Gloria Parnham Bradfield (Jour’59) has captured the political intrigue, suspense and humor of 19th century American life in her insightful novel, Thrones (Xlibris) (website). Set in 1848, Bradfield’s story transports the reader into the smoldering political climate of the antebellum South where men manipulated, conspired and debated the future of the country as they steeled their positions for what was to come.
Bradfield’s years of period research are reflected in the pages of this extremely well-crafted tale. The author snipped a hole in history and inserted fictional land owner Nathan Coulter, his sons Justin and Dan, and Rebecca Chancellor, precocious daughter of the junior senator of South Carolina. The characters’ lives intersect with the explosive issues of the day as events lead them from New York to the White House to Virginia’s Tidewater and the plantations of South Carolina.
Addressing the predominant topic of the era, Thrones explores the political and economic issues that tied the country to slavery while depicting the slaves’ profound contribution to the music, language, cuisine and culture that make up the South’s rich heritage.
Great book for history Buffs!!
Great read! Best historical novel I’ve read.
I love historical fiction and this book is certainly one of the best I’ve read!
We received this email last week and want to share Tom’s comments.
“I think the book is not only right on the mark historically, but the narrative is exciting and the issues involved are quite original. That is, this is a wonderful work of historical fiction that is so steeped in the times that very often, it was difficult to distinguish between what was real and what was not! Thrones is a superbly written, and even more skillfully drawn, novel that informs as well as excites the reader. Gloria has an ear for the dialect as well as the debate over the key issue of the times (and one that still resonates in our body politic): slavery.”
Thomas W. Zeiler
Professor, History and International Affairs
Director, Global Studies Residential Academic Program
University of Colorado at Boulder