I love historical fiction because I learn about events in history in a way that is interesting and often prompts me to research more on the topic. The House is on Fire, by Rachel Beanland, is a great example of such a novel. The pictures she paints with her words are both horrific and intriguing. Men stepping over women to save themselves is one that comes to mind. Parts of this novel will be with me for a long while. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

What a riveting novel! Rachel Beanland’s latest novel The House Is on Fire is a historical fiction based on true life events. Set in 1811, this novel centers around several characters and takes us through a horrific fire of a Virginia community theater and the domino effect it creates.

I really enjoyed Rachel’s debut novel Florence Adler Swims Forever, so I knew the talent she had, but WOW! Rachel does an incredible job with keeping the storyline realistic and intriguing—the novel played out like a movie in my mind! The characters were extremely well-developed and grabbed at my heartstrings! After reading The House Is on Fire I will absolutely be 1-clicking everything and anything she comes out in the future because she’s THAT fantastic!

If The House is on Fire is only Rachel Beanland’s second book, then I assure you her future as a novelist looks very rewarding. The novel is a historical account of the Richmond, Virginia theater fire, the worst urban disaster in our nation’s history at the time, killing the Governor and a former Senator. Ms. Beanland’s love of writing and attention to detail obviously represents years of study. You warm to her style. She perfectly captures the period of the early 1800s, including its glaring faults. Her characterization is excellent: Cicely, James, Sally and Gilbert will stay with you long after you finish the book. The novel is highly researched and an accurate record of what occurred. I cannot recommend this narrative highly enough. This is an excellent reading assignment for any English, History or African-American Studies class.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. It details the true event of a theater catching on fire while the building was full of spectators. Four of the characters are based on real people at the event. I found it to be a fascinating story between the actors' trying to come up with a scapegoat and a slave trying to decide if this could be the opportunity of a lifetime. It was hard for me to put down this book because I wanted to know what came next.

*Publish date 4/4/23. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Schuster for the advanced copies of this book.*

WOW! Rachel Beanland did an excellent job in her new book about the Richmond Theater Fire of 1811. The story unfolds over four days - the day of the theater production and fire (12/26/1811) until the day of the mass funeral (12/29/1811). We also see the events unfolding through the eyes of four characters. Sally Henry Campbell was recently widowed and attended the production with her sister-in-law and brother-in-law. Cecily Patterson was a young slave girl who also attended the production with her mistress but was seated in the colored gallery. Jack Gibson was a young stage hand who had firsthand knowledge of the events leading up to the fire. Gilbert Hunt was a slave who heard of the fire and rushed to help. Their stories weave and intersect in unexpected ways, and the decisions made during these harrowing moments during and after the fire shaped both their own lives and those in their community.

This novel brings up some ugliness in the south during this point in our nation's history, so bear that in mind. The author's note is helpful in explaining what is based upon historical facts and where she filled in gaps. A fantastic book! 4.5 stars.

BOOK REVIEW: THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE by Rachel Beanland

Thank you @bookclubfavorites and @simonandschuster for the free book. Thank you also to @netgalley for the ebook Galley.

In the last few years, it seems that so much of historical fiction has been geared toward World War II at the expense of other periods and locations. I enjoy reading about experiences and places other than the USA, yet I have to confess it was enjoyable to read about the antebellum South, a time and place I have always found fascinating because of its continuing effect on our nation as a whole. To be honest, I had never heard of the Richmond Theater fire of 1811. This book brought it to life for me.

Told through four narrators; two Black and two white, two enslaved and two free, and two male and two female, the reader gets and overall picture of life in the city of Richmond. One of the greatest revelations for me was how women, although in no way to any degree comparable to the situation of the enslaved, were genteelly kept in their "place". All of the characters, not just the narrators, were full developed and believable.
The story literally moved along like a "house on fire". I could not put it down and kept picking it up between tasks I needed to accomplish. Perhaps my only suggestion is related to the book's title. I didn't find it particularly engaging, but then again I couldn't think of anything I thought was better.

Great historical fiction and an interesting method of presenting it, from the perspectives of four very different characters. (Also a great ending, but any more than that would be unfair to tell.) Highly recommended.

