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[[Category:New Reviews|Historical Fiction]]==Historical fiction==__NOTOC__{{newreview|author=Alissa Walser and Jamie Bulloch (translator)|title=Mesmerized|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Celebrated scientist (at least in his own mind) Franz Anton Mesmer is called upon to cure the blindness of 18 year old piano virtuoso and courtier's daughter Marie Theresia Paradis. Despite the unease of her parents, Mesmer installs Marie into his 'magnetic hospital' where, alongside his other patients, she settles in to a regime of treatment, including free access to Mesmer's beloved piano. Mesmer is the Paradis' last resort and so they're happy to pay for success but they come to realise that the final cost may not be entirely financial and he realises that the result may not be beneficial to all parties.|amazonuk=<amazonuk!-- Remove -->0857051008 </amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Mary Hoffman|title=City of Swords (Stravaganza) |rating=4|genre=Teens|summary=Laura's unhappiness is hidden away where no!--one can see it. But she does have a release. She knows cutting herself is wrong, but the relief it provides is addictive. But Laura's secretive life is upturned by the discovery that she is a Stravagante INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE- a person who can travel through time and space. Transported to sixteenth century Fortezza, she finds herself in the middle of a bitter battle for succession to the city's dukedom. The Stravaganti are supporting Princess Lucia but Laura also meets Ludo, the pretender, and is immediately drawn to him. And at home in Barnsbury, Laura's life is changing too, now she is a part of the time-travelling community. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408800500</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Hilary MantelTananarive Due|title=Bring up the BodiesThe Reformatory

|summary=Thomas Cromwell Gracetown, Florida. June 1950. After a scuffle with a white boy, twelve year-old Robbie Stephens Jr is now very far from his humble beginningssentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys, otherwise known as the Reformatory. It's a place with a brutal and dark reputation. He But the segregated reformatory is Henry VIIIa chamber of horrors, haunted by the boys that have died there. In order to survive the school governor and his Funhouse, Robert must enlist the help of the school's chief ministerghosts – only they have their own motivations... |isbn=1803366532}} {{Frontpage|author=Katherine of Aragorn Howe|title=A True Account|rating=4.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Hannah Masury is no longer Queen. The Princess Mary has living in Boston, having been disinherited. Anne Boleyn wears the crown sent to live with a family who run an inn, and has produced being made to work there from a daughter, Elizabethyoung age. But When she hears there is no sign to be a hanging of some pirates in the town, she decides to go and watch. Enthralled and horrified in equal measure, Hannah finds herself embroiled in a son young boy's death at the hands of two vicious pirates. She hides away, so that they don't find and kill her too, and Henry is beginning then to escape them completely she runs away to regret his secession from Romesea, dressing as a boy and joining the notorious Ned Low's pirate ship as a cabin boy. We pick up from Wolf Hall during She soon finds herself in the royal progress thick of 1535 things when there is a mutiny on board, and from there, we chart the destruction are caught up in her rip roaring tale of life on the new Queenocean waves. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0007315090</amazonuk>0861547438

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Laurie GrahamSarah Marsh|title=A Humble CompanionSign of Her Own|rating=43.5|genre=Historical General Fiction|summary=George III is unfortunately best-known for his mental instability which is After a bout of scarlet fever as a pitychild, because he wasEllen Lark loses her hearing. Suddenly plunged into a world of silence, everything about her life changes. Living in many ways, a forward thinker. One time when the use of his more-enlightened acts with regard to his own children sign language was seen as something only savages do, Ellen is sent to appoint 'a humble companion' for his twelfth child and fifth daughterschool where she is taught to lip read, Princess Sophiabut physically restrained from signing. From here, presumably so that her life should not be limited to she ends up in another school studying under Alexander Graham Bell who has been teaching the cloistered residences which the Royal Family inhabiteddeaf and using a system called Visible Speech. 'Humble' At the same time, Bell isworking on other inventions and ideas, of course a relative term and Nellie Welche was actually the daughter of Ellen finds herself unwittingly caught up in a high-ranking steward in the household of the Prince complicated tangle of Wales, but with only two years difference in age they became life-long friendsespionage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857387812</amazonuk>1035401614

