The harrowing adventure of a 14-year-old Portuguese embroiderer who suddenly finds herself a target of the 17th century Spanish and Portuguese Inquisition.

Toby A. Smith

29.07.2025

Amikae: Stirrings of an Abolitionist – by Patrick Ismond – independent book review – Historical Fiction (England) – Toby A. Smith

It was fascinating to learn about the abolition movement in Britain ...through the eyes of an enslaved person.

Toby A. Smith

29.07.2025

Teachings to Live By – Laura Zimmerman – independent book review – Non-Fiction – Toby A. Smith

I found some contributions to be deeply thoughtful, inspiring, and comforting - leading to deep reflection.

Toby A. Smith

16.07.2025

This Must Be The Place – by Maggie O’Farrell – independent book review – Fiction – Toby A. Smith

As good as HAMNET.

Toby A. Smith

11.07.2025

What Art Does – by Brian Eno and Bette A. – independent book review – Non-fiction – Toby A. Smith

A TOTAL surprise to me!

Toby A. Smith

10.07.2025

The Country Girl – by Sally Tarpey – independent book review – Historical Fiction (England, World War I) – Toby A. Smith

Readers on Goodreads and Amazon rate both books 4+.

Toby A. Smith

06.07.2025

The Hand That First Held Mine – by Maggie O’Farrell – independent book review – Fiction – Toby A. Smith

Award-winning and bestselling author Maggie O'Farrell (HAMNET) has done it again! Though THE HAND THAT FIRST HELD MINE begins telling two seemingly unconnected stories, it winds up a deeply emotional novel that speaks to the essence of human connections and the ways some wind up impacting our lives in completely unpredictable ways. Awarded five stars…

Toby A. Smith

04.07.2025

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau – by Kristin Harmel – independent book review – Historical Fiction (France, World War II) – Toby A. Smith

A page-turner full of unexpected twists and turns.

Toby A. Smith

01.07.2025

The River We Remember – by William Kent Krueger – independent book review – Historical Fiction (United States) – Toby A. Smith

The last third of the novel is among the top page-turners I've ever read.

Toby A. Smith

29.06.2025

Jane Austen’s Boldest Novel Is Also Her Least Understood – by Lauren Groff – New York Times – June 27, 2025 – Toby A. Smith

A new and perceptive take on Jane Austen's MANSFIELD PARK.

Toby A. Smith

22.06.2025

Dear Mrs. Bird – by AJ Pearce – independent book review – Historical Fiction (World War II) – Toby A. Smith

A story that starts as one thing and ends up in a totally unexpected place.

Toby A. Smith

19.06.2025

The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa: Book 3 The Giraffes – by Jennifer Ussi – independent book review – Fiction (Children’s) – Toby A. Smith

Casper meets up with a herd of giraffe who are eagerly anticipating the birth of a new baby in their group.

Toby A. Smith

18.06.2025

Napoleon’s Shadow Wife: A Novel of Countess Marie Walewska – by James Conroyd Martin – independent book review – Historical Fiction (France) – Toby A. Smith

Marie's back story is ultimately about how one woman was and was not able to wield power to achieve her desired ends.

Toby A. Smith

08.06.2025

Strangers in Time – by David Baldacci – independent book review – Historical Fiction (England, World War II) – Toby A. Smith

A story that's unpredictable, has interesting and distinctive characters, offers just enough surprises, and is hard to put down.

Toby A. Smith

03.06.2025

Iola Leroy Shadows Uplifted – by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper – independent book reviews – Historical Fiction (United States) – Toby A. Smith

IOLA LEROY SHADOWS UPLIFTED should, by any standard, hold a permanent place in American literature.

Toby A. Smith

30.05.2025

Under the Stars – by Beatriz Williams – independent book review – Historical Fiction (United States) – Toby A. Smith

While I generally look forward to picking up a book by Beatriz Williams, this one disappointed me.

Toby A. Smith

22.05.2025

50 Historical Fiction Books You Need Now – From Barnes and Noble – Toby A. Smith

I love looking at lists like this just to see how many books I’ve read. And occasionally add one to my list. Maybe you’d like to look too. Take a look!

Toby A. Smith

18.05.2025

An American Nurse in Paris – by John F. Andrews – independent book review – Historical Fiction (France, World War I) – Toby A. Smith

It’s a story about what war does to individual soldiers (and their families) — those who are injured, those who die, and those who go missing.

Toby A. Smith

11.05.2025

The Cardinal – by Alison Weir – independent book review – Historical Fiction (England) – Toby A. Smith

Another example of her skill in writing historical fiction.

