PHOTO: Author Lori Hart Beninger: Bringing history to life and sharing deeply personal stories of resilience and hope.
Resilience Amid Adversity: Stories That Bridge History and Humanity
Lori Hart Beninger blends history and heart in her acclaimed trilogy and memoir, exploring resilience, family dynamics, and personal growth through vivid storytelling and deeply relatable, authentic characters.
Renowned author Lori Hart Beninger has captivated readers with her extraordinary ability to blend historical detail and deeply human stories. Known for her critically acclaimed historical fiction trilogy – Embracing the Elephant, A Veil of Fog and Flames, and A Peculiar Peace – as well as her powerful nonfiction work, An Ordinary Tragedy, Beninger’s writing is both thought-provoking and emotionally rich. In an interview with Reader’s House magazine, Beninger discussed the inspirations and challenges behind her works, the complexities of family dynamics, and the enduring themes of resilience and hope that run through all her stories.
Beninger’s historical fiction takes readers back to pivotal moments in American history, from the California Gold Rush to the American Civil War. Central to her trilogy is Guinevere, or Guine, a young girl navigating a world fraught with challenges. To develop Guine’s character, Beninger drew from many sources: her own childhood, the traits of her young female relatives, and even aspects of her late brother Scott’s personality. “Her tenacity, her courage, her stubbornness – and her determination not to show weakness – reminded me of my brother Scott,” Beninger explained. Throughout the series, Guine’s journey mirrors the author’s personal experiences, reflecting her belief in perseverance amidst adversity.
The process of researching for Embracing the Elephant also presented unique hurdles. While Beninger is a native Californian with a strong knowledge of the state’s history, she found herself diving into unfamiliar subject matter, such as the intricate details of ocean voyages during the mid-19th century. Personal journals from travelers of the era provided critical insights, helping Beninger create the vivid and often dangerous world Guine encountered during her journey. Language, too, required tremendous care. “I researched almost every word I used,” Beninger admitted, determined to ensure her vocabulary was accurate for the time period.
While her fiction explores humanity through the lens of history, Beninger’s memoir, An Ordinary Tragedy, offers an intimate glimpse into her own family’s story. Published in 2016, this raw and heartfelt book chronicles the life of her younger brother Scott, who had been convicted as a felon by the age of eighteen. Beninger explained that writing the memoir was less about inspiration and more about necessity. “I had to understand my brother Scott before I could find peace in my own life,” she shared.
In crafting An Ordinary Tragedy, Beninger also drew upon her background in child psychology, confronting the age-old debate of nature versus nurture. Despite growing up in the same household under similar circumstances, her brother’s life diverged drastically from her own, a dynamic that continues to intrigue her. “I think many of us wonder how brothers and/or sisters grow to be so different from one another,” she reflected.
Writing about one’s own family, however, comes with challenges of its own. Beninger aimed for objectivity in the memoir, recognizing that this honesty could come at a price. While her younger brother Grant appreciated the book’s impartiality, her mother struggled with how she was portrayed. “My book hurt her feelings because it did not paint her as the perfect mother she thought she had been,” Beninger admitted, adding that objectivity often demands difficult truths.
Despite their differences, both An Ordinary Tragedy and her historical fiction trilogy share an overarching message of resilience. “Don’t let oppression dictate your life,” Beninger asserted. To her, An Ordinary Tragedy serves as a warning, while Embracing the Elephant offers the hope of overcoming difficult circumstances. She believes that with determination and effort, anyone can change the course of their future, no matter how dire the past may seem.
Finally, Beninger reflected on how writing has influenced her perspective on life, family, and personal growth. She was struck by the discovery that life rarely offers simple answers. Quoting the Joni Mitchell ballad “Both Sides Now,” she observed, “What writing has revealed to me is that there are even more than two sides to almost everything.” This nuanced understanding has found its way into her works, enriching her characters and narratives with an authenticity that resonates deeply with readers.
As Lori Hart Beninger continues to create and share her stories, her work reminds us of the enduring power of literature to connect, inspire, and heal. Whether through the eyes of a 19th-century teenager or the lens of her own family’s experiences, Beninger’s writing challenges us to find meaning amid life’s struggles and to embrace the resilience within ourselves.
Source: Interview with Reader’s House magazine
