Historical Fictionistas discussion

Hello!

Does anyone have suggestions for historical fiction set in Boston, preferable late 19th C?

Thanks!

This is 3 years after the Titanic disaster: how an upper class Boston family copes with the loss of 2 family members and the stories of the remaining family members. The House of Velvet and Glass / Katherine Howe.

The Last Waltz by Nancy Zaroulis

I read the above book years ago but remember being impressed by the scope of historical facts included in the story. It takes place in Boston and Newport RI.
The author also wrote Massachusetts.

Thanks guys!

Jane- I've read House of Velvet and Glass and absolutely loved it. Probably one of my favourite historical fiction books :)

Jaye- looks really interesting, I'll definitely check it out!

This is more mid 19th century (though post Civil War) but one of my favorite series ever and currently free on Kindle: Still Life With Murder

I also really enjoyed The House of Velvet and Glass, though it's set a little later, during and after the Titanic disaster.

If you like Bernard Cornwell

I believe his Revolutionary war novel

is set in the surrounding area.

Matthew Pearl does really good literature-themed historical fiction, two of which The Dante Club and The Last Dickens take place in 19th century Boston.

And I agree, The House of Velvet and Glass is a great read.

Robin wrote: "This is more mid 19th century (though post Civil War) but one of my favorite series ever and currently free on Kindle: Still Life With Murder

I also really enjoyed The House of Velve..."

Robin, so glad you mentioned Still Life With Murder! It sat on my Kindle for quite a while, Once I read it I was so caught up in the characters that I purchased the rest in the series.

happy wrote: "If you like Bernard Cornwell

I believe his Revolutionary war novel

is set in the surrounding area."

happy, Redcoat was set in Philadelphia. Even so it's a interesting book by one of my favorite authors!

Peggy Z wrote: "Robin wrote: "This is more mid 19th century (though post Civil War) but one of my favorite series ever and currently free on Kindle: Still Life With Murder

I also really enjoyed The ..."

Oh me too!! I was just going to recommend the series too. I wish there were more in the series.

What about the Bostonians by Henry James

Thanks everyone for the great recommendations! have lots to read now

Margaret wrote: "What about the Bostonians by Henry James"
Of course! How obvious haha, I should have thought of it

Quite a few years ago I read Pentimento which goes into the history of the area known as Back Bay. Pretty good.

Back Bay

I haven't read it as yet, but it has a high review rating.

Lori wrote: "Quite a few years ago I read Pentimento which goes into the history of the area known as Back Bay. Pretty good."

Isn't this a memoir by the playwright Lillian Hellman?
It is published by Back Bay Books though.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

William Martin has a number of novels set in Boston, covering multiple time periods. Check out Back Bay and Harvard Yard.

"The Given Day," by Dennis Lehane is set in Boston at the end of World War I.

Check out Ice King, which has been reissued as Triangle Trade, set early 1800's in and around Boston.

Thanks all!! my TBR list just keeps on growing.

Also The Given Day's sequel, Live by Night, which is Boston during Prohibition. Both are absolutely superb.

Art wrote: ""The Given Day," by Dennis Lehane is set in Boston at the end of World War I."
I really enjoyed this one!

The Given Day gets my recommendation, too. Great book!

The Late George Apley
I haven't read this, but in the blurb it says it won a Pulitzer Prize so I thought I'd add it here.

John JakesThe Bastard

Art wrote: ""The Given Day," by Dennis Lehane is set in Boston at the end of World War I."

I second Art's choice. Great book that teaches you a great deal about Boston.

Margaret wrote: "What about the Bostonians by Henry James"

Aloha Margaret:
You beat me to it! The Bostonians moves slowly at times, but brilliantly portrays the "proper" Bostonian in an era when that phrase meant something. I spent a year living in Bean Town in the late 1960s after the Brahmin upper crust was swept aside by the Kennedy Irish, but the Back Bay patricians remained a looming cultural presence. Still do, according to my niece who attends college there.
Cheers,
Michael