What do you think?
Rate this book
The Fire Born
In 1871, the Lake Michigan shoreline is a tinderbox of ambition and drought. Delia, a Swedish orphan, now lives in a rugged Wisconsin lumber-camp brothel. Her only solace is Big Mo, a verse-quoting lumberjack fleeing his own violent past who sees the soul beneath her hardship.
Their fates are inextricably bound to William Butler Ogden, the “Richest Man in the West” and Chicago’s first mayor, whose empire of rail and timber unknowingly provides the tinder for the coming inferno. Zelda, an enigmatic circus lion tamer, becomes a haunting muse to William and a link between his high-society empire and the struggles of frontier folk like Delia and Mo.
As the deadliest firestorm in American history consumes Peshtigo and levels Chicago, Delia, Mo, and Zelda are thrust into a harrowing fight for survival, while William must reckon with his part in the apocalypse that threatens to swallow everyone he loves.
The Fire Born recounts the forgotten Peshtigo catastrophe and the Chicago fire the same night through the eyes of those who lived it, tracing the journey of resilient spirits who find their true strength in the flames and rise from the ashes of disaster.
Their fates are inextricably bound to William Butler Ogden, the “Richest Man in the West” and Chicago’s first mayor, whose empire of rail and timber unknowingly provides the tinder for the coming inferno. Zelda, an enigmatic circus lion tamer, becomes a haunting muse to William and a link between his high-society empire and the struggles of frontier folk like Delia and Mo.
As the deadliest firestorm in American history consumes Peshtigo and levels Chicago, Delia, Mo, and Zelda are thrust into a harrowing fight for survival, while William must reckon with his part in the apocalypse that threatens to swallow everyone he loves.
The Fire Born recounts the forgotten Peshtigo catastrophe and the Chicago fire the same night through the eyes of those who lived it, tracing the journey of resilient spirits who find their true strength in the flames and rise from the ashes of disaster.
422 pages, Paperback
Published October 6, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 16, 2026
I had the pleasure of receiving this as an ARC and voluntarily will be giving my honest review. This was a phenomenal historical fiction book. This was about the deadliest fire in 1871. You get to see the characters grow throughout the book as they go on with everyday life with tragedy. When the fire does break out it becomes about survival!! A lot of lives and structures were lost. They learn how to rely on each other just to get by with a great loss!! The Author did a phenomenal job you felt all the emotions they were feeling and going through!! She ends the book on a note of hope and that you can through it even in tough times. This is a must read if you live historical fiction.
“The Fire Born recounts the forgotten Peshtigo catastrophe and the Chicago fire the same night through the eyes of those who lived it, tracing the journey of resilient spirits who find their true strength in the flames and rise from the ashes of disaster.”
“The Fire Born recounts the forgotten Peshtigo catastrophe and the Chicago fire the same night through the eyes of those who lived it, tracing the journey of resilient spirits who find their true strength in the flames and rise from the ashes of disaster.”
October 7, 2026
The Fire Born
by Deborah Hufford
Rated: 5 star rating
The Fire Born by Deborah Hufford is a great historical fiction book that tells the story of what happened on October 8, 1871. That was the night of the famous Great Chicago Fire, but it was also the same night a much bigger and deadlier wildfire destroyed the town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin.
The author does a wonderful job of bringing this forgotten history to life. The book follows a few different people from all walks of life, showing how their worlds were turned upside down by the fires. You really get a sense of how dry and dangerous everything was leading up to that terrible night.
The story connects four very different people who you can't help but root for. There is Delia, a brave Swedish orphan girl who is adopted by a lumber camp Madam and is trying to survive in a rough Wisconsin brothel. Then there is Big Mo, a Scottish immigrant, poet, and lumberjack who quotes verse and is trying to leave a violent past behind him while helping Delia find her own inner strength.
You also get to see the perspective of William Butler Ogden, who was the very first mayor of Chicago and known as the Richest Man in the West. He owns an empire of railroads and timber land that connects both locations, and he inadvertently creates the perfect tinderbox for the upcoming disaster.
Finally, there is Zelda, a mysterious Turkish woman who immigrated to America to perform as a lion tamer in P.T. Barnum's circus. She becomes a haunting muse to William and acts as a bridge between his wealthy high-society world and the struggles of ordinary frontier people like Delia and Mo.