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Alonso Cueto and Frank Wynne (translator)Claire North|title=The Blue HourHouse of Odysseus

|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Adrian Ormache, middle class Peruvian lawyer, has a beautiful wife, two daughters of the sort to make any parent proud and a comfortable lifestyle. His parents divorced when he was small so, as he lived with his mother, he has fragmented memories of a gruff, distant dad. Despite his father's aloof, dictatorial manner, Adrian has always comforted himself with the fact he played a useful role as a land-bound naval officer, fighting Senderista terrorists for the good of Peru. After the death of his mother everything changes. Adrian finds documents that lead him away from his beliefs, towards a truth that will shatter 'What could matter more than his fatherlove?''s image.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0434019410</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Sax Rohmer|title=Fu-Manchu - The Hand of Fufollow-Manchu|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Nayland Smith has summoned the loyal Dr Petrie back from Egypt up to the familiar setting of Londonexcellent ''Ithaca'' picks up a few months after where we left off. The streets In the palace of the capital have seen much terror in the early 20th centuryOdysseus, but with Fu-Manchu deaddelicate care Queen Penelope continues to rule without her husband, surely the worst is over? Not so… who sailed to war at Troy and then by divine intervention never returned home. As ever she remains surrounded by suitors vying for the agency throne of the Si-Fan, Western Isles. Having survived – politically and physical – the doctorchaotic storm that Clytemnestra brought to Ithaca's mastersshores, still lurkQueen Penelope is on the brink of a fragile peace. Can Smith One that shatters however with the return of Orestes, King of Mycenae, and Petrie put an end to their terror once and for all?his sister Elektra, seeking refuge.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857686054</amazonuk>0356516075

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jude MorganB0C7J9D21B|title=The Secret Life of William ShakespeareA Captive in Algiers (Muhammed Amalfi Mysteries)|author=A J Lewis

|summary=Books about Shakespeare vary hugely both in terms of approach When we first meet our hero, his name is Ettore and quality. Some focus on historical fact, while others play rather more loosely with the romance he lives at The House of his lifeBeautiful Swallows. Fortunately for readers Idyllic as this might sound, Jude Morganit's a bordello and Ettore's books are rather more reliably excellentmother died when he was born. What He's morenot been short of mothers, he has a track record though - but for someone of fiction that concerns great writershis background in late-eighteenth-century Amalfi, having previously tackled the Brontës ('it's difficult to obtain decent employment. The Taste stint working with the preparation of Sorrow'anchovies didn') t work out and the romantic poets (''Passion'')bastards are considered bad luck on fishing boats. So my expectations were already quite high coming into his ''The Secret Life of William Shakespeare'' Ettore was nothing if not resourceful - and determined - expectations that and it was not long before he has again surpassedhad a successful business as a guide for visitors. He was even saving some money.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755358228</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jane JohnsonEssie Fox|title=The Sultan's WifeFascination|rating=4.5

|summary=Alys Swann The Victorian era is leaving her native Holland to accomplish the marriage her mother arranged incredibly over-romanticised as a setting for her in London. Alys's parents are English but fled to Holland when her late father discovered he was on the wrong side during historical fiction (matched only, perhaps, by the English Civil Second World War. The trip turns out ) which has often led to be more adventurous than Alys would like as she's kidnapped by pirates and delivered to Moroccan potentate Sultan Moulay Ismail whoa few writers mishandling it. There's such a little mentally unstable (and glut of media set in the era thatthe hallmarks we's an understatement). His plan for her is as a welcome addition ve come to associate with it are familiar to his globally sourced harem. There she meets Nus-Nus, eunuch and the Sultan's scribepoint of being cliched, who has problems of his ownhackneyed even. A local apothecary dies in a most unnatural way and Nus-Nus seems All this is simply to illustrate that it would be the only suspectan easy thing to do poorly. The royal court has always been a dangerous place butBut despite that, for Nus-Nus, and indeed Alys, staying alive has suddenly become more of a challenge than something about it seemed before... still grabs me – and thatsomething about this book's saying somethingdescription did as well.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0670918008</amazonuk>1914585526

