AN ASTONISHING, HARROWING, BEAUTIFUL novel mixes the everyday horrors of racism with the terrors of the supernatural in a tale of a brutal Florida reformatory haunted by the boys who died there. SOLID A
Characterization & symbolism in Neil Gunn’s three historical novels
12 Dec, 5–6:30pm GMT/6–7:30 CET, free online
This talk will examine three historical novels by Neil M. Gunn (1891–1973), depicting Scottish communities at a time of transition: Sun Circle, Butcher’s Broom, & The Silver Darlings
Today in Labor History December 6, 1889: The trial of the Chicago Haymarket anarchists began amidst national and international outrage and protest. None of the men on trial had even been at Haymarket Square when the bomb was set off. They were on trial because of their anarchist political affiliations and their labor organizing for the 8-hour work-day. 4 were ultimately executed, including Alber Parsons, husband of future IWW founding member Lucy Parsons. One, Louis Ling, cheated the hangman by committing suicide in his cell. The Haymarket Affairs is considered the origin of International Workers Day, May 1st, celebrated in virtually every country in the world, except for the U.S., where the atrocity occurred. Historically, it was also considered the culmination of the Great Upheaval, which a series of strike waves and labor unrest that began in Martinsburg, West Virginia, 1877, and spread throughout the U.S., including the Saint Louis Commune, when communists took over and controlled the city for several days. Over 100 workers were killed across the U.S. in the weeks of strikes and protests. Communists and anarchists also organized strikes in Chicago, where police killed 20 men and boys. Albert and Lucy Parsons participated and were influenced by these events. I write about this historical period in my Great Upheaval Trilogy. The first book in this series, Anywhere But Schuylkill, came out in September, 2023, from Historium Press. Check it out here: https://www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/it/michael-dunn and https://michaeldunnauthor.com/
There was a drug store in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania that plays prominently in my novel, ANYWHERE BUT SCHUYLKILL. It was run by a Polish immigrant known as Doc Luks. He was sympathetic to the miners and would often provide medicine and treatment for free during strikes, when the workers had no money to pay him.
His son, George Luks, became a successful artist, of the Ashcan School, a politically rebellious art movement that was influenced by Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass,” and which portrayed the everyday lives of working class people and immigrants. Luks’s art, in particular, was influenced by the poverty and oppression suffered by the miners he grew up with.
Today begins Zonta's 16 Days of Activism. For the 16 Days this year, my club is sharing a book list each day. Here is today's list of #HistoricalFiction recommendations.
Historical Fiction Recommendations:
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
A SPIRITUALIST’S WIFE STRUGGLES to come to terms with her husband’s new world of séances and “readings”—and fears he’ll find out some of her own secrets. Lush evocation of post-World War I Scotland and the frenzies of Jazz Age society. B PLUS
#Currentlyreading Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I’ve been meaning to read this for a while now. The motion picture is on Netflix, and I told myself I wouldn’t watch it until /after/ I read the book.
I've just seen the Netflix series All The Light We Cannot See, based on the novel by Anthony Doerr which is sitting on my bookcase. It has tempted me to read and/or reread some novels based in WWII.
Does anyone have any recommendations of novels based historically in or around WWII?
I guess you could say it's a hobby, I like reading novels about children of divinity / siblings (or friends) of Jesus. At least the ones I've read have all been humorous.
It's been ages since I read this, but I remember being impressed that while it is comic and entertaining and silly, it's also really grounded in the source material.
SENSATIONAL WILD-WEST DETECTIVE yarn features the “Holmes On the Range” brothers—a pair of cowboys turned sleuths—guarding a fossil dig in Wyoming with trouble not far behind. Brilliant return of these colorful characters in a sharp, twisty plot. A MINUS
Escape to Enchanted Hill in this historical mystery where two people with a dark, shared past collide while working undercover at a glittering mansion on the California coast.
Time to talk about my latest release! #PompeiiFire is a #dualtimeline#HistoricalFiction#novella of which I am very proud. Researched in person just before the pandemic and released in August of this year, the book has already garnered three awards.
#WordWeavers Do films or theatre play a role in your story?
Absolutely. In #PompeiiFire, Drusilla and Suetonius attend a production of Plautus' "Pseudolas." It gave me an opportunity to talk about social mores in ancient Roman society; men and women were not seated together at most entertainments.
#WordWeavers 11.3 — Who is your favorite antagonist? Why?
Wow. It's hard to pick just one ... but I'd have to go with Delphine LaLaurie. She's an actual historical personage ... and she was even worse in real life than she was in my book! She wants Alcide for her daughter, Pauline, in "Bayou Fire," and is willing to go to any length to get her way.
I have two books in the HistFic Outside the Box 4 promotion, from 3-6 November 2023:
The Adventure of the Colonial Boy (30% off on Impobable Press’ site)
anew, free PDF, Winter Ice: The Further Adventures of the Colonial Boy, of 5 stories set after the book
Visit Book Funnel, for these + HistFic from other fabulous authors, including Julie Bozza, Bryn Hammond, Marian L. Thorpe, Anne Barwell, & Charlene Newcomb!
#WordWeavers 11.2 — Do your characters play any games?
I had to think about this one ... and the only scene I can think of is in "Bayou Fire," where Alcide Devereaux gambles at cards. There's discussion of another card game in the book, but it's used as part of a ruse.