The House Is on Fire

By: Rachel Beanland

Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Andi Arndt, Michael Crouch, Ruffin Prentiss III, Rachel Beanland - note

A “wildly entertaining” (NPR), “gripping” (The Washington Post) work of historical fiction about an incendiary tragedy that shocked a young nation and tore apart a community in a single night, from the author of Florence Adler Swims Forever.

Richmond, Virginia 1811. It’s the height of the winter social season, the General Assembly is in session, and many of Virginia’s gentleman planters, along with their wives and children, have made the long and arduous journey to the capital in hopes of whiling away the darkest days of the year. At the city’s only theater, the Charleston-based Placide & Green Company puts on two plays a night to meet the demand of a populace that’s done looking for enlightenment at the front of a church.

On the night after Christmas, the theater is packed with more than six hundred holiday revelers. In the third-floor boxes sits newly widowed Sally Henry Campbell, who is glad for any opportunity to relive the happy times she shared with her husband. One floor away, in the colored gallery, Cecily Patterson doesn’t give a whit about the play but is grateful for a four-hour reprieve from a life that has recently gone from bad to worse. Backstage, young stagehand Jack Gibson hopes that, if he can impress the theater’s managers, he’ll be offered a permanent job with the company. And on the other side of town, blacksmith Gilbert Hunt dreams of one day being able to bring his wife to the theater, but he’ll have to buy her freedom first.

When the theater goes up in flames in the middle of the performance, Sally, Cecily, Jack, and Gilbert make a series of split-second decisions that will not only affect their own lives but those of countless others. And in the days following the fire, as news of the disaster spreads across the United States, the paths of these four people will become forever intertwined.

Based on the true story of Richmond’s theater fire, The House Is on Fire is a “stunning” (Jeannette Walls, New York Times bestselling author of The Glass Castle), “all-consuming exploration” (E! News) that offers proof that sometimes, in the midst of great tragedy, we are offered our most precious—and fleeting—chances at redemption.

©2023 Rachel Beanland. All rights reserved. (P)2023 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Beanland's audiobook is perfect for a full-cast production, and its strong performances are consistently gripping...These excellent performances enhance this riveting story of tragedy, systemic racism, and sexism." (AudioFile Magazine)

Historical facts

I Loved the way history and fiction come
together to make this a great book.

An interesting story of a tragic event.

A captivating well told story, which allows one to easily imagine the hardships of slaves as well as the second class treatment of women.

Great

Great story based on true researched history by the author. I loved the authors notes at the beginning and end of the book.

Can't Rewrite History

As an American historian w a degree and also more self taught this book is incredible. I usually do listen to "fiction" but a friend suggested as historical fiction and WOW. EXCELLENT. So well written. Amazing story. Researched to the "T"

Historical Fiction At Its Best

Although it was easy to tell that this had a modern sensibility, I liked that there was a diversity of points of view about the same event. The story was nicely interwoven, but didn't seem forced. The ending gave closure without tying things up too neatly. I am in the process of earning a Masters in American History, so I'm picky about accuracy, and hope to find more from this author.

I enjoyed the voice performances of Cecile, Gilbert, and Sally, but found Jack to be annoying since his British accent was out of step with that character and other performers.

Loved this book

Based on real events this is the story of a devastating theatre fire that took place in the early 19th century. It is told from the perspective of four people; a young widow, a 14 year old stage hand, a young slave girl, and a Negro blacksmith. All were involved in the fire and it affected them all in different ways. Each character is narrated by a different person, and the narration is excellent. Although it is a fictionalized account, the characters are loosely built on real people, and paints a devastating picture of one of the worst events in our then young nation's history. I could not put it down !

Fantastic

Great historical fiction that provided the perspective of women and enslaved people. I loved the author's note at the end.

Very enjoyable read

I enjoyed this book so much. For one thing of I liked having chapters devoted to a specific character. It helped me learn the characters faster. This is my first experience with audible and I’m wondering what took me so long!

Perceptive and heartfelt

The author honors the stories of African Americans and all women in a world of extreme white patriarchy.

Gut wrenching history explained as if you were there!

Loved thar the characters were addressed separately... it helped keep their perspectives individualized and personal.