So many books . . .

Hesper Honeywood’s family has lived in Marblehead and run the Hearth and Eagle pub ever since the town’s founding around the 1630s, and she has grown up listening to her father extol the family’s rich history. Now, at the inception of the Civil War, her simple life is about to change when a local wise woman tells her future for a few coppers: She will have three men in her life, but she will know nothing but heartbreak.

This is definitely not one of Seton’s best works. Frankly, I didn’t buy into Hester’s relationships given the reader’s introduction to her personality in initial chapters – especially with Porterman, whose relationship is particularly disturbing with nothing leading up to their marriage (they are just suddenly together). Seton is talented, but this book was not satisfying.

Rating: 2/5 Further reading: Anya Seton (wiki)

 

John Tradescant (the elder) was one of the most skilled and famous gardeners in English history. He originally makes his mark creating gardens for Sir Robert Cecil before moving to Essex to work for the infamous George Villiers, favorite of kings James I and Charles I. Eventually, John’s talents are requested once again – this time by King Charles himself. Philippa Gregory brings John’s love for gardening and botany, as well as his yearning to discover and procure new species of flowers and trees, to life in such a way that the reader can easily share in John’s pride and fulfillment in his humble occupation.

My one complaint about the story is that John seems to step wholly out of character when it comes to Villiers, becoming decidedly wishy-washy and taking leave of his senses in a way that seems otherwise incompatible with his personality, even taking into consideration their lord/servant relationship. Despite this, I’m eager to read the sequel, which focuses on John Tradescant (the younger).

Rating: 4/5 Further reading: Gregory's homepage Philippa Gregory (wiki)

 

Girl in Hyacinth Blue is a series of vignettes chronicling the reverse history of a fictional Vermeer painting by the same name. Vreeland’s colorful portraits of Dutch life, from the wealthy to the poorest peasants, spanning several hundred years, are fascinating. I wouldn’t have minded delving further into each of the tales, and the only other thing that could have improved the book was if the painting, which plays a silent, starring role in each of the stories, really existed.

Rating: 3/5 Further reading: Vreeland's homepage

 

In this work of historical fiction, Susan Vreeland paints a vibrant portrait (pun intended) of the life of Artemisia Gentileschi, an actual 17th-century woman painter in Italy. Raped by her father's friend Agostino Tassi, who is also her painting tutor, Artemisia is humiliated and her reputation in ruins when Tassi is all but exonerated in the crime. To escape Rome and its cruelty, she arranges to marry Pietro Stiattesi, a Florentine painter. In Florence, Artemisia realizes success in her art, painting biblical figures from a uniquely feminine perspective, and becomes the first woman accepted into Florence's Accademia dell'Arte. However, from her jealous husband Pietro, who has not found equal success in his art, she earns only resentment.

This was a relatively quick read which inspired me to learn more about Artemisia and her contemporaries, and I look forward to trying more of Vreeland's historical works.

Rating: 5/5 Further reading: Vreeland's homepage The real Artemisia Gentileschi (wiki)

This third installment in Douglass' Troy Game series had a lot of potential initially, but went downhill about halfway through. This time around, the events surrounding Cornelia-reborn, Brutus-reborn, and their "entourage" take place around the court of Charles II of England. Reading the first two books in the series (starting with Hades' Daughter) is a must, as the story, spanning over 1,000 years, is quite complicated. Despite my mild disappointment, I will still read the final book to achieve completion.

As do the others, this book suffers from cheesy cover art.

Rating: 3/5 Further reading: Douglass' homepage Sara Douglass (wiki)

Anna Frith is a widow with two very young sons when plague comes to her small English village. Over the course of one year she sees the disease take the lives of two thirds of everyone she knows, including those of her own children, but she is sustained by the support and friendship of the rector's wife Elinor. In many chapters the author introduces another family or individual of Anna's acquaintance, which to the reader feels a bit like getting to know the other townsfolk, both likeable and otherwise, in the village. A book about plague would probably not generally be described as feel-good, but for me this story, especially the satisfying twist at the end, was very enjoyable.

Rating: 5/5 Further reading: Brooks' homepage Geraldine Brooks (wiki)

Anya Seton has certainly done her homework in researching this story of Elizabeth Fones, a true historical figure in 17th-century Puritan New England. Despite marrying into the powerful Winthrop family of Boston, Elizabeth has difficulty conforming to expectations for a woman, nearly risking her very life in a time of suspicion, violence, religious zeal and political anxiety. Eventually, she is forced to flee from New England entirely with her tormented second husband, although this new life brings her little peace. Although her troubles are by no means over, with her third and final marriage Elizabeth finally has an opportunity to marry for love. Ms. Seton has an amazing way of bringing characters from the past to life. I highly recommend all of her works.

Rating: 5/5 Further reading: Anya Seton (wiki) Can you tell I love Anya Seton?