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jane SullivanNicole Jarvis|title=Little PeopleA Portrait in Shadow

|summary=Unemployed governess Mary Ann rescues what seems to be a child from the currents of the Yarra River in Australia. However, the 'child' turns out to be none other than Charles Stratton, aka General Tom Thumb, 'midget' and star I want all of PT Barnum's touring 'Lilliputian' show. As a token of gratitude for her act of heroism the troupe's tour manager, Sylvester Bleeker, offers Mary Ann work and a solution Florence to her dilemma. For she is not only out of work and alone... and pregnant. She's made to feel welcome and a sense of belonging at last although all isnknow my name't what it seems. She may well be everything that Tom Thumb and his wife Lavinia have been looking for but that may not be a good thing. Even the title itself isn't all it seems and has an additional meaning, not just a reference to the small of stature. Mary Ann gradually realises that, as a lone single parent, she would be destitute (and everything that meant at that time) without the troupe. She too is a little person, but of no account rather than reduced height. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1742378854</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Marcello Fois|title=Memory of the Abyss|rating=3.5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=We are on SardiniaCast out from Rome, over a hundred years ago. It is a land of legend, where storytellers Artemisia Gentileschi arrives in Florence seeking an oasis in which her art can see find a different nature to the moon each night home and convey that in their earthly stories. It's a world of wonder, where sheep her future can fall thrive rather than stagnate. But as some as she enters Florentine society she faces great opposition from the skies for more than one reason. It's a poor landpowerful Accademia, where lads are expected the self-proclaimed guardians of the healing magics that through paintings have the power to be responsible shepherds by protect the time they are ten. As a result people look after each other - except, while returning city and its citizens from a Christening Samuele plagues and his father are refused basic hospitalitycurses. Later when the boy runs away one night the land falls away beneath him The all- yet he finds a girl to ground him to this earthmale Accademia has hoarded power over art and architecture for centuries and guard it above all else. Which is most relevant when he goes to warTo them, Artemisia – an ambitious young woman who promises trouble and particularly when he comes back change – has no place amongst them and finds himself a wronged man, and in need of vengeance..their society.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906694001</amazonuk>1803362340

{{newreview|author=Youssef Ziedan and Jonathan Wright (translator)|title=Azazeel|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=An archaeologist Set in a time and place close to that of modern troubled Syria discovers thirty scrolls. These are the writings of near-distant future, in a Coptic Christian monk born into Roman dominated Egypt in AD391. A door thus opens into an ancient world and on the emerging vista stretches from the present into the distant pastverge of climate collapse, as if eliciting an omnipresent dimension to realityBritain is in great peril. The fluent evocative prose flows like British Isles desperately needs a meandering river hero (or a ribbon connecting continuously several) to save the day and rescue what little remains. What no-one expected was that one of the Knights of the present moment with Round Table would answer the ancient world. A panorama emerges dominated by Rome and Constantinople and extends to Alexandria, Jerusalem and Antiochcall.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1848874278</amazonuk>0356518523

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Belinda SeawardG K Holloway|title=The Beautiful TruthIn the Shadows of Castles

|genre=Literary Historical Fiction|summary=There are two parallel story lines We begin after the momentous battle in Belinda Seaward1066 and on the day of William of Normandy's coronation as King of England. William''The Beautiful Truth'': one set in s position is not secure and the present day and one in wartime Polandnew king has many challenges. Imposing authority through a coronation is important. And William is right to worry. Both involve love stories While the previous king, Harold, is dead and personal strugglesthe likelihood of more pitched battles is over, and there the rebels are repeating themes such as horses stirring and much of the stars that effectively provide links between the two in this clearly well-researched and engrossing narrativecountry does not wish to recognise a new overlord.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0719521114</amazonuk>1800422466

