Historical Fiction Books

[SampleAndy]

If you can stretch historical fiction to include alternate history, I REALly enjoyed 1632 by Eric Flint. A quick breakdown, a chunk of West Virginia from present day gets sent back to 1632 in central Germany. Think A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. The good thing is that it's currently free!

[maxbookworm]

Originally Posted by Gazella

I'm particularly interested in two series of his; The Pillars of the Earth and The Century Trilogy. But I'm not sure which one to start with. This would be my first time reading anything by this author.

I've read all of these and my hands-down favorite is Pillars of the Earth. Just be aware that if you start with that one, the others may be a disappointment. Of course, that might just be me.

[Istvan diVega]

I see my favourite historical fiction author has not been mentioned, which has to be remedied forthwith. Steven Pressfield writes mainly of the ancient world (in terms of his historical fiction novels), but if that's not too outlandish for you I highly recommend him. His first book in the genre, Gates of Fire, is particularly excellent in my opinion. It is basically the movie 300 stripped of the fantastic and bizarre, telling the story of the Battle of Thermopylae from the viewpoint of the participants and in a very realistic and believeable way.

[Gazella]

Originally Posted by maxbookworm

I've read all of these and my hands-down favorite is Pillars of the Earth. Just be aware that if you start with that one, the others may be a disappointment. Of course, that might just be me.

Thanks! I've put The Pillars of the Earth on my list. I never knew the first book was written 24 years ago. And by 'others' do you mean the trilogy?

[Daskalos]

There are so many good books. Jeff and Michael Shaara wrote very good novels about the Civil War; the movies God's and Generals and Gettysburg were made from them. Bernard Cornwell wrote an excellent series on the Saxon and on the Napoleonic War; the Sharpe Series, also made into a mini-series. CS Forester's Hornblower series, also of the Napoleonic era, but at sea.
W.L. White's, The Were Expendable is a great book about PT boat during WWII.

I am currently reading the Eagle series by Simon Scarrow, my only complaint with him is he uses modern vernacular and idioms in a first century AD Roman setting. The story line are good if you can ignore little mistakes like an Ox have testicles.

I know I'm picky, but if you know the difference it takes away from the story.

I wish you good reading!

[Daskalos]

I hadn't heard of he yet, thanks for the information!

[Sweetpea]

If you don't mind a tiny bit of fantasy inserted, I'd say go for Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. It takes place in Scotland, around the time of Bonny Prince Charles, and continues from there (the last book takes place in the America's around the war of independence).

The fantasy bit comes from a bit of time-travel (but that makes the book so interesting to me, you can "see" the events from the eyes of a 20th century person). The main events in the book, however, are all genuine.


I'd also recommend Shogun by James Clavell, also mentioned above, but if you're more in the early 20th century, King Rat (takes place during the second world war, in a Japanese prison camp) and Noble House (takes place in the '60s in Hong Kong) are also awesome books to read (all of James Clavell's main characters are based upon real people).

[gwhite]

Patrick O'Brian's "The Aubrey/Maturin Series" has to be the best historical nautical series I've ever read. With O'Brian's historian's eye for detail and deep knowledge of human nature in the time of wooden ships, it offers a view of the manners, the sense of humour and the hardships of an ordinary seaman's life at that time. Based upon the real exploits of Admiral Cochran it is a fascinating and entertaining read.

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

If you don't mind a tiny bit of fantasy inserted, I'd say go for Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. It takes place in Scotland, around the time of Bonny Prince Charles, and continues from there (the last book takes place in the America's around the war of independence).

The fantasy bit comes from a bit of time-travel (but that makes the book so interesting to me, you can "see" the events from the eyes of a 20th century person). The main events in the book, however, are all genuine.


I'd also recommend Shogun by James Clavell, also mentioned above, but if you're more in the early 20th century, King Rat (takes place during the second world war, in a Japanese prison camp) and Noble House (takes place in the '60s in Hong Kong) are also awesome books to read (all of James Clavell's main characters are based upon real people).

I would have begun reading The Outlander series had there been an ending in sight. But this series is like the Sookie Stackhouse one. The author keeps on churning books that don't have any ending planned. That's a turnoff for me.

[Lutraa]

Originally Posted by gwhite

Patrick O'Brian's "The Aubrey/Maturin Series" has to be the best historical nautical series I've ever read. With O'Brian's historian's eye for detail and deep knowledge of human nature in the time of wooden ships, it offers a view of the manners, the sense of humour and the hardships of an ordinary seaman's life at that time. Based upon the real exploits of Admiral Cochran it is a fascinating and entertaining read.

I'm also a huge O'Brian fan. I've spent many weeks at sea as did the author -- he really nails both nautical and historical detail, and his character development is wonderful.

My favorite overall writer of historical fiction is Dorothy Dunnett. Her Lymond Chronicles series, set in mid-16th century Scotland with forays to France, Russia and elsewhere, is very complex. The stories' hero is a fully-formed, flawed man who, I think, readers of all orientations would find fascinating. Dunnett's works require a bit more of the reader than do books by Follett et al., but she's worth it.

[gwhite]

Originally Posted by Lutraa

I'm also a huge O'Brian fan. I've spent many weeks at sea as did the author -- he really nails both nautical and historical detail, and his character development is wonderful.

My favorite overall writer of historical fiction is Dorothy Dunnett. Her Lymond Chronicles series, set in mid-16th century Scotland with forays to France, Russia and elsewhere, is very complex. The stories' hero is a fully-formed, flawed man who, I think, readers of all orientations would find fascinating. Dunnett's works require a bit more of the reader than do books by Follett et al., but she's worth it.

Thanks for that, I'll give her a try.

[Luffy]

Historical fiction is an encompassing, sprawling genre. I once asked a question on IMDB, about whether Historical Fiction is the opposite of Science Fiction. What you you guys think?

[Pulpmeister]

For a very good account of the Battle of Waterloo in historical novel form, it's hard to go past An Infamous Army, by Georgette Heyer. She really knew her stuff on this particular issue, and picked up some characters from her previous romances, now older and/or married, weaving them into the whole action.

[drofgnal]

Originally Posted by Pulpmeister

For a very good account of the Battle of Waterloo in historical novel form, it's hard to go past An Infamous Army, by Georgette Heyer. She really knew her stuff on this particular issue, and picked up some characters from her previous romances, now older and/or married, weaving them into the whole action.

Les Miserables also has a good account of the Battle of Waterloo. The chapter is about 80 pages long.

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by drofgnal

Les Miserables also has a good account of the Battle of Waterloo. The chapter is about 80 pages long.

Oh no! Bad news for me, who have no desire for such reconstruction. I ditched Les Miserables once. I'm determined to be ready next time and go all the way through. But this is really not sweetening the pot. 80 pages!