Reading the Past
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A woman's adventures in Gold Rush California
Mary Smathers' Unfamiliar Territory and other women's stories of the West
Apr 10
•
Sarah Johnson
7
1
Twenty years of Reading the Past
Some highlights and reflections
Mar 29
•
Sarah Johnson
26
32
9
A problem like Medea
Natalie Haynes and her new Greek myth retelling, No Friend to This House
Mar 21
•
Sarah Johnson
11
4
1
Self-discovery in Tudor England, times two
Wendy J. Dunn's metafiction novel Shades of Yellow
Mar 15
•
Sarah Johnson
14
4
2
A passionate woman's pursuit of love and art
Esperanza Hope Snyder's Orange Wine and a unique publishing model
Mar 8
•
Sarah Johnson
13
2
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A preview of spring & summer 2026 in historical fiction
Sixteen upcoming historical novels that caught my attention.
Feb 27
•
Sarah Johnson
45
19
8
Back in Kansas, darkly
A review of Gordon McAlpine's After Oz
Feb 20
•
Sarah Johnson
5
2
1
Looking at Gish Jen's genre-bending novel Bad Bad Girl
Historical fiction, autofiction, fictionalized memoir? However you categorize it, this original, very personal work is worth reading
Feb 13
•
Sarah Johnson
5
2
The historical fiction winners at ALA's Book & Media Awards for 2026
plus another Substack recommendation
Feb 6
•
Sarah Johnson
7
9
3
Are we ready for historical fiction set in the '80s?
Because publishers and many readers have already gone there.
Feb 1
•
Sarah Johnson
7
4
1
A woman of the New World
Sandra Freels' biographical novel about early American colonist Anneke Jans
Jan 28
•
Sarah Johnson
7
A dance of love and power
A review of Kelly Scarborough's Butterfly Games
Jan 18
•
Sarah Johnson
8
9
3
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Reading the Past
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