Every holiday started with a story. This month, we have a chance to reflect on the origins of two days–one dedicated to celebrating love and another to recognizing two of our nation’s presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, because of their February birthdays. With the Library’s extensive history and historical fiction sections, you can delve into incredible love stories from the past, the lives of US presidents, stories displaying what life was like for those living under differing presidential administrations, and so much more.
By reading history books, we learn where the things we use daily–from your toaster to your mobile phone–came from. We can trace how the issues we face today evolved over time and connect to our roots. History shows us the origins of current policies, developments in various academic fields, major conflicts, and influencers. Looking back shows us how far we have come with technological and medical advancements.
Although historical fiction novels contain stories about imaginary persons and made-up events, they reveal particular historical periods. They are often the result of thorough research to populate everything from the ordinary details of characters’ daily lives to the major historical events in the backdrop of a story. History and historical fiction encourage us to step into the shoes of someone who lived during the time of family members who we may have only seen in photographs.
The Library has history books and historical fiction written from diverse perspectives for all ages, which gives children, teens, and adults a chance to see what it would be like to live in a different era. Browse our Kids Nonfiction and Adult Nonfiction History sections, or ask our staff for book recommendations to explore a particular era! You can also read more about the origin of card-making for Valentine’s Day in our blog post from last February.