Historical Fiction

The Sign of the Beaver

Cover: Sign of the Beaver audio
Author(s): 
Elizabeth George Speare
Greg Schaffert (Narrator)

This is a story about a twelve year old boy named Matt who lived in Maine about 250 years ago. Near the beginning of the story, all of Matt's family (besides Matt) went away. One day he was fishing when a bear took a lot of Matt's food. The next day he was going to try to get a spoon of honey from a bee's hive. The spoon wasn't small enough to fit in the hole; neither was his finger. So he pulled a piece of the bark from above the hole and the bees came out and chased him to a river.

The Song at the Scaffold

Book cover: 'The Song at the Scaffold'
Author(s): 
Gertrud von le Fort

This novelette, set at the time of the French Revolution, follows the lives of the nuns of the Carmelite convent at Compiegne during those troubled times, all the way to their martyrdom at the guillotine. Despite the rather short length, the novel is very deep and very moving. The author, rather than having the charcters preach to the reader, created a story which causes the reader to consider some very substantial spiritual issues – suffering, pride, fear, and how God works in our lives.

The Merchant's Mark

Book cover: The Merchant's Mark
Author(s): 
Cynthia Harnett

The Merchant's Mark is a mystery set in England in 1493, against a rich historical background of a family involved in the wool industry. The author weaves much detail about the wool and cloth trades into the story. Many traditions, celebrations and religious practices are also included, giving the reader a very nice picture of life at that time - particularly their strong Catholic culture. This might be a good book to read alongside a study of Christopher Columbus.

The Spear

Book cover: The Spear
Author(s): 
Louis de Wohl

A fast-paced fictionalized account of the centurion who thrust the spear into the side of Christ. The book was clearly written for adults, but might be suitable for older teens. There is a great deal of violence (as might be expected), an attempted suicide, and other content appropriate for those with some degree of maturity. The story is very Catholic and the author weaves many Catholic ideas and thought into the conversations of the characters as well as showing how much people of that time (particularly the Romans) were in need of the message of Christ.

My Brother Sam is Dead

Book cover: My Brother Sam is Dead
Author(s): 
James Lincoln Collier
Christopher Collier

My Brother Sam is Dead is the story of a boy whose brother rebels against his father to join the colonial army in the Revolutionary War. There are many good things to recommend about this story and some warnings to give also.

The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow

Book cover: The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow
Author(s): 
Allen French

The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow is a remarkable tale told in the style of an old Norse saga. It is the story of the Soursop family who live right on the western coast of newly Christianized Iceland around 1010 AD. Rolf, the son, is fine in all the ways a father could desire: courageous, agile, thoughtful, loyal and strong. He is also very good with a bow and arrows. His father, Hiarandi, is named the Unlucky because his fortunes have dwindled and he has lost numerous legal battles with his neighbors.

The Second Mrs. Gianconda

Book cover: The Second Mrs. Gianconda
Author(s): 
E. L. Konigsburg

The Second Mrs. Giaconda is a fascinating book about a young thief who becomes apprenticed to Leonardo da Vinci. This work of historical fiction is set in the latter half of the fifteenth century. The plot revolves around three characters- the famous artist, Leonardo, his apprentice, Salai, and the Duchess Beatrice d'Este. The novel is written from Salai's viewpoint, and we get a good feel for Leonardo's character. We see that Leonardo is shy, and yet brilliant. We see how Leonardo is so unreliable, particularly when he is distracted by his work.

The Lances of Lynwood

Book cover: The Lances of Lynwood
Author(s): 
Charlotte Mary Yonge
Illustrator(s): 
Jemima Blackburn

"Virtue Conquers" is the theme of this charming, wholesome adventure story set in the Middle Ages, during the reign of Edward III of England. Eustace, the scholarly but valiant brother-in-law of Sir Reginald Lynwood, goes as his squire to Spain under the banner of the English sovereign. In his first battle, he loses his brother-in-law but gains a knight's spurs for his courage.

Caddie Woodlawn

Book cover: Caddie Woodlawn
Author(s): 
Carol Ryrie Brink
Illustrator(s): 
Trina Schart Hyman

Caddie Woodlawn is the story of a young tom-boyish girl who grew up in pioneer Wisconsin during the Civil War (this story predates the first book of the Little House series by about 25 years – but they are quite close geographically). Caddie's father was the grandson of an English Lord, but as his mother was from the lower classes, his father was disowned and the family grew up impoverished. He emigrated to America where he married a charming Boston lady with whom he raised a family of eight children. They moved to Wisconsin when Caddie (short for Caroline) was very young.

Stars of Fortune

Book cover: Stars of Fortune
Author(s): 
Cynthia Harnett

This story is set in England in the mid 1500s and told from a Catholic perspective. As explained in the postscript, this book is the author's recreation of a legend surrounding the home belonging to the Washington family (who claims our first president as a descendant). According to the legend, Elizabeth I was once hidden in the house while fleeing pursuers. The story takes place during the tumultuous reign of Mary I (Mary Tudor, eldest offspring of Henry VIII) at which time the "old religion" has been reinstated.

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