Best Historical Fiction

 This fictional story was inspired by true events, when Jane Austen memoirs were discovered hidden in the attic. The author skillfully weaves a story based on the found memoirs and Jane Austen’s novels bringing the characters and language as almost written by Jane Austen about herself. The memoirs give an inside to Jane’s family, their situation after her father’s death, her engagement proposals, and her only true love. The last one was mostly fictional, but beautifully imagined and written. From her memoirs we also learn about her struggle to become a published author. It’s a fact that her inspiration wasn’t the charming city of Bath, but the simple and quiet countryside. Her comfort was not the sought-after balls, but her dear sister - closest friend and confidant. The author has extensive knowledge of Jane Austen life and her works. She brilliantly bridges what is known with fiction, creating a moving love story where the reader hopes the history could be rewritten to gi...

 The serenity and beauty of a Japanese garden and assistance of a samurai come through this story. Both aspects unveil a poignant story. 1937: Stephen Chan, 20 years old, is sent by his family from busy Hong Kong to his family’s summer house by the sea in Tarumi, Japan, to recover from tuberculosis.  He is met there by the only occupant of the house Matsu, who’s been taking care of the house and garden since early age. The garden reflects the extension of his life. In the village he is known for his art as a master of gardens. He uses flowers as colors to paint his picture in the garden. While Stephen recuperates, he occupies his time with painting and drawing. At the beach, he meets two sisters Keiko and Mika. As he gets to know Keiko, he learns of her brother being with the Japanese army in China. That makes him wander if the brother is in Shanghai, where Japanese recently celebrated their victory over controlling the city. Matsu takes Stephen to Yamaguchi to vis...

 “This novel is based on events in the life of the young Mozart. He was closely involved with the four Weber sisters, among them Aloysia (who became a successful soprano), who broke his heart, and Constance, whom he married. We know that he and his wife were close to Sophie and that he wrote some of his greatest music for Josefa” (soprano, the first to perform the role of The Queen of the Night in Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute). Manheim, Germany, 1777: Josefa, the oldest of the Weber sisters, now understands “that none of her darling father’s musical endeavors had yet lifted them from the edge of poverty.” Weber family hosts musical Thursdays and at one of those evenings, they meet Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He is in town with his mother, who is in search of someone, who can further her son’s career. Mozart “is hoping to be commissioned for an opera (…) and he wants to have the position of vice kappellmeister…” The mother of Weber sisters, Maria Cecilia, makes notes in her ...

 Languedoc, region in Southern France, was marked by Cathars Inquisitions before the 14th century and after the 15th century the region experienced another Crusade now against Huguenots (French Protestants), who seemed to be putting the strongest resistance in this particular region. The story begins in 1562 Carcassonne with a 19 year old Minou, who works at her father’s bookshop. A bookshop known for “selling books to suit all religious tastes” and to be “out of step with the increasingly intolerant times.” Her father, Bernard Joubert, was a faithful Catholic, but it was her late mother, who was a true Languedocien, promoting tolerance through selling books expressing her believes. Five years earlier, the plague took her life and now her husband is troubled by the Inquisition.  One day, Minou receives an anonymous letter with only five words: “She knows that you live.” Piet Reydon, originally from Amsterdam, is visiting Carcassonne to do business. He does charitable w...