The House Is On Fire is based on the true story of Richmond’s theater fire. Set in Richmond, Virginia in 1811, a packed theater goes up in flames in the middle of a performance, a female widow, an orphaned stagehand, an enslaved female, and an enslaved blacksmith. The story is told from four different perspectives. We follow these characters during the fire as well as the events that occur in the aftermath of the tragedy.

I was drawn to this book because I went to college in Richmond, Virginia and lived there for four years but had never heard of this theater fire! The story brings with the reader knowing how the fire began and then we see the attempt to cover up the truth by the guilty party. We are given a realistic view into what life was like in Richmond, VA during the early 1800’s. This is a compelling story about slavery, race, class, gender, loyalty, and bravery. The author does a wonderful job of painting a realistic picture throughout the entire book. I’ve learned to never skip the authors note, especially with a historical fiction so make sure you read it at the end!

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

I got sucked into this book from the very first page. It tells the story of four people that experienced the Richmond theater fire in 1811. Each of them sees the world in a new light in the days following the fire. They all come to realize that life as they knew it was darker than they thought and it is up to them to change their futures. By telling this story not only from multiple sides, but from both slave and free perspectives, it gives a more complete look at lives during that time, and what an event like this could mean for everyone in the area.

One of my favorite books of 2023, the story of the Richmond theater fire of 1811 was told in this extraordinary book. The stories of Sally, Jack, Gilbert and Cecily gives the reader the perspective from different points of view and experiences, of Sally, a wealthy widow who helps save many from the fire;Gilbert, a slave who becomes a hero after catching over a dozen white women jumping from a higher floor; Jack, a young boy with the theater company who knows the true cause of the fire; and Cecily, a female slave hoping to escape after word of her death is announced. I could not put down this book, and felt like I was in that theater experiencing the terror, as well as the aftermath. Highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. Having read many glowing reviews, I thought this book would be incredible. As a result, when it was not, I found myself disappointed. The book is good. It has a great plot with sympathetic characters. It follows four people—two slaves, a man and a young woman, a white woman, and a young white boy—in the wake of the real fire that happened in Richmond Virginia in 1811 and killed almost 100 people. Although the events are real and the characters are based on real people, there’s no way to know how accurate the story actually is because there just isn’t sufficient documentation, especially in regard to slaves.

I was impressed by the author’s aibility to take a real event, research the various personalities involved, and create a fictionalized account of what happened via the viewpoints of a variety of different characters. We have Gilbert, a slave who is saving money to purchase his freedom and that of his wife. Cecily has been abused for years by the son of her owner and realizes the fire is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to escape slavery. Sally is a 31 year old widow whose eyes are suddenly opened to the unfairness of being a female. And Jack is a young boy, orphaned and working as a theater stagehand. He loves the theater and wants to be an actor, but after the tragedy, he becomes disillusioned with the actors he has so admired.

By retelling this tragedy through the eyes of four very different characters, the reader gains an understanding of the different POVs that would have existed in the early 1800s in the USA. As is always the case for me, I find myself thanking God I was born later than the setting of this book. Unfortunately, present-day circumstances are not exactly idyllic, so I wonder how many might look back at us one day and wonder how we survived. On the other hand, the way things seem to be deteriorating, perhaps this is a golden age we won’t recognize until it’s gone. But I digress.

I enjoyed the book, and for those interested in historical events, I think this is worth reading. It provides a window into a major event that occurred during the early years of the United States of America, as we were still finding our footing and determining who we would be. I found it fascinating.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

I picked up "The House is on Fire" based on the strengths of Rachel Beanland's previous work of historical fiction, ""Florence Adler Swims Forever." This novel, while interesting, fails to accomplish the flow and seamless narrative of her earlier book. "The House is on Fire" takes place over several days in December 1811, and it aims to tell the stories of several people whose lives were changed by the tragic burning of the theater in Richmond, Va. Beanland's narrative switches among a young stagehand who inadvertently caused the blaze, a young enslaved woman desperate to escape a violent situation, a enslaved man who helps with the fire rescue efforts and a young widow who aids fellow survivors after the fire. The cast grows steadily, until the reader is meant to be juggling each of those four people plus a large number of supporting characters. At times, I found myself wishing for a chart to keep track of everyone. Several of the characters seem to be imbued with such modern outlooks on their lives and on topics such as slavery and marriage that it took me a bit out of the story.

Very well researched and written story about a post Civil War historical tragedy. Not the easiest book to read but very important. Great on audio!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book is set in the early 1800's - while I do not usually enjoy historical fiction, this one peaked my interest based on the the synopsis of the book.

A night after Christmas, the theater is packed. 4 main characters of the book - Sally, Cecily, Jack, and Gilbert - are caught in a tragic moment, and the choices they make will not only affect their lives, but they will also forever be connected.

I think the biggest thing that drew me in is the fact that there are characters who all end up connecting within 1 situation - also, this book is based on the true story of Richmond's theater fire, and it was interesting to learn about that, even though the novel is fiction.

