Through A Glass Darkly

Through A Glass Darkly by Karleen Koen was a book that really pulled me into the era. Basically a soap opera, Koen blends history, culture and plot so well, I was totally captivated. She wrote a sequel, but others have told me not to bother, it might ruin my enjoyment of the first.

It is not available new, but I've seen it in plenty of used bookstores. While fool of detail, it is juicy enough to qualify as a beach read.