It was to be their home until their deaths This book chronicles their domestic life The author also lived in the house when her husband was curator (she writes of finding Carlyle's pipe cleaners in the soil of the back garden). The book is an intimate portrait of the Carlyles ' daily lives and a faithful chronicle of domestic life in a middle class home of the period.
Jane Carlyle was a renovator , forever altering the house in one way and another. The alterations were due , in part, to Carlyle's dissatisfaction with his study, the constant noise of neighbours and his inability to write unless he was quiet and comfortable During the upheaval of the renovations the Great Man went off to visit friends or back to Scotland, while his wife coped with tradesmen, dust and chaos. After having his dressing room altered as a study, complete with a newly-installed chimney, Carlyle decided the room was too small and too dark When the neighbours or their livestock were too noisy, it was Jane who dealt with them, bargained with them and pleaded for quiet. It was Jane who dealt with the lawyer over the lease of the house. It was Jane who coped with almost all of the problems that beset the household
Both Carlyles were highly strung and probably hypochondriacs , given their reliance on various pills and potions. The two were neither leisurely nor relaxed , which was one of the reasons that they bad a disastrous history with domestic servants The Carlyles bad so many servants that the author kindly added an appendix, giving their names and their length of tenure. There was Mary , giving birth in the china closet, while in the next room were Carlyle and a guest , taking tea. There was Elizabeth , "my Scotch blockhead" and Helen, of whom Jane was fond but who was a drunkard, as well as a host of others , most of whom stayed only for a short time
Jane ' s letters are quoted extensively and she was clearly a talented and amusing letter writer. Her opinion of the actress , Fanny Kemble was : "she is Green-room all over, and with a heart all tossed up into blank verse". The author is clearly sympathetic to Jane and at the same time , amused by her The book is an excellent source for those readers interested in the period, the Carlyles or historical domestic detail. For those seeking entertainment and well-written
THE HISTORJCAL NOVELS REVIEW
prose, this book is also recommended. NB. Books can be purchased from Persephone direct on Tel: 020 7242 9292
Geraldine Perriam
SCANTY PARTICULARS
Rachel Holmes , Viking 2002, £14.99, hb, 326pp , ISBN 0670890995. To be pub in US in Jan 2003 by Random House , $25 95, hb, ISBN 0375505563
The career of Dr James Miranda Barry, pioneering surgeon, social reformer and champion of slaves who rose to become Inspector General of Army Hospitals, would make interesting reading in itself but the vexed question of Dr Barry's gender is the main subject of this book.
Several books have been written about James Barry and this one comes no closer to explaining how a woman managed to serve in the army for forty years, in close association with men , and keep her secret. Or did she?
In the early 19th century women were forbidden to study medecine let alone serve in the army but Raebel Holmes' theory is that Barry was an hermaphrodite or intersex and her search for a means of correcting this congenital disability led to her choice of career.
The woman who prepared Barry's body after death made public the fact that this was the body of a fully formed woman and there were signs that she had borne a child. But no post mortem was performed and the death certificate recorded the sex of the deceased as male. Victorian society had to be protected from scandal.
Barry's thesis on hernia is the key to Holmes' explanation of the strange life of Dr Barry but the author makes so much of this that she labours the point. Although some statements are incorrect, this is a fair summation of a fascinating life; one which will continue to intrigue.
Ann Oughton
BLUE LATITUDES: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before Tony Horwitz , Henry Holt, 2002 , $26 (£15 34), hb , 416pp , ISBN 0805065415
Part travelogue , part history book , Blue Latitudes chronicles the author's search for Captain James Cook Horwitz attempts to uncover Cook's enigmatic personality, and the mystery surrounding his death by re-living Cook's encounters with the peoples of presentday Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Tahiti, Niue, Hawaii, and Alaska. Visiting these places, Horwitz reflects on bow Cook's voyages affected the culture of the peoples be encountered, and probes bow Cook is viewed in these places today. Horwitz does likewise in Cook's native Yorkshire and in London, ultimately searching for why Cook felt
compelled to travel to the Pacific. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which begins with Cook's first and second voyages , backtracks to bis early life , then continues with his third voyage and bis death. Horwitz immersed himself so completely in Cook's life that he even took a berth aboard a replica of the Endeavour . His escapades as he travels about the Pacific are at times off-color and irreverent but always in the interest of learning more about Cook and his world. They are presented in a conversational style that vividly shows the reader the places described.
By reading Blue Latitudes , gained knowledge of Cook's historic voyages, and of the places he visited: as they were then, and as they are now A must for any adventurer.
