West Bend Community Memorial Library Adult Booklist

Historical Fiction - Ages of Past

[Prehistoric Times] [Ancient Egypt] [Ancient Greece] [Ancient Rome] [Bible Tales] [Arthurian Tales] [Middle Ages] [French Revolution] [European History] [American Revolution] [War of 1812] [California Gold Rush] [Slavery] [Civil War] [World War I] [World War II] [Pearl Harbor] [Korean War] [Civil Rights Movement (U.S.)] [Vietnam War] [Persian Gulf War] [September 11, 2001]

[Prehistoric Times]

Muse of Art by Piers Anthony - Muse of Art explores the special talents that have inspired and motivated us since the earliest days of our existence: curiosity and creativity, seduction and survival, destruction and healing. We view some of the most explosive eras in human history through the eyes of three remarkable women: Avalanche, the alluring beauty skilled in the arts of love and desire; Melee, the headstrong young noblewoman who learns to mold men to her will; and Talena, the wise and lovely weaver of tales who embodies Eve, the primordial mother of the human race. Through them we take part in the occult mysteries of Egypt, the savage wars of the Olmecs, the violent clashes between the Romans and Celts, the court intrigues of ancient Cambodia, the savagery of Attila the Hun, the Napoleonic Wars, and the siege of Stalingrad in the darkest days of World War II. And we look ahead to a harrowing future overshadowed by a devastating plague. Number 4 in the Geodyssey Series

Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel - When her parents are killed by an earthquake, 5-year-old Ayla wanders through the forest completely alone. Cold, hungry, and badly injured by a cave lion, the little girl is as good as gone until she is discovered by a group who call themselves the Clan of the Cave Bear. This clan, left homeless by the same disaster, have little interest in the helpless girl who comes from the tribe they refer to as the "Others." Only their medicine woman sees in Ayla a fellow human, worthy of care. She painstakingly nurses her back to health--a decision that will forever alter the physical and emotional structure of the clan. Although this story takes place roughly 35,000 years ago, its cast of characters could easily slide into any modern tale. The members of the Neanderthal clan, ruled by traditions and taboos, find themselves challenged by this outsider, who represents the physically modern Cro-Magnons. And as Ayla begins to grow and mature, her natural tendencies emerge, putting her in the middle of a brutal and dangerous power struggle. The first in Jean Auel's series titled, Earth's Children.

Dawn Land by Joseph Bruchac - A compelling first novel by nationally known Native American storyteller Joseph Bruchac. An action-packed adventure story spun in authentic native oral tradition, Dawn Land unfolds about ten thousand years ago, in the area now known as New England. A shadow is crossing over the land, and the village's finest son must meet the threat.

Song of the Axe by John R. Dann - Near the end of the ice age, the warrior Agon and the huntress Eena fall in love and lead their tribe against invaders led by the evil shaman, Ka. With his tribe destroyed, and Eena kidnapped by Ka, Agon beats the odds and rescues her. Migrating to a new land with their new family, the pair become targets of the vengeful children of Ka.

People of the Silence by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear - By A.D. 1150 the Anasazi had created an empire in the Southwest that would never again be equaled in North America. Master astronomers, traders, and architects, they built extraordinary roads linking thousands of square miles. Their Great Houses stood five stories tall and contained hundreds of rooms. Yet at the height of their civilization, cataclysm struck; the Anasazi began to destroy themselves from the inside out.... On his deathbed the Great Sun Chief discovers that, fifteen summers before, his wife bore a child to another man, and to protect it from his wrath, she hid the infant girl in a village far to the north. The Great Sun does not know who the young woman is, or what she looks like, but he wants her dead. When her village is attacked, Cornsilk flees for her life and runs into Poor Singer, a curious youth seeking to touch the soul of the Katchinas. Together, Poor Singer and Cornsilk undertake the perilous task of staying alive long enough to discover her true identity. It won't be easy. A desperate killer is stalking them - and he is willing to destroy the entire Anasazi world to get to her. First North Americans Series

Mother Earth Father Sky by Sue Harrison - Harrison has gone back 9000 years in time to tell the story of Chagak, a young woman who struggles to survive when her family and village are slaughtered by the warlike Short Ones. Her only ally is a crippled recluse who offers her shelter on his island. But what can either of them do when Chagak is demanded in marriage by one of the men who killed her family?

Let the Drum Speak by Linda Lay Shuler - This sequel to She Who Remembers and The Voice of the Eagle follows Antelope, the new "She Who Remembers"; her mate, Chomoc; and their daughter, Skyfeather, as they leave their native Southwest to travel to what is now Oklahoma. Like her mother, Kwani, Antelope faces many dangers in her adventures among strangers. Abandoned by her wandering husband, she is gradually assimilated into the life of the Hasinai, even becoming the beloved mate of their leader, the Great Sun. However, she is torn between her love for him and the need to return to her own clan to warn them of the terrible forthcoming events she has seen in a vision.

White Mare's Daughter by Judith Tarr - For her latest novel, Tarr (Queen of Swords, LJ 2/1/97) has created a prehistoric world peopled by fierce nomadic horsemen and peaceful Goddess-worshipping hunter-gatherers. Sarama and her twin brother, Agni, are members of a patriarchal tribe who inhabit the harsh steppes. Following the call of the Horse Goddess, Sarama leaves the steppes in search of a fabled land of plenty where women are the rulers. She meets Danu, son of one of the female leaders, and discovers that war and violence are unknown in his world. Can her civilization and his ever peacefully coexist?

[Ancient Egypt]

The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George - The world-renowned author of The Autobiography of Henry VIII and Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles turns from Renaissance Britain to ancient Egypt and the story of Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile. Told in the first person - from the young queen's earliest memories of her father's tenuous rule to her own reign over one of the most glittering kingdoms in the world - this is a mesmerizing saga of ambition and power. But it is also a tale of passion that begins when the twenty-one-year-old Cleopatra, desperate to return from exile, seeks out the one man who can help her, the Roman general Julius Caesar - and does not end until, having survived the assassination of Caesar and the defeat of the second man she loves, Marc Antony, she plots her own death rather than allow herself to be paraded in triumph through the streets of Rome.

Kleopatra by Karen Essex - High drama and ancient history combine in this spellbinding novel of the early life of Egypt's infamous queen, at once a beautiful seductress, brilliant politician, and the most powerful ruler of her time.

Pharaoh by Karen Essex - The glittering epic of "Kleopatra" continues as Egypt's queen is reinstated to the throne and now shares her bed with Caesar. But in order for their infant son to be officially recognized as Caesar's rightful heir, she must journey with the child to Rome. There she forms an intimate bond with Antony, Caesar's second-in-command.

