Good historical fiction?

some call me tim · 09-05-2010, 11:55 PM

Does anyone have recommendations for good historical fiction? I don't have a whole lot of exposure to the genre, but I'd like to try some more. I've read a lot of Bernard Cornwell's stuff, and enjoyed most of it. I really liked his Warlord Chronicles, which admittedly is a mixture of fantasy and history. I also enjoyed the Saxon Stories, but his writing has gotten rather stale on me. It all seems a bit formulaic now--he fleshes out the era in his books well, but it's like each book is the same story with the same characters, just in a different time period.

I've also read a little bit of Patrick O'Brien, which in the long run I enjoyed, but had to will myself forward in a lot of the places in the few books I read.

Any recommendations? I'm not affixed to any particular time period, I just like the feeling of history coming alive and being immersed in the story.

SneakySnake · 09-05-2010, 11:58 PM

How about the Shardlake novels by Sansom?

or the Mordlake books by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

lila55 · 09-06-2010, 12:00 AM

You might find some suggestions in this thread.

some call me tim · 09-06-2010, 12:02 AM

hah! Thanks, I swear I did a search, but somehow didn't see that.

cassidym · 09-06-2010, 12:22 AM

Try the Flashman series; absolutely hilarious and, historically, accurate

SlowRain · 09-06-2010, 12:26 AM

Gore Vidal has written some excellent novels about key points in American history, all from a Washington perspective. Vidal is a brilliant author, but he does have an extreme bias that shows through in his portrayal of certain characters. Also, a great deal of the novels are presented in dialog at parties, so it's not exactly exciting stuff.

The General in His Labyrinth by Gabriel García Márquez is a beautiful look at the last days of Simón Bolívar, as well as some flashbacks to the major events of his life. Simply beautiful writing.

Rose by Martin Cruz Smith is an excellent historical mystery set in 19th-century Wigan, a British coal-mining town. Great atmosphere and intrigue.

Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier is about an injured American Civil War soldier abandoning the war and walking home to his true love. Language, character, and atmosphere are Frazier's strengths in this novel which, apart from some coincidences, is one of the best Historical novels out there.

The World War II espionage thrillers by Alan Furst are also quite well written, and among my personal favorites. Initially, Furst's narrative was more detailed, but, as he's mastered his craft, he's become somewhat more spare--to great effect. He's not strong on plot, but his atmosphere alone makes these worth a read. I can't recommend these enough.
That's a start, anyway.

Georgiegirl2012 · 09-06-2010, 04:16 AM

Ken Follett writes in a variety of genres, but his novels Pillars of the Earth and World without End are highly recommended, and he has another coming out in the next few weeks which would fit in with your request but I've forgotten what it's called.

There is also an author called Karen Maitland who has written The Company of Liars and The Owl Killers.

Georgiegirl2012 · 09-06-2010, 04:22 AM

and whilst I think about it - the Boudica books by Manda Scott.

bar49 · 09-06-2010, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by some call me tim

Any recommendations? I'm not affixed to any particular time period, I just like the feeling of history coming alive and being immersed in the story.

Hi.
The following site is a good source for all types of historical fiction. I have found some great reads using it but don't expect to find most of the books in an eBook format. Hope this is of some use to you.

http://www.historicalnovels.info/

cassidym · 09-06-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Georgiegirl2012

Ken Follett writes in a variety of genres, but his novels Pillars of the Earth and World without End are highly recommended, and he has another coming out in the next few weeks which would fit in with your request but I've forgotten what it's called.
.

Totally agree!!!

GERGE · 09-06-2010, 02:54 PM

Neal Stephenson - The Baroque Cycle

Steven Brust & Emma Bull - Freedom & Necessity

AlexBell · 09-06-2010, 11:10 PM

And if you want historical novels which are themselves almost historical because they were written a century or more ago try Stanley J. Weyman (Under the Red Robe, A Gentleman of France) and Rafael Sabatini (Scaramouche, Captain Blood). They are still very good reading, and are available for free download on this forum.

Regards, Alex

AlexBell · 09-06-2010, 11:11 PM

P.S C.S. Forester (the Hornblower series) and Robert Graves (I, Claudius, Claudius the God) though their ebook productions have many typos etc.

Regards, Alex

drofgnal · 09-08-2010, 11:41 AM

A new book by Stephen Saylor was chronicled in USA Today yesterday.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/r...e-review_N.htm

It is a continuation of Roma a historical novel about ancient Rome. The first book Roma is available as a promotion in ebook for 2.99. I picked it up for my kindle/ipad yesterday.

HarryT · 09-08-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drofgnal

The first book Roma is available as a promotion in ebook for 2.99.

Only if you live in the USA.

09-05-2010, 11:55 PM	#1
some call me tim Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 130 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Device: PRS-505	Good historical fiction? Does anyone have recommendations for good historical fiction? I don't have a whole lot of exposure to the genre, but I'd like to try some more. I've read a lot of Bernard Cornwell's stuff, and enjoyed most of it. I really liked his Warlord Chronicles, which admittedly is a mixture of fantasy and history. I also enjoyed the Saxon Stories, but his writing has gotten rather stale on me. It all seems a bit formulaic now--he fleshes out the era in his books well, but it's like each book is the same story with the same characters, just in a different time period. I've also read a little bit of Patrick O'Brien, which in the long run I enjoyed, but had to will myself forward in a lot of the places in the few books I read. Any recommendations? I'm not affixed to any particular time period, I just like the feeling of history coming alive and being immersed in the story.

