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Footnote #5: A Literary Journal of History by Various Authors

Footnote #5: A Literary Journal of History Footnote 5 header banner

Footnote #5: A Literary Journal of History
Various Authors

Footnote 5 cover artwork

Charter Oak Award silver logo and link

Foot•note (fŏŏt’nōt') n. 1. A note placed at the bottom of a page of a book or manuscript that comments on or cites a reference for a designated part of the text. 2. Something related to but of lesser importance than a larger work or occurrence. 3. A kickass literary journal of history-themed work that will make you rethink how you view history.



The fifth issue of our annual literary publication contains works of poetry, photographs, fiction, essays, articles, and nonfiction by various authors about various historical topics. Within these pages, you will find contemporary outlooks on history right alongside little-known public domain works that feel as fresh and as vibrant (and as scary) as if they were written today. Here, the old meets the new, and you’ll discover fascinating history from a personal, accessible, nonscholarly literary approach.

This issue is on preorder. Full description coming soon.

Accepted pieces:
Georgetown Girls by Eneida P. Alcalde
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker Counts the Union Dead by Barbara Alvarado
The Untold Story of the 2nd North Carolina Mounted Infantry by Patrick Barton
Lynnhaven River, 1706 by Chelsea Bunn
The Birthday Party, 1944 by Clare Chu
The Notary's Conquest (A Fragment) by Deva Eveland
For Samuel Ajayi Crowther by Ayokunle Falomo
The Explosion at the Arsenal by Jamie Todd Hamilton
Two Truths and a Lie by Myrlin A. Hermes
The Death of History by Jahman Hill
The Wehrmachtopus by Gareth Hipwell
The Smoker's Lot by Gareth Hipwell
Salzburg, Germany: 1773 by Amanda Hodes
Beginnings Emerge out of Endings and the Like by D. Seth Horton
The Cure by Morgan Jeffery and Chris Helgens
Jubilo Done Pass by Jeremy Ray Jewell
And Yet You Do Not Vote by Marion Avrilyn Jones
Secrets by P. D. R. Lindsay
Hopes by Caitlin Mariah
Woman of Breasts by Mary Jane Panke
Mississippi Buried by Jonathan Andrew Pérez
Thanksgiving Day Parade, 1929 by Eric Pierzchala
The Girl from No Gun Ri by Esther Ra
Army Without a Country by Johannah Racz Knudson
The Hummingbird Artist Dreams of the Ladder of Heaven by Greg Rappleye
selective recall by henry 7. reneau, jr.
Cardinal Virtues by Gretchen Rockwell
The Tribe of Men by Daryl Scroggins
Considering “the Public Appears Disposed to Being Amused Even When They Are Conscious of Being Deceived” (P. T. Barnum, 1855) by Kathryn Smith
The Fox Sisters Hold a Séance by Kathryn Smith
Maggie Fox Speaks to the Dead Girl, Then Is Asked to Remove Her Clothes by Kathryn Smith
The Examination by Kathryn Smith
Animal Magnetism vs. Spiritual Magnetism, or the Vertiginous Sister Attempts a Mesmeric State in Order to More Fully Understand by Kathryn Smith
A Walk to Lafayette by J. W. Stewart
Stand-By by Stuart Stromin
No Locks by Bob Sykora
At New Lebanon They Danced Like Ghosts by Bob Sykora
The Train by Anique Sara Taylor
After the Hostile Takeover, 1990 by Laura Budofsky Wisniewski

Content warnings: coming soon

2019 Charter Oak Award Winners for Best Historical

1st Place: “Lynnhaven River, 1706” by Chelsea Bunn
2nd Place: “Cardinal Virtues” by Gretchen Rockwell
3rd Place: “The Girl from No Gun Ri” by Esther Ra

Footnote 5 on Square

PREORDER: Ships in May
Perfectbound Trade Paperback $12.99


Footnote 5 on Square


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Libraries, Universities, & Booksellers


•Booksellers ordering direct from us can get a 60/40 split, no shipping costs, returns accepted. Enter quantity here.
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•For reviewers, promotional outlets, or desk copies, please request a copy.