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ginny Baily3949666079|title=Africa JunctionNoema|author=Dael Akkerman

|genre=Literary General Fiction|summary=Adele has made ''This is a mess of her life and she knows it. Working with the stresses of being a teacher as well as a single mother and having shrugged off a disastrous relationship, her life seems story about some things that happened to be set on self-destructme about twelve thousand years ago. Part of the problem is that the past won't leave her alone. Adele is haunted by the memory of Ellena, a friend from her childhood in Senegal, Africa. With one unthinking, childish action, Adele inadvertently devastated Ellena's family so, in order to go forward, Adele must go back to the continent where it all began. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099552728</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway|title=The Lady Most Likely|rating=3|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Hugh, the Earl of Briarly, has acknowledged his mortality after a nasty accident, and has decided to take a wife. Not being a very sociable person - he likes horses better than people - he asks his married sister Carolyn to produce a list of eligible young ladies. She does so, and then invites them and various other friends to a house party.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>074995776X</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Knud Romer and John Mason (translator)|title=Nothing But Fear|rating=5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=The Danish writer/actor Knud Romer has Maya is a gallery of fascinating relatives which collectively feature young girl living in ''Nothing But Fear''a hunter gatherer village during the Mesolithic era. This biographical novel Climate change is a collection occurring, the Sea of memories from his grandparentsGrass encroaches further and further into Maya' era, moving forwards forest home, to that of his parents, including World War II and his own childhood in 1960s food is becoming more and 70s small town Denmarkmore scarce. The vignettes aren't What to do? Can the law givers in chronological order but that's because memories normally aren't. The stories are narrated almost as if they're fresh from the mindfederation of villages muster peaceful ways to cope? Can the Traveller, ensuring a natural flow. The interesting thing is that no matter how fascinating his other relatives are my mind's eye always seemed to return to one: his motherspiritual figure who interprets the wisdom of All Life, Hildegard.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846687144</amazonuk>provide solutions?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Evelyn Eaton1529125898|title=Go Ask the RiverGodmersham Park|author=Gill Hornby

|summary=Much as I hate to appear to be on ''If it were not for the fence about this book – I’m on casual dereliction of the fence about this book!odd gentleman's duty, there would no women to teach well-bred daughters at all.''

All Anne Sharpe was thirty-one years old when she arrived at Godmersham Park to take up the seeds position of a great saga appear governess to be present twelve- strong characters, an engaging setting in year-old Fanny Austen. She had no experience of teaching but this was a case of necessity. Until the form death of Aureliaher mother, Anne had a comfortable life and was loved by both parents although her father was frequently absent from the family farmhousehold. When her mother died, her father cast her off and would have nothing more to do with her. No explanation was offered but she would receive an inciting incident early onannuity of £35 a year. All this is backed up with Her maid, Agnes, would receive nothing but was fortunately taken in by some superb description in the early part of the novel, with the period and the handful of characters we meet at the start all being carefully drawnneighbours. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848450931</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Charlotte BettsMelissa Fu |title=The Apothecary's DaughterPeach Blossom Spring |rating=43.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Susannah is an intelligent young woman in her twenties who assists her father in his pharmacy. But I loved the date is 1665 so heprelude to Peach Blossom Spring, a short chapter entitled ''Origins''s actually called an apothecary, creating herbal remedies from scratch; moreoever this is an era when women did not, generally, do work of this kind. However, London Unfortunately it is in the grip only truly poetic part of the bubonic plaguea book that I expected more from. So apothecaries must work overtime to produce nosegays - supposedly Covering Chinese history from 1938 to ward off evil humours - 2005 as well as plague preventative medicine, herbs for poulticesviewed through one family's perspective. When their home city is set ablaze during the war with Japan, a young mother (Meilin) and so onher four-year-old son (Renshu) are among those who flee.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749954493</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=M L Stedman|title=The Light Between Oceans|rating=5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Thomas Sherbourne returns to Australia after World War I. Internally scarred like many of his generation, he chooses the solitary life of a lighthouse keeper story follows them on remote Janus Rock to escape the world and its conflict. However, he soon learns that there is one part of the world he can't live without – the sassy, beautiful Izzy Graysmarktheir journey across China, a local from the nearest port and country town of Partaguese. They have a happy marriage in all respects apart from one: theyRenshu're haunted by their inability s case eventually to have children. Therefore, one day, when a boat washes up onto Janus bearing a dead man and a crying baby, apparent salvation arrives tooAmerica. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857521004</amazonuk>1472277538

