Lucy E.M. Black, whose latest book is the novel The Brickworks, recommends her top Canadian historical fiction picks.
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The Vanished Days, by Susanna Kearsley, is a sweeping romance, whisking us back in time to a Scotland before the Act of Union. King James is gathering supporters in France and his loyal followers, known as the Jacobites, are working to prepare the country for his return. At the same time, the Covenanters attempted to spread Presbyterianism throughout the land, challenging Episcopalian and Roman Catholic loyalties. Add to this an unsuccessful and costly attempt in the late 1690s to establish a Scottish colony on the Gulf of Darien (between present-day Panama and Columbia) that would have created an overland trade route connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and you have the historical setting for the novel. Kearsley, as always, has done a brilliant and meticulous job of embedding careful academic research into a compelling tale of mystery, adventure, and romance.
Lily Graeme is a widow whose husband died on the way to establish the Darien colony, and she makes a claim to collect a stipend owed her as a result of his death. Her claim is considered suspect, and Lily must navigate an inquiry that calls into question the validity of their marriage certificate. The two men assigned to the case understand that the real purpose of the inquiry has not been made clear to them and that they are being manipulated by very senior officials. As the tale unfolds, layers of political intrigue are revealed that call into question the true identities and allegiances of those involved. This is a fascinating book, filled with wonderful historic detail that knits together the complex, interrelated historical elements into a moving love story.
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The Mozart CODE, by Rachel McMillan, is a timely visit to post-war Vienna and Prague. The balance of power and tentative alliances between the Allied countries in quartered Vienna was often fractious. The European Recovery Program (later the Morgenthau Plan and then the Marshall Plan), was an attempt by the Americans to help with economic renewal, fund the reconstruction of cities and strengthen democracy in sixteen western and southern-European countries. The hard-wrought peace among those who had fought Hitler was an uneasy one, rife with suspicion and distrust. Vienna, in particular, was seen as a city of spies, where each country endeavoured to furtively gather information on the other without antagonizing or disrupting the tenuous political situation. Double-agents were actively at work.
Into this carefully drawn landscape, McMillan has inserted two fictional characters, both British spies involved in espionage at the highest levels. Simon and Sophie, formerly Bletchley Park agents, are privileged and well-connected, able to navigate freely among the Germans, French and Soviets. Their fictional story is the subject of The Mozart CODE. For fear of providing spoilers, I will not disclose any of the plot. Suffice it to say that this is a well-researched and exciting work of historical fiction that provides a great deal of detail about everything from Bach, Mozart, and the Hapsburgs to the history of Vienna itself, and includes a satisfying touch of romance. For students of the Cold War in particular, the implications of the subterfuge and betrayals are a little chilling.
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Jennifer Robson’s The Gown is an immersive work of historic fiction, told in a dual timeline. Documenting the marriage of Princess Elizabeth in the post-War period, we are taken to the atelier of Norman Hartnell where the princess’ wedding dress is lovingly embroidered by a group of skilful seamstresses. Two women, Ann and Miriam, are among the workers who keep secret the details of this important gown. Seventy years later, one of their granddaughters uncovers the contributions these women made and the role they played in the royal wedding. Beautifully written and impeccably researched, this is an epic accomplishment highlighting the hardships of war, the power of female friendship, and the unifying force of a shared vision. I love the incredible attention to detail, and the ways in which ordinary women are showcased and their stories amplified.
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The Last Grand Duchess, by Bryn Turnbull, is a remarkable work of historical fiction about the last of the Tsars in Russia. To understand the enduring fascination of the Romanovs, one needs only to think of the glittering extravagance and lavish gifts handcrafted by Faberge, Tiffany and Cartier. Decadent displays of wealth were exhibited by the family while the peasant class lived in dire poverty and need. The overindulgence in luxury at a time when massive political and social unrest was spreading across the Empire contributed to the forced abdication of Tsar Nicholas and the imprisonment, and finally murder, of both he and his family. Turnbull’s novel does a wonderful job of humanizing the history by bringing to life the intimacies of a family fallen into disgrace.
The downfall of the Romanovs is a complex one, involving many dynamics. Turnbull weaves her story magic together by drawing upon the historical record, all the while ensuring that the portrayals of her characters are drawn compassionately and with specifics pulled from her meticulous research. Turnbull’s afterword provides a clear and concise summary of the decisions she made while writing the book and delineates those minor instances where she deviated from the history. This is an accomplished and moving book, told by a master storyteller.
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A Trial in Venice is the third book in Roberta Rich's midwife trilogy. Filled with amazing historical details about the courts, prisons, orphanages, and Jewish ghetto in 1575 Venice, this book is utterly captivating. Hannah, a Jewish midwife of some repute, returns to the city from Constantinople where she has been living with her husband and daughter. In a previous book, we learned that Hannah stole a Christian baby boy away from his uncle who'd intended to murder him since the child was titled and wealthy. Hannah’s “stolen” son, Matteo, has now been kidnapped by a cunning pair who also wish to seize his inheritance. Hannah travels to Venice intending to once again save Matteo’s life and protect him from those who would bring him to harm. Instead, Hannah is imprisoned by the authorities, who believe that she has nefarious intentions. The character descriptions are vivid and well drawn, the description is graphic and visual, and the plot, as it unfolds, is well paced and credible. Rich has written yet another masterful book of historical fiction.
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The Bloomsbury Girls, by Natalie Jenner, is a spin-off from The Jane Austen Society. Although the book can be read as a standalone, it is fun to revisit some of the delightful characters we met in the first of Jenner’s books. While the Jane Austen Society is mentioned, the focus of this novel is on one of that book's characters only, Evie Stone. It is now the post-War 1950s, and Evie has become a Cambridge graduate who catalogues rare books for estate sales and auctions. When she loses out on a permanent position at the university, she seeks employment at a prestigious, century-old London bookstore. There she meets two other women on staff and, in between making tea and cataloguing, she pursues her private quest to locate a particular edition of a rare book. A cast of literary and historic figures drift in and out of the bookstore and the plot, including Peggy Guggenheim, Ellen Doubleday, Samuel Beckett, and Daphne Du Maurier. Although the three women on staff are confined by the strictures of the time and the patriarchal attitudes of the men with whom they work, each has a dream of independence and a better life, and they finally combine forces to forge a plan. This is a delightful work of light historical fiction with a feminist bent, sweet romance, and a happy ending.
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Learn more about The Brickworks:
When the Tay Bridge collapsed in 1879 it killed everyone on the train that was crossing, leaving the son of the driver, young Brodie Smith, traumatized and reduced to poverty as a result of his father’s death. Leaving home determined to make his way in the world, Brodie finds safe haven with his kindly uncle in Edinburgh and studies engineering, intent on demonstrating that the bridge disaster was not his father’s fault. In search of adventure and further opportunities, Brodie then travels to Buffalo where he befriends Alistair, another young Scot filled with dreams and ambitions. Together the men bring industrialization to a small rural community where they establish a brickworks, changing the lives of all those they encounter with a sense of possibility and the reality of attendant loss. Told in beautifully crafted prose, it is Black’s incomparable voice—her uncanny humour and an astonishing ear for dialogue—that renders The Brickworks both remarkable and unforgettable.