Best Historical Fiction

  Fall of the Florios is the third installment of trilogy which ends the dramatic story of Italy’s most powerful and notorious family. It started with an impoverished shopkeeper and ends with the grandson who doesn’t have the same drive as he was already born into privilege. He changes the family fate as he wants to enjoy his status. The story picks up in January 1894 with turbulent events. A state of siege was declared on the island of Sicily as riots continued, ignited by organization that drew unhappy workers. The chaos on the island needed military intervention and the Florios become prisoners in their own house, hiding for their own safety. Franca is not happy in her marriage with Ignazio Florio as he continues his philandering. Her unhappiness and how to handle her husband’s infidelities fills big part of this story. Ignazio, on the other hand, faces big lay-offs as he continues to lose contracts. He finds faults with the system but doesn’t see his own lack for innovation. Th...

  A Pair of Wings tells the life story of pioneer aviatrix Bessie Coleman. In 1915, Bessie leaves oppressive Texas for Chicago where two of her brothers already relocated, and where she also reconnects with her college friend Norma. The two are opposites. Norma avoids risks, Bessie rushes toward adventure. All of them are part of the Great Migration that left agricultural South for opportunity in the North. Bessie works at barbershop where she meets a man who supports her dream of flying. But the problem is no one wants to accept a Negro female student. He helps her to apply to different schools, and he finds one that accepts her. It happens to be in France. That doesn’t deter her from following her dream. She learns the language and travels to France. In France, she learns much more. She converts wargame maneuvers into graceful performances which earn her the nickname of Daredevil in the US. It is a fascinating story of a remarkable woman and set against interesting historical bac...