Book Review — Artist, Soldier, Lover, Muse by Arthur D. Hittner #HistoricalFiction #Art

Artist, Soldier, Lover, Muse

 By Arthur D. Hittner

Freshly graduated from Yale in 1935, Henry J. Kapler parlays his talent, determination, and creative energy into a burgeoning art career in New York under the wing of artists such as Edward Hopper and Reginald Marsh.  The young artist first gains notoriety when his depiction of a symbolic, interracial handshake between ballplayers is attacked by a knife-wielding assailant at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington.  Yet even as his art star rises, his personal life turns precarious—and perilous—when his love for Fiona, a young WPA muralist, collides with his growing attraction to the exquisitely beautiful Alice, an ex-chorus girl who becomes his model and muse.  Alice is the girlfriend of Fiona’s cousin, Jake Powell, the hotheaded, hard-drinking outfielder for the New York Yankees whose jealousy explodes into abuse and rage, endangering the lives of all three.  While Henry wrestles with his complicated love life, he also struggles mightily to reconcile his pacifism with the rabid patriotism of his Jewish-Russian émigré father.  As war draws near, Henry faces two difficult choices, one of which could cost him his life.

 

 

"I've decided to become an artist…"

 

His father would have taken it better if Henry J. Kapler had announced at the dinner table that he was running away and marrying a Catholic. An artist was not at all what his father had planned for his eldest son. But in this decision, Henry would not be swayed — for art commanded his very soul. Without it, he was nothing.

 

With an unquenchable determination, Henry moves to New York, to the very heartbeat of life, love and artistic imaginations. He may well be forced to live a penniless existence, but others had walked that path before. It was worth the sacrifice.

 

Captivated by a world he had only ever dreamed about, Henry begins to make a name for himself. However, paintings are raw emotion, and they awaken strong sentiments in not only Henry’s critics but also those he loves…

 

From the dreams of a young idealistic man to the horrors of war and an impossible decision, Artist, Soldier, Lover, Muse by Arthur D. Hittner is the heartbreakingly bewitching story of a young man whose soul was full of dreams and colours and passion, but the world he lived in turned out to be comprised of different shades of grey. 

 

Sometimes there is no making sense of life, and those who burn the brightest are destined to burn the shortest. With a mesmerising narrative that seduced me with that first tantalising stroke of the brush, and a protagonist that was as conflicted as he was beautiful, Artist, Soldier, Lover, Muse is the unforgettable story of one man who is torn apart by love, sacrifice and war.

 

Oh, this book! What an exhilarating portrait Hittner has painted of the Academic and Social Realism period in America. Between the pages of this remarkable book, Hittner has portrayed an era rich in social change, racial inequalities, depression, sport, politics and above everything else art and love. It is a novel that explores a nation in flux. Expect to discover the debauched world of the burlesque clubs, the gluttony of corrupted wealth, and everything in between. Hittner has been astoundingly ambitious with his portrait of 1930s America, but such ambition has undoubtedly paid off, for this book is in all ways a Historical Fiction masterpiece.

 

Artist, Soldier, Lover, Muse is a story of one man whose life is both made and destroyed by his consuming passion for the one thing that would remain forever elusive to him — the exact shade of colour, and the heart's dearest desire. This is a book that left me reaching for the tissues on more than one occasion as Henry battles with what he sees, what he knows, and what he wants. He is a man trapped in a prison of his own making, and the only way to break free is to lose everything he ever loved. As this novel reaches its climactic ending, the reader is asked to pause and contemplate the truth behind every brushstroke of every painting they have ever gazed upon. This book has the power to make you question everything you thought you knew about art and the artists that bared their souls upon the canvases of their life.

 

Henry is a very appealing protagonist who captured not only my imagination but also my heart. Henry is one of those men who, if you are lucky, will grace your life, be it for a moment or forever, and will irrevocably change it. Henry spends his life chasing his muse, never realising that he was, in fact, someone else's. His compassionate heart ends up being his undoing. He is a very conflicted character, especially near the end of this novel, and his story is absolutely heartrending. Hittner takes his readers on such an emotional journey, and yet this journey is as irresistible as it is enthralling. Henry is the kind of protagonist that will stay in your heart long after you have put the book down. He is also one of those characters whom you desperately want to be a real historical person, and there is almost this forlorn sense that if he did not exist then, he really should have. Hittner takes great care to state in his author's notes in the back of this book that Henry is fictional, although his life mirrors to the extent that of Harold Rabinovitz, they even share some of the same paintings, and I think that it is this that makes Henry come across so authentically in the telling.