I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys history and connected character stories.

If you loved Yellow Wife, I think you would love this one.

Beginning with each character going to the theater (or family members going to the theater), very quickly the building burned down. This book focuses on 4 people -
“The characters of Gilbert, Jack, Sally, and Cecily are all based on real people who lived and breathed,…” (from author’s note). Gilbert was an enslaved man who believed in the goodness of people and wanted to help other people. Jack was a young boy who worked for the theater company. Sally was a wealthy, white widow. Cecily is a slave who is sexually abused by her owner’s son. (I’ve heard the audio is fantastic with multiple narrators).

I was maybe most connected to the story of Cecily. I thought the whole book read almost like a play - I could see the characters saying their “lines” - it helps us see this moment of history in a new way.

Rachael Beanland has hit it out of the park once again. Her historical fiction novel about the events of the 1811 Richmond theater fire have been meticulously researched. She has managed to keep the reader totally engaged from the first page to the last. It is so realistic to the times. You are rooting for the characters and hoping the good will triumph and the bad will be punished. I give this book 5 stars. I await Ms. Beanland’s next novel. .

This story is a character driven story about four people who survived the fire in Richmond in the 1800s. It's about the decisions they made and the consequences of their actions. Gilbert is an African male that didn't go to the performance that night but when he heard about it happening, he rushed to the house to find his friend Louisa. Not finding her, he ended up helping many people escape the flames.
Cecily is a slave that went to the house that night to see the performance with her owner. Of course she sat with the other slaves. After getting out, she decided to have others believe she died in the fire to get away from her crazy owner.
Sally is a widower who goes to the performance with her brother in law and his wife, , Margaret. In the course of trying to get out, Sally learns that you really get to know others when their life is at stake.
Jack is a stage hand that plays a key role in the fire. He doesn't know what to do. Many are threatening him, some are giving him advice and one almost killed him, all due to what he knows.
I was so interested in this town and how the story played out. It was written well, with shorter chapters to keep the reader turning pages. A definite five star read for this reader.

The House is on Fire is a historical fiction novel that is based on a famous fire and tragedy that occurred in Richmond Virginia on December 26, 1811. A lot of people were in town for the general assembly and holidays and over six-hundred people packed the theatre when fire broke out. The novel focuses on four different people who were involved with the event in very different ways. Sally Henry Campbell is a widow and the daughter of Patriot Patrick Henry. She is in a third story box when the fire breaks out. Cecily Patterson is a slave that is attending with her mistress and sitting in the gallery. Jack Gibson is a stagehand hoping to have a career in theatre who is at the epicenter when the blaze starts. Gilbert Hunt is enslaved by a cruel blacksmith and dreams of purchasing freedom for himself and his wife. All four of these individuals have to make decisions on that fateful night that that will change the course of their lives forever. Just as important is the aftermath when people were searching for either the truth or for someone to blame for the tragedy.

This audiobook had four different narrators to go with the four different viewpoints of the novel. It worked quite well and made it an enjoyable read with the four different perspectives of the fire. I greatly enjoyed this audiobook. The short chapters kept the momentum of the story going. The fire started at the beginning of the book and there was a lot of action that took place. It really made me wonder, what would you do in such a situation? I would like to think I would be a hero trying to save others, but I worry that I would be the person pushing my way out and walking on others just to survive.

I had never heard of this part of history before, and I enjoyed learning about a new to me piece of history. I also appreciated that the four main characters came from very different backgrounds and that two of the characters were enslaved. It was very interesting at the end of the novel to learn more about these real-life individuals in the author’s note. I felt that through the characters that were written about, the reader was able to get a wide view of the tragedy through a lens that also showed the rampant racism and sexism of the time. Cecily suffered great horrors as an enslaved women, but the theatre fire gave her a chance to start over. Gilbert was the hero of the day in public, but abused by his master in private. Orphan Jack struggles with speaking the truth when he may lose his job and opportunities. Sally wonders at a world that doesn’t give a voice to women and their experiences and wonders about the men who left her to die in the blaze. It was intriguing to think about so many aspects to the story and life in 1811.

Rachel Beanland is now an auto buy author for me- I love her historical fiction. In this novel, I was introduced to a niche event in American history. This was well researched, fast paced, and I loved the different characters. Such a fresh read for people who are weary of the genre due to the saturation of WWII content!

Perfect for Historical Fiction fans!! Richmond 1811, 4 different and interesting characters, and the best part is it's a true story... . I thought the story itself was pretty slow, there is really only a small part of "action" but I felt very invested in the characters and reading it was no trouble. The writing is excellent. I would recommend to those who love historical fiction.



