Historical Fiction Books

Book SynopsisIn 1903, the artist Gwendolen Mary John travels from London to France with her companion Dorelia. Surviving on their wits and Gwens raw talent, the young women walk from Calais to Paris. In the new century, the world is full of promise: it is time for Gwen to step out from the shadow of her overbearing brother Augustus and seek out the great painter and sculptor Auguste Rodin. It is time to be brave and visible, to love and be loved -- and time perhaps to become a hero as the stain of anti-Semitism spreads across Europe.

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Book SynopsisFans of Chocolat and ApocalypseNow will love this “emotionally empathetic” adaptation. (Screencraft)“I felt like a kid again, watching an old black-and-white Tarzan movie, with all of its prejudices and biases, but also with all of its excitement and adventure.” —Dennis T. Faleris, Amazon reviewerThe untold story of ‘Stanley and Livingston,’ and the woman who made their fame possible. No one had heard from Janet Livingston’s brother in years. The world-famous missionary and explorer had captured the imagination of millions with his book about his travels through the Colonial British Empire… but then he simply vanished. So, when Janet received a cryptic message from Africa, along with a necklace their father gave him, she knew he was still alive and needed her help. But a woman traveling alone to the farthest corners of the Empire was simply out of the question. Enter Henry Stanley, the over-confident American explorer. All too happy to make his mark by finding David Livingston, he was not about to let a woman, of all things, slow him down. He’d lead the team, assuming Janet, who had never left her tiny Scottish town, would simply drop out before they even started. Into Africa is the thrilling story of Janet Livingston, her epic clash with Henry Stanley and her surprising relationship with their guide, Goma Foutou, amidst the brutal reality of a continent ravaged by the slave trade and European colonialism.“I’m a fan of The Poisonwood Bible, which deals with Africa, colonialism, missionaries, and cultural clashes, so I had to check this out. I was not disappointed! I highly recommend Into Africa to fans of The Poisonwood Bible.” —Avid Reader and Book Collector, book reviewer“Truly fascinating and original depiction of a true story...faithfully adapted.” —Screencraft“And, as a history buff, it was enjoyable to read about the other events taking place at the same time. Fascinating on many levels.” —Shari Held, Amazon reviewer“The environmental detail is amazing, and the writing is immersive. An excellent read and a great mix of history and escapism.” —Dullahan, Amazon reviewer For more from Kerry McDonald, check outThe Green Cathedral.Trade Review"Truly fascinating and original depiction of a true story...faithfully adapted." -- ScreencraftFans of Chocolat and Apocalyse Now will love this "emotionally empathetic" adaptation. -- Screencraft

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1980, Crossing Over is hybrid prose-poetry and flash fiction about one young man’s journey through the Vietnam War. Adapted for the stage and praised by antiwar activist Daniel Berrigan, these vignettes from the war-torn jungles changed the way America saw the Vietnam Era. The material in Crossing Over formed the basis of Currey’s 1988 novel Fatal Light, cited by Tim O’Brien as “one of the very best works of fiction to emerge from the Vietnam War.”

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Book SynopsisLondinium is burning. Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, newly appointed governor of Roman Britain, is charged by an increasingly unstable Emperor Nero with a difficult task—the untamed island on the fringes of the empire must earn a profit. To do so, Suetonius pursues the last of the Druids into Wales and, along the way, subdues the fractious Celtic chieftains who sit atop a fortune in gold and rare metals. Meanwhile, in the provincial capital of Londinium, war is brewing. As Nero’s corrupt tax officials strip the British tribes of their wealth and dignity, an unlikely leader arises—Queen Boudicca, chieftain of the Iceni, who unites the tribes of Britain and leads them on a furious and bloody quest for vengeance and liberty. A novel told in the form of a memoir, Imperial Governor is a compelling and impeccably researched portrait of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, Roman general and first-century Governor of Britannia, who unexpectedly found himself facing one of the bloodiest rebellions against Roman rule. Shipway’s masterful military adventure has long been considered one of the most accomplished works of historical fiction set in the Roman Era, providing fascinating detail of life in Roman Britain and within the Roman Legions—and a riveting saga of uprisings, war, and conquest in the ancient world.Trade Review"Required reading for fans of ancient Britain and Rome, and for anyone who loves immersive historical fiction." Alan Smale, Sidewise Award-winning author of the 'Clash of Eagles' trilogy

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