This is a wonderful read because you see these characters going about their normal lives, dealing with their own private struggles and dreams, while a massive disaster is heading right for them.
The author makes you feel like you are there in the dusty lumber camps and the fancy streets of Chicago. When the fire breaks out, it becomes an incredible story about survival. It shows how strong people can be when they lose everything and have to rely on each other to get through the night.
The book ends with a note of hope and how to start over after a tragedy. It also recognizes the ordinary people who showed so much courage.
If you enjoy historical fiction that focuses on real human emotions and stories you might not have learned about in school, this book would make a great read.
Thank you, NetGalley, Köehler Books, and Deborah Hufford, author, for this ebook. review consideration. All review opinions are my own.
#NetGalley
#KöehlerBooks
#DeborahHufford author
#TheFireBorn
http://goodreads.com/patriciasreading...
http://www.patriciasreadingroom.blogs...
by Deborah Hufford
Rated: 5 star rating
The Fire Born by Deborah Hufford is a great historical fiction book that tells the story of what happened on October 8, 1871. That was the night of the famous Great Chicago Fire, but it was also the same night a much bigger and deadlier wildfire destroyed the town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin.
The author does a wonderful job of bringing this forgotten history to life. The book follows a few different people from all walks of life, showing how their worlds were turned upside down by the fires. You really get a sense of how dry and dangerous everything was leading up to that terrible night.
The story connects four very different people who you can't help but root for. There is Delia, a brave Swedish orphan girl who is adopted by a lumber camp Madam and is trying to survive in a rough Wisconsin brothel. Then there is Big Mo, a Scottish immigrant, poet, and lumberjack who quotes verse and is trying to leave a violent past behind him while helping Delia find her own inner strength.
You also get to see the perspective of William Butler Ogden, who was the very first mayor of Chicago and known as the Richest Man in the West. He owns an empire of railroads and timber land that connects both locations, and he inadvertently creates the perfect tinderbox for the upcoming disaster.
Finally, there is Zelda, a mysterious Turkish woman who immigrated to America to perform as a lion tamer in P.T. Barnum's circus. She becomes a haunting muse to William and acts as a bridge between his wealthy high-society world and the struggles of ordinary frontier people like Delia and Mo.
This is a wonderful read because you see these characters going about their normal lives, dealing with their own private struggles and dreams, while a massive disaster is heading right for them.
The author makes you feel like you are there in the dusty lumber camps and the fancy streets of Chicago. When the fire breaks out, it becomes an incredible story about survival. It shows how strong people can be when they lose everything and have to rely on each other to get through the night.
The book ends with a note of hope and how to start over after a tragedy. It also recognizes the ordinary people who showed so much courage.
If you enjoy historical fiction that focuses on real human emotions and stories you might not have learned about in school, this book would make a great read.
Thank you, NetGalley, Köehler Books, and Deborah Hufford, author, for this ebook. review consideration. All review opinions are my own.
#NetGalley
#KöehlerBooks
#DeborahHufford author
#TheFireBorn
http://goodreads.com/patriciasreading...
http://www.patriciasreadingroom.blogs...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Carl Sandburg’s quote, "The fire born are at home in fire," frames Deborah Hufford’s novel as a study of resilience. It symbolises survivors who have already been forged by trauma—like Swedish orphan Delia and battle-scarred lumberjack Big Mo—making them uniquely equipped to endure both metaphoric hardship and literal infernos.
On October 8, 1871, extreme drought, hurricane-force winds, and timber-heavy construction caused simultaneous firestorms in Peshtigo, Wisconsin, and Chicago. Peshtigo was incinerated in hours, killing an estimated 1,500 to 2,500 people. Chicago lost roughly 300 lives and over 17,000 structures. Chicago Mayor and timber magnate William Butler Ogden faced a grim reckoning: his rail and lumber empire had primed the region for disaster. Emergency responders and ordinary folk fought valiantly, though overwhelmed by fire tornadoes. The aftermath turned Chicago into a symbol of destruction, but its rise from the ashes forged modern building safety codes, fireproofing standards, and architectural innovation.
The frontier drew European immigrants and American transplants from the east coast and the south with promises of land, autonomy, and class mobility. In Chicago, the circus represented escapism, wonder, and cultural excess while concealing a dark underbelly of human exploitation, dangerous labour, and societal marginalisation.
