Bookworm Carnival: Historical Fiction

The Bookworm Carnival has made at stop here and this month theme is Historical Fiction.

According to wikipedia, Historical Fiction is a sub-genre of fiction that often portrays alternate accounts or dramatization of historical figures or events. Stories in this genre, while fictional, make an honest attempt at capturing the spirit, manners, and social conditions of the person or time they represent with attention paid to detail and fidelity.

While historical fiction may be a sub-genre of it’s own, it can also cross over into many different genres as well. There are a lot of paranormal romance novels out there that take place during the Renaissance or Elizabethan periods; you can also find a lot of Chick Lit that has a strong historical feel to it as well. So regardless of your taste in literature, whether you prefer the thrillers to mysteries to outright humor, it’s very possible to find something that can also be considered historical fiction.

So to give everyone a taste of something other than the supernatural, here are a few reviews for some great historical fiction.

14th Century:

Books and Movies brings us a reinterpretation of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales with Karen Maitland’s Company of Liars.  The story revolves around nine travelers who are trying to escape the plague during a time of fear, religious power, and superstition.

15th Century:

The Monni Blog is bringing us Alison Weir’s first work of fiction, Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey. The novel follows Lady Jane Grey through her life as it runs parallel to the activities of King Henry the VIII’s court.  The book delves into Lady Jane’s life, personal beliefs, and difficulty to come to terms with what is happening to her life.

Strangely, I’ve often heard people remark that if they like Philippa Gregory, they’ll like Alison Weir, so I’ll be interested in hearing how others compare these two others.  Which brings us to our next review…

16th Century:

American Bibliophile shares with us The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory.  This story revolves around Mary, Queen of Scots, who isn’t remembered in the greatest of lights.  While the story is told through three different viewpoints, we’re given a view of Mary that we haven’t seen before and might make us change our minds about Elizabeth.

Out of the Blue shares with us another Philippa Gregory novel, The Other Boleyn Girl .  This time around, the story revolves around Mary, Anne Boleyn’s younger sister, and the experiences she has at King Henry’s court.  Mary soon begins to realize that her life is not as it seems and goes about gaining control of her own life.

17th Century:

Adventures in Reading brings us Toni Morrison’s latest novel A Mercy, which follows the interweaving lives of six characters to deliver the American Dream: a rags to riches story.

18th Century:

In anticipation for the seventh novel (An Echo in the Bone, due to be released sometime in 2009), I wanted to spotlight Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. The first novel, Outlander, introduces us to Clare and Jamie months before the Jacobite rising of 1945 and the series takes us through to the American Revolution. It does have a romantic element to it, but it’s not overpowering and it’s amazing how much detail Gabaldon gives us for this time period. I fell in love with her books early in life and to this day I have yet to be disappointed. She’s one of two authors I will go out and buy the hardcovers for.  I’ve only had a chance to review the first novel in this series, although I have read all six books multiple times, but the others will be appearing shortly.  So keep an eye out if you’re interested in learning more about this great series.

The Quiverfull Family brings us Just Jane: A Novel of Jane Austen’s Life by Nancy Moser. I’m not sure if this is fiction or nonfiction, but Moser was able to use Austen’s own letters with family and friends, plus many biographies, as a guide for her novel.

19th Century:

The Biblio Brat brings us a review of Michael Cox’s The Glass of Time.  It is the sequel to The Meaning of Night and it continues with a new mystery about identity, the nature of secrets, and what happens when past obsessions impose themselves on an unwilling present.

For his second contribution, The Biblio Brat spotlights Sweetsmoke by David Fuller.  We’re taken on a journey by a black slave during the American Civil War when Cassius journeys to find the truth about a murdered freed black woman, all the while enduring tests that near destroys him and still ultimately guiding him toward freedom.

And the Biblio Brat rounds out this edition of the Bookworms Carnival with a review of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See.  During a time when gender roles were strict in 19th century China, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan tells the story of two woman who learn to live with the system while still maintaining a friendship born in childhood.

Other:

Nigel Beale submitted this interview with author Michael Crummey on the topic of Historical Fiction.

For more on the Bookworm Carnival…

…check out it’s new home.  Just before Dewey passed away, the Carnival was given an extra stop each month and is now posted twice.  So here at the stops for the next three carnvials.  If you have something to contribute, don’t hestitate.  All you have to do is send an email with the link to your review to the host.

1. The next Carnival’s submissions are due December 26th.  Marcia’s theme is Guilty Pleasures, so if you have anything that could be included, make sure you contact her.
2. The 21st edition will be held at The Deus Ex Machina Complex with submissions due by January 9th.  The theme hasn’t been announced yet, but check the new Bookworms Carnival site because I’m sure it will be announced soon.
3. The 22nd Edition will be back here at Literary Escapism with a theme of Anthologies.  I love anthologies.  Submissions will be due by January 23rd.