Tim Clarkson writes a remarkable biography of Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians. He consolidates the few known facts of her life into a concise political history of Anglo-Saxon England. It doesn’t, perhaps, reimagine her story, but he does provide readers with a wonderful account of this fascinating woman.
“Out of the Darkness” offers a vivid depiction of 19th-century England during the Industrial Revolution, following the life of Thomas Wright, a miner striving for safer conditions against a system of corruption. There’s much to recommend this story including strong female characters and historical authenticity. The protagonist, however, often comes across as overly heroic and without flaws.
Æthelflæd, daughter of the Anglo-Saxon king Alfred the Great, must unite her people against domestic rebels and foreign incursions in this meticulously-researched and vibrantly-written novel.
The strength, love, bravery, courage, resilience, and endurance of a Jewish Hungarian family that crosses generations forms the nucleus of “The Politzer Saga”, this utterly enthralling nonfiction work by Linda Ambrus Broenniman. Ambrus Broenniman shares their memories and allows them to live on in all of her readers. It’s a story that will not easily be forgotten.
“The Merchant from Sepharad” continues “The Sugar Merchant” series with the travels of Joshua ben Elazar who is tasked with establishing a mercantile presence between Europe and Asia. In a world brimming with political and religious upheaval, Joshua must contend with external and internal forces to ensure his journey’s success.
The statesman, orator, and general Pericles of Athens ushered in an Athenian renaissance. A complex man, he presided over an important period in Greek history where the Athenian military as well as arts and culture flourished. Despite dying of the plague in 429 BCE, he left behind an incredible legacy that produced a lasting effect on history.