When We Were Gods by Colin Falconer - Falconer's swift-moving historical novel adds new twists and modern dialogue to an oft-told tragic tale. Fifty-one years before the birth of Jesus Christ, in the fertile Nile valley, 18-year-old Cleopatra ascends to the throne of Egypt upon the death of her father, Ptolemy XII. Inheriting a palace that more closely resembles a snake pit than a home, crowded with family and advisers, Cleopatra must come to terms with the heavy burden of royalty and its inevitable loneliness. Her only trusted friend is Mardian, the giant eunuch who has been her tutor since childhood. From an Egypt desperately attempting to retain its hold on ancient religions and traditions in a rapidly changing world, to the hypocritical halls of the Roman Republic, the young queen weaves her web of seduction, ensnaring not only the cold, driven Julius Caesar but also a playful Marcus Antonius. Falconer's Cleopatra is vulnerable, intelligent and liberated, defined by her wit as much as by her beauty. This fresh take on one of history's leading ladies is smoothly written, slickly couching ancient history in the contemporary rhetoric of female empowerment.

Lords of the Two Lands series by Pauline Gedge - "The Hippopotamus Marsh" begins a trilogy that brings to vivid life the passions and intrigues that ushered in the great 18th Dynasty--an epic of the struggle to liberate Egypt from the rule of the "shepherd kings." In "The Oasis", after his father's death, Kamose assumes command of the rebellion of the native princes against their overlords. He makes a perilous sweep up the river Nile toward the delta strongholds of the Hyksos. The costs are heavy in terms of men slain and villages destroyed. The long domination of alien men and their gods has been effectively challenged, but Kamose cannot lead the Egyptians to glory. In the last book of the trilogy "The Horus Road", the youngest son of Seqenenra Tao assumes command of the native armies rebelling against the Pharaoh Apepa, whose alien dynasty has ruled Egypt for two hundred years. When his dedicated but ascetic older brother, Kamose, was assassinated by his own allies, Ahmose was seriously wounded. The women of the family must hold the native forces together until Ahmose can recover and develop a strategy that will bring about the downfall of the "rulers of the uplands," whom we know today as the Hyksos.

Valley of the Kings by Cecelia Holland - It was a time of religious and political upheaval--the heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten's religious reforms had been defeated by the power of the Priests of Amun, and the young Boy King, Tutankhamun, had been placed on the throne. There was famine in the land, and ongoing deadly intrigue in the Court as different factions maneuvered to gain control of Egypt. It ended in the mysterious death of the young king, and his hasty, secret burial. Nearly thirty-five hundred years later, in the 1920s, a young British archeologist named Howard Carter becomes obsessed with finding Tutankhamun's tomb. But he must struggle with more than the secretive nature of the ancient Egyptians--his work cannot go on without the approval of the modern Egyptian bureaucracy or without continued financial support from the British peer who is looking for treasure more than knowledge.

The Shadow Women by Angela Elwell Hunt - Under the shadow of ancient Egypt, a baby boy is born to a peasant woman. His young sister leaves him in a basket in a river, hiding in the rushes to watch over him until a princess comes to claim the child as her own. She names him Moses, and he grows to become a man whose life is characterized by violence and terror, but equally by faith, and whose sacrifice ultimately leads to the redemption and liberation of his people from slavery. Told from the perspective of the women who loved him, from his mother and sister, who saved him by giving him up, to the Egyptian princess who adopted him, to the shepherd's daughter he married, this epic novel of passion and intrigue offers a fresh perspective on the man who received the 10 Commandments, parted the Red Sea, and led God's people out of Egypt: Moses, one of the most enigmatic figures in Biblical history.

Warlock by Wilbur Smith - One of the world's most acclaimed adventure writers returns to the world of ancient Egypt with the stunning sequel to the bestselling "River God". After the death of his beloved Queen Lostris, Taita retreats into the deserts to transform himself into a warlock. He discovers the divine purpose of his bereavement when he is called upon to save the dynasty of Lostris from the clouds of evil.

King And Goddess by Judith Tarr - Egypt's "most notorious" female king, Maatkare Hatshepsut, is the captivating subject of Tarr's latest novel of ancient Egypt. The story opens as Senenmut, a homely, arrogant young scribe, arrives at the royal palace in Thebes as a gift to the "girlchild" Queen Hatshepsut--the Great Royal Wife of King Thutmose II, who is her half-brother. Hatshepsut and the war-hungry king are living gods. The royal marriage has yet to be consummated, however, because the queen considers the king "a sweaty, panting lout without the least grain of delicacy." Recognizing her duty to produce an heir, she orders Isis, a beautiful maidservant, to prepare the king for her by teaching him the art of lovemaking. When Hatshepsut at last gives birth to a girl instead of the desired boy, the queen refuses to care for her, appointing Senenmut as her daughter's tutor and guardian. The birth of a stillborn son leaves the queen infertile. Her hatred toward the king crystallizes after Isis, now his calculating concubine, gives birth to an heir, Thutmose III. When the king suddenly dies, further intrigue unfolds, leading to Hatshepsut, now queen regent, seizing her chance to gain the throne. Tarr evokes Hatshepsut's ruthlessness as well as her vulnerability, and provides vivid portraits of Senenmut, Thutmose III and other real historical figures. Hatshepsut's courtship of the Egyptians, her peaceful reign and Thutmose III's ultimate revenge against her add up to a dramatic tale.

[Ancient Greece]

The Sand-Reckoner by Gillian Bradshaw - The young scholar Archimedes has just had the best three years of his life at Ptolemy's Museum at Alexandria. To be able to talk and think all day, every day, sharing ideas and information with the world's greatest minds, is heaven to Archimedes. But heaven must be forsaken when he learns that his father is ailing, and his home city of Syracuse is at war with the Romans. Reluctant but resigned, Archimedes takes himself home to find a job building catapults as a royal engineer. Though Syracuse is no Alexandria, Archimedes also finds that life at home isn't as boring or confining as he originally thought. He finds fame and loss, love and war, wealth and betrayal-none of which affects him nearly as much as the divine beauty of mathematics.

The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - In the spring of 400 B.C., ten thousand battered Greek soldiers stagger out of the frozen mountains of Armenia into a small Hellenic trading post on the eastern Black Sea. Their stunning tale of survival is the source of this epic debut in the tradition of "Gates of Fire".

