historical fiction
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Review of Marshland by Otohiko Kaga
I waited with trembling breath for over a year as the publication was delayed. Since I’m always on the lookout for new translations of Japanese literature, I often poke around Dalkey’s offerings.This is a historical novel in which a former convict going straight gives keen observations, exercises patience in his…
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Review of The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Stephen Greenblatt
An epic account of a manuscript that might’ve never seen the light of day. Though Greenblatt greatly exaggerates the general influence of said document, the realm of lost classics, buried classics and unrecovered masterpieces has always fascinated me.He takes a Bloomian view of the canon, completely excluding all Eastern cultures…
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Review of The Man Who Lived Underground by Richard Wright
A posthumously published novel by Wright, who told this story in his collection Eight Men. The expanded version is full of pathos and rage. Injustice in America was nowhere better elaborated than this author’s poignant works.This makes for a great shorter foray into the awful relations between races at this…
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Review of The Nun by Denis Diderot
A brutal and brilliant satire, but atypical for its time. Diderot was jailed for his polemic writings. Rightfully indignant toward religious men of power of the time. His most famous works were published posthumously – the only ones still in print – regarded as classics. He fits snuggly next to…
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Review of Himmler and the Handmaid by Erik Martiny
Martiny has put out a lot of books recently. I was surprised to find another one coming out this year called Bloodberry. I’ve written reviews of all his previous productions from River Boat Books. This one was engrossing and historically intriguing. It offered a well-researched fictional look at a mistress…
L. S. Popovich 