about the Author
Brian Snowden is an Educator, Writer and Artist. He was born in 1950 at the Naval Hospital at the Quantico Marine Base, but considers Charlottesville, VA his home town. Both of his parents, and many relatives going back more than a century, are from Charlottesville or surrounding areas in central Virginia.
about the Book
On the Precipice of the Labyrinth by Brian Snowden is a thought-provoking historical fiction novel that follows the deeply personal journey of William Benning as he tries to make sense of the chaos in his life. Set against the backdrop of Virginia and Spain, the story delves into themes of stability, identity, and the passage of time. William, a teacher and writer, reflects on his experiences—hitchhiking from Virginia to New York, and eventually making his way to Spain—seeking a meaningful connection with history and culture, particularly Spain’s turbulent political environment. The novel’s introspective tone and its blend of personal and historical narratives give readers a compelling exploration of the human experience through the lens of historical fiction.
Latest News And Blogs
Great historical fiction doesn’t rely on surprise reveals to keep you turning pages; it lets the place apply pressure until
Some stories chase spectacle; this one tracks responsibility. Its quiet thesis is demanding and straightforward: spectators keep notes; witnesses keep
Language doesn’t just describe a world; it decides where you stand in it. In this story, Spanish begins as a
A ticket, a rough sea, and a border that asks for more than papers—those are the first tests. By the
On the Precipice of the Labyrinth is shaped by the conviction that truth rarely arrives on scene. It arrives afterward,
In On the Precipice of the Labyrinth, Spanish is not a souvenir gathered en route to Europe; it is the
client reviews !
This book brought me hours of enjoyment, it was like traveling to Spain and experiment life in this country during the Civil War. The author masters the precise use of words to paint to us the scenery of the basque land, as well as to describe the tastes and smells of food in the different regions, it makes you want to be there, alongside the main character and his friends, helping them in their journey through a country at war. Must read!
Mirtha Castaneda 
As a Spanish speaker and admirer of the Spanish culture, I very much enjoyed this novel. For those of you who have traveled to Spain, or are thinking about it, this book does a great job of connecting you to important cultural elements of this great nation, while also giving you a better understanding of the tragic civil war that divided so many in the middle of the last century.
Olga Sitnik
After getting this book, I waited until taking a long train ride to New York City to start reading. It was a wonderful way to make the trip pass quickly. Like the protagonist, William Benning, I too graduated from the University of Virginia and shared some of his early experiences in Charlottesville, VA which, although I was 35 tears later, create a bond between character and reader. Brian did a masterful job of showing us what it must have been like to travel to a foreign country slipping into war with itself.
Richard C.
Previous
Next