The Courtesan's Daughter by Priscilla Galloway - Phano is almost 15, the traditional age for a woman to marry in ancient Athens. She is in love with Theo, who is 30 -- the traditional age for a man to marry. But marriage may not be an option for her. Her stepmother's enemy, Phrynion, claims that Phano is not really a free woman but a slave who belongs to him, and he is ready to sell her if he can get his hands on her. Phano, her father, and her stepmother must use every resource they have to try to restore her reputation and keep her safe. Even if they can keep Phrynion away, Phano may never be able to marry Theo, whose prominent family would expect a wealthy bride who would bring a good-sized dowry with her. Meanwhile, Athens faces the threat of war from Philip of Macedon. Once she turns 15, Phano must find her place as an adult in the turbulent society of ancient Greece.

Sappho's Leap by Erica Jong - Fearless, exuberant, and passionate, Sappho is Erica Jong's most unforgettable heroine. Sappho's Leap is a journey back 2,600 years to inhabit the mind of the greatest Greek love poet the world has ever known. At the age of fourteen, Sappho is seduced by the beautiful poet Alcaeus, plots with him to overthrow the dictator of their island, and is caught and married off to a repellent older man in hopes that matrimony will keep her out of trouble. Instead, it starts her off on a series of amorous adventures with both men and women, taking her from Delphi to Egypt, and even to the Land of the Amazons and the shadowy realm of Hades.

Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield - On a memorial stone placed at the ancient battlefield of Thermopylae are the words, "Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here, obedient to their laws, we lie." Those simple words end and encapsulate this brilliant and brutal epic tale. Beginning at the training fields of Sparta, Pressfield ushers the reader through the climactic Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C.E, fought by the combined armies of Sparta, Athens, and their allies against the invading soldiers of Persia. Narrated by the sole survivor of the battle at the "Hot Gates," in which 300 Spartans, hundreds of their allies, and tens of thousands of Persians died, this work portrays the men and women of ancient Sparta in intimate, dynamic detail.

Tides of War by Steven Pressfield - The internationally bestselling author of "Gates of Fire" returns with a stunning novel of the Peloponnesian War and Alcibiades, the man whose heroics and passions fueled the epic struggle. Narrated by the conqueror's trusted bodyguard and hired assassin in a mesmerizing death-row confession, "Tides of War" is historical fiction at its finest--a full-bodied, flesh-and-blood retelling of one of history's pivotal conflicts.

The Last of the Amazons by Steven Pressfield - In approximately 1250 B.C.E., Theseus, King of Athens, embarks upon a journey to the Amazonian homeland in what is now southern Russia. There he meets and falls in love with Antiope, the Amazon queen, who accompanies him home to Athens. Some accounts indicate that Antiope was forced to leave her people, but in Pressfield's rendition she elected to follow Theseus. Enraged, the Amazons journey to Athens, where they lay siege to the city in an effort to regain their queen and their honor. The aftermath of this war finds the Amazon women diminished in number from over 150,000 to just a couple thousand in the span of 20 years. Pressfield's splendid tale of valor, honor, and comradeship memorializes those women whose lives and deeds have faded into the mists of legend.

The Gryphon's Skull by H.N. Turteltaub - Sea-faring merchants Menedemos and Sostratos, the bickering cousins of Over the Wine-Dark Sea, Turteltaub's previous historical novel set in ancient Greece, are back again with an adventure taking them across the Aegean from the free city of Rhodes to glittering Athens. On their way to the city with a cargo of precious goods, they pick up the skull of an unusual bird. The scholarly Sostratos believes it is that of a gryphon, and thus proof of the existence of the mythical beast. The more down-to-earth Menedemos has little interest in the skull's scientific value, but hopes the philosophical schools in Athens will compete to purchase it. On the relatively short journey, they are plagued by pirates and the clashing forces of Egyptian Ptolemaios and Greek Antigonas, as well as the latter's troublesome nephew Ptolemaios.

Gates of Hell by P.C. Doherty - It is 334 B.C. Alexander and his troops have crossed into Asia and shattered the Persian army at the battle of the Granicus. Marching south he has conquered all in his path, including the great city of Ephesus. But he knows, and his enemies know, that the great prize is the city of Halicarnassus, strategically important and with fortifications to make any attacker despair. Alexander, by now famous as the "Great Besieger of Cities" must take Halicarnassus. The city has a link with his own past and his difficult relationship with his father; he needs to prove something to himself. The city's commanders, Alexander's old enemy Memnon of Rhodes, the Persian Orontobates, and the Greek renegade, Ephialtes, plot to ensure that Alexander will meet his nemesis at their gates. Fortifications are redoubled and a trap is prepared. This time, surely, they will bring down the "Macedonian Wolf" and bring his dreams of conquest to nothing. Alexander's court is set up close to the city, and his physician and boyhood friend Telamon is there. Even as Alexander brings up his troops for one of the most dramatic confrontations in the ancient world, a series of brutal killings begins, proving that the Persians have infiltrated the court. While his lord prepares for the fight of his life, Telamon enters a maelstrom of murder and intrigue. He must go through "The Gates of Hell" to find the traitors and protect Alexander - but all the while the evercunning Alexander keeps his counsel and pursues his own plans to foil his enemies.

[Ancient Rome]

Emperor: The Death of Kings by Conn Iggulden - Iggulden's first novel, Emperor: The Gates of Rome, dealt with the lives of Julius Caesar and Brutus as boys and then as young men. This new book, the second in a four-part cycle detailing the intertwined lives of these two men, begins with Caesar's capture by pirates and concludes with the suppression of Spartacus' slave rebellion. The story traces the rise of Caesar and Brutus from their lowly status as junior officers to positions of command and power in a Rome that was hard and cruel. It also shows the beginnings of Brutus' jealousy as the friends become rivals. Iggulden admits to tweaking the facts, which means this novel is more an adventure about a man named Caesar than true historical fiction. Still, it is broadly accurate as well as often exciting and fascinating.

Emperor: The Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden - English writer Iggulden's first novel is the story of two young boys-Gaius and Marcus, raised as brothers though one is illegitimate-as they grow to adulthood in Rome two millennia ago. At that time, the republic was beginning to fall apart, a collapse that would result in the civil wars that brought the emperors to power. It was a time of turmoil, chaos, revolutions, casual violence, and savage brutality, and Iggulden's descriptions of the culture and environment are vivid. Although covering a period unknown to most lay readers, Emperor is a surprisingly fast and often exciting read.