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ros Barber1916072038|title=The Marlowe PapersHouse in the Hollow (The Talbot Saga)|author=Allie Cresswell

|summary=When a scholarly historian turns a hand to fiction, complications can followWe meet part of the Talbot family in Yorkshire in November 1811. Sometimes Twenty-seven-year-old Jocelyn Talbot and her mother have travelled in some discomfort from their home at Ecklington, to the result is a dry work of proud, thinly disguised research, where all discerned information is hurled at house in the pagehollow. Sometimes the demonstrated research levels The two women are just right, but the characterisation angry with each other and Jocelyn is more reminiscent well aware of cardboard cut outs than real people. However, if the historian is [[Category:Stella Tillyard|Stella Tillyard]], cited as being phenomenally gifted by none other than Simon Schama, thereher mother's no need for concern. ''Tides of War'' is an engrossing, sweeping epic of a novel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0701183179</amazonuk>}}strengths and weaknesses:

{{newreview|author=Jane Harris|title=Gillespie and I|rating=5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=The 'I' in the title of Jane Harris's ''Gillespie and I'' She is Harriet Baxter. Now elderly and residing in London in 1933practiced at subterfuge, she is finally telling her events of what happened in the early 1880s in Glasgow and her relationship with the Gillespie family. At the timeat concealing, beneath a spinster facade of independent meansrespectability, she arrived in Glasgow to visit the International Exhibition and became a champion of and friend to a young Scottish painter, Ned Gillespie and his young family. We know from early on that tragedy struck the Gillespie family leading to Ned destroying his career, but Harriet wants to set the record straight with regard to her involvement in events. You may or may not believe her storydeplorable truth''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571238300</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Karin Altenberg|title=Island of Wings|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Rev Neil MacKenzie has been assigned to the Hebridian island of St Kilda. His mission Hester is furious about Jocelyn's refusal to bring the locals back to the Victorian idea of God and propriety. He do as she was asked, which has precipitated ''this violent and his pregnant wife Lizzie not only have to fight the elements but also centuries of superstition that have trickled into the islandersunexpected removal' Christian faith. Life is made harder for Neil by a secret guilt emanating from the death of a friend years ago. However, the going becomes harder still for Lizzie, isolated by an inability to speak the local language and the burgeoning fear engendered by Neil's behaviour and attitudes.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857382322</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Georgina Harding|title=Painter Then we are told of Silence|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=A young, anonymous, vagrant collapses on the steps birth of a hospital in Romania. He doesn't speak and remains a mystery to the staff that tries to treat his obvious symptoms but can't seem to reach the silent person beneath. However, Safta, a nurse, suggests that he may be deaf child and produces drawing materials. Coincidentally, the man is able to draw beautifullysoon after, but this is no coincidence to Safta. There are reasons why she can't disclose itHester Talbot departs, but she knows this man. They grew up together leaving Jocelyn in pre-war Romania, a whole world away when the country had a king, beautiful cities untouched by bombing shame and being able to read a foreign language wasn't punishable by imprisonment isolation in work camps... or worseYorkshire.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408821125</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Lindsey DavisAnnabel Abbs|title=Master and GodThe Language of Food

|summary=Imagine first century Rome as seen through Eliza Acton is a poet who has never had the eyes of a wry Brummie slightest inclination to boil an egg. When tasked with writing a fine sense of humour and a real talent for introducing you to characters so real you could easily see yourself having cookery book, she recruits Ann Kirby, a drink local woman with them after a hard week at the officetroubled home life. That is Lindsey Davis' giftTogether, they test, craft, refine and while this book is a departure from her usual Falco novelsreshape the world of domestic cookery, reinventing the trademark charm, piercing intelligence recipe book and ready wit are as abundant as everchanging the face of cookery writing forever.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444707329</amazonuk>1398502227

