American Historical Fiction discussion

This is another OOP author I discovered recently, especially for those who like big fat books. Huge. Her books are a bit on the romancey side, but she packs a lot of history in them, and doesn't pull punches. Bad things happen, people you come to care about die.

She wrote a trilogy that begins in early 19C England and moves to Maryland and carries the family through the Civil War and the industrial changes. The family is very involved in horse breeding and racing so there's lots of *horsy* details.



There's also one she wrote set in San Francisco, Seattle and even the San Juan Islands. Not her best but worth it if you want to read more about the early days of Seattle and the lumber industry. One caveat - there is a back story that deals with abuse - if you're sensitive to that topic you might stay away. There's also more sex than her other books but still tame for today's standards.



My favorite though is The Proud Breed. Set in old California it takes the MC's from the time when the Spanish ruled until right at the end of 1899. Loved loved loved it.

I'd never heard of her before, but that trilogy sounds like it's for me! My library has the first two books so I'm adding them to my list.

If your library participates in ILL you should be able to get the last one that way.

Guess what, Misfit? I found an old beat up copy of The Proud Breed at my library's book sale today so I picked it up!

Awesome Jenny. I hear that one's a bit hard to find so lucky you.

Thanks for the recommendation. I just picked up a used paperback copy of The Proud Breed on Amazon. Can't wait to get started.

DixieChick wrote: "Thanks for the recommendation. I just picked up a used paperback copy of The Proud Breed on Amazon. Can't wait to get started."

It's wonderful, DixieChick! I hope you enjoy it!

Misfit wrote: "This is another OOP author I discovered recently, especially for those who like big fat books. Huge. Her books are a bit on the romancey side, but she packs a lot of history in them, and doesn't pu..."

That is truly one of my all time favorite books. I recently bought it used on Amazon.

I read the Proud Breed when it first came out and at least three more times after that. My paperback copy is fragile and yellow, but I love it.

I loved it, too! I've got the first book in her Wild Swan trilogy to read, too.