This month's historical fiction offerings include Matson Taylor's "Roman Mornings," Rebecca Birrell's "Venus, Vanishing," and Beth Brower's "The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion," each providing a distinct narrative within its respective historical setting.
"Roman Mornings" by Matson Taylor transports readers to 1970s Rome, weaving a tale of melancholy and magic. The novel follows characters like Floss, an elderly woman with an irrepressible spirit, and Clementine, who arrives with aspirations of becoming a poet but finds herself feeling invisible. Their paths cross with Montgomery Marsh, a carpenter harboring a secret sorrow. Taylor's prose is described as lilting and lyrical, capturing the atmospheric allure of Rome and its "la dolce vita."
Rebecca Birrell's debut, "Venus, Vanishing," is set in 1927 Berlin. The novel is characterized by its somber beauty and meticulous research, exploring themes of danger and destruction through the eyes of Hannah, a young Jewish woman who reinvents herself as a painter. Hannah navigates a precarious life of new experiences, sketching in galleries and frequenting clubs, where she falls for Saul and Charlotte. Her life becomes more complex when she accepts a commission from the enigmatic Elke, drawing her into a world of obsession and patronage as the Third Reich begins to rise.
"The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion" by Beth Brower offers a fresh and cheerful tone, set in 1880s London. The story centers on Emma, a 20-year-old orphan forced to live in her own home's garret by her cousin, Archibald. The narrative, presented in a diary format, delves into Emma's thoughts on her financial struggles, her demanding Aunt Eugenia, and her friendships with Arabella and Mary. Mary introduces Emma to Jack, who assists her in outsmarting an old adversary. These first two volumes are part of a planned 25-book series.
