Now and Then

I am a big fan of  historical fiction.  It feels a bit like cheating, but I love to learn about different periods of history through the eyes of fictional characters.  If the author does his or her homework, you can actually learn quite a lot about not only politics, wars and power shifts, but also about how people lived.  A glimpse of the day-to-day life of the inhabitants of another time is irresistible to me.  I have been on a bit of an historical fiction reading jag these days.  Here are a few books that I have enjoyed.

The Devil's Company by David Liss - This historical mystery about the corruption of the British East India Company takes place in 1722.  While the days of sewage running in the streets of London and debtors' prisons have passed,  many of the issues raised in this book are quite contemporary.  The ties between large corporations and governments,  prejudice against minorities and women, and of course, the inevitable pull between duty and love all appear in this twisting story.  The author of this book started writing fiction while pursuing his doctorate in 18th century English history, so the historical details are accurate and come to life on the page.

The Orchid House by Lucinda Riley - This story takes place in both World War II and present day England.  For fans of Downton Abbey, the tale of Wharton Park and its inhabitants will bring you details of a grand manor house in its prime.  The mystery of a hidden diary, a grieving pianist and the enigmatic heir, will hold readers of both literary fiction and history buffs. Throw in a storyline about Thailand during the war and the cultivation of orchids and you have a bouquet of a book.

Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran - I read this one a while ago, but I highly recommend it to fans of lighter historical fiction.  I learned so much about France during the time of Marie Antoinette, the Bastille and the guillotine.  Michelle Moran writes of the woman who sculpted wax to reflect the news of the day and tried to walk to fine line between supporting the monarchy and pleasing the revolutionaries.  For those of you who have walked past Tussaud's Was museum more times than you can count, the story behind its creator will fascinate and surprise you.



So take a little trip back in time with a good historical fiction book.  And keep those pages turning!