I’ve become a bigger and bigger fan of historical fiction and this one didn’t disappoint! It pulled me in quickly and I became well acquainted with numerous characters. I did find it lagged a bit in the middle but then quickly picked up speed once again. The end begs for a sequel:) The afterward by the author answered all of my pressing questions regarding what was history and what was fiction. I definitely recommend this one. I look forward to this authors next book.

Thank you yo NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Loved this new book by the author of Florence Adler Swims Forever. This time, the author takes us further back in history to pre-Civil War era Richmond with the 1811 fire at the Richmond theater. With consummate skill, she follows the stories of a myriad of people, black and white, whose lives were affected by the fire and its aftermath. This reader literally couldn’t put the book down.

I just finished reading (in one day) The House is On Fire by Rachel Beanland. The book is a historical fiction about a terrible fire that actually occurred in Richmond Virginia in 1811 in a theater. There are four main characters. Sally, a widow who was in the theater with her sister- in- law, Cecily a slave that was with her mistress; Jack a stagehand at the theater; and Gilbert a slave who helped rescue white women from the inferno. Not only does this book address slavery, but also the inequality of women. The book was very easy to read and follow. Characters well written. I did read a previous book from this author Florence Adler Swims Forever which was very good and although this was quite a change of pace, but also very good. I look forward to reading future books by this author.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a temporary digital advanced copy of The House Is on Fire by Rachel Beanland from NetGalley, Simon Schuster and the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Charleston-based Placide & Green Company is putting on a play in Richmond's three-story theather. Over 600 are in attendance the night after Christmas including Sally Henry Campbell and Cecily Patterson in the audience and Jack Gibson working as a stage hand. When the theater is accidently lit on fire, there is nothing anyone can do to save the building, but can the theatergoers save each other? As Gilbert Hunt is passing by, he is certainly going to try.

Based on true accounts of the night the Richmond Theater burned down in 1811, The House Is on Fire is a captivating story. Beanland's meticulously researched the fire and first-hand accounts which led to the inspiration of the character's stories and were extremely well-written. I highly recommend Beanland's novel, as I could not put it down.

WOW, this was absolutely fantastic! Set in 1811, The House Is on Fire tells the story of a terrible fire in a Richmond theater by following four characters, each with different ties to the fire. (The author tells us in the afterword how many characters and plot lines are actually real.)

I was moved by the depiction of several characters who were enslaved and had to make very difficult choices to stay safe. The book does not sugarcoat the treatment of these enslaved people; their lives were not their own to live.

The chapters were short and the book moved quickly. We did get to know (and root for!) the four main characters but I was also left wanting to know more about each of them.

If you’re from RVA you’ll recognize a bunch of places and landmarks which is always fun (not many recent novels based in Richmond I don’t think)!

Great, great book! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

The House Is on Fire is based on the 1803 Richmond Theatre Fire, from four unique perspectives. We see how their beliefs, social status, and actions affect the subsequent events following the fire. We meet:

Sally, a widow from a well-known and respected family, who attends the theatre with her sister-in-law, Margaret. They have box seats, the private, expensive seats the overlook the rest of the theatre on the third floor. They host Margaret's husband, Archie, and a family friend, Mr. Scott.

Jack, a young stagehand who hopes that with enough diligent work, he can become an actor on the big stage himself. All he has is this troupe of actors, after his father died prematurely.

Gilbert, a slave for Mr. Kemp, laboring at his blacksmith shop and hoping to eventually buy his wife's freedom.

Cecily, a slave for the Price family, whose son, Elliott, has a strange power obsession over her. Cecily has just learned that even though Elliott is to be married off in a few weeks, she will be his private slave in his newlywed home.

I was nervous that given the four different perspectives, I would get lost or distracted easily. My opinion is that most books with 3+ points-of-view are very difficult for an author to do effectively. However, Beanland has it down! I was able to keep up with the many differing names, perspectives, and situations of each, even though there were quite a lot.

After a few let-downs recently, this was such a great change-up. I would love to see more of this author delve into historical fiction!

This historical fiction story is based on an actual event in Richmond, VA in 1811. It is told by the POV of 4 characters:
*Sally, a childless window and daughter of the famous Patrick Henry
*Cecily, a slave who is abused by her master’s son and terrified for her life
*Gilbert , a slave belonging to a ruthless blacksmith and also Cecily’s uncle
*Jack, the teenaged orphan who works as a stagehand.

