Best Historical Fiction

  By Her Own Design brings an extraordinary story of Ann Lowe, a Black woman, who rose above personal struggles and racial prejudice to design for elite, and the famous wedding dress for Jackie Kennedy. Early 20th century in Alabama, Ann Lowe learns the art of sewing from her mother and grandmother. From childhood, she is taught to have a patron in building a certain clientele. There comes a day when an opportunity comes her way, when another woman sees the dress she sew. Then, another door opens for her to go to design school. Those would seem the right choices to grab, but there always seems something to be holding her back. What she reaches for will determine her future. Her life is richly imagined from childhood, with mother and grandmother who teach her sewing and shape her young mind in the right direction. And one woman becomes a big stepping stone in her life’s journey, which undoubtedly is shaped by her own talent. And a day comes, when her life is transformed when a new clien

  The Swan’s Nest brings a fascinating story of two 19th century poets, Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett. In January 1845, Elizabeth has been confined to her room for the past four years by recurrent illness when she receives a letter from another poet she has secretly admired. Robert not only loves her poetry but also declares his love for her. This leads to an affectionate correspondence, but her insecurities delay their meeting in person. Elizabeth’s stronger position, poetically and financially, has her family against Robert. Despite her health and the poetic love, Elizabeth has the strength to defy her family and follow her heart. The story also involves a subplot which explains the financial status of Barrett family. They made their fortune on the backs of slaves at their sugar plantation in Jamaica. It is truly a captivating story written with lyrical prose. Published in March 2024 by Algonquin Books Source: Algonquin Books

  The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye explores the life of a legendary mulatto, queer female pirate who rose from adversity to achieve freedom from the oppressive hands of men. 1655, Santo Domingo: at the age of eleven, Jacquotte begins her apprenticeship on numerous ships as a shipwright. Following the death of her mentor, she takes over the running of the business. She lives with her father and brother, having lost her mother. An unspoken agreement exists between her and her father: he has no money for her dowry, which suites her perfectly as she has no desire to be subservient to a husband. A portion of her earnings is given to her father for “upkeep” as he terms it, and this arrangement allows her to carve out a semblance of freedom for herself. Her life takes a turn when she stumbles upon a letter concerning her father’s past, prompting her to question what secrets he might be hiding. Around the same time, she is summoned by the Governor, who asks her to translate a letter, recognizi

  American Daughters weaves a tale of two daughters by exploring their bond and their strong support for causes’ they believe in. Alice Roosevelt, America’s First Daughter, befriends Portia Washington, daughter of an educator Booker T. Washington. They are limited by social status but bound by their roles as the daughters of famed statesmen. Booker T. Washington is an avid supporter of education, as a former slave he values the importance of education and its empowerment of Black Americans. Portia is dedicated to the same values and contributes by teaching and performing spirituals and classical music. She aspires to continue her education abroad in classical music of the Germans, and to continue her empowering work, but a marriage to a controlling man makes her dreams more difficult. Alice becomes a champion of her father, supporting him in his political aspirations. With time, she strongly gets involved in politics and with her unconventional behavior she creates a polarizing environ

  The Triumph of the Lions intriguingly imagines the saga of the Florios, whose founder initiated the spice company and extended into wine business in Sicily. This second installment follows the son and grandson of the founder. Sicily, 1868: Vincenzo Florio assumes control of the family business following his father’s demise. With his burgeoning Marsala winery business attracting workers to the outskirts of Palermo, he is advised of the need for something to ensure the family’s peace of mind. Relationships are forged to such an extent that they become untouchable by the law. There is no necessity to involve the police from the north when matters can be resolved internally. As Ignazio’s tale unfolds, he cherishes the memory of a woman he renounced for love, enabling the Florios to expend their business into realms his father could not – into the salons of aristocracy and the court of Savoys. Meanwhile, Spain and Portugal fiercely compete for the port of Palermo, causing Vincenzo concern

  The Phoenix Bride unfolds the tale of two bereaved individuals, each grappling with feelings of powerlessness and a deep need to be heard. Set in the latter half of the 17th century England, the story opens with Cecilia recounting her her marriage to William Thorowgood and the brief joy it brought her. However, her happiness is swiftly extinguished by the plague that claims her husband, leaving her a bitter widow who harbors resentment towards her environment and, at times, even her sister Margaret. This narrative shifts between Cecilia and David Mendes, a Jewish physician who fled Portugal for England to freely practice his faith. In Portugal, the risks of being a surgeon – and a Jewish one at that – loom large, but England seems the safer option. David quickly becomes friends with Manuel and his family, only to mourn Manuel’s loss to the plague. Then, a letter arrives, summoning him to consult for the ailing Cecilia, whom Margaret has unsuccessfully tried to cure through numerous d