Claire Morris Bernard
MAGDA GOEBBELS
Anja Klabunde , Little Brown, 2002 , £20, hb, 367pp, ISBN 0316859125
Many books about The Third Reich have been published , but little attention has been paid to the women who lived alongside the Nazi leaders Magda Goebbels is arguably the most contradictory and intriguing among them. In her forward the German author of this extraordinary biography explains that she decided to research Magda's life because it seemed to reflect the tragedy and blindness of Germany in the first half of the twentieth century. How could an intelligent and cultivated woman - and, likewise, a civilised country such as Germanyfall prey to such fanaticism ? What made the teenager who bad loved Zionist leader Victor Chaim Arlosoroff - to the extent that she considered emigrating to Palestine - later marry the Nazi Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, and become a friend of Hitler, appearing with him at charity functions? How could the devoted mother of six , the advertisement for family values during the Third Reich , turn into Medea and poison her children? Was it a folie d'amour that set her on this trajectory? Yes, and something more . With Goebbels she had status and influence. For the first time in her life she felt she really belonged, having up to that point always been an outsider - as a child in a Belgian Catholic convent - the German girl with the Jewish stepfather (of whom she was very fond - after her flight from Belgium in 1914 - a refugee at the Protestant Lyzeurn in Berlin, who spoke German with a French accent - in the Zionist youth group around Arlosoroff where she remained the blonde schicksa. To marry her first husband , a wealthy industrialist, she was obliged both to drop her stepfather's name and convert from Catholicism to Protestantism. Bored and drifting after her divorce, Magda came into contact with Nazi ideas in 1930 through the Nordic Ring , an exclusive club dedicated to establishing a ' new
ISSUE 21 , AUG 2002
11me, why did the Admiralty fail to provide the promised escort? This is just one of the agonising 'ifonlys'.
The author does point out that the tragedy of the Lusitania, like any historical event must be studied in the context of the social, political and economic situations prevailing at the time. It is a thoroughly researched, impartial account of a maritime disaster by a distinguished historian. Ann Oughton.
THE VILLA, THE LAKE, THE MEETING, Mark Roseman, Allen Lane 2002, £9.99, !Sipp, ISBN 071399570X. Pub in US as THE WANNSEE CO FERE CE AND THE FINAL SOLUTION:
A RECONSIDERATION: Metropolitan Books, $23.00, hb, ISBN 0805068104
On the 20th January 1942 fifteen top Nazi civil servants, SS and Party officials met in a grand Berlin villa on the shore of Lake Wannsee. [n March 1947 US officials collating information from the uremburg trials stumbled across a folder stamped 'Geheime Reichssache' - 'Secret Reich Matter'. It contained the only surviving copy of the minutes of that meeting.
They became known as the 'Wannsee Protocol' and consisted mostly of a presentation g iven by Reinhard Heydrich. A presentation that surveyed the measures taken against Jews up until 1941 and outlined a plan for the 'evacuation' of Jews to the east. It was, unmistakably, a plan for genocide, written in sober and bureaucratic language by serious and intelligent men.
This will be familiar territory for anyone who watched Kenneth Branagh in the television drama, Conspiracy - but familiarity should not be allowed to breed contempt. Although The Villa, the Lake, the Meeting is essentially an academic text book, it is also a clear and compelling guide to the Final Solution. By turns awful and horrifying, it attempts to explain how a nation can conspire to commit genocide. Sara Wilson.
APRICOTS ON THE NILE: A Memoir With Recipes
Colette Rossant, Bloomsbury 2002, £6.99, pb, 178pp, ISBN 0747558167. Pub in US March 1999 as MEMORIES OF A LOST EGYPT: A Memoir with Recipes , Clarkson N Potter, $8.98, hb, ISBN 0609601504
It is 1937 and the young Colette Rossant travels from Paris to Egypt with her flighty French mother and Egyptian-Jewish father. When her father dies Colette remains in Cairo with her grandparents and her mother returns to France. Although she is lonely the young girl revels in the luxurious lifestyle of her extended family. She spends much of her time in the spice
granumotoer LO toe ousumg oazaar.
When the war ends Colette is forced to leave Egypt for Paris and she never sees her Egyptian grandparents again. Thirty years later she returns to Cairo and resolve s to write about her unusual childhood experiences.
Colette Rossant is a journalist and author of eight cookery books. Pre-revolutionary Egypt is where her passion for food had its origins. The result is a book of great charm, filled with moving and humorous anecdotes, punctuated with mouth watering recipes. It will have your stomach rumbling after the first couple of pages. Sara Wilson.
