F/ALLENDE
Allende, IsabelDaughter of Fortune1999, 399p.
19th century, Chile and California

Heroine Eliza, an orphan raised in luxury in the British colony in Valparaiso, Chile, falls in love with a young man who is far below her on the social scale. When he heads for California and the Gold Rush, the pregnant Eliza follows, encountering harsh conditions en route as well as in the gold camps. With the help of Chinese cook/physician Tao Chien, she survives and discovers both her independence and true love. A satisfying multi-generational, multi-ethnic saga that offers rich details of life in mid-nineteenth century Chile, California, and even China.

F/BELLE
Belle, PamelaWintercombe1988, 528p.
17th century, England

Civil war has raged across England for two years while a beautiful Puritan lady guards her husband’s ancestral home, Wintercombe. When enemy troops invade the house and a maniacal Lieutenant terrorizes the family, Silence St. Barbe begins a hopeless love affair with the Royalist captain who defends her honor and protects her children.

F/BELLONCI
Bellonci, MariaPrivate Renaissance1989, 462p
16th century, Italy

Peopled with famous Renaissance figures from Machiavelli to Leonardo da Vinci, this first-person account reveals the personality and influence of Isabella d’Este, the powerful and influential Marchesa of Mantua, who was a patroness of the arts as well as a diplomat. A densely written, provocative picture of an exceptional woman in exceptional times.

F/BIRKHEAD
Birkhead, MargaretTrust and Treason1989, 384p.
16th century, England

Caught in the web of political machinations, the Woodfall family, true allies of Elizabeth and the Crown, falls victim to a false accusation of treason and is ruined. Only Robert, a bastard son, kidnapped as a child and now a trained espionage agent, can help—if love for his family can overcome his training.

F/CHADWICK
Chadwick, ElizabethThe Wild Hunt1990, 370p.
12th century, England

A Welsh border lord battles political foes at the king’s court as well as rival barons during the reign of William Rufus. As Lord Guyon struggles to maintain his holdings, he contracts a marriage with Judith of Ravenstow, a bride who brings both money and land to her new husband. As their marriage founders on the rocks of political expedience, Judith and Guyon face death and danger in this novel of love and adventure.

F/CORNWELL
Cornwell, Richard.Sharpe’s Regiment1986, 301p.

19th century, England

Richard Sharpe rises through the ranks of Lord Wellington’s Peninsular Army in this series of 12 military adventures, each depicting a particular campaign in the Napoleonic Wars. Historical notes at the end of each novel confirm the accuracy of the details.

F/GEORGE
George, MargaretMary Queen of Scotland and the Isles1992, 870p.
16th century, Scotland

A Catholic queen in a Protestant country, Mary attempts to balance the opposing religious forces and becomes the pawn in a desperate political game of power that ends in her destruction. Her coming of age, the birth of her child, and a doomed love affair with the Earl of Bothwell are intertwined with her attempts to rule a Scotland that rejects a Papist queen and remains under the stringent rule of John Knox and the Presbyterians. The mystery surrounding Mary’s relationship to the Earl and the murder of her first husband holds the key to her personality and helps define her place in history. A compelling journey into the heart and mind of a most fascinating woman.

F/GOLDMAN
Goldman, JamesMyself as Witness1979, 340p.
13th century, England

King John, reviled in legend and history, emerges as a complex, thoughtful figure, caught in a web of political intrigue and uncertainty in this haunting portrayal. As seen through the eyes of a monk who is John’s chronicler, friend, and “witness,” John’s character is revealed through his relationships with his wife; his half-brother and military commander William Longsword; the barons, who beleaguered his reign; and the Church.

F/HAASSE
Haasse, Hella S.In a Dark Wood Wandering1989, 574p.
15th century, France

This book chronicles the lives of Louis, Duke of Orleans and his son Charles, both of whom served Louis’ brother, the sometimes mad King Charles VI of France. The Orleans’ trials in dealing with their enemies— the Dukes of Burgundy and Charles VI’s nasty queen, Isabeau, as well as the English King, Henry V, and the Maid of Orleans—create a provocative backdrop for the intrigues and alliances of 15th century France.

F/JOHNSON
Johnson, Mary EllenThe Lion and the Leopard1985, 305p.
14th century, England

A young woman’s life is intertwined with the bastard brother of King Edward II during a struggle for power and the English throne. As Edward mismanages his kingdom, his wife, Queen Isabella, and her lover, Roger Mortimer, plot his overthrow, and Maria Rendell and her family are caught in a web of deceit that ends in murder.

F/JONES
Jones, CleoSister Wives1984, 474p
19th century, United States

At the behest of their parents, two young women travel to Utah to marry in the Mormon tradition. After a harrowing journey, they become plural wives in a strict household. When the oldest sister Callie rebels, her behavior has far-reaching consequences that coincide with events in the history of the early Mormon church.