Gods and Legions by Michael Curtis Ford - A close relative of Constantine, the first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity openly, but himself a pagan, Julian the Apostate was a man of many contradictions. The story opens with Julian as a young, sheltered philosophy student and pacifist in Athens. Not long into his education, however, he must take up arms and save the Roman Empire from corrupt leaders and hostile neighbors. He does so ingeniously, becoming the first emperor since Julius Caesar to conquer the tribes of Gaul. Though Ford's descriptions of warfare in the fourth century C.E. are dramatically gruesome, the moments of humor and personal valor make this a truly compelling story-one not just of gods and legions but of men. Julian lived as simply as an aesthetic in the heart of one of the most decadent cities history has ever known. Although he never set foot in Rome, he dedicated his life to the expansion of the Roman Empire.

The Last King by Michael Curtis Ford - To the Romans, the greatest enemy the Republic ever faced was not the Goths or Huns, nor even Hannibal, but rather a ferocious and brilliant king on the distant Black Sea: Mithridates Eupator VI of Pontus, known to history as Mithridates the Great. At age eleven, Mithridates inherited a small mountain kingdom of wild tribesmen, which his wicked mother governed in his place. Sweeping to power at age twenty-one, he proved to be a military genius and quickly consolidated various fiefdoms under his command. Since Rome also had expansionist designs in this region, bloody conflict was inevitable.
Over forty years, Rome sent its greatest generals to contain Mithridates and gained tenuous control over his empire only after suffering a series of devastating defeats at the hands of this cunning and ruthless king. Each time Rome declared victory, Mithridates considered it merely a strategic retreat, and soon came roaring back with a more powerful army than before. Bursting with heroic battle scenes and eloquent storytelling, Michael Curtis Ford has crafted a riveting novel of the ancient world and resurrected one of history's greatest warriors.

Pompeii by Robert Harris - "Pompeii" recreates in spellbinding detail one of the most famous natural disasters of all time. And by focusing, on the characters of an engineer and a scientist, it offers an, entirely original Perspective on the Roman world.

The October Horse by Colleen McCullough - With her extraordinary knowledge of Roman history, McCullough brings Caesar to life as nobody has ever done before and surrounds him with an enormous, vivid cast of historical characters.
--Check out other books by Colleen McCullough (First Man in Rome, Fortune's Favorites, Caesar's Women, & Caesar: Let the Dice Fly)

A God Strolling in the Cool of the Evening by Mario de Carvalho - The Moors have invaded the Iberian peninsula, raiding and pillaging Roman towns, but the people of Tarcisis turn a blind eye to the danger. Made complacent by the prosperity of the Pax Romana, they focus instead on the sadistic Games and on the persecution of members of a new religious sect living within the city walls - the Christians. Striving always to adhere to the principles of his hero Marcus Aurelius, Lucius musters all of his moral courage and sheer strength of will to protect the city. His devotion to civic duty undergoes a crucial test, however, when the charismatic and beautiful leader of the new sect, Iunia Cantaber, is brought before his court. Mario de Carvalho depicts the timeless story of a good man stuggling to maintain sense and order in his public and private lives and to uphold justice as he understands it.

As Sure As the Dawn by Francine Rivers - Atretes, a German barbarian who has won his freedom in the Roman arena, finds his life changed forever by an encounter with a young Christian woman. Atretes vows to move heaven and earth to find his son--the baby he thought was dead, and take him back to Germany. Only one thing stands in his way: Rizpah, the Christian widow who has cared for the child since his birth.

[Bible Tales]

Gods and Kings by Lynn Austin - Gods and Kings is the story of King Hezekiah, heir to the throne of King David. When his evil father plots to sacrifice him, Hezekiah's mother, Abijah, searches frantically for a way to save him. But only two men can help her, and neither of them seems trustworthy. In a time and place engulfed by violence, treachery, and infidelity to Yahweh, Abijah and her son must discover the one true Source of strength if they are to save themselves and their country.

Queenmaker: A Novel of King David's Queen by India Edghill - For more than 40 years, Michal lived and reigned in David's court. Speaking as a sister, a wife, a mother, a lover, a woman both scorned and worshipped, and above all, as a friend to David's other women, Queen Michal reveals her hopes and pains, as the fire of God burns and war, passion, murder, and prophecy fill the Promised Land.

Wisdom's Daughter: a novel of Solomon and Sheba by India Edghill - This is the tale of Bilqis, the Queen of Sheba, who rules the spice lands and bows before the will of the Goddess. This is the tale of Solomon, the King of Israel and Judea, who built the golden temple to Yahweh in Jerusalem. Once he prayed that he might rule wisely. This is the tale of Solomon's wives, of his concubines ... and of his daughter Baalit, more beloved than any son. Here are their voices, their mysteries, and their deepest secrets. Here they sing their songs and weave their tapestries. As the queen's search for a true heir to her throne takes her to the court of the wisest man in the world, both she and the king learn how to value truth, love, and duty...and the king's daughter learns that not all the world is ruled by men.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant - Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis that are about her father, Jacob, and his dozen sons. Told in Dinah's voice, this novel reveals the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood - the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of her mothers - Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah - the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that are to sustain her through a damaged youth, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah's story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate, immediate connection.

Quarantine by Jim Crace - A re-imagining of the forty days Christ spent in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. Judea, about two thousand years ago: There were five of them - not in a group, but strung out along the road where earlier that morning the caravan of uncles had passed by. Three men, a woman, and, too far behind for anyone to guess its gender, a fifth. And this fifth was barefoot, and without a staff. No water-skin, or bag of clothes. No food. A slow, painstaking figure, made thin and watery by the rising, mirage heat, as if someone had thrown a stone into the pool of air through which it walked and ripples had diluted it.

Daughter of Jerusalem by Thom Lemmons - Mary Magdalene, one who was lost then found, reaches in compassion toward other wandering sheep of the house of Israel. Through Mary's eyes, we will see the birth of the infant church and also the changes taking place within Mary's heart.

Sarah: Women of Genesis by Orson Scott Card - From bestselling author Orson Scott Card comes a vivid and imaginative portrayal of the biblical Sarah, Abraham's loyal wife and Isaac's loving mother. Forced finally to share her husband after a lifetime of devotion, rebuked by the Lord for her unbelief, and grappling with fears that her beloved Isaac will be displaced by Hagar's Ishmael, Sarah is nonetheless a triumphant figure. Covering the events recorded in Genesis up to the birth of Isaac and Sarah's confrontation with Hagar, this first of a series of novels on biblical women is an epic tale of loyalty and resilience before God and before Abraham. Other women in Card's Women of Genesis series: Rebekah & Rachel and Leah.