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Emma DonoghueFreya Marske|title=The Sealed LetterA Marvellous Light|rating=4.5

|summary=If you are Robin Blyth is nudged into a job in the mood for Civil Service, much to his chagrin. There he meets Edwin Courcey and learns that the streets of London are threaded with magic. Desperate to remove a deliciously scandalous Victorian page-turnercurse that threatens to swallow him, look no further than Emma Donoghue's ''The Sealed Letter''. Set in 1864Robin follows Edwin to the countryside, it's based on where the real life story of secrets hedgegrows bristle with incantations and scandal surrounding Helen Codrington's divorce from her older husband, the rather dull Vice Admiral Codringtonpeople shimmer with power. There's added spice and intrigue provided by they uncover a sinister plot that threatens the unwitting involvement in events lives of Emily 'Fido' Faithfull, an early mover all magicians in the rights of women movement and that good old standard, the Victorian spinsterBritish Isles.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1447205987</amazonuk>1529080886

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jennifer McVeighB09F4CTKJR|title=The Fever TreeFlights for Freedom|author= Steven Burgauer

|summary=Frances Irvine enjoys a privileged lifestyle in Victorian England: It's the later stages of World War I and the United States has just entered the conflict. Petrol Petronus is a beautiful house, servants, rich gowns young American who has signed up and all joined the trappings her position as 17 Aero Squadron. This company was the daughter of an industrialist demands. Howeverfirst US Aero Squadron to be trained in Canada, Frances' lifestyle proves the first to be a precarious house of cards balanced on her father's investment in attached to the Northern Pacific Railroad in North America. When RAF and the Canadian terrain proves too much for first to be sent into the railroad construction skies to continue, her father's shares are rendered worthlessfight the Germans in active combat. As this occurs just But before his sudden deaththat can happen, Frances is forced Petrol has to make a choice as her finery and home are auctioned offmaster flying the notoriously difficult but majestic Sopwith Camel. Does she throw herself on the mercy of her lower class relatives or commit herself to a loveless marriage to distant cousin Dr Edwin Matthews? |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0670920894</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sax RohmerChristophe Medler|title=Fu Manchu - The Return of Dr. Fu ManchuMadrigal: A Closely Guarded Secret

|summary=A couple Set against the backdrop of years after their encounter with the villainous Dr Fu ManchuEnglish Civil War, Dr Petrie and Nayland Smith are reunited once more to take on a secret plan (code-named Madrigal) is discovered by Sir Robert Douse in the returning evil geniussummer of 1642. When As a loyal servant of the King, and Head of the Rev JD Eltham vanishes after conversing with PetrieSecret Service, it is Robert's duty to uncover the two realise that Fu Manchu has returned details of the plan and must risk life and limb follow the clues to save their frienduncover one of the most guarded secrets in history—especially since the plot could affect the King.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857686046</amazonuk>B095HY8SXQ

 {{newreview|author=Margaret Dickinson|title=Jenny's War|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Jenny's home life in the East End is an uncomfortable one. Her mother Dot cares little for her and thinks nothing of giving her a slap to make sure she knows her place. Dot's boyfriend, Arthur, tries to show Jenny some kindness but has issues of his own.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330544306</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Tan Twan Eng1471187179|title=The Garden of Evening Mists|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Malay Chinese Teoh Yun Ling travels to the Cameron Highlands of Malaya to meet the legendary Japanese garden designer and expert, Nakamura Aritomo. As the sole survivor of a World War II Japanese slave labour camp, Yun Ling has many reasons to hate the Japanese but some things are stronger than hatred. For, whilst in the camp, she promised her sister a Japanese garden. When life became difficult during interment, the sisters discussed and visualised the finished result to keep them hanging on. Ling's sister perished but the dream of a memorial garden drives her on. Nothing is that straightforward, though. The designer refuses the commission. Instead he suggests that she stays, as his apprentice, learning the art in order to become her own designer. Yun Ling agrees and discovers more than horticultural finesse. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905802625</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewA Beautiful Spy|author=Meg Clothier|title=The Girl KingRachel Hore

