Bookshelf

FICTION

The Unfinished Work: A Novel of Abraham Lincoln,
by Jeff Shaara

“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.” — The Gettysburg Address, 1863. Shaara, who is renowned for his body of work exploring the conflicts and personalities surrounding key moments in American history, turns his attention to Abraham Lincoln, one of the most consequential figures during one of the most critical points in American history. Beginning with Lincoln’s election as president in 1860, through his time in the Oval Office, Shaara reveals the complexities behind the man who refused to let the deep divisions and conflicting emotions permanently sunder the country itself.

Peregrine Hill, by Nina de Gramont

At the dawn of the 20th century, widow Isabelle Bishop still believes in love, but she knows only money can save her. After losing her husband and three of her children in a shipwreck, she has one chance to rescue all that remains of her family — her daughter Mariah and her elderly mother. When Isabelle captures the attention of John Whitten, one of New York’s wealthiest men, she dares to hope that fortune might finally favor her. But Whitten’s interest is not in Isabelle — it’s in 18-year-old Mariah, still reeling from a romantic but disastrous scandal. When Whitten discovers the secret mother and daughter have tried to keep buried, he uses it to his advantage, threatening to expose them unless Mariah accepts his proposal. For the sake of their survival, Isabelle makes a devil’s bargain: She will urge her daughter into a marriage she knows could destroy her. Mariah quickly realizes her husband’s home is a gilded cage. Finding an unexpected ally in her ambitious maid, Hetty, she dares to imagine a life beyond her constricted world. Together, they risk everything to claim a measure of power and self-determination in a world that attempts to deny them both.

NONFICTION

Going the Distance: Stallone, Philly, and the Story of Rocky,
by Mike Sielski

Armed with his intimate knowledge of Philadelphia’s texture, culture and history, Sielski delivers the definitive account of the film’s making, the factors that drove Sylvester Stallone to write and star in it, and its everlasting emotional connection to Philadelphia. Stripping away the myths about Rocky, it traces how and why it came to be made, and reveals fresh details and anecdotes that will surprise even the film’s biggest fans. Through extensive research and exclusive insights from some of the movie’s legendary collaborators — including producer Irwin Winkler and composer Bill Conti — Sielski tells Rocky’s story in a completely new way, showing Stallone’s rise from an aimless kid to an ambitious artist, one who was willing to do whatever he had to do to succeed in Hollywood. This is more than a book about a movie on its 50th anniversary, it’s a fascinating ride all its own.

The Nuremberg Women: The Untold Story of the Eight Women Who Brought the Nazis to Justice,
by Natalie Livingstone

In November 1945, the eyes of the world turned to Nuremberg, Germany. Humanity was seeking not only the truth about Nazi crimes but also a vision of what justice might look like in their aftermath. The trials are traditionally associated with a roll call of famous men, but they were only part of the story. Not only were there women involved in the trial in every role — as journalists, researchers, lawyers, interpreters, court reporters, witnesses, artists and even defendants — but they were pivotal in the trial’s outcome. The Nuremberg Women tells the story of eight women: a brilliant American lawyer; three pioneering journalists; an iconoclastic artist; a beautiful refugee aristocrat; a dauntless survivor of Auschwitz; and a young Russian translator. They demonstrate that the trial was remarkable not because it was perfect but because, against all odds, it happened. Thanks to these women and many others, justice was served.