Your online source for Jane Austen and her legacy
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Since watching the 1943 movie, So Proudly We Hail, I have always been interested in the story of military nurses in the Pacific during WWII. There are so many movies and books based on the Battle of the Philippines (1941-1942) from the male perspective that I was thrilled... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Theresa Smith: “You,” Elisabetta breathes, maliciously, almost delightedly. “You will be blamed. So be careful, Lucrezia. Be very, very careful.” In The Marriage Portrait, O’Farrell gives us a fictional retelling of the short life and marriage of Lucrezia de’ Medici (1545-1561), third daughter of Cosimo l de’ Medici, Grand Duke of... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Rachel McMillan: I first discovered Molly Greeley’s forthcoming novel Marvelous in a Publisher’s Lunch deal memo. Knowing Greeley was a fan-favourite after her two deliciously engaging re-imaginings of Jane Austen’s world (The Clergyman’s Wife, and The Heiress) I would read anything she wrote. The true story behind the couple from the... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Tracy Hickman: Natalie Jenner’s debut novel The Jane Austen Society was an international bestseller and one of my favorite books of 2020. Would Ms. Jenner’s latest novel, set in post-war literary London, hold up under the weight of public expectation and comparison with her accomplished first effort? Would the Bloomsbury Girls... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:Â Happy Friday, dear readers. Spring is finally here in my neck of the woods. It is time of renewal, flowers, and new books! I am pleased to have a special guest with us today. Author Tessa Arlen has a new historical fiction novel arriving in July that immediately... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:Â My tulips are sprouting! Spring is on its way here in the Pacific Northwest along with a great selection of new historical novels. Here is a curated list of my favorites for March, April, and May. The range of stories and settings are diverse: Georgian, Regency, WWII, and... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: I often wonder how authors find inspiration for their novels. It is such an incredible skill to create a story from thin air. In the case of bestselling author Fiona Davis, she has made a successful career from reimagining stories surrounding iconic New York City buildings. In The... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Once upon a time, every young lady who was anyone in British society was presented at court. It involved an official invitation from the Palace, the proper bespoke gown, and a steady, deep curtsey in front of their sovereign. The ceremony heralded in a new crop of debutantes... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Sophia Rose: As many Agatha Christie fans become aware of sometime after they start devouring her books and the TV/Film Adaptions of them, her real life can read like the fiction she wrote. Two events stick with people the most. First, there is her husband’s affair and their subsequent divorce. This... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Happy news for historical book lovers. The selection of new novels available in the next two months is so exciting. From forgotten events in history, to deep dives into the social machinations of Gilded Age New York, to feisty heroines and swoon-worthy heroes, the selection is deep and... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:Â Happy New Year's Eve dear readers! 2021 proved to be a fabulous year in the historical book arena. From creative Austenesque variations, to Regency romances upending tropes, to reimagined gender-switched classics, to compelling historical fiction and mystery, we have been duly entertained and enchanted. A big thank you... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Tracy Hickman:Â I have been fascinated with history since I was a child. Learning about people and events from the past has helped me better understand my own life and the world around me. While there can be a temptation to look back at a period of history and think that... Continue Reading →
