This week, we feature a fascinating foray into the life of a Southern belle dedicated to abolishing slavery and a thrilling adventure that combines World War II history and priceless works of art.
American History
‘Lincoln’s Lady Spymaster: The Untold Story of the Abolitionist Southern Belle Who Helped Win the Civil War’
By Gerri WillisElizabeth Van Lew, a Southern belle, was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. Wealthy, well-connected, and charming, she utterly opposed slavery. When Virginia seceded, she supported the Union. Hiding any outward signs of Union sympathy, she provided the North secret support. She helped Union POWs escape North and eventually became a spy. This book tells her powerful story, and the story of the escape and espionage ring she ran from Richmond. It shows what one determined person can accomplish.
Harper, 2025, 288 pages
Nonfiction
‘The Kingdom of Cain: Finding God in the Literature of Darkness’
By Andrew KlavanIn this eclectic look at culture, evil, and religious faith, suspense novelist and scriptwriter Andrew Klavan brilliantly brings together murderers like Leopold and Loeb, philosophers like Nietzsche, books like Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment,” and films like Hitchcock’s “Psycho.” He connects the dots between the horrific crimes, relativism, and the erasure of God from academia and the public square. He calls them all creators or creations of a “kingdom of Cain,” but then he offers a light in that darkness. Highly recommended.
Zondervan, 2025, 272 pages
Ancient History
‘Sparta’s Third Attic War: The Grand Strategy of Classical Sparta 413–404 B.C.’
By Paul A. RaheThe Peloponnesian War lasted for nearly 30 years—431 to 404 B.C. It’s one of the most famous wars in history thanks, primarily, to the efforts of ancient historians Thucydides and Xenophon. The American classicist Paul Rahe has written his six-part series focused on Sparta’s strategy behind the war. This work deals with the war’s final decade. Pulling from all angles—from the Grecian states to the Persian empire—Rahe accurately and engagingly guides the reader through the conflict.
In spring 1945, Luftwaffe pilot Max Hignite flew a Ju-52 to Switzerland, loaded with artwork stolen by the Nazis. There it crash-landed. He concealed the loot in a cave and moved on with his life. Before he died in the spring of 2001, he bequeathed knowledge of the treasure to a favorite nephew, the American advertising executive Matt Ferguson. Bored, in an unfulfilling job, Matt decides to recover the art. Two rival gangs learn of the treasure, and soon Matt is in a deadly three-way race for his uncle’s legacy.
Old Stone Press, 2021, 338 pages
Classics
‘Scouting for Boys: 1908 Version Legacy Edition’
By Robert Baden-PowellHere’s the legacy edition of the book that launched the Boy Scouts. Compiled by British Army officer Robert Baden-Powell, this handbook contains camping and woodcraft advice, emergency first aid, adventure passages from stories, an emphasis on chivalry, inspirational quotes, and more. Much of the guide remains useful, but it also serves as a voyage back into the past, with its emphasis on patriotism and the values of Imperial Britain. A great gift for Scouts old and new as well as for historians.
Doublebit Press, 2020, 428 pages
For Kids
‘The National Parks: Discover All 62 National Parks of the United States’
By DKIf you’ve got a nonfiction lover or are a family of adventurers, this geographic encyclopedia of all 62 national parks will spark a spirit of exploration and wonder. Vivid illustrations and interesting facts depict wildlife, activities, and special features found in each national treasure. An informative and fun addition to the bookshelf.
DK Children, 2020, 128 pages
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