Best Historical Fiction

  Leonora Carrington (1917-2011) was a British-born Mexican artist, surrealist painter, and novelist. London, 1937. Leonora studies art in London, not something her father approves. She is introduced to “these Surrealists – not studying, but living their art.” One of them is Max Ernst, married and twice her age. She is captivated by his persona. When Max’s work is being seen as an immoral mind and having “bad influence on the good people of London,” he needs to leave London. When “Hitler declares Modern Art degenerate,” Peggy Guggenheim makes a bold move to support the Modern Art and the artists fleeing to safety. In Paris, despite the women not being able to fully join the movement of Surrealism, Leonora attends their meetings; followed by display of her paintings. She should be happy, but she feels some emptiness. A heart stolen by a man. Southern France, 1940. Max once welcomed in France, now not so much. “Writers, artists, Jews.” All wanted by the Nazis. “They were enemies in a...

 This story brings the Gilded Age of New York and Newport, and the rivalry of two socialites: Caroline Astor, a Knickerbocker, so called Old Money and Alva Vanderbilt, the nouveau riche, so called New Money. Told with humor, we get to see the opulence and experience the Gilded Age. New York, 1876. Alva Vanderbilt, coming from impoverished family and marrying a rich man, thought it would automatically give her an entrance to society. But she was mistaken. Why is it so important to be part of society? It is the realm of women, the only place where they don’t have to answer to men. Caroline Astor feels that society must be preserved, women with tiaras and men with cigars. She is a champion of Old Money and tradition. The assault by the nouveau riche is reeking “of newly minted steel and railroad money.” New Money meaning made money is seen as tasteless. One’s wealth should be inherited, not earned. You inherit money “in addition to marrying yet more money.” Despite Old Money guarding ...

  Inspired by true story of Denise Weston Austin. So called the “elephant angel.” Belfast, N Ireland, 1940. An orphaned elephant leaves an island of Ceylon to make a new home at Bellevue Zoo. At the docks, Hettie Quin, zookeeper, meets a three-year-old elephant named Violet. Violet becomes Hattie’s favorite charge. They bond. Hattie cares for Violet. And Violet trusts Hettie. When bombs fall on Belfast and the city becomes an inferno, people rush to shelters and Hettie runs to the zoo where animals are scared and agitated. Hattie calms Violet. What is special about this story is the warmness created from the very first pages between Hattie and Violet. But there is much more to the story. I’d say majority of the story is character development of Hettie, her family, friends and others. It makes the story very dynamic. And it is a very interesting story. I warmed up to the main character right away. After losing her sister and the abandonment of her father, she finds solace in caring ...

  The first Oxford English Dictionary was created in 1901 only by men. Archives have proved that there were “female volunteers, assistants, spouses, none of whose contributions were acknowledged.” Where there any words “these scholarly men might have chosen to omit from their version of the English language?” This question becomes the premise for this story. Oxford, 1887. Esme’s father is “one of Dr. Murray’s most trusted lexicographers,” and she doesn’t have a mother to care for her, thus a blind eye is being turned, when she is in the Scriptorium - under a table. As a word on a piece of paper slips off the end of the table, she catches it and saves it. When she questions what happens to the words that are left out, she is told, “If there isn’t enough information about them, they’re discarded.” With time she becomes an assistant, now working ‘above’ the table. Esme’s ambition grows. She wants to collect the words on her own, and not just wait for them to come by mail to the Script...