Two from Galilee by Marjorie Holmes - This is the story of two real people whose lives were touched by God: two people chosen by God to provide an earthly home for His Son. Here are Mary and Joseph-a teenage girl and a young carpenter-alone, frightened, in love, faced with family conflict, a hostile world and an awesome responsibility. It is a story for young and old alike; for everyone who finds the Christmas tale a source of timeless beauty and wonder, a compassionate, emotional novel of divine love.

Jabez by Thom Lemmons - Thousands of years after he prayed it, Jabez's prayer for God's blessing has helped change the lives of millions of people. Now one of today's most accomplished writers of biblical fiction rips through the veil of silence surrounding the life of this well-known prayer warrior, revealing him as a real person -- and a real man of faith. Set in one of the Bible's most tumultuous times -- southern Judah during the days of the judges -- the bestselling novel Jabez explores the lives of two compelling people, inviting readers into the paradox of blessing versus struggle and involving them in a search for a fulfilling life and a satisfying destiny.

Stone Tables by Orson Scott Card - Noted author Orson Scott Card explores what it might have been like to be Moses, and provides an account of the lives of Moses's brother, Aaron, his sister Miriam, the two women that he called mother, and the woman he married.

Tamar by Ann Chamberlin - Like Mary Renault's novels, this enthralling tale depicts the tumultuous life of an unforgettable woman of the Bible as she fights for her right to worship her own Goddess and love the man of her choice.

Lineage of Grace Series by Francine Rivers - The first four in a projected five-book series entitled Lineage of Grace, about Biblical women. Unveiled is about Tamar, the wife of Er, Judah's firstborn. Unashamed is about Rahab, the prostitute that helped Joshua. Unshaken features the story of Ruth, and Unspoken chronicles the story of Bathsheba and David. Unafraid.

[Arthurian Tales]

Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley - The legends of King Arthur come to life in the extraordinary stories of the women in his life--including his half-sister Morgaine, a high-priestess of the religion of the Mother Goddess, and his beautiful wife Gwynhefar, torn between her duty and her love for Lancelot. Look for first books in the Avalon series by Marion Zimmer Bradley. (Ancestors of Avalon, The Forest House, Lady of Avalon, Priestess of Avalon)

The Enchantresses by Vera Chapman - Three sisters, Morgause, Morgan, and Vivian, grow up under the tutelage of the druid Merlin, becoming powerful sorceresses in their own right and shaping the destiny of Britain with their desires and intrigues. Chapmans version of the Arthurian cycle focuses on the childhood, youth, and adulthood of the three women whose magic helps create and destroy a legendary hero.

The Broken Sword by Molly Cochran - Beatrice, who is blind, has found the Holy Grail. When she touches it, her vision is restored - and she gains strange, mystical powers. Drawn to the young king by the Grail's magic, Beatrice becomes Arthur's companion as he returns from the Middle East to the United States. What should be a simple trip is instead fraught with peril. Even in the technological age, there are those who use magic - and not always for good. An evil sorcerer covets the Holy Grail and the power it conveys, and he'll do anything to get it. Meanwhile, the Knights of the Round Table are confused by the modern world. Chivalry as they knew it seems to be dead, and no one knows how to fight a good duel anymore. Led by Hal, who was once Galahad, the knights learn to ride motorcycles instead of horses and how to drink beer instead of mead. But they never forget their true mission - to protect and serve the High King. When Excalibur is shattered by an evil magician, Arthur seems defenseless, and the dream of the Round Table seems once again doomed. But the Round Table is a dream that never truly dies, and though still a teenager, Arthur is truly the High King, with all the power that title implies. Camelot will rise again.

The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell - Cornwell's Arthur is fierce, dedicated and complex, a man with many problems, most of his own making. His impulsive decisions sometimes have tragic ramifications, as when he lustfully takes Guinevere instead of the intended Ceinwyn, alienating his friends and allies and inspiring a bloody battle. The secondary characters are equally unexpected, and are ribboned with the magic and superstition of the times. Merlin impresses as a remarkable personage, a crafty schemer fond of deceit and disguise. Lancelot is portrayed as a warrior-pretender, a dishonest charmer with dark plans of his own; by contrast, Galahad seems the noble soldier of purpose and dedication. Guinevere, meanwhile, no gentle creature waiting patiently in the moonlight, has designs and plots of her own. The story of these characters and others is narrated forcefully and with dry wit by Derfel Cadarn, one of Arthur's warriors, who later becomes a monk. Cornwell knows his history--the battle scenes are particularly fine--but not once does it get in the way of people of flesh and blood meeting on a darkened field of combat. Other titles in the Warlord Chronicles trilogy by Bernard Cornwell, Enemy of God & Excalibur.

Guardian of the Balance by Irene Radford - Merlin's daughter, Wren, is sworn to preserve the natural balance of the world--and although her rightful place should have been in Avalon, she is instead forced to confront an overwhelming evil which may well destroy her entire civilization. Merlin's Descendents vol. 1.

Guenevere: Queen of the Summer Country by Rosalind Miles - British novelist Miles takes her readers to the oft-traveled realms of King Arthur and his noble knights. This story, however, is told from the point of view of Guenevere, a queen in her own right and one well versed in the old ways of goddess worship and the right of the queen to choose her own consort. When Guenevere's succession to the throne of Camelot is threatened by her cousin, she chooses the young, impetuous, unacknowledged son of Uther Pendragon. Together, they reign in Camelot in spite of machinations by an ambitious and insane Merlin and the murderously jealous Morgan le Fay. Miles is at her best in her descriptions of everyday life--customs, food, dress, and religion (both pagan rites and early Christianity). This is an entertaining tale that tells an old story from a new perspective. The Guenevere novels continue with The Knight of the Sacred Lake and The Child of the Holy Grail.

Sorcerer by Jack Whyte - As the forces of Peter Ironhair threaten the land of Camulod, Merlyn Britannicus realizes that the time has come for his ward, Arthur Pendragon, to claim the skystone sword Excalibur and take his rightful place as High King of Britain. The latest volume of Whyte's epic retelling of the Arthurian cycle marks the end of Arthur's childhood training and the beginning of the legend that surrounds his career. Whyte firmly grounds his tale in historical detail, personal drama, and political intrigue, combining realism and wonder in a fortuitous blend. Camulod Chronicles

[Middle Ages 400-1400]

The Plague Tales by Ann Benson - What happens when the bubonic plague, long absent from the modern world, is let loose into twenty-first-century society? The Plague Tales weaves together two parallel stories in this work of fiction. Fourteenth-century physician Alejandro Canches, caught performing an autopsy in Spain, flees across Europe at the time of the Black Death to escape execution for his heretical deed. When he arrives in the papal city of Avignon, he is conscripted against his will to serve as a plague doctor in the court of England's Edward III. Unfolding in a dramatic counterpoint is the story of American medical archaeologist Janie Crowe, in England at the turn of the twenty-first century to recover from the tragic loss of her family. She digs up a medieval artifact as part of her research and unwittingly releases a deadly plague bacteria on an unprepared world. In a future where antibiotics are useless and a past where death is an ever-present fear, these two unwilling heroes from two different centuries are linked by history and defined by circumstance.

