Fact vs. Fiction: Two Writers Tell the Story of the Richmond Theater Fire From Different Perspectives

Calling all book clubs and bookworms! First there was Meredith Henne Baker’s nonfiction account of the Richmond Theater fire, aptly titled “The Richmond Theater Fire: Early America’s First Great Disaster.” Then came Rachel Beanland’s novel, “The House Is On Fire.” While the two books are different in their approach, both examine what happened the night of the 1811 fire, its effect on the residents of Richmond, and the circumstances that led to the construction of Monumental Church—built as a monument to those who perished in the blaze.