The Crown and the Crucible: Czarist Russia

After reading Judith Pella's recent Written on the Wind, I was curious to read more of the author's work, especially about Russia -- a prominent feature in this new "Daughters of Fortune" series. "The Russians" is a seven-volume series featuring Pella's earlier writings about of Russia. Written by Michael Phillips and Judith Pella, this series begins with The Crown and the Crucible, in 1870s St. Petersburg. Through two teenage girls, one of nobility and one peasant, the authors explore the world of Czarist Russia.

Sixteen-year-old Anna Yevnovna, peasant from a small village, must leave her home to work in the city. She soon finds herself hired as personal maid to the spoiled 15-year-old Katrina Fedorcenko. Yet through their experiences together, both girls grow to maturity and greater understanding of the world around them.

Russia under the Czars is an uncertain place, amidst changing times. The current Czar, Alexander II, is portrayed as weak and indecisive -- the latest of the rich heritage of the Romanov dynasty and its greater past rulers. Yet, we learn, even in pre-Socialist Russia people had to guard their words, lest they offend the Czar; and censorship of the press did not originate with the later Soviet Union. Tragic political events of the late 1870s, though, would pave the way for events of the next 40 years, culminating in the Russian Revolution. Thus, we see a glimpse of the nation's underlying problems. Through an interesting story about Anna and Katrina and their families, the authors introduce a wealth of information about Russia's history, culture, and politics. An introductory section (about 30 pages) tells Russia's history back to its beginnings, and maps show the Russian Empire of this time.

Yet it is the people themselves, and a strong story, that conveys the sense of Russia far more than a dry history text could. We meet Anna's humble, Christian father, of the old peasant world -- in contrast to Anna's younger brother Paul, angry, discontent, and anxious to change the world, meeting with other pre-revolutionaries. Among the nobility we see the spoiled, self-centered Katrina who takes her sheltered life for granted, contrasted with her poetic, sensitive older brother Sergei. Yet even the wealthy have their hardships; due to recent reforms, including the serfs' (peasants) liberation from slavery, sons of nobility must fight Russia's wars alongside lower classes of men. Their fathers, though close associates of the Czar, live in fear of the Czar's temper and moodiness, never sure of where they stand or of who might politically back-stab them.

The Crown and the Crucible is an excellent beginning to a 7-part saga about the people of Russia in an uncertain, tumultuous period of history, with great historical background and interesting characters.

Heart of India: William Carey's India

Heart of India, a three-volume historical fiction story by Linda Chaikin, takes place in 1790s India, in the days of British rule. The three books -- Silk, Under Eastern Stars, and Kingscote -- tell a story about Coral Kendall, heirress to a silk plantation in northern India. A Christian fascinated by the recent work of William Carey (missionary to India), Coral adopts an orphaned Indian baby -- believed to be an Untouchable, the lowest caste in India. She and the young child become very close, until tragedy comes when the boy is abducted -- and a body shows up later. But did Gem in fact die? Coral never forgets, and tries to discover the truth and get her child back.

This problem and its resolution cover all three books, a true three-in-one story rather than three separate stories in a series as is usually done. Added into the mix is a villain, Coral's Uncle Hugh Roxbury, determined to stop Coral's plans for a school, and other Indians opposed to her plans to start a missionary school for the poor Indian children.

A love triangle soon emerges as well, with Coral's heart torn between Dr. Ethan Boswell, whom the family expects her to marry, and the adventurous, sometimes-military Major Jace Buckley. As the story unfolds, their true characters are revealed, for an interesting and entertaining reading filled with suspense, deceit and betrayed trusts, and romance.

The historical backdrop includes brief meetings with John Newton, writer of "Amazing Grace" and a retired preacher in Olney, England by this time. The characters also discuss William Carey and his family, and so we learn of his wife's illness as well as his son Felix's later work. Other background information includes political discussions, sometimes confusing with the many geographical references and different warring groups. To help understand such references, the books include a basic map of India at the front, and a glossary of common India terms used. Thus we learn the difference between a ghari (a carriage) and a ghazi (political or religious radical).

The minor characters also develop and grow during the three books. Coral's two sisters are first seen as superficial and worldly, but later we see older sister Katherine mature. Younger sister Marianne also shows her devotion to Coral.

The "Heart of India" trilogy is fascinating and enjoyable historical fiction, with great adventure and romance against the backdrop of India during the time of William Carey’s missionary work.

His Majesty's Envoy: Young George Washington

The Neophyte Warrior series, by Richard Patton, tells the life of young George Washington during the French and Indian war in the 1750s: a lesser-known period of Washington’s life and great story material. The first book in the series, His Majesty’s Envoy, introduces the 21-year-old Major and his early career, covering the time period from December 1753 through April of 1754 and events leading up to the French and Indian war.