The Wolf Hunt by Gillain Bradshaw - British classics scholar and historical novelist Bradshaw here tries her hand at medieval romance. Marie Penthiovre, a young and spirited noblewoman, is kidnapped from a convent in Normandy by enemies of her father. Escaping into the wild forest of Brocaliande, she is rescued by the renowned knight Tiarnn of Talensac. He escorts her to the duke of Brittany, who encourages her to marry one of his knights. Marie's romantic dreams of wedding Tiarnn are dashed when he marries someone else, but when he disappears soon after his wedding, Marie determines to discover the truth and preserve Tiarnn's reputation as an honorable warrior.

The Champion by Elizabeth Chadwick - An award-winning historical novelist delivers an epic tale of medieval plots and royal intrigues, in the story of a skilled young knight, the woman he betrays, and their chance meeting years later. Well known for her medieval fiction, look for more books by Elizabeth Chadwick.

Deus Lo Volt! by Evan S. Connell - Recounted by a French nobleman at the end of the 1200s, this novel of the Crusades is rich history, populated with larger-than-life figures like Richard the Lion-Hearted and the Saracen palanquin Saladin; the action moves through grand set pieces such as the siege of Acre, the disastrous Children's Crusade, and the Westerners' sack of Constantinople. There are more rogues than heroes in this tale of the doomed attempt to take and keep the Holy Land, a venture that failed through human weakness as much as the logistics of supply and communication.

Heretic by Bernard Cornwell - Cornwell's latest entry in the "Grail Quest" series (The Archer's Tale; Vagabond) opens in 1347, as Thomas, a talented archer, arrives in France in time to fight alongside the Earl of Northampton. With the Hundred Years War still raging, Thomas hopes that the earl will allow him to command Will Skeat's archers, but instead he wants Thomas to pursue the Holy Grail, directing him and the archers to Thomas's ancestral home of Astarac in Gascony, where the grail is now believed to be hidden. In Gascony, Thomas meets the beautiful heretic Genevieve, who, like Thomas, was tortured by church inquisitors. He saves her from death at the stake, boldly thwarting church ruling and thereby damaging his command, his friendships, and his search for the grail. Outcast and on the run, Thomas is once again challenged by his cousin and bitter enemy, Guy Vexille.

The Good Men by Charmaine Craig - An exquisitely written, haunting novel of ideas based on the 14th century testimony of a young woman who was tried for heresy during the Inquisition in France.

Baudolino by Umberto Eco - In another grand mythical epic, Eco transports readers to the medieval Italy of The Name of the Rose (though almost two centuries earlier), where Frederick Barbarossa seeks to establish himself as the Holy Roman emperor. The story begins in 1204, as the Byzantium capital of Constantinople is sacked and Baudolino, the adoptive son of Frederick, recounts his life to Byzantine historian Niketas, whom he has just saved from the barbaric Latins. Unfolding amid religious conspiracy theories and mysticism, the narrative, which builds slowly, follows the life of Baudolino, an Italian peasant boy who fabricates stories he realizes people want to believe in. While studying in Paris, Baudolino meets several friends from all over the world, who together divulge their intimate dreams and share their desire to discover distant places. Two decades later, Baudolino calls together his friends to embark on what will be a lifelong journey to find Prester John, the Christian priest of the East, whose fabled reputation Baudolino has helped create. Eco seems to loosen the reins when the friends set out across unknown territories, where they grope through an eternally dark forest; traverse a river of stones and boulders; and encounter such mythical creatures as the sled-footed skiapods, dog-headed cynocephali and the Hypatia, beautiful sirens with the legs of goats. While the pilgrims are aware, to a certain extent, of Baudolino's truth-stretching, they all come to believe in their search, as does Baudolino himself.

The Crusader by Michael Alexander Eisner - Brother Lucas is a Cistercian monk with ambition. Born a bastard to a monastery servant, he has managed in his short life to claw his way up the religious hierarchy to the post of prior. Although his mercenary soul could use a little work, his future as an abbot, perhaps even a bishop, seems well within reach. Then Brother Lucas is summoned to the side of an old friend back from the Crusades. Francisco de Montcada, heir to one of Spain's wealthiest families, has returned from the Holy Land supposedly possessed by demons and tells tales of horrendous atrocities committed in the name of faith. First novelist Eisner uses the story-within-a-story device to great effect here, as Brother Lucas transcribes Francisco's confessions, thereby shifting the scene from Spain to the 1271 fall of the great fortress of Krak des Chevaliers. Francisco's stories of battle and imprisonment are the strongest part of this novel and also the best researched.

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - A radical departure from Follett's novels of international suspense and intrigue, this chronicles the vicissitudes of a prior, his master builder, and their community as they struggle to build a cathedral and protect themselves during the tumultuous 12th century, when the empress Maud and Stephen are fighting for the crown of England after the death of Henry I.

In a Dark Wood Wandering by Hella S. Haasse - This novel exemplifies historical fiction at its best; the author's meticulous research and polished style bring the medieval world into vibrant focus. Set during the Hundred Years War (1337-1453), the narrative creates believable human beings from the great roll of historical figures. Here are the mad Charles VI, the brilliant Louis d'Orleans, Joan of Arc, Henry V, and, most importantly, Charles d'Orleans, whose loyalty to France brought him decades of captivity in England. A natural poet and scholar, his birth and rank thrust him into the center of intrigue and strife, and through his observant eyes readers enter fully into his colorful, dangerous times.

The Book of Eleanor by Pamela Kaufman - Narrator Eleanor recalls her life and her family in fascinating detail, with stories of everyone from her grandfather, the first troubadour, to her many children a who's who of the heads of Europe. Among the characters are Eleanor's two husbands, Louis VII and Henry II; Thomas Becket; the nasty Bernard of Clairvaux; and the cunning but somehow lovable Abbot Suger of Saint Denis. There is a Crusade, and there are battles. There is also a romance, which, in the true spirit of courtly love, involves neither of Eleanor's husbands. Above all, though, there is Eleanor, with a wit and spirit so fierce that she is able to stand beside and even above the most powerful men in the Western world during a time when women are considered by the Church to be a biological afterthought. As in her previous medieval novels (Banners of Gold, Shield of Three Lions), Kaufman renders the details with perfection the sounds, sights, and (often unpleasant) smells.