F/JONES
Jones, Douglas C.Elkhorn Tavern1980, 311p.
19th century, United States

With father Martin away fighting with the Rebels and this corner of Arkansas constantly raided by Bushwhackers from the South and Jayhawkers from the North, survival is more important than questions of political alliance for the Hansford family during the first year of the Civil War. These hill country people face extraordinary difficulties as they struggle to exist from day to day. The reality of war interrupts their lives with the arrival of a wounded Union soldier who has survived the Battle of Pea Ridge. This is the first in a series of books featuring young Roman Hansford.

F/LAKER
Laker, RosalindThe Golden Tulip1991, 585p.
17th century Holland

While Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Vermeer raise Dutch art to heights never again equaled, Francesca Visser studies for her own career as an artist, first in her father’s studio and then with Vermeer. Romance, political intrigue, artists and the art world provide the backdrop for this vividly-drawn depiction of Dutch life as seen through the eyes of a talented young girl.

F/LIDE
Lide, MaryFortune’s Knave1992, 269p.
11th century, England

William the Conqueror, born a bastard and left to defend his dubious birthright while still a child, comes of age at the French court, rife with treachery and betrayal. Matilda of Flanders, his hard-won consort, fans the flame of his ambition as they plan a future that will change the course of English history.

F/MACCOUN
MacCoun, CatherineThe Age of Miracles1989, 318p.
14th century, England

Raised in a convent since the age of four, Ingrid Fairfax at age 18 is more than ready for romance. When Jacques Brigand des Coeurs arrives at the convent seeking help and female companionship, Ingrid is ensnared. However, missed connections after they leave the convent force Ingrid to face the world alone until Jacques discovers her again and then must rescue her from a charge of witchcraft.

F/MACKIN
Mackin, JeanneThe Queen’s War1991, 452p.
12th century France

Eleanor of Aquitaine and her three sons join forces with King Louis of France to wage war against Henry II—Eleanor’s philandering husband and her avowed enemy. As seen through the eyes of Lucie, a serf who becomes a maid in Eleanor’s court; and Sophie, a highly educated astronomer, Eleanor’s love-hate relationship with Henry and their sons’ struggle to wrest the throne from their father provide the historical background for the story of women’s roles in life and politics during this period.

F/MOKIN
Mokin, ArthurIronclad1991, 272p.
19th century, United States

Gideon Welles, an editor from Hartford, Connecticut, is named by Lincoln to be Secretary of the Navy and tries to negotiate the murky waters of Civil War politics in Washington D. C. This factual account of the first iron-clad warship features the Monitor (derisively described as a “cheesebox on a raft”), the Merrimack, and the political infighting surrounding their first battle.

F/MOSS
Moss, RobertFire along the Sky1992, 349p.
18th century, United States

On a bet, young Irishman Shane Hardacre finds himself traveling to the new America. There he meets his cousin, Sir William Johnson, who manages Indian Affairs for the Crown and involves Hardacre with the administration of lands for the Mohawks. Adventures and romance follow Hardacre, as he travels deep into Mohawk territory in this action-filled tale set in Colonial times.

F/O’BRIAN
O’Brian, PatrickThe Letter of Marque1990, 284p.
19th century, England

Elegantly drawn characters and accurate historical detail highlight this series of novels which feature British Navy Captain Jack Aubrey and his companion, Stephen Maturin, a surgeon and intelligence agent. Admiral Nelson’s navy and early 19th century England come alive in adventure-filled battle scenes as well as discussions of the moral and social issues of the day. In this episode, Aubrey’s friends work to get him restored to the Navy List.

F/PARGETER
Pargeter, EdithThe Brothers of Gwynedd1989, 821p.
13th century, England and Wales

Two Welsh brothers battle the English King and each other for the Welsh crown. After treachery and betrayal on both sides, the brothers finally unite only to face the wrath of King Edward and the might of the English army. The royal family of Wales struggles to survive as their fate and the dream of an independent Wales hang in the balance. This book is a collection of four novels: Sunrise in the West, The Dragon at Noonday, The Hounds of Sunset, and Afterglow and Nightfall.

F/PENMAN
Penman, Sharon KayThe Sunne in Splendour1982, 936p.
15th century, England

Maligned by history, Richard III, the last king to reign from the House of York, lives and dies in the shadow of the Wars of the Roses. His love and loyalty to his brother, King Edward IV, and the passionate love he shared with his wife, Anne Neville, belie the traditional view of this controversial figure. His final stand at Bosworth Field is an unforgettable climax to a century-old struggle for the English crown.

