Faithful readers of this blog will recall that reading history books is one of my favorite pastimes. Well-written history, like red wine, dark chocolate and coffee, is both good – and good for you. (Combine them all and you might just have described my perfect day.)
History books have the power to transport us to a totally different world – and teach us a bunch of fun facts. My husband and I just finished reading a book by Roy Adkins about The Battle of Trafalgar. The battle that secured Lord Nelson’s place in the pantheon of great British heroes (and, by the way, also killed him), the battle that secured Britain’s place as ruler of the seas for a century. Trafalgar was the last great sailing-ship battle ever; after that, I learned, the great naval battles were powered by steam, coal, or diesel. The book provides a terrific account of the fighting, as well as a riveting description of life, hygiene, and food aboard a naval ship in the 1800s. And when I say “riveting,” I mean it in the same way you’re transfixed by a horrible car crash you pass on the highway. (Did you know eating rats helped prevent scurvy?)
One of the most popular writing styles for historical fiction right now is the dual timeline — two stories woven together from two different historical periods. My current favorite in that genre is “The Weight of Ink,” which includes storylines of a modern-day scholar approaching the end of her career and of the Jewish community in 17th century London and Amsterdam. I’m only about one-third of the way through the novel; I’ll report back on all the riveting details when I’m done.
I just started working with an author who’s written a historical novel about the notorious case of Alger Hiss. Cold War history buffs have certainly heard of the famous spy case pitting Alger Hiss against Whitaker Chambers, a story of espionage that penetrated deep into the heart of the U.S. government. When Chambers renounced his membership in the Communist Party and accused Hiss of being a Russian agent, what followed was dubbed “the trial of the century.” But as the case recedes from memory, fewer and fewer Americans even recognize the names of the characters involved.
Like Trafalgar, the Alger Hiss case is a fascinating drama from the pages of history. Author and historian David Cleveland brings the 70-year-old story back to life in his new novel, Gods of Deception. His protagonist is the grandson of one of the lawyers who represented Hiss during the legendary trial. The lawyer is now a retired judge, working on his memoirs and ambivalent about his role in the trial and the secrets he’s kept ever since.
While Cleveland’s book is fiction, he includes plenty of fun facts; did you know that Hiss was awarded the Order of the Red Star by the head of Stalin’s intelligence service in a secret Moscow ceremony? Or that he debriefed his Soviet handlers every morning at Yalta, before sitting at the right hand of President Roosevelt for each day’s negotiations?
Cleveland’s sweeping saga is entertaining and informative (good). It is also surprisingly relevant (good for you).
As Americans grow weary of the war in Ukraine, as we turn our attention away from the affront of a Russian invasion and Putin’s propaganda, Cleveland’s book is a sober reminder that totalitarian regimes and tyrannical rulers are not just after territory. The real threat is their intention to control the hearts and minds of their citizens. Whether or not you love reading history books, that’s a threat we can never assume has been thrown on the ash heap of history.