One evening, a fire breaks out at the Richmond Theater that claims the lives of many and forever alters the lives of these 4 characters and the decisions they make that fateful night.

I love historical fiction and this one didn’t disappoint! There was an urgency to the stories of each of these characters that kept me flipping the pages. I appreciated the integration of the feminist social commentary as well as the perspectives of the slaves and the way their masters thought of them. And I always love reading the Author’s Note at the end that helps separate fact from fiction. If you enjoy historical fiction and drama, this one has plenty of it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a review copy of this book. This one hits the shelves on 4/4/2023.

3.5 stars. Interesting historical fiction of the 1811 theater fire in Richmond Virginia. Told through the eyes of four characters who either attended the theater or helped rescue those fleeing: Sally, a society widow, who after the fire nurses the victims; Cecily, abused slave, who is about to change her fate; Jack, stagehand, who feels guilty about the fire; Gilbert, blacksmith, who saves many lives.

Through their eyes, we experience the events of the night when the fire happens and its effects. We experience the high society of the era, and those who struggled; the injustice of slavery and more. The chapters are very short and at times I wish they were longer.

Horrific words, “The house is on fire,” rang out during a theatre performance in 1811 Richmond, Virginia. Rachel Beanland relives this historic event through vivid description of the horrors the audience members face. Through the experiences of four characters the reader witnesses the dual horror of this experience, both the fire itself and the behavior of humanity during the evacuation and in finding blame.
Sally, a widow, demonstrates the goodness of people in her actions as does Gilbert, a slave, as they physically assist and save lives. Jack, an orphaned stage assistant, knows the truth of how the fire starts yet is challenged with the onus of lying about an alleged slave insurrection. Cecily, an abused house slave, finds an opportunity to escape to freedom. Through their tense storylines an historic period is revealed and I find myself reacting strongly once again to this author’s characters. I look forward to her next work.

Sometimes it takes horrible tragedies to uncover the worst and best of mankind. With the fire and destruction of the Richmond, Virginia theatre in 1811, 4 individuals become a showcase exemplifying this point. When the fire bursts into flames, the courage or lack of is examined from different angles-black vs white, men vs women, racist vs non-racist. Sally, recently widowed, is on the third floor balcony with her former sister-in-law and husband. When the stairs burn down, how will she get out? Cecily, a servant, is in the galley after accompanying her charge to the play. Is this an opportunity to change her life? Jack is a stagehand who tries desperately to ingratiate himself with the theatre managers, but whose insecurity leads to everyone's downfall. What price will he pay for lies and deception? And then there is Gilbert, an indentured blacksmith, whose only wish is that he could buy his wife her freedom. (Loved loved his character). Beanland vividly portrays their stories with meticulous research and illustrates how one hand affected another. Each chapter is reported by one of the characters illuminating how they each react in response to the tragedy and the aftermath. Powerful and poignant, the story is even more remarkable because of its veracity keeping the reader riveted to the last page

I found Rachel Beanland's The House Is on Fire to be a fascinating read. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading books based on real event. Five stars.

Received an ARC through NetGalley. The House is on Fire captures several stories of the early 1800s in the United States through the lens of a theater fire in Richmond.. Based on true events with an excellent author's note at the end, Rachel Beanland threads a compelling narrative through the eyes of four marginalized characters. By focusing on two slaves, a widow, and a young stagehand, Beanland reconstructs the story of the night of the fire and the days that followed while also discussing topics such as slavery and abuse, womanhood, misogyny, and child labor.

Using graphic depictions of the fire and the aftermath, Beanland focuses on four particularly vulnerable people as well as showing that those in power will not help any vulnerable people and only look out for themselves. The narrative is extremely readable and compelling and I would absolutely recommend this to any lovers of historical fiction.

Thank you to #NetGalley for this ATC.

I read her first book Florence Adler Swims Forever, and had to read this one. Totally different of course but really enjoyed it though it was tragic and based on real life. The history was told at the end of the book by the author and it was based on true people.

Looking forward to reading her future books and hope she does write more.