Category Archives: Historical Fiction

North to Alaska: ‘The Yiddish Policemen’s Union’

Posted on July 16, 2012 by briansbestbooks

Nearly everyone knows about the humble and unusual origins of Jesus: the Son of God who comes to Earth as a baby born to a virgin in a barn under dubious circumstances, the carpenter from a backwater town turned Great … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Fiction, Mystery, Sci-Fi/Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Danish Invasion: ‘Death of Kings’

Posted on April 23, 2012 by briansbestbooks

Ah, the Saxon Stories. Bernard Cornwell’s account of the reign of Alfred the Great and formation of the English nation is one of the best serials today. Are they great literature? Not really. But who cares? What makes these stories … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

11/22/63: History Is a Relentless Master

Posted on February 23, 2012 by briansbestbooks

I’m a sucker for counterfactuals. (Nerd alert!) Perhaps it’s because I love history, but I’ve always enjoyed stories that consider how the past might have played out had key events gone in different direction. Stephen King’s new book, 11/22/63, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Action/Thriller, Drama, Historical Fiction | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Cold as Hell: ‘The Terror’

Posted on January 25, 2012 by briansbestbooks

Been a bit slack on the book reviews lately: A combination of holiday hangover and a series of illnesses pulled me out of my flow. Mostly recovered now, though. Since we’re finally well into our winter weather here in Chicago, … Continue reading →

Posted in Action/Thriller, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi/Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Meaning of Life and Other Concerns: ‘The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet’

Posted on November 23, 2011 by briansbestbooks

With a title like The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, you have to wonder what the book’s about. As it turns out, the real question is: What isn’t it about? Author David Mitchell’s work features a love triangle, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Drama, Historical Fiction | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Containing Multitudes: ‘The Lost Books of the Odyssey’

Posted on November 18, 2011 by briansbestbooks

When I was in college, I took a course on the Biblical Gospels as history. One of the things we learned about was the existence of dozens of “Gnostic” gospels — other accounts of Jesus’ life that wound up on … Continue reading →

Posted in Capital "L" Literature, Historical Fiction, Sci-Fi/Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Drood’: Horrors Normal and Supernatural

Posted on November 17, 2011 by briansbestbooks

I almost never reread books, because I rarely get anything new out of it. All of the characters, plot points, and themes are picked up in the first go-round, if it’s written well. And if it’s not, well, then I … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment