In this episode of Historical Happy Hour, bestselling author Jane Healey sits down with novelist Alison Epstein to discuss her bold reimagining of Oliver Twist in her new book Fagan and the Thief. Epstein offers a compelling retelling from the perspective of Jacob Fagan, Dickens’ infamous pickpocket, giving him a first name, a backstory, and—most importantly—humanity. They explore the novel’s reclamation of a deeply antisemitic character, delve into Epstein’s research process for recreating Victorian London, and unpack themes of identity, mentorship, toxic relationships, and moral ambiguity. The conversation is an insightful look at how historical fiction can be both entertaining and powerfully subversive.

Bestselling author Alka Joshi returns to discuss her newest historical fiction novel, Six Days in Bombay. Inspired by the enigmatic life and mysterious death of Indian painter Amrita Sher-Gil—dubbed the Frida Kahlo of India—Joshi weaves a rich narrative through the eyes of a fictional nurse, Sona, who cares for a dying artist and embarks on a journey across 1930s Europe to fulfill the artist’s final request. With vivid research, immersive sensory detail, and reflections on identity, loss, and artistic legacy, Joshi and host Jane Healey dive deep into the novel's origins, character development, historical settings, and Joshi’s creative process—including updates on her adaptation of The Henna Artist and a preview of her next novel. Jane Healey

In this episode of Historical Happy Hour, bestselling author and host Jane Healey sits down with debut novelist Joanna Miller to discuss The Eights, a richly imagined and impeccably researched historical novel about the first women to study alongside men at Oxford University in 1920. Joanna shares how the novel was born during lockdown, how real archives and immersive research shaped the vivid setting and layered characters, and why this untold story of female friendship, ambition, and societal change feels both timely and timeless. From her background in rhyming poetry to her creative process as a novelist, Joanna offers a heartfelt look into how history can inspire fiction—and how storytelling can reclaim forgotten voices.