IMPERIAL VANITIES
Brian Thompson, HarperCollins 2002, £17.99, hb , 271 pp (inc indices) ISBN O00 257188 9
As a fiction writer I rarely read non-fiction cover to cover but the page-turning qualities of Imperial Vanities kept my interest better than many a recently read novel. I found it irresistible. It is the story of three extraordinary Englishmen of the 19th century; a period of discovery and colonial expansion when Great Britain sought to spread her influence around the globe. Throughout, from its start on the plantations of Jamaica, via Mauritius and Ceylon to its end at Khartoum , we feel the tensions and see the evils of slavery of which the British were trying to rid the world.
Brian Thompson says in his Preface: "T hey were Victorians with a taste for the heroic who made their friends and enemies from among the same restless kind . . . we find also the explorer Richard Francis Burton; the missionary David Livingstone; and soldiers as wildly unlike as Major General Sir Garnet Wolseley and the irrepressible Captain Fred Burnaby."
Samuel Baker, man of the people, explorer and closet socialist founded a thriving colony high on a plateau in Ceylon. In his travels he acquired a very young ... wife, thought to be a Hungarian gipsy, who fortunately proved to be as adventurous as he. Sam had a soldier brother, Valentine. [n June 1875 a lady , on her way to holiday in Switzerland, accused Val, a colonel, of 'i nsulting' her in a first-class compartment of a Woking to Waterloo train. In those days the euphemistic 'insult' more often than not meant indecent suggestion or exposure. The upshot of this (apart from precipitating the idea of corridor trains) was the hitherto respectable colonel's cashiering. The Queen was far from amused.
But Valentine Baker was not to be put down His exploits in Egypt and Sudan brought him in contact with Charles Gordon. From a soldierly background, as a child Gordon "was rumbustious and anti-authoritarian".
Nevertheless he became a fearless soldier and a Christian covert who distinguished himself in the Crimea. As leader and friend of the Khedive
dithered. It was too late . The mere twenty redcoats sent by Wolseley steamed upstream to see Gordon's head jammed in the fork of a tree on the riverbank.
In the light by which some of these adventurers are seen, it is remarkable that the Empire was built at all but the stories of their exploits are gripping, ripping yarns in the tradition of Biggies and Boys' Own. The honour, which these three men sought, was for the Greatness of Britain and its Queen. In 100 years' time who will be the heroes of the new Elizabethan age?
Geoffrey Harfield
THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF HOW IT HAPPE ED -TITANIC
Geoff Tibballs (ed.) Robinson 2002, £7.99, pb, 525pp, ISBN 1841192783
April 15 2002 was the 90th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. This book attempts to strip away memories of the Hollywood mega movie and concentrates on the individuals concerned and how they were affected by the tragedy.
Testimonials, letters and newspaper reports bring home the desperate plight of the passengers and crew on that fateful night. There are vivid descriptions of 'Women and children first' and 'Everyman for himself.' Perhaps the most heart-rending image is that of the band playing on as the ship sank. The sounds of those who were doomed must have haunted the survivors, especially the plight of the steerage passengers condemned with their women and children to an icy death.
Each individual testimonial contributes to the whole picture of what happened that night, of course there are many contradictions. The crux of the matter remains, who was to blame? Less than a third of the number aboard the Titanic survived. Among the tales of courage and cowardice, teamwork and treachery there are the insights into the lives of the people who shaped the beginning of the twentieth century and their attitudes. It is important to take this into consideration when making judgements after reading the evidence.
Sarah Crabtree.
IMPERIAL LEGEND: The
Mysterious Disappearance of Tsar Alexander I Alexis S. Troubetzkoy, Arcade, 2002, $27.95 (£16.49), hb , 300pp, ISBN 1559706082
The subtitle says it all: this book attempts to prove that Tsar Alexander I did not die in 1825, but faked his death and become a starets, a wandering holy man. According to Troubetzkoy, the "Lege nd" of Tsar Alexander I was believed by many Russians , including the Imperial Family.
Grandson of Catherine the Great, Alexander came to the throne as so many other Tsars didover the body of his predecessor, the semi-mad Paul I. Not an active conspirator in the plot to depose his father, assured that Paul would not be harmed , Alexander was appalled by his father's murder. Although Alexander become one of the most famous rulers of his day , instrumental in defeating Napoleon and reshaping the map of Europe, he labored under the guilt of patricide. At last, after twenty-five years as Tsar of All the Russias , Alexander took his ailing wife to Taganrog, a remote town near the Crimea. There the 48-year-old Alexander suddenly fell and died.