 

Artist, Soldier, Lover, Muse is a truly remarkable book that is as rich in historical detail as it is in story. Although Henry J. Kapler is a fictional character, many of the secondary characters in this book are not. I thought Hittner’s portrayal of Yasuo Kuniyoshi was particularly sublime, as was his depiction of the baseball player, Ernest "Bunny" Taliaferro. With these two characters, in particular, Hittner depicts the racial prejudice and intolerance of the era.

 

Hittner has, at times, used creative licence to cast both his secondary characters in the light that his story demanded of him. His decision to include Yankees outfielder, Jake Powell into the narrative was very interesting. I can see why he did, for Jake's volatile nature was a contrast to Henry's gentle ways, and it also highlighted the differences and the divisions that were in sport during this period depending upon the colour of your skin and your own personal demons. I thought Jake's portray was particularly well-drawn.

 

You don't have to be an expert on art or baseball to enjoy this book. Not knowing makes this story all the more exciting and Hittner is an excellent tour guide. His depiction of the artists' techniques, the baseballer's skill, is exquisite. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the opening sentence to that final full stop— an exceptionally wonderful read. Artist, Soldier, Lover, Muse by Arthur D. Hittner is deserving of a place on your bookshelf.

 

I Highly Recommend.

 

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.

The Coffee Pot Book Club.

 

 

Pick up your copy of

Artist, Soldier, Lover, Muse

Amazon UK • Amazon US

 

Arthur D. Hittner

ARTHUR D. HITTNER, author of the art-related historical novels "The Caroline Paintings" and "Artist, Soldier, Lover, Muse" and the humorous baseball novel "Four-Finger Singer and His Late Wife, Kate," is also the author of "Honus Wagner: The Life of Baseball's 'Flying Dutchman'" (McFarland, 1996), winner of the Seymour Medal awarded by the Society of American Baseball Research for the best book of baseball history or biography published in 1996; "At the Threshold of Brilliance:The Brief but Splendid Career of Harold J. Rabinovitz" (The Rabinovitz Project, 2014), a biography and catalogue raisonne of a newly rediscovered master of American art of the Depression era; and the irreverent travelogue, "Cross-Country Chronicles: Road Trips Through the Art and Soul of America." Mr. Hittner has also written about fine art subjects for Maine Antique Digest, Fine Art Connoisseur and Antiques & Fine Art and has served as a Trustee of the Danforth Museum of Art and the Tucson Museum of Art.

 

Connect with Arthur: Website • Goodreads • Amazon Author Page.

 

#BookReview — The Cold Hearth (The Atheling Chronicles #3) by Garth Pettersen #HistoricalFiction #AngloSaxon @garpet011

The Cold Hearth

(The Atheling Chronicles #3)

By Garth Pettersen

"The sons of Cnute are dead men."

The dying words of his brother's assailant travel across the North Sea to the English Midlands.

Harald, the king's second son, receives the warning while rebuilding a hall where he hopes to farm and lead a peaceful life with Selia, his Frisian wife. But as the hall nears completion, they learn the family who lived there before them all perished in a single night of bloodshed. Could the grounds be cursed?

Now the threat of unknown enemies casts a long shadow. Should they distrust the brooding Saxon neighbor or the two weapon-bearers they hired for protection? Should they suspect either of the two women they have taken on with the other hirelings? Only their Jewish warrior friend, Ravya ben Naaman, seems to be the only one above suspicion.

"How many more would die because of me, because of who I am?"

It was a question with no answer. Harald Harefoot knew that he must always be on his guard. He did not even have the reassurance of his brothers’ sword arm, and loyalties can never be assured when a bag of silver is dangled in front of your face.

But when the dying words of his brother's failed assassin travelled across the North Sea to the English Midlands, Harold knows that it will only be a matter of time before his destiny catches up with him. Until then, Harold must do everything in his power to keep his wife and his people safe.

However, in this complex game of succession and thrones, the real enemy is closer than even Harold could have foreseen…

From a festering wound that threatened to destroy a man’s soul to the desperate fight to stay alive, The Cold Hearth (The Atheling Chronicles #3) by Garth Pettersen is in all ways a Historical Fiction triumph.

With an enthralling sense of time and place, Pettersen has presented his readers with another beguiling novel about a man who history has overlooked. With a lack of sources on Harold, Pettersen has used a healthy dollop of creative licence to pen a story that is a tautly gripping account of not only this period in time, but also this very elusive man. Although history tells us that Harold reigned for only five years and died mysteriously when he was 24, Pettersen has decided to give us an older, wiser, Harold whose actions give the reader a hint at what kind of king he would become. It is always a risk when an author meddles with the known documented history, but in this case, I think the risk was definitely worth it. As with the other books in this series, I adored the depiction of Harold. Harold is a man that commands respect — he is fair-minded, generous, and wise beyond his years. However, he is also in the line of succession which makes him a target not only for those who have malicious intent towards his father’s throne, but also his own brother, who sees Harold as a threat to his rightful inheritance. I thought Harold’s portrayal was absolutely sublime. Pettersen has given his readers a protagonist that one can really get behind and root for.