Primarily a story based on Washington’s life, His Majesty’s Envoy expands from the known record with interesting characters who depict the actual French, Indian, and Colonial English involved in the conflict. Several scenes explain the politics of the war and the positions held by each side, and subplots explore the characters’ relationships and how the impending conflict may affect them. As the first in a series, the book ends rather abruptly, anticipating the next volume of the continuing story.

Though it starts out slowly, His Majesty’s Envoy soon builds interest through the characters and the rich historical background of this little known time period. The 21-year-old Washington himself seems nothing like the Revolutionary War era leader; of course hindsight makes it all the more interesting. The story expands also into Washington’s personal life, including his friendship with the flirtatious young Sally (Mrs. Sarah Cary Fairfax), who was married to his friend (and based on actual correspondence from Washington the following year, 1755).

Of particular interest, the author follows the Indian naming tradition, correlating the characters and how their names describe their true personality. One young Indian decides to change his name from "Sinking Canoe" to "Striking Eagle," though the name change seems inappropriate to his friend who insists on keeping his own birth name. Among the Colonial English, a young man named Pariah truly lives up to the meaning of his name.

His Majesty’s Envoy is a good beginning to what promises to be a solid historical fiction series, with strong character development and an in-depth look at the French and Indian War.

The Maiden of Mayfair: An Orphan's Story in Victorian England

Lawana Blackwell’s novel, The Maiden of Mayfair (first in the Tales of London series), tells a heartwarming story about a young girl living in an orphanage in the slums of London in 1870. Thirteen-year-old Sarah Matthews is suddenly sent away to live with a wealthy elderly woman in the Mayfair district.

Mrs. Blake is hardly the Daddy Warbucks type, and Sarah a far cry from Orphan Annie. Sarah is a rather shy girl, quite content to live in the St. Matthews’ Methodist Home – the only home she has ever known – and can’t understand why she has been sent away. Other girls she knows would much more enjoy living in a real home. However, Mrs. Blake wishes to make amends for past mistakes, and believes Sarah to be her granddaughter. Only problem is, the real grandchild died in infancy, so the Orphanage director provides Sarah as a substitute.

Both Mrs. Blake and Sarah face of scorn – of Sarah’s presumed illegitimacy – from Mrs. Blake’s friends. Sarah has much to lose as well, if her true identity is discovered. Through the years Sarah comes to enjoy a wonderful life, including friendship with Mrs. Blake’s household servants, including Naomi, the cook and a close confidant of Dorothea Blake.

The historical setting includes a favorable view of household servants and their day-to-day lives and relationships. Many of the characters enjoy reading Charles Dickens’ novels, and mourn the passing of the great author that summer of 1870. Through one of the characters we also learn of the many ways in which businesses preyed on consumers: bad food, ordinary liquids touted as miracle cures, and so on. Naomi, her nephew William, and Sarah also tour the cultural sites of 1870s London.

Throughout the story is a theme of compassion, forgiveness, and the joy that comes from loving and helping another. Mrs. Blake especially conveys the hope of one, once miserable over past failures, who finds this truth working its way in her life. The Maiden of Mayfair is a truly touching story, conveying compassion along with interesting characters. Though the first in the series, it reads and concludes as a single book with no loose ends. After a great first book, though, Lawana Blackwell fans can eagerly look forward to the next book, Catherine's Heart, scheduled for publication this fall (2002).

Freedom Trap: "Promise of Zion" Book 5

Robert Elmer's "Promise of Zion" series continues with the recently released 5^th book, Freedom Trap. (The author announces in this book that the series will finish with the next book, True Betrayer.)

This book finds Emily on the island of Cypress, visiting the Jews at the refugee camp run by the British. Remembering a promise she made to Dov -- to do anything she could to find his parents -- she continues her search for Dov's mother. Dov, meanwhile, has returned to the Old City Jewish Quarter with his brother Natan. Arabs bomb the area daily, and soon Dov finds himself living in a crowded apartment with a Jewish family and nearly a dozen small girls from a nearby (now destroyed) orphanage. Soon we see a new side of Dov, who now considers others, not just himself. Somehow he must get the orphans to safety.

While the British pull up their final stakes, in a hurry to leave the area, the Arabs mercilessly attack the Jews--who will soon declare their new nation of Israel. Emily, too, sees the harsh reality along a highway from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem: cars and trucks wrecked everywhere along the road, and groups of Arabs from the hillsides above waiting to attack any more non-British vehicles.

As in the previous books, Elmer tells a thrilling action-adventure with great historical detail. This book introduces additional elements of 1948 Palestine, including life in the refugee camp, where the British have detained thousands of Jews who sought a new home in Israel. Though nothing like the Nazi concentration camps, conditions are harsh and many Jews die of diseases such as tuberculosis. Another historical detail, a hanging trolley run by cables above Jerusalem, provides an interesting plot-device (though the author notes that this train did not in fact exist until later that year).

Freedom Trap is another excellent book for young people, and a book that sparks interest in the real historical events of Israel's founding in the late 1940s.