A riveting, thought-provoking, expertly crafted page turner! Based on historical fact and set over a handful of days in 1811, Rachel Beanland’s immersive The House Is on Fire features four well developed, diverse primary characters, two of whom are enslaved and all of whom are struggling with their respective lots in life and life-altering issues revealed in the moment and aftermath of a devastating and deadly fire in a Richmond, Virginia theater. Given Beanland’s obviously in depth research, skillful world building and intelligent writing, this tale is as transportive and enlightening as it is tragic. The interesting author’s note gives further context. Moreover, the story is so well paced it kept me flipping pages until I had read the whole book in one sitting!

I will also forewarn that this novel is utterly heart wrenching. From the outset, much of the content is quite difficult to read - from the loss of lives in the fire to the experiences of many of the survivors, the horrors of slavery and the horrific treatment of the enslaved characters, the prejudicial treatment and lack of agency of women, people of color and Jews, the medical limitations of the times, etc.

But hope, courage, resilience and heroism also feature in this ultimately stunning and powerful tale. Highly recommended!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

I had a little trouble starting this, but then I couldn't put it down. It is based on the real fire in 1811. The characters are based on real people. Patrick Henry's daughter was a main character. A fire devastates Richmond. People from all walks of life are affected. Lies are told about the cause. Lies are told to save lies. People's true characters are revealed . A young slave tries to be free.
I thought this was and excellent fiction/nonfiction story. I highly recommend this for a book club. Thank you, NetGalley and Rachel Bean land for a well written experience.

Having read Beanland's book Florence Adler Swims Forever and chosen it for our library book discussion group, I was excited to be able to read The House is On Fire on NetGalley. Reading it on NetGalley means I can offer my impressions of this new novel when we meet to discuss Florence Adler. And I will most definitely be recommending it to friends, library patrons and book clubs.

Right off the bat, I was impressed with how different this book read and presented compared to Beanland's prior book. Some authors (think Jodi Pucoult) have a formula that makes each new book feel like a repeat of the last. In Beanland, we have an author who adapts her style to the story at hand which I much admire. It brings to mind some of my favorite historical fiction, Mary Beth Keane's Fever, McCallister's The Magician's Apprentice, The Tumbling Turner Sisters and even Goolrick's The Reliable Wife. A book where even the Author Notes at the end are worth reading.

In the first chapters, the reader is introduced to a number of characters. Not to worry, just when you worry you won't be able to keep them straight you find the primary players are in place and we begin to layer on the events that will show their true character. This is nothing if not a study in character and integrity. If I had one complaint it would be that the author chose to place most of the characters at the poles of good/bad, black/white spectrum and could have shaded in as bit more gray areas. (The boy Jack being the exception.)

I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't it - this by no means is a negative! Though this book is based around a theater fire in Richmond, Virginia in 1811, it's really four different stories that describe the aforementioned fire and its aftermath. Though following this different stories was a bit overwhelming at times, I found all of the interesting as well as able to learn about lives of people in various positions in the South in the early 19th century. It was an eye-opener of sorts. Most definitely a book worth reading!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Based on a lot of fact and research, The House is on Fire begins with a brief intro he characters and gets the historical event right out of the way. This just means the book starts with a bang and won’t let you go until you’ve finished the author notes!
1811 Richmond Virginia. The biggest tragedy of its day unfolds as a poorly constructed theatre goes up in flames. What happens then is the different perspectives of the survivors, from the slave man who caught women dropped from a second story window, to the men who climbed over their wives to get out, only to be caught by a collapsing staircase, to a woman who helped others jump from a third story window, an escaping slave, and to the cast and crew of the show who were ultimately responsible for the fire.
I loved how the characters were developed. I had no problem following the story and feel for each of the characters. The story was rich in emotion, and in facts surrounding the event.
I read historical fiction to learn something and indeed I did. This one will stay with me.
5* rounded up for the purpose of this review.
For book clubs, it is graphic in description but clean language. Slave brutality is evident and medical description might bother some.