The comparison between the three sons of Cnute is cleverly portrayed — Sweyn, whose drunken stumbling almost gets him killed, Hartha, whose arrogance seemingly knows no bounds, and Harold, who simply wants what is best for his family and his father’s kingdom. As with many princes of the realm the sons of Cnute, with the exception of Harold, bask in their own importance, while at the same time having one eye on their father’s throne. Although this book follows Harold’s journey and Sweyn and Hartha only grace the pages of this book for but a moment, their presence is still felt. Hartha's ruthlessness and mistrust of his brother probably says more about his character than it does about Harold. Hartha was a character that I found endlessly fascinating. I thought Pettersen’s depiction of Hartha was fabulous, and who would have thought that one of the antagonists in this story would actually make me laugh out loud with his cocky arrogance.

There is a large cast of characters in this book, but their individuality made it very easy to keep track of who was who. There were some characters like Garren who stole my heart, and there were others, such as Twyla, whose actions were unexpected!

There are several antagonists in this story, but there are two in particular who are not only ambitious but talented and intelligent — a deadly combination indeed. While one fights for gold, the other fights for power. I thought that the antagonists were particularly well-drawn and they certainly added a sense of menace to this tale.

Pettersen writes about this period of history with not only an elegant turn of phrase but also with authority. As I have come to expect from this series, the historical setting has been thoroughly researched. Pettersen is one of those talented authors that can make history come alive, and he has also successfully breathed new life into historical characters that have been dead for centuries. Such an achievement is no easy feat, and I commend Pettersen not only for his exceptional skills as a historian but also as an author. Bravo, Mr Pettersen. Bravo, indeed.

With one eye on the history and the other for what makes a thoroughly entertaining read, The Cold Hearth (The Atheling Chronicles #3) is the kind of book that gets readers of quality Historical Fiction very excited. There is a richness to the narrative, a lyrically pleasing note to the prose. There is also a cinematic approach to the writing — I would love to see this series on Netflix. The Cold Hearth is a story that once started is very difficult to turn away from. I lost track of time as Pettersen swept me away to a world that was violent, yet tantalisingly beautiful. This is the kind of novel that will keep a reader up to the wee hours and deservedly so.

The Cold Hearth (The Atheling Chronicles #3) by Garth Pettersen is a wonderful series, and it will especially appeal to those who have enjoyed Bernard Cornwell’s The Last Kingdom and Michael Hirst’s Vikings. 

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.

The Coffee Pot Book Club.

Pick up your copy of

The Cold Hearth

(The Atheling Chronicles #3)

Amazon UK • Amazon US

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Garth Pettersen

Garth Pettersen is a Canadian writer living in the Fraser Valley near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. When he's not writing, he's riding horses and working with young, disabled riders.

Garth's short stories have appeared in a number of anthologies, and in journals such as Blank Spaces, The Spadina Literary Review, and The Opening Line Literary 'Zine. His story River's Rising was awarded an Honourable Mention for the Short Story America 2017 Prize, and his fantasy novella, River Born, was one of two runners-up in the Wundor Editions (UK) Short Fiction Prize. His debut novel, The Swan's Road (Book #1 of the Atheling Chronicles) published by Tirgearr Publishing was released in 2017 and Book #2, The Dane Law, in September of 2018.

Connect with Garth: Website • Goodreads • Twitter.

#BookReview — Arthur Dux Bellorum (A Light in the Dark Ages Book 4) by Tim Walker #Arthurian #HistoricalFiction @timwalker1666

Arthur Dux Bellorum

(A Light in the Dark Ages Book 4)

By Tim Walker

From the ruins of post-Roman Britain, a warrior arises to unite a troubled land.

Britain in the late Fifth Century is a troubled place – riven with tribal infighting and beset by invaders in search of plunder and settlement. King Uther is dead, and his daughter, Morgana, seizes the crown for her infant son, Mordred. Merlyn’s attempt to present Arthur as the true son and heir of Uther is scorned, and the bewildered teenager finds himself in prison. Here our story begins…

Arthur finds friends in unexpected quarters and together they flee. Travelling through a fractured landscape of tribal conflict and suspicion, they attempt to stay one step ahead of their pursuers, whilst keeping a wary eye on Saxon invaders menacing the shoreline. Arthur’s reputation as a fearsome warrior grows as he learns the harsh lessons needed to survive and acquire the skills of a dux bellorum, a lord of war.

Tim Walker’s Arthur Dux Bellorum is a fresh look at the Arthurian legend, combining myth, history and gripping battle scenes. Although in a series, it can be read as a standalone novel.