Ogden’s Gilded Age ambition drove the ruthless harvesting of old-growth forests, destroying ecosystems for profit. Brothels catered to isolated lumberjacks in camps. For women like Delia, sex work was an unglamorous survival trap marked by economic vulnerability and social stigma.
Through Big Mo—haunted by his upbringing and Civil War service and his imprisonment at the horrendous Andersonville prison—the story proves that severe trauma can yield deep empathy. Hardship either hardens or softens; Mo chooses gentleness. Delia, constrained by a language impairment, displays profound emotional wisdom, shedding early naivety to mature into a resilient woman. Wealthy women championed Gilded Age reform movements to reclaim agency within a patriarchal society, using their privilege to drive real social change.
On October 8, 1871, extreme drought, hurricane-force winds, and timber-heavy construction caused simultaneous firestorms in Peshtigo, Wisconsin, and Chicago. Peshtigo was incinerated in hours, killing an estimated 1,500 to 2,500 people. Chicago lost roughly 300 lives and over 17,000 structures. Chicago Mayor and timber magnate William Butler Ogden faced a grim reckoning: his rail and lumber empire had primed the region for disaster. Emergency responders and ordinary folk fought valiantly, though overwhelmed by fire tornadoes. The aftermath turned Chicago into a symbol of destruction, but its rise from the ashes forged modern building safety codes, fireproofing standards, and architectural innovation.
The frontier drew European immigrants and American transplants from the east coast and the south with promises of land, autonomy, and class mobility. In Chicago, the circus represented escapism, wonder, and cultural excess while concealing a dark underbelly of human exploitation, dangerous labour, and societal marginalisation.
Ogden’s Gilded Age ambition drove the ruthless harvesting of old-growth forests, destroying ecosystems for profit. Brothels catered to isolated lumberjacks in camps. For women like Delia, sex work was an unglamorous survival trap marked by economic vulnerability and social stigma.
Through Big Mo—haunted by his upbringing and Civil War service and his imprisonment at the horrendous Andersonville prison—the story proves that severe trauma can yield deep empathy. Hardship either hardens or softens; Mo chooses gentleness. Delia, constrained by a language impairment, displays profound emotional wisdom, shedding early naivety to mature into a resilient woman. Wealthy women championed Gilded Age reform movements to reclaim agency within a patriarchal society, using their privilege to drive real social change.
October 11, 2026
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in return for my honest review.
I don’t really know how to feel about this book or I have a lot of feelings about this book. Either way I’m not quite sure. I’ll start off with the fact that I think the premise and subject of this book are incredibly interesting and something I personally didn’t know anything about.
Second I thought this book was hard to get into it could be that it was a personal dislike. The thing I struggled most with getting into the book was the fact that there are a lot of POVs and on top of that there are a lot of time lines at least in the beginning. Eventually all the different characters and timelines do come together which I thought was really impressive. I just think there were a few too many it was confusing and because of that you didn’t connect as much with the characters. Even though you really wanted to, I must say in some parts especially the end you could connect with the characters more and feel their grief as well. I do think that if the author focused for example on Mo and Delia it would be just as impactful and interesting, maybe even more than now.
I think this book is perfect for history lovers there are loads of interesting history facts, but if you really are looking for historical fiction this might not be the book. Some parts feel like you are reading a history book. Which does show me that the author is incredibly passionate about the subject and wants to show us everything that they know about the subject. And I do really appreciate that.
I also think it is good to know if you want to read this book (which I do really recommend to do)it is quite a heavy read. That might have been clear from the title and subject matter, although I find it was a bit more graphic than I may have expected. Again that might be a personal mistake/problem, but it is just good to keep in mind.
I don’t really know how to feel about this book or I have a lot of feelings about this book. Either way I’m not quite sure. I’ll start off with the fact that I think the premise and subject of this book are incredibly interesting and something I personally didn’t know anything about.
Second I thought this book was hard to get into it could be that it was a personal dislike. The thing I struggled most with getting into the book was the fact that there are a lot of POVs and on top of that there are a lot of time lines at least in the beginning. Eventually all the different characters and timelines do come together which I thought was really impressive. I just think there were a few too many it was confusing and because of that you didn’t connect as much with the characters. Even though you really wanted to, I must say in some parts especially the end you could connect with the characters more and feel their grief as well. I do think that if the author focused for example on Mo and Delia it would be just as impactful and interesting, maybe even more than now.
