Book Review: The House is on Fire by Rachel Beanland

My Rating: 4.5⭐️

On the night of December 26, 1811, the Charleston-based Placide & Green Company was performing two full-length productions at the Richmond Theater to a packed house (almost six hundred people). A fire broke out during the performance that led to the loss of over seventy lives including the Governor. This novel is inspired by that tragedy.

The narrative follows the events of the night and its aftermath as is shared through multiple perspectives- those whose lives are irrevocably impacted by the tragic events of that fateful night - Jack Gibson, a young stagehand who is aware of what truly happened on that fateful evening; Sally Henry, a young widow who attended the production with her sister and brother -in-law, and who participates in the effort to care for those injured in the fire; Gilbert Hunt, a Black man hoping to purchase his freedom someday,   who actively helped those trapped in the burning building and Cecily Patterson, a young black girl who was also in attendance that evening with her mistress, for whom the incident becomes a turning point in her life.

Thoroughly researched, exquisitely written, informative and absorbing, The House is on Fire by Rachel Beanland is a compelling novel. The author not only tells the story of a shocking tragedy of that era but in doing so also gives us insight into what society and societal norms were like during that period – racial injustice, slavery and exploitation and the struggle to purchase one’s freedom, if at all; how lack of dedicated healthcare facilities was made up for by local residents who offered their homes to those who needed treatment for their injuries; how women’s voices and their lives were marginalized by men during that period; the politics of justice and inquiry and so much more.

The Author’s Note deserves a special mention here. The author discusses, in detail, her meticulous research into the incident and the real people on which her characters are based. She has maintained the real names of a few of the characters and also shares details of what became of these people post the events described in the book which I really feel adds to the depth of the story.

I paired my reading with the brilliant full-cast audio narration by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Andi Arndt, Michael Crouch, Ruffin Prentiss III, and Rachel Beanland which made for an immersive experience. 

Overall, I believe this is one the most captivating works of historical fiction that I have read this year and would definitely recommend it to fans of the genre in general and/or those who are keen to read stories set in this particular time period.