Hardcover Fiction

by Thomas B. Costain · Doubleday

by Ben Ames Williams · Houghton Mifflin

First published in 1947, this bestselling historical novel is cherished and remembered as one of the finest retellings of the Civil War saga—America's own War and Peace. In the first hard pinch of the Civil War, five siblings of an established Confederate Virginia family learn that their father is the grandfather of Abraham Lincoln. The family's story, and the story of their descendants, is presented in this tale that includes both soldiers and civilians—complete with their boasting, ambition, and arrogance, but also their patience, valor, and shrewdness. The grandnephew of General James Longstreet, the author brings to life one of the most extraordinary periods in history, and details war as it really is—a disease from which, win or lose, no nation ever completely recovers.

by Samuel Shellanbarger · Little, Brown

by Lion Feuchtwanger · Viking Press

Historical novel about Benjamin Franklin's trip to France to gain arms and aid from French monarchs Lious XVI and Antoinette.

by Laura Z. Hobson · Simon & Schuster

by Ludwig Bemelmans · Viking Press

by Thomas W. Duncan · Lippincott

by Willard Motley · Appleton-Century

by Frank Yerby · Dial Press

by Gerald Warner Brace · W.W. Norton and Company

by Sinclair Lewis · Random House

Sinclair Lewis's "Kingsblood Royal" is a powerful exploration of race and identity set in the early 20th century American Midwest. The novel follows the life of Neil Kingsblood, a white man who discovers that he has African ancestry. This revelation compels him to confront the entrenched racism of his community and his own prejudices, ultimately leading to a profound personal transformation. Lewis employs a satirical yet poignant literary style, deftly blending realism with biting social commentary that interrogates the constructs of race and privilege in American society. The narrative reflects the cultural tensions of its time, encapsulating the struggle between individual identity and societal expectations in an era grappling with the implications of race relations. Sinclair Lewis, an award-winning novelist and the first American to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, often drew from his own experiences growing up in a small town. His prior works, such as "Main Street" and "Babbitt," set the stage for the themes of conformity and social critique that permeate "Kingsblood Royal." Lewis's insightful observations of American life and culture, coupled with his passion for social justice, illuminate the urgent issues presented in the novel. "Kingsblood Royal" is a compelling read for anyone interested in the intersection of race, identity, and societal norms. Lewis's incisive prose and rich character development invite readers to question their own beliefs while providing a mirror to the complex realities of race in America. This novel remains a vital contribution to the ongoing discourse surrounding race relations and its relevance continues to resonate today.

by Peter Bourne · Putnam

by Mabel Seeley · Doubleday

by Irving Stone · Doubleday

by Budd Schulberg · Random House

by Robert C. Ruark · Doubleday