Toby A. Smith

01.05.2025

We All Live Here – Jojo Moyes – independent book review – Fiction – Toby A. Smith

A look at an unconventional family trying hard, though sometimes clumsily, to come together. Along with one woman's path toward recovery after a difficult divorce.

Toby A. Smith

22.04.2025

Smoke in the Cypress – by Owen Pataki – independent book review – Historical Fiction (United States) – Toby A. Smith

A well-written historical novel - ending with a surprising and suspenseful plot twist - about New Orleans during the War of 1812.

Toby A. Smith

19.04.2025

The Pocket Thích Nhất Hạnh – by Thích Nhất Hạnh – independent book review – Non-Fiction – Toby A. Smith

THE POCKET THICH NHAT HANH is a lovely book of short chapters, each of which will make you think deeply about how you are living your life -- collected from the writings of the late Buddhist monk, peace activist, and world-renowned teacher Thích Nhất Hạnh (1926-2022). But please keep reading because this is truly NOT…

Toby A. Smith

08.04.2025

The Knight and the Butcherbird – by Alix E. Harrow – independent book review – Fiction/Short Story – Toby A. Smith

This is a world where environmental poisons are everywhere, violence is relied on to solve problems, and beings shapeshift on a regular basis.

Toby A. Smith

07.04.2025

Class Clown – by Dave Barry – independent book review – Memoir – Toby A. Smith

He recounts his life from childhood to semi-retirement with characteristic insight, ability to spot irony, and long-standing commitment to booger jokes.

Toby A. Smith

02.04.2025

One Good Thing – by Georgia Hunter – independent book review – Historical Fiction (Italy, World War II) – Toby A. Smith

One of the most compelling I've come across.

Toby A. Smith

24.03.2025

Wild Dark Shore – by Charlotte McConaghy – independent book review – Fiction – Toby A. Smith

Once it gets going, it turns into a complex novel with great depth.

Toby A. Smith

19.03.2025

Mutual Interest – by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith – independent book review – Historical Fiction (New York) – Toby A. Smith

I gave it five stars on Goodreads, though you'll see it's a difficult book to describe - especially if you want to avoid spoilers and still do it justice.

Toby A. Smith

10.03.2025

Eleanore of Avignon – by Elizabeth DeLozier – independent book review – Historical Fiction (France) – Toby A. Smith

A dazzling debut novel about one woman's determination to heal others, despite sexist limitations imposed in the medieval world.

Toby A. Smith

06.03.2025

Photographer Captures the Beauty of Vietnam – Toby A. Smith

But her photos show us a different aspect of this Southeast Asian country.

Toby A. Smith

02.03.2025

Solitary Walker – by N.J. Mastro – independent book review – Historical Fiction (England, France, Sweden) – Toby A. Smith

Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-97) led a life full of tragedy, adventure, travel, persecution and love. All the elements you need for great historical fiction.

Toby A. Smith

28.02.2025

A Bookseller in Madrid – by Mario Escobar – independent book review – Historical Fiction (Spain) – Toby A. Smith

A BOOKSELLER IN MADRID is a tension filled novel about Fascism in 1930s Spain, with a fictionalized heroine (Barbara Spiel) who represents several real women who moved to the country at this time specifically to open and run bookshops.

Toby A. Smith

20.02.2025

The Incredible Adventures of Caspar the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa – by Jennifer Ussi – independent book review – Children’s Fiction – Toby A. Smith

The first in a planned series of books by Jennifer Ussi targeted to children aged five to eight - all built around the adventures of a sassy cat.

Toby A. Smith

19.02.2025

Memorial Days – by Geraldine Brooks – independent book review – Non fiction, Memoir – Toby A. Smith

It’s not necessarily an easy book to read. But I found it extremely compelling once I started.

Toby A. Smith

19.02.2025

Austen at Sea – by Natalie Jenner – independent book review – Historical Fiction (United States, England) – Toby A. Smith

Women, romance, sea voyages, and secret letters all come together in AUSTEN AT SEA.

Toby A. Smith

09.02.2025

No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners – by Noah Rasheta – independent book review – Non-Fiction – Toby A. Smith

Very helpful in helping me understand how some of its key concepts relate to one another.

