History of Magic: Term XXVI, Activity 08 History Rec

[caitieness.livejournal.com]

Activity: History Rec
Points: 10 points participation
Deadline: Thursday August 29 at 11pm UTC (7pm EDT)
Details: Recommend a novel / short story / biography that relates to history in some way! This can be historical fiction, medieval fantasy or even nonfiction. Include Title, Author, and a brief summary. Use the textbox provided to submit & sign with your name and house (or a sigtag) for points!

<B>Title/Author</b>: <B>Historical Time Period:</b> (can be specific like 1900 or general like medieval England) <B>Brief summary:</b> name/house/sigtag

Don't forget to sign the roster to receive bonus points!
 

Comments

[caitieness.livejournal.com]

[storminmay]

Are we making up a rec based on something in wizarding world history, or is it supposed to be based on IRL history?

[magfrump.livejournal.com]

Title/Author: His Majesty's Dragon/Naomi Novik
Historical Time Period: Napoleonic Wars (1810s?)
Brief summary: The Napoleonic wars told from the perspective of a British Naval officer who becomes entangled with the Aerial Corps. The aerial corps is of course the branch of the military who ride dragons. Excellent world-building, great characters, and no magic. I get the impression that the history is pretty well-researched... at least up until the point that dragons start making the world very different. The seventh (and possibly final?) book in the series just came out a few days ago, at least ostensibly. I haven't been able to find a copy in person yet. This series is possibly my favorite fantasy series of all time.

[slumber.livejournal.com]

Title/Author: A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
Historical Time Period: ummm, it's more of a historical overview from the start of civilization to recently
Brief summary: I really love this book. It's basically a summary of the stone age to the present, seen through the lens of what drink defined that time period. Why and how did we come about beer, what influence did wine have on spreading Grecian culture, how did spirits fuel the age of exploration, what kind of influences did coffee have on the age of reason, and so on. The invention, popularity, and cultural significance and historical impact of each drink is touched upon in a way that is bite-sized educational (great for random trivia) and also enjoyable.

Evyclaw

[kaitydid33087.livejournal.com]

Title/Author: Night//Eli Wielsel (I think that's how you spell his name)
Historical Time Period: World War II, Poland, I believe.
Brief summary: Night, is about Mr. Wielsel's, and his father's, real life account at Auschwitz and Buchenwald from 1944-1945. It's personally, one of my favorite books. It shows the real life horror of the concentration camps and what the Nazi's would do. He was 16 when the camp was liberated. He fortunately survived, his father, however, did not. It's a horrific tale, but really told in a wonderful way.

Kaity//Puff

[kaitydid33087.livejournal.com]

Can we recommend more than one? Obviously not for extra points.

[passerine.livejournal.com]

This is one of my faves, too. Have you read the others in the trilogy (Dawn, and Day)?

[passerine.livejournal.com]

Can we recommend graphic novels?

[kaitydid33087.livejournal.com]

I haven't! I didn't realize, until I was looking at the summary, that it was a trilogy.

[passerine.livejournal.com]

I only found out pretty recently myself (I still have to read Day).

[caitieness.livejournal.com]

it should be a real recommendation for a real book/piece of literature :)

[caitieness.livejournal.com]

i'm going to say sure but only if they are less well known because i don't want you to use up all the popular answers not for points

[caitieness.livejournal.com]

as long as you think it fits the historical requirement :)

[caitieness.livejournal.com]

Title/Author: George Washington's Socks by Elvira Woodruff
Historical Time Period: 1776, America's Revolutionary War
Brief summary: Listen. This is a book about time travel. Five kids find a row boat that magically~ takes them to 1776. They meet soldiers and learn a lot about the Revolutionary War and war in general -- that it's not all heroics and history's not very boring. They also meet George Washington and even cross the Delaware with him! It's a book for young children, like maybe 10 year olds. But I love it and have even read it recently. So I recommend this for any GW lover!

[passerine.livejournal.com]

Absolutely does, thanks!

[passerine.livejournal.com]

Title/Author: Maus by Art Spiegelman
Historical Time Period: World War II
Brief summary:
Maus is a graphic novel (the first ever graphic novel to win a Pulitzer prize) that tells the story of Spiegelman's father's experiences before, during, and after his time in the concentration camps in Poland during WWII. It's a haunting story, depicting the characters as animals (Jews as mice, Germans as cats, etc) and showing the guilt and other complex emotions felt by survivors of trauma and torture. It really goes into the senior Spiegelman's life after surviving the Holocaust, and his damaged relationship with his cartoonist son.

Julia // Slytherin

[meredith44]

This was the first graphic novel I read (I read it for one of my library school classes) and it was amazing. I hadn't realized how affecting graphic novels versus novels could be before that.

Meredith // Hufflepuff

[passerine.livejournal.com]

I love what you can get from a graphic novel that you can't get from a regular novel (or a movie for that matter). This one's a great example of that.

[meredith44]

Title/Author: The Sunne in Splendor by Sharon K. Penman
Historical Time Period: England during the War of the Roses, specifically from about 1460 to 1485
Brief summary: This is a historical fiction account of the life of Richard III, starting from when he was a young child until his death. Most people are familiar with Richard through such sources as Shakespeare's play, accounts where he is usually portrayed as an evil villain. Sharon Penman instead took the tack that "history is written by the victors" and tried to use as many sources written during the time of Richard's life rather than the time after his defeat. And the picture she paints is of a man who made some poor choices but who was complex and interesting and trying to do the right thing. It's a compelling and different take on a person that has quite the reputation otherwise.

Meredith // Hufflepuff

[meredith44]

Before that, my only experience had been comic books in the '80's, which weren't really my thing. After that I read a few more graphic novels (like Perseopolis), and now I am in the process of reading a bunch of comic books. If the art is done well and the art and the text work well together, it can really add another interesting layer to the story.

[scarletladyy.livejournal.com]

Title/Author: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Historical Time Period: The Great Depression
Brief summary: This is a book that will probably stay with you forever. Its major theme is friendship, and it's about two migrant ranch workers that move around a lot for new job opportunities in California during The Great Depression. The workers, George and Lennie, have a dream of owning their own land one day. George is very intelligent but has no education, while Lennie is strong but has a limited mental capacity (for example, his main dream for the land is to have rabbits that he can stroke). As a result of this, George is Lennie's protector in life, and looks after him. It starts with them having fled from previous employment after Lennie was accused of attempted rape, having stroked a woman's dress and not let go. Their story is told from there on, as they find a new place to work and we follow them there. It's a very, very good and strong book and I love it to bits. Whenever I recall it, I remember everything I felt when I first read it because it evokes such strong emotions. I definitely think it's a must-read.

Fairy//Hufflepuff

[daughterjudy.livejournal.com]

Does it have to be real history or can it be alternate history ie V for Vendetta?

[caitieness.livejournal.com]

stick to real history for this challenge

[herloved-beauty.livejournal.com]

Title/Author: All Quiet on the Western Front // Erich Maria Remarque
Historical Time Period: World War I
Brief summary: Paul Baumer is a German Soldier during World War I, having signed up on the urging of a teacher from school. The book goes on to describe, in detail, Baumer's relationship with his battalion, as well as his schoolmates who joined in the service with him. It chronicles gains and loss of field, as well as a particularly depressing 'leave' visit to his own hometown after being shaken by the war.

Megan // Gryff

[herloved-beauty.livejournal.com]

You literally just made my life!! I'm marking this on my 'to read' list.