The Great Chicago Fire, 1871

Historical Disasters #3

by Elizabeth Massie

After losing her family in the Civil War, Katrina flees north from Georgia, disguises herself as a man to become an actor, meets a handsome law student, and then endures the Chicago fire of 1871

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical Romance, Historical

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 11, 1999

About the author

Elizabeth (Beth) Massie is a 2-time Bram Stoker Award and Scribe Award-winning author of horror/suspense, historical fiction, media tie-ins, nonfiction, and short fiction for adults. She also writes novels for teens and middle grade readers. Her series, Ameri-Scares, is currently in development for television by Warner Horizon (Warner Brothers), LuckyChap, and Assemble Media. Stay tuned! She lives in the Shenandoah Valley with her husband, illustrator Cortney Skinner.

Reviews

[Sandra Strange]

This historical novel aimed at girls should have been good. It isn’t on two counts: verisimilitude and inappropriateness of behavior. It does tell the story of the Chicago fire from the point of view of an impoverished Southern girl orphaned and dispossessed by renegade Union troops during Sherman’s march through Georgia. She has migrated to Chicago in search of relatives there and continues her disguise to secure employment as a boy. She works with an idealistic young man to establish a shelter for the exploited homeless poor, and predictably, falls in love with him. The unbelievable and inappropriate part comes when this well born girl reveals herself as a girl and seduces and makes love to the young man on a pier between two mansions on the lake (maybe she would do that today, but in 1871???). Then the two are caught in the fire, and a building falls on the young man when he goes in to rescue two children. The girl believes him dead and escapes the fire. He miraculously comes out with only a burned hand and searches until he finds her--all too miraculously. The story is based on so much coincidence that it becomes silly. The love story is predictable and reads like most formula love stories written for adults, with the obligatory hinted at premarital sex. Not recommended.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anything concerning this subject.
For some reason it's fascination is very intriguing and all because of a cow.
I couldn't imagine something so terrifying as this event. I felt everything in this book and even heard everything if that's possible. This was how deep I was into this book.
I was so deep that I didn't realize I was at the end because it was just so good that I didn't want to out it down!
The characters were wonderful and I really appreciated how hard the author has done their research.
I am positive on one thing. The truth will always prevail no matter what.
This story is proof of that.
I just enjoyed this story so much that I hated to come back to the present.
I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Tom Mach · Rating 2 out of 5]

Frankly, I was disappointed with this book in that it focused far more on an improbable romance than on the horror of the Chicago Fire itself. I suppose if I loved reading romance novels, I would feel differently about it.

[Stephanie Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

great

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book wasn't good in my opionion.

[Ashwise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story of two compassionate people and the fire that changes their lives. Their love story makes you want to root for them to survive.