The Heaven Tree Trilogy by Edith Pargeter - Beloved author Ellis Peters, creator of Benedictine sleuth Brother Cadfael, penned this superb trilogy under her real name nearly 30 years ago. (The Scarlet Seed is being published here for the first time.) The story spans roughly the first third of the 13th century. Pargeter weaves her tale into the politics of medieval England and Wales, and her knowledge of the period is most impressive. The trilogy tells the story of Harry Talvace, nobly born, who has the soul and hands of an artist and mason. The subsequent two books follow the fortunes of another Harry Talvace, son of the first Harry. Pargeter's characters and her settings are vividly etched into the reader's mind. Writing feelingly about the creative genius of the artist and the complex bonds of loyalty that linked medieval men and women, Pargeter illumines a world distant in time and in outlook but makes that world immediate and unforgettable.

The Jester by James Patterson - The title character is, when introduced in 1096, an unassuming innkeeper in a French village oppressed by the local nobleman. To earn his freedom, Hugh de Luc joins the Crusades for a torturous, bloody march toward Jerusalem that occupies the book's first third and ends with him escaping the madness around him by deserting back to France, in possession of some minor treasures-or so he thinks. Back home, he finds that his beloved wife has been taken captive by the odious nobleman, and his infant son slain. Seeking his wife and revenge, Hugh adopts the guise of a jester in order to enter to the nobleman's castle, where he begins to fall in love with a young noblewoman, and she with him. In time, Hugh finds his wife, only to experience tragedy, and learns that the nobleman is searching for him, as he is believed to have carried back from the Crusades the greatest holy relic of all. Returning to his village, which has been destroyed during the nobleman's hunt for him, Hugh persuades his townspeople, then surrounding towns, to rise up in revolt against the corrupt nobleman and his henchmen.

Time and Chance by Sharon Kay Penman - The events of this second novel in a planned trilogy (after When Christ and His Saints Slept) center on the years 1156-71, when England was ruled by Henry II. His queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, an uncommon woman for her era, is as strong-willed and intelligent as her husband. For many years, they share a passionate marriage, which produces several children two of whom, Richard and John, go on to become powerful monarchs in their own right. Conflict arises when Henry names Thomas Becket, his close friend and adviser, to the exalted position of Archbishop of Canterbury. The clash of these two titans over Church and State sets the stage for Becket's murder. Check out her medival mysteries also; Sharon Kay Penman.

A Booke of Days by Stephen J. Rivele - A Booke of Days is the captivating story of a young French nobleman, Roger, Duke of Lunel, who leaves his home in Provence in the 11th century to join the forces that will attempt to recapture Jerusalem from its Turkish occupiers. Forced to leave his new wife by the sacred commitment of an armed pilgrimage, he is plagued by guilt over a secret sin from his past and his own religious doubt that arises during his mission. The holy crusade on which Roger embarks soon degenerates into a savage campaign dogged by betrayal, deceit and greed. Yet this was the greatest adventure of its time, where a hundred thousand medieval men who had previously never traveled much beyond their own villages undertook a journey halfway across the known world for the promise of salvation. Most would never see their homelands again. And for Roger, this greatest of all spiritual undertakings is an intensely human quest: a war of new and old ideas, a collision of cultures, an awakening prompted as much by slaughter as sanctity, a battle of the flesh as well as the spirit.

Maid Marian by Elsa Watson - Watson's debut novel offers a tale of Sherwood Forest from Maid Marian's point of view. Lady Marian Fitzwater is 17 years old, orphaned, and newly widowed as the novel opens. Her tenuous situation worsens as Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine cheats Marian of her dowry in order to maintain the political support of Marian's mother-in-law, Lady Pernelle. When Eleanor further commands Marian to marry her brother-in-law, none other than Robin Hood rescues Marian from this loveless marriage. Marian takes refuge in Sherwood Forest with peasants, learning the Saxon language, farming, and other pursuits of common folk. With Robin she sets about to find some justice and make a future. Watson paints a fascinating picture of life during the reign of Richard I, making this an admirable addition to the historical fiction genre.

Shadow of God: A Novel of War and Faith by Anthony A. Goodman - Goodman's first novel is an engaging and well-written fictional account of the Ottoman Turks' 145-day siege of the Greek island of Rhodes. For two centuries, the Knights of St. John have sailed the Mediterranean, preying on Ottoman ships. When the knights under the command of Grand Master Philippe Villiers de L'Isle Adam occupy Rhodes in 1522, the new sultan, 25-year-old Suleiman the Magnificent, demands the surrender of the island. As much a story of the determination of those leaders, their talented commanders, and the diverse cultures they represent, this book is also a record of the battles waged, the horrible suffering, the complexities of loyalties and betrayals, and the tenuous position of Jews caught in the cultural crossfire.

[French Revolution 1789-1799]
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - A Tale of Two Cities (1859) is one of Dickens’ two historical novels, the other being Barnaby Rudge, the two cities in question are Paris and London at the time of the French Revolution. The heroic nobleman, Charles Darnay, renounces his status in opposition to his uncle, the Marquis de St Evremonde, and the evils of oppression he represents. Meanwhile, Dr Manette, the physician has also become aware of the Marquis’ ill-practice through a young peasant and his sister who have been hideously treated. After Darnay leaves France, he falls in love with Manette’s daughter, Lucie, and they are married. The story continues after Darnay’s happiness with Lucie as he returns to France during the Terror to save a servant. Darnay is arrested and condemned to death. The final section of the novel is concerned with the question of whether he will survive or be punished for his noble act of rescue, and whether or not the Englishman Carton who resembles Darnay will be able to save his life. It is a story of great sacrifices being made for the sake of principle. The novel is notable for its vivid representation of France during this troubled time and was modeled on Carlyle’s The French Revolution.

The Beekeeper's Pupil by Sara George - With the French Revolution as its backdrop, George's latest historical novel quickly engages the reader, both as a treatise on the scientific method and as a perceptive exploration of the life of a blind man. In 1785, Francois Huber, a blind gentleman living outside Geneva, hires a young man, Francois Burnens, as his manservant. That position quickly expands as Huber's interest in the lives of bees becomes more scientific in nature. He relies heavily on Burnens' vision as they carry out precise observations on such questions as the fecundation of the queen, who leads a swarm, and whether female worker bees can lay eggs. Their work leads to the publication of New Observations on Bees, which becomes the foremost monograph on the subject. George delicately intersperses scientific experiments with personal anecdotes, elucidating how Huber deals with his blindness, and how Burnens comes to realize that he needs to leave his position and find his own niche in life.

