History from a Woman's Perspective- A Book Blog

     It was my great honor to interview Patti Callahan Henry. She is the author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis, a fictional biography about the unlikely romance between Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis. Joy's story has been memorialized in the play and movie, Shadowlands , but this novel examines the woman behind the famous man. Becoming Mrs. Lewis also shines a light on the fiery genius that made a literary legend eschew a lifelong bachelorhood only to marry a woman who was taken too soon from cancer. My sincerest thanks go to Patti Callahan for generously taking time for this interview, and I hope you find it enjoying and enlightening. This was the first historical biography you had written. How different was it from writing your other novels, and was it a more difficult process?  It was different mainly because Joy and Jack were very real and very well known people! I wouldn’t say it was more difficult, but it was definitely tapping into a new set of skills. Usually when I plot or

Author: Jamie McGillen Narrator: Sarah Brands Length: 9 hours 34 minutes Released: Apr. 24, 2020 Publisher: The Evergreen Bookshelf Genre: Young Adult; Historical Fiction  "An engaging escapade with a feisty female lead." (Kirkus Reviews) "A beautifully written story. A must-read for those who are striving to fulfill their dreams..." (Seattle Book Review) "An epic and gripping work of historical fiction... the perfect historical read for fans of pioneering heroes and tales of triumph over discrimination." (Reader's Favorite 5-Star Review)  In the devastating aftermath of the 1889 Great Seattle Fire, 19-year-old Anna Gallagher faces considerable pressure to marry well and soon. But she has no intention of giving up her freedom to keep house. She wants to be the first woman to summit Mount Rainier. Anna's grandfather couldn't disapprove more. And after he discovers that she's befriended a Duwam

Arsinoe of Egypt and Macedon: A Royal Life (Women In Antiquity) Author: Elizabeth Donnelly Carney Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography Publisher: Oxford University Press Release Date: 2013 Pages: 240 Source: My Private Collection Synopsis :The life of Arsinoë II (c. 316-c.270 Bce), daughter of Ptolemy Soter, the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty, is characterized by dynastic intrigue. Her marriage to her full brother Ptolemy Ii, king of Egypt, was the first of the sibling The life of Arsinoë Ii (c. 316-c.270 Bce), daughter of the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty, is characterized by dynastic intrigue. Her marriage to her full brother Ptolemy Ii, king of Egypt, was the first of the sibling marriages that became a dynastic feature of the Ptolemies. With Ptolemy Ii, she ended her days in great wealth and power. However, prior to that point she was forced to endure two tumultuous marriages, both of which led her to flee for her life. Arsinoë was the model for the powerful role Pto

The American Duchess: The Real Wallis Simpson Author: Anna Pasternak Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography Publisher: Atria Books Release Date: 2019 Pages: 357 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review Synopsis: Wallis Simpson is known as the woman at the center of the most scandalous love affair of the 20th century, but in this “unputdownable…lively and detailed” (The Times, London) biography, discover a woman wronged by history with new information revealed by the latest research and those who were close to the couple. The story that has been told repeatedly is this: The handsome, charismatic, and popular Prince Edward was expected to marry a well-bred virgin who would one day become Queen of England when he ascended the throne. But when the prince was nearly forty, he fell in love with a divorced American woman—Wallis Simpson. No one thought the relationship would last, and when the prince did become king, everyone assumed that was the end of t

Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark (Lady Anne Addison Mysteries #1) Author: Victoria Hamilton Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery & Suspense, Romance Publisher: Beyond the Page Publishing Release Date: 2019 Pages: 271 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review Synopsis: After receiving a distressing letter from a friend, Lady Anne Addison wastes no time in traveling to Yorkshire to offer whatever help she can. She has no idea what she’ll find there, but she certainly wasn’t expecting to be met by tales of a werewolf terrorizing the area—nor the dead body she discovers upon arriving. Driven by curiosity and a keen intelligence, Lady Anne dismisses the notion of such a beast, but she’s nonetheless drawn into the mysteries by the secrecy surrounding her friend and the infuriating yet enticing Lord Darkefell. With a murderer on the loose and the supposed werewolf ravaging livestock and terrifying the locals, Lady Anne puts her reservations aside an