I think this book is perfect for history lovers there are loads of interesting history facts, but if you really are looking for historical fiction this might not be the book. Some parts feel like you are reading a history book. Which does show me that the author is incredibly passionate about the subject and wants to show us everything that they know about the subject. And I do really appreciate that.
I also think it is good to know if you want to read this book (which I do really recommend to do)it is quite a heavy read. That might have been clear from the title and subject matter, although I find it was a bit more graphic than I may have expected. Again that might be a personal mistake/problem, but it is just good to keep in mind.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Fire Born sent me straight down a history rabbit hole. I knew about the Great Chicago Fire, but I knew far less about the Peshtigo fire, even though it was deadlier and happened the same night. Deborah Hufford builds the novel around that disaster while following people living on very different sides of the Lake Michigan economy, which gives the catastrophe a much wider human scale.
I especially liked Delia, a Swedish orphan living in a Wisconsin lumber-camp brothel, and Big Mo, the lumberjack who becomes one of the few people to see her as more than her circumstances. William Butler Ogden, Chicago’s first mayor and a major figure in rail and timber, adds another layer because the book connects personal survival to the industries that helped make the region so vulnerable to fire. Zelda, a circus lion tamer, was an unexpected addition and helped bridge those very different worlds.
Historical fiction tends to grab me most when it teaches me about an event I somehow missed despite thinking I knew the period pretty well. This did exactly that. The fire itself is horrifying, but I was just as interested in the drought, logging, wealth, and decisions that existed before anyone saw flames on the horizon.
My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance review copy.
I especially liked Delia, a Swedish orphan living in a Wisconsin lumber-camp brothel, and Big Mo, the lumberjack who becomes one of the few people to see her as more than her circumstances. William Butler Ogden, Chicago’s first mayor and a major figure in rail and timber, adds another layer because the book connects personal survival to the industries that helped make the region so vulnerable to fire. Zelda, a circus lion tamer, was an unexpected addition and helped bridge those very different worlds.
Historical fiction tends to grab me most when it teaches me about an event I somehow missed despite thinking I knew the period pretty well. This did exactly that. The fire itself is horrifying, but I was just as interested in the drought, logging, wealth, and decisions that existed before anyone saw flames on the horizon.
My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
The Fire Born brings the devastating events of 1871 to life through an interconnected cast of characters whose lives are transformed by catastrophe.
Set along the Lake Michigan shoreline, the novel follows Delia, a Swedish orphan living in a Wisconsin lumber camp, and Big Mo, a lumberjack carrying the burden of a violent past. Their connection provides an intimate human perspective on a world already threatened by drought, ambition, and the growing danger of fire.
The story also connects these frontier lives with William Butler Ogden and Zelda, an enigmatic circus lion tamer, creating a broader narrative that moves between different social worlds as the crisis unfolds.
At the heart of the novel are the Peshtigo and Chicago fires of 1871. As the disasters consume communities, the characters are forced into a desperate struggle for survival, while also confronting the consequences of the world they helped build or inherited.
With its combination of historical events, personal relationships, disaster, and resilience, The Fire Born offers a compelling perspective on a catastrophic chapter of American history and the people who endured it.
Set along the Lake Michigan shoreline, the novel follows Delia, a Swedish orphan living in a Wisconsin lumber camp, and Big Mo, a lumberjack carrying the burden of a violent past. Their connection provides an intimate human perspective on a world already threatened by drought, ambition, and the growing danger of fire.
The story also connects these frontier lives with William Butler Ogden and Zelda, an enigmatic circus lion tamer, creating a broader narrative that moves between different social worlds as the crisis unfolds.
At the heart of the novel are the Peshtigo and Chicago fires of 1871. As the disasters consume communities, the characters are forced into a desperate struggle for survival, while also confronting the consequences of the world they helped build or inherited.
With its combination of historical events, personal relationships, disaster, and resilience, The Fire Born offers a compelling perspective on a catastrophic chapter of American history and the people who endured it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Historical fiction about the Great Peshtigo fire of 1871 that gets forgotten because of the Chicago fire occurred the same day. It was an incredibly hot summer and drought created a tinderbox. The significance of the Peshtigo fire compared to the Chicago fire is in the numbers who died: 2500 to 259-300. While over 100,000 were left homeless in the Chicago fire 1.2 million acres were lost in the Peshtigo fire.