In this novel, Beanland presents the stories of four people following the real event of a theater fire in Richmond, Virginia that claimed 76 lives on December 26, 1811. Beanland did extensive research and then added her own speculation to create realistic narratives that represent a variety of experiences of those affected by the tragic events. Sally, a widow, risks her life to rescue her dear sister-in-law, Margaret, and sees the men around her in a new light. Jack, a teenager working as a stagehand, knows the truth about the fire and struggles with his conscience as the theater company tries to blame it on rebelling slaves. Cecily, a young enslaved woman destined for continued abuse from her master, escapes the fire and decides this is her opportunity to seek freedom. Gilbert, an enslaved man, finds himself hailed as a hero when he saves the lives of white women forced to jump from second story windows by standing below and catching them.

Taking place in just three days, all four stories are riveting as the characters are forced to make quick decisions that will change their lives forever. Sally, Jack, Cecily, and Gilbert all find their courage in the face of disaster. They must all reckon with the choices that those around them make as well.

This is a brilliant novel of interwoven stories, painting a vivid picture of Richmond in 1811, which represents the reality of much of the southern United States at that time. Beanland chose to follow four characters that represent four very different lived experiences of the time. Each character, whether based on a real person or not, felt real and relatable. All four stories were urgent and propulsive and I loved how the short chapters kept me engaged.

The House is on Fire brilliantly immerses the reader in a time period and historical event that isn’t often highlighted. At the time, this tragedy was the most fatal even in American history and left no household in Richmond untouched. This was a fascinating read that any lover of historical fiction or American history will find enthralling. The format and beautiful writing had me sitting for long stretches of time, unwilling to leave the story. I will be adding Beanland’s previous novel, Florence Adler Swims Forever, to my TBR and keeping my eye out for future novels.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Simon&Shuster for an honest review. This is another outstanding novel by Rachel Beanland. The story starts on December 26, 1811 in Richmond, Virginia with a horrendous fire in the city’s only theater. 72 innocent lives were lost as families work on burying the deceased and finding out how the fire started and who to blame. The chapters alternate between Sally and her sister-in-law,Margaret ; Cicily, a 19 year old slave; Gilbert, a black tradesman and Cicily’s uncle; and Jack, a young worker in the theater. The four main characters were based on real people and most of the events discussed were true. The book mentioned the slave patrol, the local militia, the Placide & Green Theater Company that was built in 1806, the slave revolt, a slave Gilbert, who along with the local doctor saved many people. I enjoyed this book and learned a lot about Virginia in the early 1800’s and the black/white relationships. Thank you, Rachel Beanland .

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This is a very powerful work of historical fiction that covers the Richmond Theater Fire in 1811. There are four main characters who come from very different backgrounds; each plays a pivotal role in the story. The characters are very well drawn and the descriptions of the fire and its aftermath are vivid. What was the cause of the fire? Who was to blame?

The main themes are slavery, racial inequality, and the roles of women in society in the early 19th century America.

Rachel Beanland has done her research very well and expertly weaves real characters into a fictional account of the worst disaster to have occurred in the early United States.

I have previously read and loved Ms. Beanland's previous novel, Florence Adler Swims Forever, and I look forward to future books by this excellent author.

I think this one has the potential to be a celebrity book club pick as well as an overall good bookclub pick

Rachel Beanland’s The House Is on Fire is a wonderful historical fiction novel based on the tragic 1811 Richmond Theatre fire. The setting, the time, the event, the characters - all are beautifully described and developed in this fantastic novel. Beanland’s sub-plot of the way men acted during and after the tragedy will stay with me for some time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this fabulous ARC.