|summary=King Giorgi, King of Georgia, Minnie is without an heir so he does the unthinkable. He names his eldest daughter, Tamar, as 'Kingordinary' on his deathgirl living an unexciting life in a leafy provincial suburb. Tamar The book is set in the 1930s and Minnie is strong, feisty expected to live up to her mother's expectations and find a total tomboy butnice young man to marry, produce children and spend the fact remainsrest of her days looking after her husband and their home. Unfortunately, this isn't what she wants to do at all and neither does she's femalewant to continue working as a secretary. Therefore when Giorgi passes away As a result of a chance meeting, she finds herself drawn into espionage, working for the kingdom he's held together starts secret service and effectively living a double life - attempting to crack as infiltrate the opportunists equate the fairer sex with weakness and possibilitiesCommunist Party of Great Britain. If Tamar is to gain united lands, Minnie finds herself torn between what she perceives as her duty and the friends she must lose something in returnhas made - and likes - whilst working for the Communist Party. Is this a sacrifice too far?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099553139</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ella March ChaseAfonso Cruz and Rahul Bery (translator)|title=The Virgin QueenKokoschka's DaughterDoll|rating=42.5|genre=Historical Literary Fiction|summary=Elinor de Lacey (Nell) has an eagerWell, quick mind that's been trained by her scholarly fatherthis looked very much like a book I could love from the get-go, against her mother's wisheswhich is why I picked my review copy up and flipped pages over several times before actually reading any of it. Nell would rather be discussing Copernicus' latest theories than learn how I found things to keep potentially delight me each time – a wet larder or how to be weird section in the middle on darker stock paper, a dutiful wifechapter whose number was in the 20,000s, letters used as narrative form, and so on. It's Nell's greatest wish, intrigued with the subterranean voice a man hears in fact, to attend the court of Queen Elizabeth wartorn Dresden that what little I so that she can discuss and argue with the finest scientific and philosophical minds knew of the dayit mentioned, but her mother is ardently against ittoo. Nell doesnBut you't understand why. Notve seen the star rating that comes with this review, and can tell that isif love was on these pages, until her dream becomes a reality but it was not actually caused by then it's too late to go backthem. So what happened?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0091947162</amazonuk>1529402697

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Victoria LambChristina Hammonds Reed|title=The Queen's SecretBlack Kids|rating=34.5|genre=Historical FictionTeens |summary=It was July 1575 and Christina Hammonds Reed's debut novel is set against the court had left the unpleasant atmosphere backdrop of London for its annual progress round the homes of the more prominent nobles. It was 1992 Los Angeles riots, a reaction to stay at Kenilworth Castle, home of the Earl absolution of Leicester (better known as Robert Dudleyfour police officers for beating a black man, the queen's favourite) for some three weeks. The expenditure on the stay was enormousRodney King, but Leicester was determined to persuade Queen Elizabeth nearly to marry himdeath. The fact that he was also having an affair with Lettice Knollys, wife of Told from the Earl perspective of EssexAshley Bennett, was beside the point. Lucy Morgan, novel follows her evolution from a black entertainer silent bystander when confronted with matters of Moorish descentrace, was drawn into the midst of this intrigue and found herself on the edge of to a plot to assassinate the queen.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0593067991</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Dasa Drndic and Ellen Elias-Bursac (translator)|title=Trieste|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Haya Tedeschi, an 82 year old woman, sits alone in Italy, waiting. She waits for the adult son she hasn't seen since he was a baby. As Haya waits, she goes through finding her red basket of photographs voice and memorabilia, hanging ''out her life on an imaginary washing line''. She then takes the reader back in time, back to embracing her life as a Catholicised Jew, before, during and after World War II in an area called Triesteheritage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857050222</amazonuk>1471188191

{{newreview|author=Elaine di Rollo|title=Bleakly Hall|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Nurse Montgomery (Monty to her friends) and daring ambulance driver, Ada, met in Belgium during World War I. They worked as a team collecting the injured from the front line, dodging snipers and shells and ignoring social standards that accompanied the class system of the day. Monty may have been Ada's social 'superior' but such things were irrelevant whilst they faced death Move on an hourly basis. After the war Monty comes to work at Bleakly Hall, a hydropathic or country house hotel specialising in hydro therapies for the rich and ailing and is reunited with Ada, working as a mechanic and all-round assistant.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099513471</amazonuk>}}[[Newest History Reviews]]