The story of the fire revolves around Delia, a Swedish orphan, who is befriended by Mo, a bible-quoting lumberjack. Then there is Richard Butler Ogden who is Chicago’s first mayor as well as the owner of the “tinder” that creates the conflagration. In the background, Ogden’s muse, Zelda, a lion tamer. Survival is the name of the game - for Delia and Zelda it’s life and for Ogden it’s image and responsibility.
The research is well done. Enjoyed the pictures - adds interest and reality. What I didn’t enjoy was how the story was structured. I didn’t think the characters were well integrated into the story - but that could just be me. But I truly appreciate the history of an important fire that devastated a community had been brought to life. This is why I appreciate historical fiction. It was a fine read overall.
My thanks to NetGalley and Koehler Books for granting me access to this ARC.
The story of the fire revolves around Delia, a Swedish orphan, who is befriended by Mo, a bible-quoting lumberjack. Then there is Richard Butler Ogden who is Chicago’s first mayor as well as the owner of the “tinder” that creates the conflagration. In the background, Ogden’s muse, Zelda, a lion tamer. Survival is the name of the game - for Delia and Zelda it’s life and for Ogden it’s image and responsibility.
The research is well done. Enjoyed the pictures - adds interest and reality. What I didn’t enjoy was how the story was structured. I didn’t think the characters were well integrated into the story - but that could just be me. But I truly appreciate the history of an important fire that devastated a community had been brought to life. This is why I appreciate historical fiction. It was a fine read overall.
My thanks to NetGalley and Koehler Books for granting me access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Fire Born is a gripping roller coaster ride of incredibly tragic events and inspirational triumphs with characters who will tug at your heart. The Chicago Fire and the lesser-known but far more lethal Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin come to life in this spectacular novel as Deborah Hufford digs deep into the lives of a cast of captivating characters with her masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions. The brilliant and evocative portrayal of the horrors and devastation of these conflagrations had me feeling the searing heat and experiencing the gut-wrenching terror of the poor souls as they fought to save their loved ones from the deadly infernos. From the first page to the last, I was glued to the page in awe of the gorgeous prose and brilliant command of language. This story was a feast of words that I couldn’t devour fast enough. As the tension ramped up throughout the story, it became impossible to put the book down until the well-earned and satisfying ending.
October 9, 2026
I really enjoyed The Fire Born by Deborah Hufford
This excellent book is about the lead-up and aftermath of the Peshtigo fire in Wisconsin.
This fire occurred on the same day as the Great Chicago Fire
The loss of life in Peshtigo was much greater than that in Chicago, but no one has heard of it because of the coincidence of dates and the lack of a newspaper to print the info at the time.
In total the fire spanned across 6 counties and 1.2–1.5 million acres, killed 1,200 to 1,500 people, and damaged a total of 16 towns.
compare that to the Chicago Fire, which killed around 300 people and burned 2,100 acres.
The story follows several couples of vastly differeing circumstances and it is very interesting.
I would really recommend this book as a way to learn a bit while enjoying a story.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC, my opinions are my own.
This excellent book is about the lead-up and aftermath of the Peshtigo fire in Wisconsin.
This fire occurred on the same day as the Great Chicago Fire
The loss of life in Peshtigo was much greater than that in Chicago, but no one has heard of it because of the coincidence of dates and the lack of a newspaper to print the info at the time.
In total the fire spanned across 6 counties and 1.2–1.5 million acres, killed 1,200 to 1,500 people, and damaged a total of 16 towns.
compare that to the Chicago Fire, which killed around 300 people and burned 2,100 acres.
The story follows several couples of vastly differeing circumstances and it is very interesting.
I would really recommend this book as a way to learn a bit while enjoying a story.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC, my opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
RATING BREAKDOWN
Characters: 2 stars
World Building: 2 stars
Plot: 2 stars
Emotional Impact: 2 stars
Personal Enjoyment: 1 stars
Cover Art: 3 stars
Total Rounded Average: 2 stars
This was a tough read for me. The writing style is so different from anything I've ever read. It's a character study for most of the book, but some of the characters are difficult to understand. The dialogue is difficult to get through with some of the characters, and I just wasn't actually able to connect with them for the most part. Although terrible tragedy strikes, even that part of the story was hard for me to get my arms around due to the writing style. This one just didn't resonate with me. It read more like textbook toward the end. I don't think the "Frontier" style of writing is for me.