Or did he ? Ten years later, a mysterious starets named Feodor Kuzmich appeared in Siberia. A man with a strong resemblance to the late Alexander, Feodor lived a spartan, spiritual life, dying in 1864 without ever revealing his past. But there were many hints that the starets was far more than he seemed. Was Feodor Kuzmich really Tsar Alexander I?
This is promising material ; unfortunately the writing is competent at best and its pacing poor. Far too much of the book is taken up with discussing Alexander's life and exploits before 1825. The actual mystery of Feodor Kuzmich is covered in a very few pages . But even with these flaws , this book is definitely of interest to fans of Russian Imperial history and of royal mysteries.
India Edghill
THE FOX BOY
Peter Walker, Bloomsbury 2002, £8.99, pb , 352pp, ISBN 0747558051. Pub in US by Bloomsbury , $27.50, hb, ISBN 1582342199 In 1869 , after a battle between the English and Maoris, a small Maori boy is kidnapped. He is adopted by Sir William Fox, Prime Minister of New Zealand, and given his name. The Foxes give the child a good education and he becomes a lawyer. Mediating between the Maori and the white men he plays a crucial role in New Zealand's history. The brutal actions of the white settlers against the defiant Maoris with Ngatau Omahuru , the Fox boy caught between the two.
The book is well-researched, but I found it slightly confusing as history , biography , travelogue and personal odyssey are all bound up in it. Even Mrs Beeton's recipe for plum pudding gets a mention. I felt I did not get to know the Fox boy until he meets his natural mother. The hurt and loss suffered by mother and child transcend the centuries as does the wonderful use of imagery by the Maori chiefs in their speeches. An interesting book. Diane Johnstone.
THE POPE AND THE HERETIC
Michael White, Little Brown , £16.99, hb , I 82pp, ISBN O 316 854913. Pub in Us by William Morrow & Co, $24.95, hb , ISBN 0060186267
Giordano Bruno , a member of the Dominican order was burned for heresy by the Roman Inquisition in 1600. White 's book gives a fascinating account of Bruno 's philosophy, enabling us to understand just why the Church regarded him as such a dangerous heretic It also provides us with a case study of the way in which the Inquisition operated. There are detailed accounts of his examinations before both the Venetian and Roman Inquisitions, since Bruno was tried first by the former and then handed over to the latter, which was the most deadly, since the former was to some extent answerable to the Venetian state. White is careful to point out that Protestants committed atrocities too, but the sheer scale of what was done seems beyond anything that occurred in the Protestant north. The Roman Inquisition exterminated, according to White , in excess of one million people. If this is considered in relation to the population at the time , then comparisons with the Holocaust or massacres in Soviet Russia are certainly not out of order. The methods of torture used by the Vatican were also in no way inferior to those of a modem police state. And all this , it has to be remembered , was done in the name of religion.
This is the background against which Bruno's trial and execution - White calls it murder and that does not seem too strong a word - has to be understood. What then was the doctrine which Bruno taught , which caused the Vatican to regard him as such a dangerous heretic? This too is dealt with in detail by White. Essentially he was a pantheist who believed that the universe was infinite and filled with innumerable inhabited worlds. ln other words, he believed , among other things , in life on other planets. This cosmology was clearly anathema to the Vatican. No mystery there.
The real mystery is why Bruno , who had fled from his native Italy and from the reach of the Vatican, chose to go back and put himself into obvious danger? Bruno was invited to Venice by a nobleman , Giovanni Mocenigo. Mocenigo was clearly a tool of the Vatican and the invitation was a trap. But against the advice of his friends, Bruno accepted. Why? Perhaps the most interesting part of this book is the answer which White suggests. The pope at the time, Clement Vlll, was known to be relatively liberal. Bruno had long believed that a union between liberal Catholicism and liberal Protestantism was possible. Bruno thought that if he could gain an audience with the pope, then he could influence him in favour of a liberal , tolerant Catholicism, which would enable heretics to be reconciled. To this end, in his
examination before the Venetian Inquisition he had toned down the radical nature of his ideas His project, however, was inevitably doomed to failure. However liberal the pope may have been , the men who surrounded him were the hardest of hard-liners. If White is right, then as well as dying for intellectual freedom, Bruno may be regarded as a martyr for the principle of religious reconciliation and tolerance.
Neville Firman