F/PRESSFIELD
Pressfield, StevenGates of Fire1998, 386p.
480 BC, Greece

Told through the eyes of a Spartan survivor, this account of the Battle of Thermopylae also explores the nature of the Spartan warriors, their training as well as their psychological and emotional motivations, and their families. Details of the actual battle are secondary to the greater story of the Spartans who fought and died, as well as the implications of their defeat for Greece, for the victorious Persians, and for history.

F/PRICE
Price, EugeniaSavannah1983, 595p.
19th century, United States

Journeying from Philadelphia to Savannah after the deaths of his beloved father and aunt, shipping heir Mark Browning makes a new life for himself. Through Robert Mackay, whose mercantile firm he joins, Mark finds friendship and becomes part of the Mackay family. Life in Savannah and the South as well as details of the War of 1812 provide the setting for this leisurely paced novel. Subsequent titles in this series, To See Your Face Again, Before the Darkness Falls, and Stranger in Savannah, take the Browning and Mackay families through the Civil War.

F/RILEY
Riley, Judith MerkleA Vision of Light1989, 442p.
14th century, England

When Margaret of Ashbury decides to write a book chronicling her tumultuous life, she hires Brother Gregory, a mysterious Carthusian friar, to accomplish this nearly heretical deed. Later, when she is threatened by a forced marriage, Gregory feels compelled to act in her defense. Margaret and Gregory continue their adventures in a second book, In Pursuit of the Green Lion.

F/RIPLEY
Ripley, AlexandraNew Orleans Legacy1987, 435p.
19th century, United States

When Mary MacAlister turns 16 and is ready to graduate from a Pennsylvania convent, she learns of her father’s death. Her stepmother confiscates the entire family fortune, and Mary is left destitute. Alone in the world, she finds adventure and endures adversity as she travels to New Orleans in search of her real mother’s family.

F/ROBERSON
Roberson, JenniferLady of the Forest1992, 593p.
12th century, England

This classic Robin Hood story is told through the eyes of Lady Marian, a young woman making her way through the labyrinth of love and politics during the difficult reign of Richard the Lionheart. The King is in captivity, his traitorous brother John is pressuring the barons to join his rebellion, and Robert of Locksley becomes an unwilling outlaw as the Sheriff of Nottingham aligns himself with John. The adventures of Robin and his Lady Marian follow the political upheaval in the country, and the less-than-idyllic life and times of Medieval England are made painfully clear in this tumultuous love story.

F/ROBSON
Robson, Lucia St. ClairTokaido Road1991, 513p.
18th century, Japan

When her samurai father is forced to commit suicide, Lady Asano finds her own life in danger. Pursued by her father’s murderer and posing as a samurai, Asano travels the Tokaido Road from Edo to Kyoto to locate her former teacher and seek his assistance in her quest to restore her family’s honor. Feudal Japan is the backdrop for this tale of adventure and revenge.

F/SIENKIEWICZ
Sienkiewicz, HenrykWith Fire and Sword1884, 1135p.
17th century, Russia and Poland

Nobleman and soldier Yan Skshetuski and his comrades march across Poland, Lithuania, and Russia in this epic tale of adventure, politics, intrigue, and even romance. Featuring a varied cast of characters from kings to peasants and focusing on the strife between peasants and gentry, this Polish classic vividly depicts these turbulent times.

F/WENDORF
Wendorf, PatriciaDouble Wedding Ring1989, 485p.
19th century, United States

Rhoda Greypaull comes to the New World in the mid 1800’s to marry her beloved cousin’s husband and take care of his child after her cousin’s death. Rhoda tells their story through her journal which details the struggles of immigrants trying to establish themselves in the New World and describes the courage and perseverance they possessed to make a life for themselves and their children.

F/WILLIAMS
Williams, JeanneNo Roof but Heaven1990, 450p.
19th century, United States

Adventure and romance abound in the post Civil War Kansas prairie, where young Susanna Alden confronts hardships and misunderstanding as she attempts to establish a prairie school.

F/WOLF
Wolf, JoanThe Edge of Light1990, 371p.
1st century, England

Set during the Dark Ages of England when the Danes were invading and the Saxons faced oblivion, this story follows Alfred the Great and his queen Elswyth. Alfred’s task of uniting fractious allies and creating a defense that could withstand the Danes, as well as the intimate look at a marriage of convenience that becomes a tender love match, makes for an intricate tapestry of history and relationships.

F/WOOLLEY
Woolley, PersiaChild of the Northern Spring1987, 428p.
Arthurian Britain

A romantic retelling of the Arthurian legend from Guinevere’s point of view, this first book of a trilogy follows Guinevere’s idyllic childhood in her father’s Celtic court through her reluctant marriage to Arthur and their blossoming love for one another. Queen of the Summer Stars and Guinevere complete the trilogy.

Prepared by Sheila Guenzer; Lynn McCullagh; Sue O’Brien; Joyce Saricks; Ellen Smith; Becky Townsend; and Carol Yarmolich, May 1994