Forty-Ninth by Boris Pronsky

A novel about one of the largest land deals in history, the Alaska purchase.

In 1866, an assassination attempt against Alexander II unfolds a series of events that coerce him into selling Alaska to the United States an year later. Meanwhile, Native Alaskans are stuck between the changing order. Some try to fit in while others attempt to fight back. Further south, in a deeply polarized post-Civil War America, the plans of President Johnson conflict with his Security of State’s ambition to acquire Alaska. An approaching impeachment pressures Johnson to attempt to sabotage the deal. Behind closed doors, however, a powerful banking family is awaiting a long overdue payment from the Russians, but there is only so much gold to go around.