Historical Fiction Novel Quotes

“I regained consciousness after a big night at the Cock and Bull Inn, or it could’ve been The Weasel’s Way or The Badger’s Breath, who knows with these weird English pub names. Anyway, it was somewhere near The Pig and Whistle. Not far up from the Scotsman’s Kilt.”
― Harry F. MacDonald, Magic Alex and the Secret History of Rock and Roll

“Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few. - George Bernard Shaw”
― James Allen Moseley, The Duke of D.C.: The American Dream

“I know I promised to give you flowers, I just didn't think it would be by your grave.”
― Celia Östergaard, The Romanov Diary

“Güvendin değil mi? Bilmeliydin, emrindeki Germiyanlıların yanımdaki beylerine geleceğini. Bilmeliydin, kara tatarların yanımdaki soydaşlarına geleceğini. Bilmeliydin, Saruhanlıların yanımdaki şehzadeyi seçeceğini. Ve bilmeliydin, ben bu diyarın ve ötesinin en büyük hükümdarıyım. Ben Cengizsoylu oğullara ve torunlara sahip, sahipkıranım. Ben Cengiz'in damadıyım.”
― Deniz Canan, Larende'nin Yükselişi

“Karamanlılar ve Osmanlılar... “ dedi Timur bir süre sonra. “Sahi nedir bu anlaşmazlığın başlangıcı?”
― Deniz Canan, Larende'nin Yükselişi

“By this deed, which, in the absence of a lawyer, the chaplain of the Touraine regiment, Father Verdier here, has been good enough to draw up for me, I duly recognize and legitimize my son Gilles Goëlo, born out of wedlock, as the sole heir of the house of Tournemine de la Hunaudaye, so that he may in future, subject to the King's approval, bear the name and the arms which are his by right of birth. You, Count, he looked at Rochambeau. 'I think you knew him before I. Will you honour us both by being the first to append your signature?'
The honour is mine, Monsieur le Comte. All of us here, in our own ways, have come to know and value this young man. Not so much, perhaps, as our American friends, to whom he is already a legend, but enough to congratulate you on having such a son to carry on your name. You may die in peace for I give you my word, you leave it in good hands.”
― Juliette Benzoni, Le Gerfaut

“Either I am mad, sir, or you are. Am I a slave to be sold or bartered at will? Even supposing Lord Cranmere to have been so vile or so rash as to stake the property placed in his keeping today, even then, he can only lose what belongs to him and I do not belong to him!' The savagery in her tone startled the American.
In the eyes of the law,' he said, and his voice was more gentle than ever, you do belong to him. And let me make it clear, it was not you yourself, or your life he staked, but only this one night. It is this night which now belongs to me. The loss of that vast stake made it my privilege to come to you here, in place of your husband - to exercise his rights.”
― Juliette Benzoni, The Bride of Selton Hall

“No crown, no palace, and no political success could ever replace the joy they bring him. He would give up everything for them. Even the throne.”
― Celia Östergaard, The Romanov Diary

“Hükümdarlar düştü babalardan payımıza. Şanssızız cici prenses. Onlar bize gelene kadar çok başka kişilere önem verir. Ülkeleri, vezirleri, başka kralların oğulları, bir kaşının yayı güzel diye soysuz cariyeleri... hepsini çocuklarından daha çok severler. Biz babalarımız ne derse yaparız. Savaşırız, ölürüz, satılırız ve bür gün tahta geçmek için kardeşlerimizi keseriz. Mesele biz değiliz. Mesele hiçbir zaman biz olmadık.”
― Deniz Canan, Larende’nin Varisleri Larende’nin Aynası Kısım -2

“On the other side of the window, the snow forms a white blanket that covers the dirt underneath. A layer of innocence that for a brief moment deafens the loud noises of the revolution.”
― Celia Östergaard, The Romanov Diary

“It is always the greatest people who suffer the most. Life is cruel, and it seems like those who try to make it a little more of a better place have to make the greatest sacrifices.”
― Celia Östergaard, The Romanov Diary

“But he knew from the academy there is no “I” in the words company or brotherhood, and he knew his role, although not as demanding as the other members of the company, was an essential one.”
― Frank Napolitano, Day of Days: September 11, 2001, A Novel of the Fire Service

“That is where we live - in that place - between life and death. It is a dark arena, where a game is played against a malicious enemy who never stops seeking victims. And sometimes, we have to make the trade. We have to trade ourselves for those we’ve sworn to serve.”
― Frank Napolitano, Day of Days: September 11, 2001, A Novel of the Fire Service