3 1/2 stars

The House Is on Fire by Rachel Beanland was based on the true story about the fire that tragically destroyed the theater in Richmond, Virginia on December 26, 1811. Sadly, over seventy innocent lives were lost that night as a result of that fire. Before reading this gripping story, I had not known about this tragedy. Rachel Beanland’s research surrounding the circumstances that led to the cause of the fire, the community’s response to the fire itself, the loss of life that occurred as a result of the fire and the riveting investigation that was conducted to determine how the fire was caused and handled was impeccable and extensive. The House Is on Fire was a character driven book. It was told from the perspective of four distinct and well developed characters whose lives became intertwined with each other as the story developed. The choices and actions each one of the four characters made during the actual fire and then afterwards altered the course of each of their lives. The Richmond theater fire was a shocking tragedy that was felt throughout the entire country and world.

During the month of December 1811, Richmond, Virginia was experiencing the height of its winter social season. The government’s General Assembly was in full swing. This was the time when many of the wealthiest families who owned plantations planned visits to the city of Richmond. One of the main attractions was the Richmond Theater. The Charleston based theater company, Placide and Green, were performing two plays each night at the theater. On the night of December 26th, the theater was packed to capacity. There were at least six hundred guests in attendance that night. One such guest was Sally Henry Campbell, an upper middle class widow, who had come to Richmond to visit her sister-in -law Margaret and brother-in-law Archie. The three of them had tickets to see a play that night. Their seats were in the third floor boxes. Sally would be forced to make split second decisions once the fire began. Her actions and the choices she made would determine the outcome of not only her life but the lives of others. Also in attendance was Cecily Patterson. Cecily was a young slave that had been required to escort her master’s daughter to the theater. Her master’s daughter met her three friends at the theater and proceeded to their seats that were in the boxes on the second floor. Cecily proceeded to the colored gallery and took a seat there. She was more than happy to escape from the nightmare she was dealing with at the time. When the fire started and the theater was being evacuated, Cecily was presented with the biggest decision in her young life. Jack Gibson was also at the theater that evening. He had been hired by Placide and Green as a stagehand. Jack was working backstage that night helping with scenery changes. He aspired to earn a permanent position with the company so he was trying very hard to impress the directors of Placide and Green. Jack would have to decide that fateful night whether or not to follow his conscience or be persuaded to follow the lead of his employers. The fourth person, Gilbert Hunt, a slave that worked as a blacksmith, was not at the theater when the fire broke out. Gilbert was visiting his wife. When he learned that the young mistress of the house that his wife had helped raise had been at the theater that night he went to the theater to see if he could find her. His caring and selfless demeanor put him in the position to help others. As the theater was consumed by flames in the middle of an act, Sally, Jack, Cecily and Gilbert would all have to make split-second decisions. It was from their perspectives that the details of the fire and the aftermath were revealed.

Rachel Beanland was able to convey each character’s experience, ordeal, decisions, actions and emotions so vividly. She made sure that each character’s story was told and that each character was given the platform they needed and required to do so. The House is on Fire explored the themes of racism, sacrifice, sexism, class distinctions and loyalty. The author, Rachel Beanland, provided a substantial explanation for which characters and elements were true and which were imagined in her author’s notes. I had previously read Florence Adler Swims Forever and enjoyed it very much but The House Is on Fire far exceeded my expectations. I can’t wait to see what she writes next. If you enjoy historical fiction, then I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read The House is on Fire by Rachel Beanland through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In December 1811 a theater is Richmond Virginia caught fire during a packed performance resulting in the death of many of the patrons. It was a horrible incident, innocently caused by member of the theater group and blamed on a gang of slaves. This book was extensively and well researched, introducing us to a number of characters, some real, some fictional. I found it a throughly enjoyable read, one which gave a feel ands understanding of the times and the people.

I liked Beanland's debut, Florence Adler swims forever but I LOVED this one. The descriptions of the people and the town had me right in the moment. I could smell the smoke and feel the claustrophobia of the guests in the theater. I'm looking forward for more historical fiction from this author.
Full review and links to come.

This was very good historical fiction. It was told from multiple points of view, and I liked how each was very different. They all were from someone who experienced the disaster, but from different viewpoints and experiences. They were different ages, sexes and races - so the reader really got a feel for life in this time and place, and how the disaster was so broad ranging in this city. It was a great commentary on society and the choices we make - both spontaneous and deliberate. It really resonated with me, and I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this.

All I could think of while reading this book by Rachel Beanland was the Triangle Factory fire. How horrific to be caught in a building on fire that you cannot get out of. This story is rife with whodunnits as well as blaming the innocents. Ms. Beanland has written another wonderful book. I loved her book, Florence Adler Swims Forever!!! She is a beautifully graphic author, and I recommend All to read The House is On Fire! Thank you to Netgalley and Simon. & Shutter Publishing for the egalley!

The House is on Fire is a meticulously researched work of historical fiction that begins on the night of the Richmond Theater fire in 1811. We follow four characters who are directly impacted by the fire and the aftermath. The story is rich with history regarding an event I had not heard about: seventy-two people died and it became an international news story at the time. Beanland writes in a way that makes you feel like you are in the fire - it’s a tense and emotional page-turner. One of my favorite reads of the year so far!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.