Toby A. Smith

09.02.2025

Stay Where You Are and Then Leave – by John Boyne – independent book review – Historical Fiction (World War I) – Toby A. Smith

What sets it apart from others I've read is that this one is written from a child's point of view.

home›Toby A. Smith›History

Toby A. Smith - History

Maisie Dobbs #1 – by Jacqueline Winspear – independent book review – Fiction, Mystery – Toby A. Smith

The Lies They Told – by Ellen Marie Wiseman – independent book review – Historical Fiction (United States) – Toby A. Smith

Refocus 2025 Color Photography Awards – Toby A. Smith

The Man in the Stone Cottage – by Stephanie Cowell – independent book review – Historical Fiction (Britain) – Toby A. Smith

Isabela’s Way – by Barbara Stark-Nemon – independent book review – Historical Fiction, Spain, Germany) – Toby A. Smith

Amikae: Stirrings of an Abolitionist – by Patrick Ismond – independent book review – Historical Fiction (England) – Toby A. Smith

Teachings to Live By – Laura Zimmerman – independent book review – Non-Fiction – Toby A. Smith

This Must Be The Place – by Maggie O’Farrell – independent book review – Fiction – Toby A. Smith

What Art Does – by Brian Eno and Bette A. – independent book review – Non-fiction – Toby A. Smith

The Country Girl – by Sally Tarpey – independent book review – Historical Fiction (England, World War I) – Toby A. Smith

The Hand That First Held Mine – by Maggie O’Farrell – independent book review – Fiction – Toby A. Smith

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau – by Kristin Harmel – independent book review – Historical Fiction (France, World War II) – Toby A. Smith

The River We Remember – by William Kent Krueger – independent book review – Historical Fiction (United States) – Toby A. Smith

Jane Austen’s Boldest Novel Is Also Her Least Understood – by Lauren Groff – New York Times – June 27, 2025 – Toby A. Smith

Dear Mrs. Bird – by AJ Pearce – independent book review – Historical Fiction (World War II) – Toby A. Smith

The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa: Book 3 The Giraffes – by Jennifer Ussi – independent book review – Fiction (Children’s) – Toby A. Smith

Napoleon’s Shadow Wife: A Novel of Countess Marie Walewska – by James Conroyd Martin – independent book review – Historical Fiction (France) – Toby A. Smith

Strangers in Time – by David Baldacci – independent book review – Historical Fiction (England, World War II) – Toby A. Smith

Iola Leroy Shadows Uplifted – by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper – independent book reviews – Historical Fiction (United States) – Toby A. Smith

Under the Stars – by Beatriz Williams – independent book review – Historical Fiction (United States) – Toby A. Smith

50 Historical Fiction Books You Need Now – From Barnes and Noble – Toby A. Smith

An American Nurse in Paris – by John F. Andrews – independent book review – Historical Fiction (France, World War I) – Toby A. Smith

The Cardinal – by Alison Weir – independent book review – Historical Fiction (England) – Toby A. Smith

We All Live Here – Jojo Moyes – independent book review – Fiction – Toby A. Smith

Smoke in the Cypress – by Owen Pataki – independent book review – Historical Fiction (United States) – Toby A. Smith

The Pocket Thích Nhất Hạnh – by Thích Nhất Hạnh – independent book review – Non-Fiction – Toby A. Smith

The Knight and the Butcherbird – by Alix E. Harrow – independent book review – Fiction/Short Story – Toby A. Smith

Class Clown – by Dave Barry – independent book review – Memoir – Toby A. Smith

One Good Thing – by Georgia Hunter – independent book review – Historical Fiction (Italy, World War II) – Toby A. Smith

Wild Dark Shore – by Charlotte McConaghy – independent book review – Fiction – Toby A. Smith

Mutual Interest – by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith – independent book review – Historical Fiction (New York) – Toby A. Smith

Eleanore of Avignon – by Elizabeth DeLozier – independent book review – Historical Fiction (France) – Toby A. Smith

Photographer Captures the Beauty of Vietnam – Toby A. Smith

Solitary Walker – by N.J. Mastro – independent book review – Historical Fiction (England, France, Sweden) – Toby A. Smith

A Bookseller in Madrid – by Mario Escobar – independent book review – Historical Fiction (Spain) – Toby A. Smith

The Incredible Adventures of Caspar the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa – by Jennifer Ussi – independent book review – Children’s Fiction – Toby A. Smith

Memorial Days – by Geraldine Brooks – independent book review – Non fiction, Memoir – Toby A. Smith

Austen at Sea – by Natalie Jenner – independent book review – Historical Fiction (United States, England) – Toby A. Smith

No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners – by Noah Rasheta – independent book review – Non-Fiction – Toby A. Smith

Stay Where You Are and Then Leave – by John Boyne – independent book review – Historical Fiction (World War I) – Toby A. Smith

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