09-05-2010, 11:58 PM	#2
SneakySnake I'm watching you! Posts: 6,112 Karma: 22082196 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sunny Coast Qld, OZ Device: Sony PRS-900	How about the Shardlake novels by Sansom? or the Mordlake books by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles __________________ At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Proverbs 23:32 Currently reading "Game of Thrones" by George RR Martin. So lack of sleep means I am now in book 4, and more stuff has happened and some of the stuff from book three maybe didn't happen????

09-06-2010, 12:00 AM	#3
lila55 Evangelist Posts: 431 Karma: 259924 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Stuttgart, Germany Device: PocketBook 360° , iPhone 3GS, PRS-350, PRS-650, Pocketbook Touch 622	You might find some suggestions in this thread. __________________ 100 Books in 2013 - My Goodreads

09-06-2010, 12:22 AM	#5
cassidym Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,323 Karma: 5032368 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Northern Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-505, iPhone 5, Sony T1, iPad 3	Try the Flashman series; absolutely hilarious and, historically, accurate __________________ I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library. - Jorge Luis Borges

09-06-2010, 12:26 AM	#6
SlowRain Addict Posts: 308 Karma: 9553 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: a Canadian expat in Taiwan Device: Samsung Galaxy S GT-I9000 with Moon+ Reader app	Gore Vidal has written some excellent novels about key points in American history, all from a Washington perspective. Vidal is a brilliant author, but he does have an extreme bias that shows through in his portrayal of certain characters. Also, a great deal of the novels are presented in dialog at parties, so it's not exactly exciting stuff. The General in His Labyrinth by Gabriel García Márquez is a beautiful look at the last days of Simón Bolívar, as well as some flashbacks to the major events of his life. Simply beautiful writing. Rose by Martin Cruz Smith is an excellent historical mystery set in 19th-century Wigan, a British coal-mining town. Great atmosphere and intrigue. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier is about an injured American Civil War soldier abandoning the war and walking home to his true love. Language, character, and atmosphere are Frazier's strengths in this novel which, apart from some coincidences, is one of the best Historical novels out there. The World War II espionage thrillers by Alan Furst are also quite well written, and among my personal favorites. Initially, Furst's narrative was more detailed, but, as he's mastered his craft, he's become somewhat more spare--to great effect. He's not strong on plot, but his atmosphere alone makes these worth a read. I can't recommend these enough. That's a start, anyway. Last edited by SlowRain; 12-03-2010 at 09:47 AM.

09-06-2010, 12:02 AM	#4
some call me tim Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 130 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Device: PRS-505	hah! Thanks, I swear I did a search, but somehow didn't see that.

09-06-2010, 04:16 AM	#7
Georgiegirl2012 Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 7038 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Cwmbran, Wales, UK Device: Sony touch prs600	Ken Follett writes in a variety of genres, but his novels Pillars of the Earth and World without End are highly recommended, and he has another coming out in the next few weeks which would fit in with your request but I've forgotten what it's called. There is also an author called Karen Maitland who has written The Company of Liars and The Owl Killers.

09-06-2010, 04:22 AM	#8
Georgiegirl2012 Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 7038 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Cwmbran, Wales, UK Device: Sony touch prs600	and whilst I think about it - the Boudica books by Manda Scott.

09-06-2010, 02:54 PM	#11
GERGE Zealot Posts: 108 Karma: 638 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Turkey Device: Barnes & Noble nook	Neal Stephenson - The Baroque Cycle Steven Brust & Emma Bull - Freedom & Necessity

09-06-2010, 11:10 PM	#12
AlexBell Wizard Posts: 1,823 Karma: 2831780 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Launceston, Tasmania Device: Sony PRS 650, Kindle3, iPad2, Sony PRS T1, Sony PRS T2	And if you want historical novels which are themselves almost historical because they were written a century or more ago try Stanley J. Weyman (Under the Red Robe, A Gentleman of France) and Rafael Sabatini (Scaramouche, Captain Blood). They are still very good reading, and are available for free download on this forum. Regards, Alex

09-06-2010, 11:11 PM	#13
AlexBell Wizard Posts: 1,823 Karma: 2831780 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Launceston, Tasmania Device: Sony PRS 650, Kindle3, iPad2, Sony PRS T1, Sony PRS T2	P.S C.S. Forester (the Hornblower series) and Robert Graves (I, Claudius, Claudius the God) though their ebook productions have many typos etc. Regards, Alex

09-08-2010, 11:41 AM	#14
drofgnal Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 1080618 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle2/iphone/ipad	The Empire By Stephen Saylor A new book by Stephen Saylor was chronicled in USA Today yesterday. http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/r...e-review_N.htm It is a continuation of Roma a historical novel about ancient Rome. The first book Roma is available as a promotion in ebook for 2.99. I picked it up for my kindle/ipad yesterday.

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