Characters: 2 stars
World Building: 2 stars
Plot: 2 stars
Emotional Impact: 2 stars
Personal Enjoyment: 1 stars
Cover Art: 3 stars
Total Rounded Average: 2 stars
This was a tough read for me. The writing style is so different from anything I've ever read. It's a character study for most of the book, but some of the characters are difficult to understand. The dialogue is difficult to get through with some of the characters, and I just wasn't actually able to connect with them for the most part. Although terrible tragedy strikes, even that part of the story was hard for me to get my arms around due to the writing style. This one just didn't resonate with me. It read more like textbook toward the end. I don't think the "Frontier" style of writing is for me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was lucky enough to read this book early (so I could blurb it), and wow, what a phenom of a book.
What I wrote:
Deborah Hufford has written a stunning, heart-stopping historical epic. Richly researched and emotionally forceful, The Fire Born swept me into the turbulent decades following the Civil War, when railroads, industry, and the vast Northwoods transformed America in ways both magnificent and unbearable. Following this unforgettable cast of characters as they forged lives demanding extraordinary courage and resilience expanded my understanding of America's past—and of America itself. Hufford has given us a true tour de force.
What I wrote:
Deborah Hufford has written a stunning, heart-stopping historical epic. Richly researched and emotionally forceful, The Fire Born swept me into the turbulent decades following the Civil War, when railroads, industry, and the vast Northwoods transformed America in ways both magnificent and unbearable. Following this unforgettable cast of characters as they forged lives demanding extraordinary courage and resilience expanded my understanding of America's past—and of America itself. Hufford has given us a true tour de force.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The historical setting was engrossing. However, I did struggle to connect with the characters so it was making it difficult to fully invest in some of the emotional moments.
Overall, this was a solid read, but it ultimately wasn't the right fit for me. The writing style is different from anything I've ever read.
Readers who enjoy a somewhat slow paced, character-driven historical fiction will love this story! The history itself is fascinating and worth getting into!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 6, 2026
Thank you Netgally for the advanced copy!
The structure of The Fire Born was very reminiscent of the film 'Train Dreams'. It is both beautiful and haunting. The author has simultaneously managed to give the reader a sense of yearning for a time they have not experienced, while delving them into a world that feels very alive. The imagery and chapter headings almost felt like a character in themselves. It almost felt like watching the character's grow up and we had a privilege of watching their lives play out.
The structure of The Fire Born was very reminiscent of the film 'Train Dreams'. It is both beautiful and haunting. The author has simultaneously managed to give the reader a sense of yearning for a time they have not experienced, while delving them into a world that feels very alive. The imagery and chapter headings almost felt like a character in themselves. It almost felt like watching the character's grow up and we had a privilege of watching their lives play out.
October 6, 2026
The Fire Born is a beautifully crafted and compelling work of historical fiction. Set against the Great Chicago Fire and the far deadlier Peshtigo fire, the novel brings both disasters vividly to life through characters who feel authentic and fully realized, particularly Delia and Big Mo. Hufford skillfully balances history, atmosphere, and human resilience while illuminating the larger forces at work. The result is an absorbing and memorable portrait of a pivotal moment in American history.
October 17, 2026
The book started a little slow for me but eventually pulled me in. The author's descriptions really do pull you into a place and time in the past and make you feel like you experienced it. I wish the author had used more pictures from Wisconsin in her chapter headers, but other than that I would highly recommend this book. It gives a lot of background on both the Peshtigo and Chicago fires as it tells a story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank Netgalley and Koehler for giving me an ARC copy.
To be completely transparent, I DNF'ed this book very early on.
There were some personal triggers for me in the book to where if I continued on with the book, I wouldn't like the book. I won't be saying what they specifically are for privacy.
To be completely transparent, I DNF'ed this book very early on.
There were some personal triggers for me in the book to where if I continued on with the book, I wouldn't like the book. I won't be saying what they specifically are for privacy.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews