MarkJonesBooks
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Two years before Indiana Jones. Twenty years before Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicholas Cage's character in 
National Treasure). And even before Robert Langdon of The DaVinci Code, there was Peter Fallon. If William Martin, the creator of Fallon, isn't sharing in the profits of the Treasure and Langdon movies, then he should be!
In 1979, Martin introduced Peter Martin in a superb historical thriller called Back Bay. And over the twenty years he has proven himself to the premier historical novelist of this generation. All the historical grandeur of Michener with none of the bad writing and tedious plots. Back Bay is the book that established his formula, and which the National Treasure producers use to great success. Alternating narratives: one that follows events in history, and the second which follows historian and collector of antiquities Peter Fallon in his search for some lost historical object. Gradually the two plots line merge to a roaring finish.
In Bay the object is silver tea set, made by Paul Revere and given to George Washington. After the War of 1812 the tea set disappears the in the late 20th century Peter Fallon uncovers some clues about the set and begins to pull the thread of history apart. In Harvard Yard it is a lost Shakespeare manuscript. In The Lost Constitution it is an annotated (by the writers) copy of the Constitution that was stolen at the Convention.
And now in City of Dreams Fallon is after some lost Revolutionary War bonds sold my Alexander Hamilton to pay for the Patriot rebellion. Seems like, due to a clause in the Constitution, that the bonds may still redeemable and the lost batch could be worth more than one billion dollars!
While no one will ever accuse Martin of being a great writer, he is a good one. And he is a masterful researcher who knows how to turn tidbits of research into fascinating (and plausible) fiction. All of Martin's books are enjoyable and you will come away with a deeper knowledge of history, and (hopefully) a desire to delve into the subject matter more deeply. Can a historical novelist ask for anything more? Maybe a share of the National Treasure profits, but ... I'm sure Mr. Martin is not holding his breath.
BIBLIO SAYS: Highly recommended for a great read.
National Treasure). And even before Robert Langdon of The DaVinci Code, there was Peter Fallon. If William Martin, the creator of Fallon, isn't sharing in the profits of the Treasure and Langdon movies, then he should be!In 1979, Martin introduced Peter Martin in a superb historical thriller called Back Bay. And over the twenty years he has proven himself to the premier historical novelist of this generation. All the historical grandeur of Michener with none of the bad writing and tedious plots. Back Bay is the book that established his formula, and which the National Treasure producers use to great success. Alternating narratives: one that follows events in history, and the second which follows historian and collector of antiquities Peter Fallon in his search for some lost historical object. Gradually the two plots line merge to a roaring finish.
In Bay the object is silver tea set, made by Paul Revere and given to George Washington. After the War of 1812 the tea set disappears the in the late 20th century Peter Fallon uncovers some clues about the set and begins to pull the thread of history apart. In Harvard Yard it is a lost Shakespeare manuscript. In The Lost Constitution it is an annotated (by the writers) copy of the Constitution that was stolen at the Convention.
And now in City of Dreams Fallon is after some lost Revolutionary War bonds sold my Alexander Hamilton to pay for the Patriot rebellion. Seems like, due to a clause in the Constitution, that the bonds may still redeemable and the lost batch could be worth more than one billion dollars!
While no one will ever accuse Martin of being a great writer, he is a good one. And he is a masterful researcher who knows how to turn tidbits of research into fascinating (and plausible) fiction. All of Martin's books are enjoyable and you will come away with a deeper knowledge of history, and (hopefully) a desire to delve into the subject matter more deeply. Can a historical novelist ask for anything more? Maybe a share of the National Treasure profits, but ... I'm sure Mr. Martin is not holding his breath.
BIBLIO SAYS: Highly recommended for a great read.
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