The House is On Fire Presale

Order a hardcover copy for just $16!

The House Is on Fire by Rachel Beanland is a historical fiction novel based on the 1811 Richmond Theater fire, one of the deadliest disasters in U.S. history at the time. The book explores the tragedy through the perspectives of four interconnected characters from different social strata: a white widow, a white stagehand, an enslaved young woman, and an enslaved blacksmith, revealing the era's deep-seated racism and misogyny. It's praised for its immersive storytelling, complex characters, and its exploration of redemption, privilege, and survival during a catastrophe.