A favorite of 2023
The House is on Fire is Rachel Beanland’s sophomore effort and I was even more pleased with it than her debut, Florence Adler Swims Forever.
The story covers the fire on December 26, 1811 at the Richmond Theatre. Plantation owners came to Richmond in winter for their social season. Thus, the theater was especially full on the 26th. The fire was the worst urban disaster of our young country, resulting in the death of 72 individuals, mostly women.
The story starts with the night of the fire and progresses from there. I wasn’t sure how Beanland would maintain any suspense once the fire was over and done, but boy, was I wrong.
The story centers around four characters - Jack Gibson , a young stagehand; Sally Henry Campbell, daughter of Patrick Henry and newly widowed; Cecily Patterson, a young black slave who was acting as a chaperone for her young white mistress but was required to sit on a different floor, and Gilbert Hunt, an enslaved blacksmith who ends up helping rescue 12 white women from the theater. Each of these four made decisions at the crisis point which affected not just themselves but others. By switching between their POVs, the story maintains a brisk pace. Each of the four is also fully drawn and I was equally engaged by each of their stories.
The book does a wonderful job of showing the places of women and blacks in southern society. For example, when a young wife breaks her leg jumping from the window and the surgeon announces only her husband can give permission for her leg to be amputated. And, of course, black women are chattel to be used in whatever way a man wants.
Let’s just say most of the men in the story don’t come off in a good light. There aren’t a lot of heroes in this story, at least white ones. But there are several heroines.
The writing is clear and succinct and it was easy to envision each scene. Beanland has the ability to give the reader a firm grasp on the time and place. There are several aspects of this story which have been fictionalized, but Beanland spells them out in her Author’s Note. She gives a rationale for each of those modifications. Overall, this is exactly what I want from historical fiction. It taught me about a moment in history that I previously knew nothing about while telling a good story.
My thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.

This is the outstanding story around a fire at a southern theater in the early 1800s, and the repercussions of the times when slavery still existed. Blacks were allowed up in the balcony of the theater and there were also private boxes for the rich on the third floor. The fire broke out behind the stage and spread quickly, trapping and killing many.

This is a historical fiction novel about true events from a catastrophic Richmond, Virginia theatre fire in 1811.

Details about the event are shared through the viewpoints of four very different people. Each of the main characters experience the fire from a different perspective and their actions that night have a profound impact on not only their lives but those closest to them.

This book is fast paced, interesting, and one you can easily get invested in. I highly recommend!

Historical fiction has a unique ability to help us understand a moment in time, and The House is on Fire captures not only an important historical event but the perspectives of those who were affected by the tragic fire. This beautifully researched story shared the experience of four different individuals in four very different lifestyles and how a massive fire changed the course of their lives. The author weaves the difficult concepts of slavery and human bondage, as well as misogyny and class distinctions to show how brutally unfair life was for many in the antebellum south.

As the fire rages, so will the emotions of the readers of this incredible book. I highly recommend this book for everyone who enjoys historical fiction.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book..

In the early 19th century, theater fires were feared and frequent-- lit candles and painted backdrops was a combustable combo. One of the worst disasters was the fire at the Richmond theater during the Christmas season in 1811. More than six hundred people, white, black, slave, free were enjoying a performance by Charleston's Green & Placide theater company, when the backdrop burst into flames. Rachel Beanland uses research and a sharp knowledge of the place and period to create a powerful and compelling historical novel.

She focuses on. four survivors, two black and two white. Sally Henry Campbell (daughter of Patrick Henry) is a widow attending the show with her sister in law and her husband. Cicely Patterson is a young enslaved woman attending as a chaperone for her young mistress (but seated in a different section); Jack is a stagehand for the company, and Gilbert Hunt is a tall enslaved blacksmith who teams with the doctor to help lower women trapped on the upper floors as they jump out the windows. Most men, mysteriously, seem to already be safe on the ground.

The aftermath in the grief-stricken city is that someone has to be blamed. The theater company wants to deflect the fact that the fire started due to their error, and someone comes up with an idea that makes you go, oh, please, no. This kind of skilled plotting is what makes "The House is on Fire" so good.

Beanland did her research carefully and with empathy, making all four of her main characters responses proper to the period. We're reminded how primitive most medicine and healing was. There were no hospitals or clinics. People opened their homes and put the injured on the floor. it's a wonder anyone survived, but some did. Readers of quality historical fiction will love this novel.

Book Title: The House is on Fire
Author: Rachel Beanland
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pub Date: April 4, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars

This novel is a story about one of early America’s deadliest tragedy, the Richmond Theater Fire of 1811.
Story is told from the POV of four people~ Sally, Cecily, Jack, and Gilbert.

Richmond Virginia December 26, 1811~and the theatre is packed.

Sally Henry Campbell a recent widow is at the theatre thinking about the happy times she shared with her husband.

Cecily Patterson is in the colored gallery and not impressed with the play but grateful for a four-hour reprise from her normal life.
Jack Gibson a young stagehand is hoping to impress the managers to offer him a permanent job.

