Historical fiction is not usually my preferred genre, but I so enjoyed Rachel Beanland's debut novel, Florence Adler Swims Forever, that I thought I'd give her sophomore effort, The House is on Fire, a go. And I'm very glad that I did. Beanland's new novel is situated in 1811 Richmond, when a fire during a performance at its theater claimed more lives than any incident in the young United States had before then., Through four intertwined stories, each told through separate chapters devoted to one of four characters who experienced the fire and its aftermath, Beanland brings the incident, the setting, and the characters to life with the hand of a much more experienced novelist. Although the story starts a little slowly, soon I could not stop reading until the end. The author's note documents the historic sources from which she drew her material, making the stories of a time in our history when people with skins of color were enslaved, owned, and treated as property, when men were raised to be chivalrous but selfish, and yet a time when people loved, grieved, and covered up their own actions just as we do today, real. Beanland's novel is masterful and I wait eagerly to read her next book.

This story is a novelization of the horrific Richmond theater fire of 1811 in which 72 people including the Governor of Virginia were tragically killed. Some of the characters in the novel are loosely based on real people. Others are completely made up.

The book is absolutely riveting and unputdownable. It will have you hanging on every word anxious to see what happens next. On the one side are the good and likable characters like the slave Gilbert who helps several women escape from the fire and Sally Henry Campbell with her devotion to helping care for her injured sister-in-law, Margaret, and others as well. On the other side are the hateful and unlikeable characters like most of the theater troupe members who want to spread a malicious rumor blaming the fire on an attempted slave revolt and Margaret's husband who insists that Margaret's badly broken leg be set even though she would have a better chance of surviving if it were amputated because he only wants her whole. Very few characters have shades of good and bad most are either one way or the other. Jack, a young stagehand torn between his loyalty to the theater troop and his desire to do the right thing both for the people killed in the tragedy and the blameless slaves by telling the truth about what happened is one of the few.

In fact, the good people in this book are mostly the slaves and the women. The men want to be in charge and make the decisions but the decisions they make are detrimental particularly to the women and the slaves who have no say in them. However, of course, when there is credit to be taken for doing what is right the men are always there to accept it even if they are not the ones who rightly deserve the credit. Most of the men in this story and their actions are absolutely infuriating. The book is a perfect allegory for the current time we are living in which some people want to control the lives of others in ways that are not only none of their business but not necessarily best for the people whom they are trying to control. If reading this book doesn't stir up your anger, maybe you should examine your own morals.

An up-putdownable historical fiction about a horrific tragic fire that burned a Richmond theater to the ground and killed dozens.

This story is based on a historical event I’d never heard about set in Virginia during the early eighteen hundreds and is by an author I haven’t read. Her attention to detail, historical accuracy and true to life characters results in an interesting and emotional read. The disparity between men and women and between slaves and their owners was well illustrated. The mystery of how the fire originated and the resulting consequences kept me enthralled.
Sally, Cecily, Jack, and Gilbert are the primary focus of the story with many well developed supporting townspeople. I cared what happened to them and soaked up the story. Sally is a young widow with compassion and strength. Jack is a stagehand at the theater who believes in honesty and doing the right thing. He’s threatened and coerced to lie. Gilbert is married to Sara, they are slaves in different homes trying to buy their freedom. Cecily is also a slave, a Lady’s Maid, with a bold and brave life changing opportunity. All of them were forever changed by the actions of that one night.
Even though the characters were fictional, (based on history and research) their respective plights were probably even worse overall than we’d like to imagine. I was reminded to be grateful my world is more equitable, still lacking but, better than back then. I found the book well written. It will stay with me and recommend to anyone who appreciates historical fiction.
A digital advance reader copy of “The House Is On Fire” by Rachel Beanland, Simon & Schuster, was provided to me by NetGalley. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

This book exceeded all expectations for me. Normally, books with so many storylines put me off but the way the plot began immediately and how the story only takes place over three days does not make it hard to keep up with at all. Each character was fully developed and I was deeply invested in each one's individual tragedies that resulted from the fire. I was blown away reading the author's note at the end that all four characters are based off real people from the night of the actual Richmond theatre fire in 1811. Rachel Beanland does an amazing job breathing life into each one of them and the ending was realistic and not overly fictionalized, as I believe historical fiction should be. An absolutely delightful and emotional read.

Wow, what a propulsive book about a little known historical event in Richmond, VA!

The Great Richmond Theater Fire of 1811 occurred the day after Christmas and took the lives of over one hundred men, women, and children - including the governor of Virginia. Beanland explores the lives of four different people on the night of the fire - a young widow, Sally, who is wondering what life holds for her; an enslaved young woman, Cecily, who sees the chaos as a means to forge a new life; a young stagehand, Jack, who is caught up in the swirl of lies surrounding the fire’s origins; and enslaved blacksmith Gilbert who dreams of freedom but is bound by his own sense of duty.