“We live in dangerous times…”

When King Uther Pendragon died, his daughter, Morgana, placed her son upon the throne. However, Mordred is just a child, and therefore it is Morgana that rules the kingdom, and she will quash her enemies, even if they are of her blood, if it serves her purpose to do so.

Artorius’ destiny, if you can call it that, was nothing more than a conjurer’s trick that had been planned and executed by the overly zealous healer, although some say sorcerer, Merlyn. But it is not Merlyn that languishes in prison. For it was not he that pulled the sword from the stone. Merlyn does not have to suffer the squalor and indignity of a prison cell.

Artorius' succession to his father’s throne may not have gone exactly the way Merlyn had envisaged, but he wasn’t one to give up. He would vanquish Morgana and her son. All he had to do was to break Artorius out of prison and then convince the other tribes that Artorius is Uther’s son and therefore is the heir apparent and should be sat where Mordred sits. However, such things are easier said than done. Merlyn must use his wit and cunning to achieve that which seems, on the face of it, impossible.

From a dark and filthy cell to the coronation of one of the most celebrated legendary kings of all time, Arthur Dux Bellorum (A Light in the Dark Ages Book 4) by Tim Walker is the story of a young teenage boy, who despite all the odds, takes the throne that is rightfully his.

Following in the footsteps of the great Arthurian authors, Walker has penned a story that is as rich in historical detail as it is in all its mythological traditions. Drawing on the works of Monmouth, Nennius and Welsh folklore, Walker has presented a hero who has to desperately fight a seemingly invincible foe to win his throne and take his place in British history.

Walker’s compelling narrative caught my attention from the opening sentence. Walker’s careful blend of mystery, treachery, deceit, war, honour, and the knightly code made this book unputdownable. The skilfully described battle scenes were so real in the telling that I could almost taste the terror and the chaos as our intrepid hero fought for not only his life, but for the throne and the kingdom which was rightfully his. All of which is set against a very believable historical backdrop.

The forces of good and evil run through the heart of this book. Morgana’s desire for power is as seemingly unstoppable as the tide. She is determined to secure her son’s throne. However, one could surmise that it is not in Mordred’s interest that Morgana is so despotic in her ambition to vanquish her enemies, but in her own insatiable lust for power. Morgana is often portrayed as the anti-hero in the story of Arthur, but I thought Walker brought a refreshingly new take on the character. She is deplorable, but at the same time she drives this story forward, and I found myself holding my breath as she continued to plot and scheme to thwart her adversaries.

In comparison to Morgana, her half-siblings, and in particular Artorius, came across as level headed and for the most part compassionate. Artorius does struggle with some of the things he has done, particularly in the heat of battle, which I think gave his character a tremendous depth, and made him very believable. Likewise, Merlyn was a character I enjoyed reading about. His ingenuity and his use of the tools available to him made his story compulsively readable. I enjoyed following his progression throughout this wonderful book.

There are several secondary characters that fans of Arthurian fiction will be familiar with — Gawain, Percival, Bors and Tristan — all of whom Artorius looks up to for advice. I thought these characters were well fleshed, and I look forward to reading more about them in the next edition of this remarkable series.

Like a heroic poem from times of old, Tim Walker’s Arthurian saga continues to mesmerise. A must read for those who love everything Arthurian, but also for those who have a keen interest in the Dark Ages.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.

The Coffee Pot Book Club.

  

Pick up your copy of

Arthur Dux Bellorum

(A Light in the Dark Ages Book 4)

Amazon UK • Amazon US

Tim Walker

Tim Walker is an independent author based in Windsor, UK. His background is in marketing, journalism, editing and publications management. He began writing an historical series,A Light in the Dark Ages (set in Fifth Century Britain), in 2015, starting with Abandoned, set at the time the Romans left Britain. This was extensively revised and re-launched as a second edition in 2018.

Book two, Ambrosius: Last of the Romans, was published in 2017 and the third installment, Uther’s Destiny, was published in March 2018 (winner of One Stop Fiction book of the month award, April 2018). The adventure continues from March 2019 in the fourth book, Arthur, Dux Bellorum.

His creative writing journey began in July 2015 with the publication of a book of short stories, Thames Valley Tales. In September 2017 he published a second collection of short stories – Postcards from London. These stories combine his love of history with his experiences of living in London and various Thames Valley towns.

In 2016 he published his first novel, a dystopian political thriller, Devil Gate Dawn,following exposure through the Amazon Scout programme. In 2017 he published his first children’s book, The Adventures of Charly Holmes, co-written with his 12-year-old daughter, Cathy, followed In 2018 by a second adventure, Charly & The Superheroes.

Connect with Tim: Website • Facebook • Twitter • Amazon Author Page.