Minkoff Trilogy Complete
In just a few days, The Leaves of Fate, the third volume in an historical trilogy written by Massachusetts bookseller George Robert Minkoff will be published. He follows up The Weight of Smoke and The Dragons of the Storm with this final volume on Capt. John Smith and Sir Francis Drake.
Several years ago when the first book was published, I had the pleasure of interviewing Minkoff about his literary pursuits. He told me about researching a novel. Here's a snippet from that article, in the May/June 2007 issue:
Although Minkoff acknowledged he is "not a historian," he took his research very seriously. He utilized his bibliographic experience to study the history of tobacco - a significant part of the story - by examining sixteenth-century books and pamphlets that provided divergent views on long-held beliefs and myths. He also delved into the history of alchemy, geography, disease and piracy to recreate Smith's world and that of Smith's Elizabethan-age hero and father figure, Sir Francis Drake.
The details in the original sources, he said, lend flavor to the narrative, especially to its language, which was very important to him. "Language is a character. I didn't want it to sound like it was written last Wednesday," he quipped.
No less a writer than Paul Auster has praised Minkoff, saying, "George Minkoff is one of the bravest men alive. He has gambled that a three-part epic novel about 17th century Colonial America -- written in a language that mimics the speech of the time -- can hold the interest of 21st century readers and bring satisfactions and delights as a work of contemporary fiction. Remarkably enough, he has won his bet."
All three volumes are available in trade editions and in signed limited editions. Read a sample chapter at McPherson & Co.'s website.
Several years ago when the first book was published, I had the pleasure of interviewing Minkoff about his literary pursuits. He told me about researching a novel. Here's a snippet from that article, in the May/June 2007 issue:
Although Minkoff acknowledged he is "not a historian," he took his research very seriously. He utilized his bibliographic experience to study the history of tobacco - a significant part of the story - by examining sixteenth-century books and pamphlets that provided divergent views on long-held beliefs and myths. He also delved into the history of alchemy, geography, disease and piracy to recreate Smith's world and that of Smith's Elizabethan-age hero and father figure, Sir Francis Drake.
The details in the original sources, he said, lend flavor to the narrative, especially to its language, which was very important to him. "Language is a character. I didn't want it to sound like it was written last Wednesday," he quipped.
No less a writer than Paul Auster has praised Minkoff, saying, "George Minkoff is one of the bravest men alive. He has gambled that a three-part epic novel about 17th century Colonial America -- written in a language that mimics the speech of the time -- can hold the interest of 21st century readers and bring satisfactions and delights as a work of contemporary fiction. Remarkably enough, he has won his bet."
All three volumes are available in trade editions and in signed limited editions. Read a sample chapter at McPherson & Co.'s website.
