HISTORICAL
FICTION
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Charles Dickens
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Maid of the Mist,
Modern view
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Frozen Horseshoe Falls from Canadian side.
ca. 1900
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Woodcut of Niagara Falls
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BOOK
ILLUMINATIONS
From Merrimon Book Reviews
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The Day The Falls Stood Still
by Catherine Marie Buchanan
Excellent
historical fiction
In THE DAY THE FALLS STOOD STILL, Bess
Heath narrates the story of her life from 1915-1923 against the
backdrop of the Niagara Falls, the coming of the hydroelectric age and
World War I. Once the daughter of the director of the Niagara
Power Company, her father's firing and a family tragedy change Bess's
life forever. A chance encounter with riverman Tom Cole, grandson
of the famous falls hero Fergus Cole, develops into a romance that
sustains her in unexpected ways through the events of her life.
Through her narrator Bess, Cathy Marie Buchanan documents the history
of the Canadian Niagara region from the business deals and politics to
the daredevils and tourists. Thomas Cole's perchant for
predicting the ways of the river and his daring rescues make him a
local hero whereas his desire to preserve the Falls from the
encroaching use of the hydroelectric companies put him at odds with the
powerful forces in the community. World War I looms in the
background, influencing the daily lives of the characters as well as
the more sweeping changes in the region. Against this vivid
historical backdrop, Cathy Marie Buchanan pens a powerful, moving story
of Bess's relationships with her sister Isabel and with Tom Cole.
Although these two characters are absent from Bess's life at different
periods of the novel, their presence fills Bess's life, bringing her
closer to them, and transforming Bess herself.
Both sad and uplifting in the face of tragedy at times, THE DAY THE FALLS STOOD STILL
combines fascinating regional history with a moving look into the very
heart of the novel's characters. Bess's emotional and spiritual
journey throughout the story gives depth while the everyday details
ground the story not only in the larger backdrop of history but also in
her day to day life. Real life period illustrations and fictional
newspaper articles supplement Bess's narrative, sparking the
reader's imagination and allowing one to easily enter into the region
and the period. THE DAY THE
FALLS STOOD STILL is a fine example
of historical fiction indeed!
Publisher: Voice (August
2009)
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
Review
Courtesy of Amazon Vine
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