This week, we feature an humorous look at how books shaped a bibliophile’s life and an anthology of letters and communications reflecting American life in the 1900s.
History
‘Empire and Frontier: Colonel Peter Schuyler and the Valiant Iroquois in King William’s War: 1689-1701’
By Samuel Marquis
In 1689, Britain replaced King James II with William and Mary, triggering King William’s War in North America. This book follows the war in Upstate New York through three major participants: Peter Schuyler, the Dutch-American mayor of Albany; Mohawk war captain Lawrence; and Mohawk-Dutch Hilletie van Olinda, a woman who served as the colony’s official translator. It shows the alliance forged between the Mohawk and the Dutch and English settlers during a difficult conflict on a distant frontier.
Pegasus Books, 2026, 368 pages
Nonfiction
‘Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out—A Hilarious Guide for Book Lovers and Lifelong Readers’
By Shannon Reed
In this tour of libraries, bookshops, schools, and most especially of books themselves, lifelong bibliophile Reed gives us an autobiography of sorts through the books she’s read, the students she’s taught, and her bookish encounters with strangers and friends. She serves up a double shot of pleasure by reminding us of the stories we’ve read while introducing us to others we’ve never met. To this homage to the joys of reading she adds wit and humor, including the ability to laugh at herself.
Hanover Square Press, 2024, 336 pages
Fiction
‘The Lipetsk Conspiracy: The True Origins of Hitler’s Luftwaffe’
By William Fernie
Tom Munro, a British pilot, flies for German airline Luft Hansa in the late 1920s. The two nations are at peace. Munro is one of the airline’s senior pilots but remains a patriotic Englishman. When he learns that Germany is rearming and testing military aircraft in Russia with the cooperation of the Soviet Union, he feels bound to investigate. The problem? British intelligence is apathetic. Hitler’s rise changes this, but Munro is already investigating independently. A gripping thriller.
Fernie Publishing Ltd, 2026, 358 pages
Mystery
‘The Columbo Collection’
By William Link
From the co-creator of “Columbo,” the classic detective series of the late 20th-century, comes 12 more murder mysteries in the same style television viewers came to love over the decades. Written in the familiar “howcatchem” method (instead of the “whodunit?”), the reader witnesses the murder. From there, the reader gets to watch Lt. Columbo of LAPD, with his crumpled raincoat and cheap cigar, unravel the mystery. For fans of great mysteries and of the TV series, this is a must-have.
Crippen & Landru Publishers, 2010, 274 pages
Classics
‘Letters of the Century: America 1900–1999’
Edited by Lisa Grunwald and Stephen J. Adler
The book’s not a classic, but many of its letters are. Here are more than 400 letters both from famous Americans—politicians, poets, movie stars, and more—and from otherwise ordinary people. Editors Grunwald and Adler preface each letter with a paragraph describing its historical setting and clarifying its meaning. The result is you can profitably read the book as a history of the 20th century or just dip into its pages wherever you like. Either way, it provides an education and delight.
The Dial Press, 1999, 752 pages
For Kids
‘Kiyoshi’s Walk’
by Mark Karlins and Nicole Wong
Young Kiyoshi observes his grandfather, Eto, composing a haiku with his brush pen. He asks him, “Where do poems come from?” and the wise man takes his grandson on a walk throughout the city. They observe their surroundings and compose in haiku as they walk. A lovely introduction to the traditional Japanese poetry and appreciation of family bonds.
Lee & Low Books, 2021, 32 pages
What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to features@epochtimes.nyc.
