Blog
What Was on Her Bookshelf? A Civil War-Era Girl's Very Opinionated Reading List
What can a teenage girl's reading list reveal about life in nineteenth-century New England? Jane D. Cairns explores the 43 books Abby Locke recorded reading in 1867, from Dickens and Shakespeare to Sunday School stories, historical fiction, travel writing, and sensational romances. Abby's diary offers a fascinating glimpse into the reading habits, interests, and imagination of a real Civil War-era New England girl—and the inspiration behind Exalted Objects.
Writing Historical Fiction about Real People
Writing historical fiction about real people offers novelists a unique balance of research and imagination. Jane D. Cairns, author of Exalted Objects, explores the opportunities and responsibilities of bringing historical figures to life on the page. From researching overlooked lives to respecting the worldviews of people from the past, she considers how writers can use the gaps in the historical record to imagine the emotions, motivations, and conversations history leaves behind.
Two New Historical Novels to Watch: Exalted Objects and Circus of the Vanishing Elephant
One novel leads us into a struggling 1974 circus, where an elephant vanishes and freedom becomes the deepest question in the story. The other enters nineteenth-century New Hampshire, where railroads, ambition, artistry, and family loyalty collide.
Our new blog post reveals the covers of Circus of the Vanishing Elephant and Exalted Objects, shares what makes each book compelling, and explains how to preorder early through History Through Fiction.