Annette Vallon: A Novel of the French Revolution by James Tipton Set during the tumultuous French Revolution, this story revolves around a young upper-class, though untitled, lady named Annette Vallon. An unfortunate incident during her youth causes her to shy away from typical female society and helps build her character as an independent, brave woman. She meets the English poet… Read more »
The Prince and the Quakeress Fourth Book in the Georgian Saga by Jean Plaidy This is the story of the young George III, when he was not yet considered significant—only the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, Frederick, and grandson of King George II. If you’re not familiar with England’s King Georges’, you may find parts of the story… Read more »
Perdita’s Prince Georgian Saga #6 by Jean Plaidy This installment of Plaidy’s Georgian Saga comes directly after The Third George and begins with the Prince of Wales’ coming-of-age. At seventeen he is still kept under lock and key, the king controlling his life down to the food he is allowed. When given an inch of freedom, young George runs head-first… Read more »
Madame du Barry by Jean Plaidy This is the story of Jeanne Becu, most famously known as Madame du Barry, mistress to Louis XV of France in the last years of his reign and the most beautiful woman in France at the time. Plaidy’s du Barry is kind, good-hearted and forgiving of even her enemies, whom she tries relentlessly to… Read more »
Wildish by Robert Stephen Parry Set in Georgian England during the Jacobite Uprising of 1745, this is the story of Matthew Wildish, Master Wig Maker, socialite and something of a ladies’ man. Though he is not a titled gentleman, he moves in the most elite circles and has befriended many people in high places, however is still in the unique… Read more »
Insatiable: A Macabre History of France ~ L’Amour Marie Antoinette by Ginger Myrick French Revolution meets Walking Dead in this alternative history mash-up by a prolific author who has explored Renaissance Iberia, Medieval Wales, 19th Century New York and the American Civil War in her previous novels: El Rey, The Welsh Healer, Work of Art, and But for the Grace… Read more »
Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran Chronicling the famous wax figure maker’s years in France during the French Revolution, this novel gives a panoramic view of the Reign of Terror from a unique perspective. Marie Grosholtz had been primed from a young age to take over the family business–an entertainment enterprise based on life-like figures of famous and infamous people. This… Read more »
Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow by Juliet Grey Juliet Grey, along with Amanda Elyot, is a pen name belonging to the lovely and talented Leslie Carroll—one of my favorite historical novelists. Having read seven of her books thus far, fiction and non-fiction, I much enjoy her smart writing style and her ability to write a perfectly balanced and intriguing… Read more »
Confessions of Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey Anyone well-versed in French Revolution history will know the final four years of Marie Antoinette’s life (1789-1793) was utterly heartbreaking and miserable for the monarch and her family. Despite the anguish and despair the novel would obviously cover, I thoroughly enjoyed the first two installments – Becoming Marie Antoinette & Days of Splendor,… Read more »
Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey The first in a trilogy, this is a rare look at Marie Antoinette’s early years, and is told in her unaffected and refreshingly naive perspective. Growing up in the Austrian court of the formidable Empress Maria Theresa, young Antonia was the spirited, though dutiful youngest daughter of a brood of sixteen. Through butterflies and… Read more »
All for Love: The Scandalous Life and Times of Royal Mistress Mary Robinson by Amanda Elyot Actress, poetess, novelist, essayist, playwright — Mrs. Mary Robinson was all of these as well as a devoted wife and mother, until her husband at last severed all her affection with his licentious, degrading behavior. Though she was immensely intelligent she made rather bad… Read more »
The Musician’s Daughter by Susanne Dunlap Set in 1779 Vienna, Theresa is the daughter of a respected violinist under renowned composer Haydn. On Christmas Eve the family is shocked to find their much loved husband and father had been found dead, with a strange medallion around his neck and missing his prized violin. Theresa, the sole able member of the… Read more »
