Announcing Season 9 of History Through Fiction: The Podcast
Welcome to Season 9 of History Through Fiction: The Podcast—where the past comes alive through extraordinary stories and unforgettable characters.
This season, we travel from the opulent courts of 18th-century Dresden to the battlefields of the American Civil War, from haunted mansions in 1950s Hong Kong to the heart of ancient Egypt. You’ll meet daring aristocrats, courageous performers, trailblazing artists, and extraordinary women and men who defied expectation, risked everything, and reshaped their worlds.
Each week, bestselling and acclaimed authors guide us through tales of love, loss, ambition, and resilience—stories that illuminate the human spirit across time and place. From sweeping historical epics to intimate personal journeys, Season 9 invites you to witness history in motion and to discover the lives behind the legends.
Join us, listen closely, and experience the adventure, the intrigue, and the enduring power of storytelling—only on History Through Fiction: The Podcast.
September 1 – Rhys Bowen, Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure
Join New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen as she brings pre-WWII England to life in Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure. When Ellie Endicott faces betrayal and divorce after thirty years of marriage, she seizes a daring new path—alongside her housekeeper and friend—through the South of France. Adventure, friendship, and unexpected romance await as Bowen weaves a tale of resilience and second chances.
September 8 – Sarah Loudin Thomas, These Blue Mountains
Acclaimed author Sarah Loudin Thomas tells a story of love, loss, and resilience in These Blue Mountains. When German pianist Hedda Schlagel travels to the U.S. in 1932 to reclaim her fiancé’s body, she uncovers a mysterious death and confronts secrets long buried. Amid political upheaval and rising danger, Hedda and local deputy Garland Jones find hope, courage, and unexpected romance in this moving historical tale.
September 15 – Charles Bush, The Boy with the Jade
Historian-turned-novelist Charles Bush transports listeners to 18th-century China in The Boy with the Jade. Born into luxury yet shadowed by loss, young aristocrat Baoyu navigates love, betrayal, and societal expectation. Guided by mystical mentors and driven by a desire for freedom, his transformative journey blends philosophical reflection, emotional depth, and historical richness. Bush’s story is a compelling exploration of identity, resilience, and the human quest for meaning.
September 22 – Joy Callaway, The Star of Camp Greene
Bestselling author Joy Callaway brings 1918 Charlotte to life in The Star of Camp Greene. Broadway star Calla Connolly’s dreams are derailed by loss, illness, and wartime duty, yet she discovers heroism and love in unexpected places. As secrets unfold and loyalties are tested, Calla must choose between ambition and the bonds she forms at the camp. Callaway weaves a moving tale of courage, romance, and resilience.
September 29 – Sarah Landenwich, The Fire Concerto
Writer and pianist Sarah Landenwich spins a gripping tale of music, mystery, and redemption in The Fire Concerto. After a concert hall fire ends her career, Clara Bishop inherits a cryptic artifact tied to a long-lost composer’s metronome and a dark musical murder. As she unravels the secrets of the past, Clara discovers truths that could reshape history—and offer the second chance she has longed for.
October 6 – Kristen Loesch, The Hong Kong Widow
Edgar-nominated author Kristen Loesch delivers suspense and intrigue in The Hong Kong Widow. In 1950s Hong Kong, refugee Mei enters a deadly competition of spirit mediums, where revenge and secrets collide. Decades later, the mysterious events of that night remain shrouded in legend. Loesch’s atmospheric tale blends historical depth, psychological tension, and haunting twists, keeping listeners captivated until the very last revelation.
October 13 – Angela Shupe, In the Light of the Sun
Debut author Angela Shupe presents a sweeping tale of courage and sisterhood in In the Light of the Sun. As WWII engulfs the Philippines and Italy, sisters Caramina and Rosa Grassi rely on music to endure loss, betrayal, and danger. Shupe’s evocative storytelling illuminates hope, resilience, and the enduring power of the human spirit in a historical narrative that resonates with heart and authenticity.
October 20 – Jillian Forsberg, The Porcelain Menagerie
Historian and author Jillian Forsberg weaves intrigue and artistry in The Porcelain Menagerie. In 18th-century Dresden, court artist Johann Kändler and handmaiden Fatima navigate King Augustus the Strong’s dangerous obsessions, where ambition is as fragile as porcelain. Forsberg’s richly detailed narrative explores survival, creativity, and power, bringing to life a world of delicate artistry, courtly intrigue, and the hidden histories that shaped those who lived under the king’s whims.
October 27 – Katherine Reay, The English Masterpiece
Bestselling author Katherine Reay delivers glamour, suspense, and art-world intrigue in The English Masterpiece. In 1970s London, young assistant Lily discovers a shocking secret during a high-profile Picasso exhibit: a masterpiece may be a forgery. Racing against time, she must navigate deception, ambition, and scandal to uncover the truth. Reay’s fast-paced tale blends mystery, high society, and the thrill of artistic discovery.
November 3 – Meagan Church, The Mad Wife
Bestselling author Meagan Church delivers a haunting tale of identity, motherhood, and societal pressures in The Mad Wife. In 1950s suburbia, Lulu Mayfield’s picture-perfect life begins to unravel after the birth of her second child, drawing her into a web of obsession, secrets, and psychological tension. Church’s gripping narrative blends domestic drama with suspense, exploring the fragile line between sanity, survival, and the truths we hide.
November 10 – Dennard Dayle, How to Dodge a Cannonball
Jamaican American author Dennard Dayle delivers a hilariously irreverent take on the Civil War in How to Dodge a Cannonball. Teenage idealist Anders navigates battlefields, shifting allegiances, and a cast of unforgettable characters while questioning the very meaning of America. Dayle’s razor-sharp satire blends humor, historical insight, and absurdity, crafting a story that is as thought-provoking as it is uproariously funny.
November 17 – J. Susanne Wilson, The Death and Life of Iphigenia
Historical fiction author J. Susanne Wilson retells the legend of Iphigenia in The Death and Life of Iphigenia. Exiled and bound by sacred duty, the Mycenaean princess navigates betrayal, ritual, and the demands of gods and kings. Wilson’s evocative storytelling illuminates survival, identity, and the enduring quest for belonging, offering a fresh and compelling perspective on a timeless myth.
November 24 – Wendy Holden, The Teacher of Auschwitz
Bestselling author Wendy Holden tells a story of courage and compassion in The Teacher of Auschwitz. Amid the horrors of the Holocaust, Fredy Hirsch risks everything to protect children in Auschwitz, creating a sanctuary where hope, learning, and imagination endure. Holden’s poignant narrative honors an extraordinary individual, illuminating bravery, resilience, and the power of education even in humanity’s darkest hours.
December 1 – Herb Williams-Dalgart, Jingle Boys
Award-winning author Herb Williams-Dalgart delivers a thrilling and heartwarming story in Jingle Boys. In 1943 Brooklyn, piano prodigy Wally Lipkin navigates anxiety, love, and wartime pressures as he enters a high-stakes radio jingle contest. With humor, courage, and romance, Williams-Dalgart’s tale shows how even the smallest acts of bravery can resonate far beyond the individual, turning ordinary lives into extraordinary stories of hope and heroism.
December 8 – Karen Essex, Kleopatra
Bestselling author Karen Essex brings ancient Egypt to vivid life in Kleopatra. Before her legendary encounters with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, Princess Kleopatra navigates exile, betrayal, and courtly intrigue to claim her throne. Essex’s meticulously researched novel blends history, drama, and romance, tracing the queen’s rise to power and revealing the political genius and personal courage behind one of history’s most iconic women.