This book is so captivating that I couldn’t put it down! I was thoroughly involved in the story and could smell the burning embers and choking smoke as I read about the horrific scenes. Crises bring out the best and worst in humanity, and both are on full display in this compelling story. Even if you haven’t visited Richmond, you’ll be invested in the characters and the story, a tale of sacrifice and greed, compassion mixed with the fallacies of human nature, and a portent of the civil war yet to come.

Wow! Loved this novel about what transpired around the theater fire in Richmond in 1811. It was expertly researched and the fictional characters were based on real accounts. It was a page turn all while bringing to light to an interesting part of history, slavery and culture in the country’s capital.

I enjoyed Florence Adler Swims Forever and was excited to see that Rachel Beanland had a new book coming out.

I was intrigued to read this historical fiction novel centered on the the Richmond, VA theater fire of 1811. As a resident of Virginia (who often theatres in Richmond) it was interesting to learn about this local history through the lens of this novel. I was unaware of the theater fire prior to reading this novel. In this novel, we are able to experience the fire and the aftermath from the perspectives of 4 different characters, two of whom are free people and two who are slaves. Each of the characters was fully developed and brought a unique perspective to the event. I particularly enjoyed Cecily's perspective. I was intrigued by this story of local history, of which I was completely unfamiliar. It was an enjoyable and educational read.

*I was provided a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Set in 1811, this is the fictionalized story of the theater fire in Richmond Virginia. Over 600 people were packed into the wooden building. Jack, a stagehand, watches as a lighted chandelier gets stuck and is swung into the highly flammable backdrops. Recently widowed Sally sits with friends on the third floor, only halfway paying attention to the story. On the bottom floor in the galley, enslaved Cecilly tries to forget her demanding mistress and her amorous brother. escape from the demands of her enslaved life. When blacksmith Gilbert learns of the fire, he races into danger, helping people flee from the burning building.

This was a well written and engaging book. I had a hard time putting it down! This is definitely storytelling at it's finest! The plot moved along at a quick pace, and the characters were dynamic and multi-dimensional. I can't wait to read more from this author. Overall, highly recommended.

I've been a fan of this author ever since I appeared on a literary panel with her during lock-down. THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE is dramatically different than FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER and shows Rachel Beanland's extraordinary authorial range. I found this story to be difficult at times due to the subject matter and the way the narrative seems to expose the dark underbelly of humanity. Some of the characters are really pretty terrible and their true character is revealed when tragedy shows up. Beanland does such a great job at combining a truly thrilling historical event with literary themes.

A night at the theater turns deadly as the packed house catches fire, and panicked theater-goers rush to exit a structure which is rapidly becoming an inferno. Among those in the building as it catches fire: Sally Henry Campbell, daughter of patriot Patrick Henry, and her sister-in-law Margaret; a young slave named Cecily and her mistress, Maria; and a young stagehand and aspiring actor named Jack. The story is told in alternating chapters from the point of view of Sally, Cecily, Gilbert (Cecily's uncle, who is not in the theater when it catches fire, but plays a role in the rescue) and Jack.

The fire and its aftermath impact the lives of these individuals in different ways. The tragedy allows for exploration of the complex dynamics of relationships between owners and enslaved people; between men and women; and between the "upper crust" of society and those deemed "lower class."

I had never heard of the Richmond Theater Fire of 1811, but at the time, it was the deadliest disaster in our young nation's history. As the author brings the characters onto the scene, we are shown the labyrinthine and crowded nature of the theater, and can see the disaster in the making. The aftermath is filled with conflict, as well as some righteous anger at those who escaped at others' expense.

The author's note at the end is important reading, as it gives the reader a clearer understanding of what aspects of the book are historical fact, and in what areas the author was relying on imagination based on the historic events.

I was slow to get into the story, but as I approached the end, I found myself quite invested in the outcome.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

It’s Richmond, Virginia, 1811 and the theater is packed for a holiday performance. Attendance is high but a more intense drama than the one on stage is about the unfold. The theater becomes on fire taking many lives and impacting the survivors. Florence Beanland has based her novel on an actual event and then enhanced the story by focusing on four characters: Sally, a widowed attendee; Cecily, an enslaved young girl who accompanied her young mistress; Jack, a theater stagehand and aspiring actor and Gilbert an enslaved blacksmith with compassion, plans and skills. They, too, are based on real people.

All these characters are affected by the fire and its aftermath. Their courage is tested as they cope with the pain and grief of their circumstances. For some their paths intersect, for others their actions have repercussions and perhaps provide opportunities. This is a well-researched, descriptive and propulsive read. Minor characters are also portrayed as people who can either assist or thwart the goals of the main characters. Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book.

This book is why I love historical fiction. It was clear the novel was well researched, with the author basing several characters on actual people who survived one of early America's deadliest tragedies, the Richmond Theater Fire of 1811. Before reading this, I knew nothing about this historical tragedy: the fire was the worst urban disaster at the time, resulting in the death of 72 people, the majority of whom were women.

The story begins with the night of the fire and progresses from there, maintaining suspense and tension throughout the entire book.  The novel centers around four characters - Jack, a young stagehand who has an active role in the start of the fire; Sally, a newly widowed, childless woman; Cecily, an abused young black slave acting as a chaperone for her white mistress, and Gilbert, an enslaved black man who ends up rescuing multiple white women from the theater.

