This is a fascinating account of a woman who, given her birth and breeding, should never have gotten where she did. (If royalty can have stage mothers, Catherine certainly did.) But it was her own talents---brains, beauty, and nerve---and the audacity to use them----that earned her the title “The Great.” An epic tale told by one of the greatest biographers of our time.

Recommended by Jan

Yes, I know John Brown’s body has a mould ring in the grave. Yes, I know the raid on Harper’s Ferry occurred a year and a half before the first shots were fired in the Civil War. Yes, I even know that Robert E. Lee commanded the troops that took John Brown prisoner and that John Wilkes Booth attended his execution. But what I didn’t know could fill a book and this is it: a compelling account of one of the most important moments in U.S. history.

Recommended by Jan

You may not think it’s possible to write an entire book about a single baseball game, but you’d be wrong. Besides, it isn’t about “just” game, but what (to me) is (in)arguably the greatest game ever played. I remember that night – Tuesday, Oct 21, 1975 – not because it was a Tuesday, or that it was my birthday (don’t ask). I can’t tell you what we had for dinner, or what presents I got, but I can tell you – actually, I don’t think I can adequately express – how thrilling that game was. We were all riveted to the TV set. The author delves into the personalities of everyone from the brass at NBC and in MLB to the players on the field (and even those on the bench). Evocative of time and place, it has one other thing going for it: it’s dedicated to Vin Scully. What more needs to be said? A real “hit”. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

Recommended by Jan

It's difficult to believe that one of this country's true military geniuses was once derided by his own men as "Granny" - partly due to his insistence on discipline and preparation (most Confederate soldiers were volunteers who believed that fighting spirit was enough to ensure a victory). By the time of the Appomattox Court House, however, he was both beloved by his men and admired by friend and foe alike. This book examines his increasingly effective leadership on the field, his interactions with his subordinate commanders and how those successes led to the overconfidence that resulted in his defeat at Gettysburg. (The book concludes with an overview of his generalship through the end of the war). An engrossing assessment of one of America's true military greats.

Recommended by Jan

I'm not quite sure if the title's a misnomer or not (I expected more about Margaret More Roper than I got, but considering the gist of the book I don’t know what else would be more indicative of its content), so be advised.  The book concerns Thomas More – his life, his writings & his eventual martyrdom – and how his daughter Margaret kept his good name alive after his death.  If you're unfamiliar with the life of Thomas More this is a good overview (& unlike the excellent film of his life, A Man for all Seasons, this bio includes some of the more unsavory – given modern morals – aspects of his life – thinking burning of heretics, for example). 
The writing is clear and there are illustrations & family trees to help keep all the various Thomases, Johns, Alices & Margarets in their proper alignment.  It is a moving account of two truly Renaissance figures.

Recommended by Jan

Considered the 1st - & by many the best – detective novel ever written, this book debuted originally in serialized form in 1868. I mention this because it should not be thought of as historical fiction: its depiction of the crime & its resolution are not quaint but contemporary. The myriad scientific advantages that present day crime solvers (both real & fictional) have were not even dreamt of when this was written. & that just makes this book even more enjoyable. The crime & its unraveling are told by many voices over a year’s time, & proves, among other things, that great mysteries do not have to a) have bodies strewn all over the place; b) have a detective in constant peril of being beaten to a pulp – or worse – and c) do not need to be solved overnight. A delight form beginning to end.

Recommended by Jan

The year is 1860, and police detection is in its infancy. A young boy, 2 months shy of his 4th birthday, is found in a privy with his throat slashed. The murder has taken place behind locked gates; the only logical suspects are the child's family and three live-in female servants. The local constabulary knows the solution is beyond them and send for Scotland Yard. No, this is not a novel, but a still notorious (in England, at least) true life crime committed by - well, let's not go there. What the book is actually about is the development of "detective science" (remember, not only was there no DNA testing available, they couldn't even take fingerprints), and how the detective (in this case, Mr. Whicher - apparently pronounced "Witcher") came to his conclusion. It is also about what Wilkie Collins aptly christened "detective fever" - the public fascination with crime and individual reaction to it. And although the scientific breakthroughs have been significant, the public response hasn't changed much in nearly 150 years.

This is a fascinating book on many levels and in several different interests as well. Definitely worth the time.

Recommended by Jan