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo - In this story of the trials of the peasant Jean Valjean -- unjustly imprisoned, baffled by destiny, and hounded by his nemesis, the magnificently realized, ambiguously malevolent police detective Javert -- Victor Hugo achieved the rare imaginative resonance that allows a work of art to transcend its genre. "Les Miserables" is at once a thriller that contains one of the most compelling chase scenes in literature (a pursuit through the sewers of Paris), an epic portrayal of the 19th-century French citizenry, and a vital drama of the redemption of one human being.

The Sugar Pavilion by Rosalind Laker - Independent, resourceful, and beautiful, Sophie Delcourt is another of Laker's spirited heroines. Sophie flees revolutionary France with her aristocratic employer's young son, Antoine, and settles in Brighton, made newly fashionable by the Prince of Wales. Her goal is to become a confectioner, but no job is beneath her. She begins by waiting tables and becoming a cook at a large Brighton restaurant and later works at Prinny's Marine Pavilion as a linen maid until her confectionery business succeeds. She is torn between her quiet affection for Rory Morgan, the brave excise officer who patrols the coast at Brighton for smugglers, and her attraction to the dashing, mysterious Tom Foxhill, who knows too much about smuggling for Sophie's peace of mind.

The Gods are Thirsty by Tanith Lee - It is the eve of the French Revolution. The aristos are drinking life to the dregs, indulging in every conceivable sensual vice as if there were no tomorrow, while the citizens, miserable in their poverty, seethe with envy and hatred in a sorcerous Paris, beautiful in the center, rotting into mighty slums around the edges. In this sweeping novel, Tanith Lee depicts the savage spirit of Year I, following the life of journalist, pamphleteer and patriot Camille Desmoulins through these turbulent days. A fascinating and complex creature of the mind who maneuvered through all levels of Paris society, Desmoulins was the journalist and voice of the Revolution. Silenced by the guillotine during the Terror in the prime of his youth, Desmoulins, with his circle of friends, is the heart and soul of this gripping novel.

City of Darkness, City of Light by Marge Piercy - Depicting the experiences of three brave women, Piercy explores the human reality of the French Revolution, bringing to life the immense role women played in bringing down the monarchy. Claire Lacombe escapes the grinding poverty of her youth by becoming an actress in a traveling troupe. Beautiful and filled with the determination that can be forged by enduring hardship, she becomes an inspiring symbol as she dares to participate in pivotal events. Manon Philipon, a jeweler's daughter, idolizes Rousseau and the life of the mind. Marrying an austere government bureaucrat, she learns that she has an innate grasp of politics. Pauline Leon, the owner of a chocolate shop, is galvanized when she witnesses the executions of poor people rioting for bread. Their three stories are deftly braided with the lives of three men--the incorruptible Robespierre, the opportunistic Danton and Nicolas Caritat, an academician trying to walk the high wire between old and new. Men may be necessary to drive the plot, but women are its engine. It is women who take to the streets looking for "justice, bread and freedom," and who win concessions on issues like divorce and inheritance rights.

Love and Terror by Alan Jolis - When Marie Antoinette escapes from prison on the eve of her trial, Joseph Fouche, Robespierre's dreaded police commission, substitutes his lover Nenette, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the queen. Jolis's fast-paced narrative charts Fouche's relentless search for the real queen in time to save his beloved.

A Shred of Honour by Tom Connery - In 1793, when Lt. George Markham takes up a low-ranking commission in the English army, the French Revolution is only four years old and Napoleon is still a French artillery officer. On board the ship carrying Markham's regiment to the siege of Toulon, the officer's reputation is much discussed. Markham is an Irish bastard (son of an English general), "probably a Papist, certainly a rake," and labeled a coward because of a mysterious court martial 12 years earlier. Though no one trusts him to command even his ground troops after he is implicated in the death of another officer, Markham finds himself in charge of a "mixed bag of Lobsters and Bullocks"--marines and army--defending Toulon from the onslaught of French troops. Once on the ground, the plot complications are worthy of Baroness Orczy or either Dumas. Is that silent boy the Dauphin? Are those anti-Terror bourgeois really Directorate spies? Has Markham seen a glimpse of incest? There is plenty of swashbuckling action and gory detail, and events include amorous dalliances, British snobbery and conflicting loyalties leading to diverse betrayals. A loving history of the English rifle "Brown Bess" and cameo appearances by Sir Sydney Smith, Horatio Nelson and Napoleon himself flesh out the military plot, which culminates in a daring last-minute escape from the victorious French.

A Dish Taken Cold by Anne Perry - In this chilling tale from Anne Perry, the Edgar Award-winner crosses the English Channel to France. Days before the French Revolution, Celie's baby dies mysteriously in the care of a friend. Now, as Celie comes to grips with the death of her child, she also learns the true meaning of revenge.

Kydd by Julian Stockwin - This is the debut novel in a thrilling new series of the seafaring adventures of Thomas Paine Kydd, a young man pressed into service who comes of age in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. To read the next novels... try: Artemis and Seaflower.

Cassandra, Lost by Joanna C. Scott - Scott weaves a spellbinding tale based loosely on the true story of one woman's incredible odyssey from a prosperous Maryland farm to the devastation of Revolution-era Paris and back again. When her father forbids her from marrying a charming French emigre, Cassandra Owings elopes with Benedict van Pradelles and sails for France. Her head is filled with romantic notions, so she is shocked by the privations she encounters in war-torn France. Since Cassandra's husband hails from an aristocratic family with ties to King Louis and Marie Antoinette, they are in constant fear for their safety. Joining forces with a young Jean Lafitte to smuggle other aristos out of the country, they must eventually flee themselves. Settling in Spanish New Orleans, Cassandra and Benedict build a prosperous life for themselves until their idyllic existence is shattered by the reappearance of Lafitte. Cassandra must choose between the devoted husband she loves and the dashing pirate she desires. Brimming with romance, intrigue, and adventure, this spirited love story is firmly grounded in historical detail.

The Bookseller's Daughter by Pam Rosenthal - In the shadow of the French Revolution, two lovers embark on a seductive and erotic journey that plunges them into the heart of the aristocracy's most vindictive, carnal games, where white-hot desire is exceeded only by deception, betrayal--and murder.

A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel - The turmoil of the French Revolution provides the setting for Mantel's American debut, an enc