Hi historical fiction fans!
I’m visiting some friends in Milwaukee, Wisconsin this week and we are taking full advantage of fall: apple picking, horror movies, and plenty of cider for everyone. Whether you’re enjoying cool weather and colorful leaves or a warm and sunny climate, I hope you’re enjoying these last few days of October!
Bookish Goods
Verona Sweatshirt
Who doesn’t love a good Shakespeare sweatshirt? Especially one that looks this good with plaid.
New Releases
Isaac’s Torah by Angel Wagenstein, translated by Elizabeth Frank and Deliana Simeonova (October 25, 2022)
Isaac’s Torah follows the saga of Isaac Jacob Blumenfeld, who grows up in Kolodetz, a town that belongs, in turn, to the Hapsburg Empire, Poland, Soviet Russia, Germany, and finally Russia once again. In order to survive the turmoil of the 20th century, Jacob becomes adept at playing the fool, a role he will continue to perfect from his boyhood in Kolodetz all the way until he’s accused of war crimes in a Siberian gulag.
Prize for the Fire by Rilla Askew (October 25, 2022)
A young girl in the time of Henry VIII takes her late sister’s place in an arranged marriage that turns out to be abusive. She longs for escape, but in a time of religious turmoil, a young woman as fiercely independent as Anne could easily pay the ultimate price for her opinions, her faith, and her connections to the queen.
For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
To wrap up our Spooky Historical Fiction for October series, we’re taking a good look at women who were accused of being witches throughout history. In the two titles I’m highlighting here, we take a look at the experiences of women of color whose outsider status — both inside and outside of their communities — resulted in accusations of witchcraft.
Conjure Women by Afia Atakora
Rue inherited her knowledge of healing from her mother, but it’s a gift that brings her close to life and death in her community. When a child she helps bring into the world is labeled “cursed,” the superstition of those around her threatens to bring her to ruin — especially as certain questions about her past and her connection to the white family who once owned them come to light.
I, Tituba by Maryse Condé, translated by Richard Philcox
Tituba, an enslaved woman of Indigenous descent, was one of the first people accused of witchcraft during the infamous Salem Witch Trials. In this fictionalized account, Condé creates a richly imagined take on her life and the choices and events that led to her fateful place in Salem.
More historical witch fiction to add to your list: The Wonderful Discovery of Elizabeth Sawyer by Jonathan Vischer, Circe by Madeline Miller, The Manningtree Witches by A. K. Blakemore, Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen, The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec, The Familiars by Stacey Halls, and The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave.
That’s it for now, folx! Stay subscribed for more stories of yesteryear.
If you want to talk books (historical or otherwise), you can find me @rachelsbrittain on Instagram, Goodreads, Litsy, and occasionally Twitter.
Right now I’m reading Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen. What about you?