“It is never to late to write the story that resides between your ears.”
― Steve Kravetz, The Bastardo

“All I am guilty of is surviving, and for that, I will not apologize.” - Danielle Van Aard”
― C.M. O'Neill, Good Hope

“But even if he were dead, I would never truly be free.”
― Amanda Lees, Paris at First Light

“But no matter how much she bargained with the gods, Marianne knew there were no guarantees and no safety nets. Jack would live or die depending on the fates. They could be cruel or kind according to their whim.”
― Amanda Lees, Paris at First Light

“Forever, I whispered in my head, even as a bolt of fear shot through my heart.”
― Amanda Lees, Paris at First Light

“Perhaps love really did conquer all.”
― Amanda Lees, Paris at First Light

“The avenue of trees stood like sentries on either side of me, guardians of those who lay under the earth behind.”
― Amanda Lees, Paris at First Light

“I may have been ambushed, but I was dressed for battle.”
― Amanda Lees, Paris at First Light

“Outside, the snow kept falling faster and faster, but in here I could feel myself slowing, the demons that had driven me for so long receding into the distance, driven out by the love that flowed around and between us, a love that bound us together as one family.”
― Amanda Lees, Paris at First Light

“Filial respect caused Grey to hesitate in passing ex post facto opinions on his mother's judgement, but after half an hour in the company of either Paul or Edgar, he could not escape a lurking suspicion that a just Providence, seeing the DeVanes so well endowed with physical beauty, had determined that there was no reason to spoil the work by adding intelligence to the mix.”
― Diana Gabaldon, Lord John and the Haunted Soldier

“Agnes Amaranth is the strong sister, steady as a stone and twice as hard; she walks second into the tower. She's never liked mother-stories much. They make her think of her own mother and wish she'd been someone else, someone who would've sent their daddy running for the hills the first time he raised a hand against her. Someone like the Mother herself. Mothers are supposed to be weak, weepy creatures, women who give birth to their children and drift peacefully into death, bur the Mother is none of those things. She's the brave one, the ruthless one, the witch who traded the birthing-chamber for the battlefield, the kitchen for the knife. She is bloody Boadicea and heartless Hera, the mother who became a monster. None of the stories mention the oiled brown of her skin or the smooth lines of scars along her cheeks, but Agnes knows her by the iron set of her jaw, the unyielding line of her spine. A black python wraps around one arm, heavy-bodied and red eyed. Agnes bows her head and the Mother bows back to her, like two soldiers meeting in battle.”
― Alix E. Harrow, The Once and Future Witches

“Beatrice Belladonna is the wise sister, quiet and clever as an owl in the rafters; she walks last into the tower. She never believed in crone-stories, even as a girl. She determined long ago that the Crone was an amalgamation of myths and fables, an expression of collective fear rather than an actual old woman. Old women are supposed to be doting and addled, absent-minded grandmothers who spoil their sons and keep soup bubbling on the stove-top, but the Crone is none of those things. She's the canny one, the knowing one, the too-wise witch who knows the words to every curse and the ingredients for every poison. She is Baba Yaga and Black Anna; she is the wicked fairy who hands out curses rather than christening-gifts. Bella knows her by her fingertips: ink-stained, tattooed with words in a dozen dead languages. A delicate asp coils around one wrist.”
― Alix E. Harrow, The Once and Future Witches

“You have a very beautiful daughter, Doctor. It would be a shame if you went to the authorities after this and something happened to her. I know people, bad people, who could do bad things to her. So, I suggest, Doctor, that you do everything in your power to make sure that my friend recovers, and then you need not worry about anything. Do I make myself clear?”
The doctor could only nod his head.”
― Danny Henkel, Russian Tempest: Pogrom

“He gently touched his lips to her glove, sending a jolt to her spine.”
― Grace Hitchcock, Hearts of Gold Collection

“I suppose it is in our nature...when men fear the loss of what they know, they will follow any tyrant who promises to restore the old order.”
― Barbara Kingsolver, Unsheltered

“If we had some ham, we could have ham and eggs - if we had some eggs.”
― J.M. Hopkins, The Cunninghams: A Legacy of Memphis

“She gazed into the cloudless sky then dove into the lake and swam deep, searching for that place where the cold enveloped her so securely that she could disconnect, not only from her mind, but from the pain torturing her soul as well.”
― Anne Carroll, The Tortured Tyrant: Book 1