Gilbert Hunt is a black man who dreams that he may one day bring his wife to such an event.

However when the theatre goes up in flames in the middle of the performance; these four make quick decisions that not only affect their lives but countless others.



This story grabbed me from page one.

I always love reading the author’s Notes and in this case they are a story in themselves.
Author, Rachel Beanland did an extensive amount of research and she tells us that the four main characters were real.

Want to thank NetGalley and Simon & Shuster for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 4, 2023

This is historical fiction about a theater that burned down in 1811. It took me a few chapters to get into this, but once the main characters are introduced and the fire happens, I was RIVETED.

Told from the point of view of two enslaved people, a white widow, and a white 14-year-old boy, none of these people have power at this time in history in Richmond, VA. In places it reads like a suspense novel as I worried about what would happen to these characters, their family members, and other members of the community after a fire that killed and seriously injured so many.

Recommend. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy of this novel, which RELEASES APRIL 4, 2023.

I loved this book! The author did an expert job of re-creating the theater fire with heart stopping action, and hold your breath suspense. The cast of characters is compelling, the writing is extraordinary, and when you read the author's notes and learn how firmly the story is rooted in history, it only makes the book more powerful. I also appreciated the author's efforts to illuminate the female perspective. An excellent read!

This book follows four characters: Sally, a white upper-class widow; Gilbert, a slave who wants to be free and get married; Cecily, a slave who is being abused by her owner's son; and Jack, a teenager who works at a theater and wants to be an actor. On the day after Christmas in 1811, a fire breaks out in the theater and hundreds are killed and injured. The moral decisions that each of the four characters make impacts their lives after the fire. All four try to do the right thing and survive at the same time. I learned so much about the 1811 Richmond fire having had no idea about this tragedy before I read this book. This was a riveting story that kept my interest the entire book. I loved Florence Adler Swims Forever, and this sophomore novel is every bit as good!

The House Is on Fire by Rachel Beanland

Richmond, Virginia in 1811 was the location of the worst urban disaster in U.S. history at that time. Known as the Richmond Theatre fire, The House is on Fire is historical fiction based on that tragedy. The story focuses on four people and those around them. The cast of characters is huge but by keeping the chapters short and moving from one of the main characters to another often, I was able to keep up with the story easily.

As a widow, Sally Henry Campbell spends time with her brother-in-law and his wife and despite the extremely cold and windy weather, the trio is attending two plays put on by the Charleston-based Placide & Green Company. The three story theater is packed with over six hundred people. The descriptions of the the new theater verify that it's a fire trap, with the rickety structure featuring windows nailed over to keep drafts out, people crushed together, and a stairwell that won't be able to handle a stampede of frightened humans.

Fourteen year old orphan, Jack Gibson, loves the theater and is working as a stagehand for the theater company. Jack's late father was well respected in town and when Jack is disturbed when he realizes that the men he's been working with have no scruples about destroying the lives of others to keep the company and themselves from looking bad after the tragedy. Jack wants nothing more than to tell the truth but it'll be at the risk of losing his life.

Slave, Cecily Patterson, attends the play with her mistress but she's got a lot on her mind. She has spent her entire life being abused in every way by her master's son and now she has been given to the son. The tragedy gives her a chance that she would never have otherwise but taking that chance could hurt those she loves most.

Slave, Gilbert Hunt, is a true hero. In conjunction with another man, he performs in a miraculous fashion. But he has no time to give thought to his amazing feat since his family and friends are in great danger due to lies and the greed of those who can destroy his life and the lives of those who depend on him. It's impossible for me to pick a favorite out of these four people. I'm so glad the author chose to give these four the main focus and it's by showing their plights that we can see that each of them fight a tough fight almost everyday, even before this theater tragedy.

This time period was not an easy time to be alive. Slaves had no rights, women have not much else if they don't have a man, losing that man can mean losing everything, even if those things were what they brought to the marriage. This is a time when a broken limb is better amputated rather than risk infection but it's also a time when a man might prefer his injured wife be dead rather than "damaged". After all, a man can just get another wife to take care of the kids and do the household chores. No need to have one that isn't "whole". The story left me a lot to think about and had me researching the real people mentioned in this story.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the digital and print copies of this book.