This book reminded me why I love reading historical fiction. The author gives the reader such a firm grasp on the setting and time period. Slaves had no rights and women at the time had so little rights as well. For example, a widowed woman typically lost everything once her husband died, and it was a time when a man might prefer a dead wife rather than a "damaged" wife with an amputated limb. 

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, I received an advance reader copy of this book in return for my honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on April 4, 2023.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This novel tells a fictionalized version of the Richmond, VA, theater fire that occurred the day after Christmas in 1811. It caused the deaths of over seventy people, including the governor of Virginia. At the time, it was the deadliest urban disaster in America’s short history. The novel follows four characters, and each chapter is narrated by either Sally, Cecily, Gilbert or Jack. The characters seemed so real, and maybe it’s because most of them were. The author did a great job of melding fact and fiction, and it kept me glued to the page.

Having read and loved Beanland's debut, Florence Adler Swims Forever, I waited patiently for her sophomore novel. I was not disappointed in the least. The House is On Fire, like its predecessor, is a magnificent masterpiece. It unfolds the real historical events of the Richmond Theater Fire of 1811 from the perspective of four characters from different walks of life who are united in their peripheral social position (which is also symbolically reflected in their seating in the theatre during the opening chapters). Observing from the outskirts of society affords them insights about inequality and imbalance of power, which makes for an engaging read. Beanland dexterously weaves tragedy and hope, moving seamlessly between a cadre of unforgettable complex characters and makes history feel utterly relevant. This novel is a hidden gem about courage in adversity and finding the strength to rise from the ashes.

I am wholeheartedly grateful to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book weaves a multi-character narrative around a true story: a devastating fire at the Richmond Theatre in 1811. The blaze claimed 72 lives and changed many more forever — and Rachel Beanland crafts storylines for four of those affected lives, all based at least in part on real people.

At its core, this is a story about people looking out for one another: mothers, uncles, wives, brothers, sisters-in-law, mentors, and complete and utter strangers. The narratives are varied — slaves and free persons, wealthy and destitute, children and adults — but all of the characters are desperate and frightened in their own ways, and their storylines are all emotional and moving.

Not to mention — the amount of research that Rachel Beanland incorporated into this book is absolutely unbelievable. Make sure to read the author’s note when you finish to see just how much is based in fact!

Thanks to the author, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The House is on Fire is available on April 4!

Rachel Beanland's The House Is on Fire is her second historical novel. This book centers on fire that caused the destruction of The Richmond Theater in Richmond, VA on December 26, 1811. The author did extensive research and based the characters on real people. Gilbert Hunt is an enslaved Black man who worked as blacksmith and helped to save close a dozen white women from the fire. Sally Henry Campbell, as per the author's notes did in fact exist. In the novel, we learn of her backstory and her heroics during this disaster. Cecily Patterson's story was also based on a real person. She is another enslaved Negro trying to escape from her heroic life. Ms. Beanland paints a vivid picture of this historic fire and it's aftermath. Her characters ring true to life. In my opinion, this novel establishes the author has a top historical novelist. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I received this from Netgalley.com.

This novelization is told from four different POV's of the tragic fire at the Richmond Theatre in Richmond, VA on December 26, 1811. An interesting read.

3.75☆

After thoroughly enjoying Rachel Beanland's debut novel, "Florence Adler Swims Forever," I was very excited to find that Ms. Beanland had published a new novel, "The House is on Fire." Ms. Beanland's second novel is just as good as her first; there is no sophomore slump for this author!

Meticulously researched, "The House is on Fire" is a fictional account of the 1811 theater fire in Richmond, Virginia, where more than 70 people perished in the blaze, most of whom were women. The story is told from the points of view of four vastly different main characters; a fictional stagehand who had a part in starting the fire, a white widow and daughter of the patriot Patrick Henry, a heroic slave named Gilbert Hunt, and a fictional abused female slave named Cecily. Each of these characters paints his or her own picture of the fire and its aftermath.

"The House is on Fire" is an authentic story of how life in Richmond in 1811 was for black individuals and for women. Slaves had no rights and women were second class citizens, especially if unmarried or widowed. It shows the lengths those in power would go to control the narrative and survive, even it it meant that innocent people could be hanged for crimes they didn't commit or women were crushed in a stampede by the men who supposedly were appointed by God to care for the "weaker sex."

Though this novel is set in 1811, the themes of racism and sexism are still very much relevant today. I found this to be a gripping and fast paced novel that kept my attention and interest from the first page to the last. I connected with the characters and genuinely cared about their welfare. Though historical fiction, this was a compelling and exciting read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster publishing, and Rachel Beanland for the privilege of reading an advanced digital copy of this great book, in exchange for my honest review.

This book which follows the lives of four residents of Richmond, Virginia in the early 1800’s in the aftermath of a tragic fire is a great story which also provides good insight into the racial tensions of the times.