Good historical fiction? - Page 3

Metal Mick · 10-21-2010, 05:56 PM

Hi all,

Michael Crichton's (of Andromeda Strain fame) Great Train Robbery - sometimes referred-to as The First Great Train Robbery - hit the spot for me. It contains much in the way of explanation of attitudes and lifestyle for the era in which it is set - shortly after the advent of steam trains in England, during the Crimean War.

So too, Caleb Carr's The Alienist was a delight. Set in New York around the start of the 20th century, an "alienist" was what they now refer to as a forensic psychologist.

Both books are rich with a sense of place, and detail.

Cheers,

drofgnal · 11-08-2010, 12:05 PM

I noticed Conn Iggulden's new book, Kahn, Empire of Silver available for preorder. I'm always looking for historical fiction, so I checked out the others in the series. The first Genghis: Birth of an Empire is available for 1.59 (US). At that price I picked it up.

sportourer1 · 11-10-2010, 02:28 PM

I would like to think my own novel An Agent of the King is a good read! I have to agree that the Great Train Robbery is a cracking read too

TGS · 11-14-2010, 12:33 PM

Barry Unsworth is an often forgotten but very good historical novelist. Some of his books are available as ebooks, but precisely what will vary depending on where you are.

And don't forget Umberto Eco.

KrowNB · 11-28-2010, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by some call me tim

....I've read a lot of Bernard Cornwell's stuff, and ... a little bit of Patrick O'Brien...

I've also read Cornwell's Saxon series and the whole 20 books in O'Brien's Master and Commander series.

Other authors that I've enjoyed are:

Edward Rutherford - Russka; London; The Princes of Ireland and its sequel The Rebels of Ireland,

Leon Uris - Trinity; Exodus; QB VII

Ken Follet - Pillars of the Earth; World Without End; and lately released Fall of Giants (we have it in hard cover; not sure if its available electronically)

Conn Iggulden - the Emperor Series of 4 books on the life of Julius Caesar, and now up to the 4th book (Empire of Silver) in his Conqueror Series on Genghis Khan and the Mongols.

Keith

JoelArnold · 11-30-2010, 12:44 PM

I'm reading Follett's Pillars of the Earth now, and am loving it - so much wonderful detail, but without bogging the story down. I also recommend The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney (I think that's the right name.) It's sort of an historical mystery that takes place in the Canadian frontier.

Steve Anderson · 12-01-2010, 12:15 AM

If the 1940s count (I hope they do!), I can recommend December 6 by Martin Cruz Smith, the same author who wrote Gorky Park. December 6 has been overlooked but I think it's a great story that gets inside Imperial Japan on the eve of Pearl Harbor through the eyes of an American expat with one foot in both cultures. The story has shades of Casablanca:

http://www.amazon.com/December-6-ebo...1164444&sr=1-1

Also, like Slowrain mentioned above, Alan Furst's espionage novels are always good for great historical and character detail without overdoing it (usually).

Steve

litenin · 12-01-2010, 12:19 AM

anything by James Michener

JoelArnold · 12-01-2010, 10:00 PM

The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney is a good one - takes place in the Canadian wilderness in the 1800's (if I remember correctly - it might be in the century before that, even.)

bookoffers · 12-03-2010, 03:38 AM

Puller's Runner was also a nice and inspiring story by Nick Ragland.

mgscarsbrook · 12-03-2010, 04:05 PM

I always like Robert Harris - his series on Cicero in ancient Rome (like CONSPIRATA) is excellent. Full of political intrigue! Like a Roman soap opera!

M. G. Scarsbrook
Author of The Marlowe Conspiracy
Website: www.mgscarsbrook.com

Steve Anderson · 12-04-2010, 07:41 PM

Also, just discovered a great resource -- this site lists historical fiction by period:

historicalnovels.info/

-- Steve

1tractor · 11-02-2012, 10:11 PM

[QUOTE=cassidym;1095636]Try the Flashman series; absolutely hilarious and, historically, accurate[/QUO
he did screen play for movies 007 to name one

RVnook · 11-02-2012, 10:22 PM

I'll echo the recommendation for Dorothy Dunnett. I've enjoyed her Lymond Chronicles so much that I'm reading the series for the third time.

Corkobo · 11-12-2012, 10:14 AM

Colleen McCullough – the “Masters of Rome” series (my favourite Historical Fiction series)

Christian Cameron - "Tyrant" series (Alexandrian times) and his new "Long War" series (Greek-Persian wars) (red only one book of this so far).

Steven Pressfield:
Gates of Fire, about the Battle of Thermopylae
Tides of War, about the Peloponnesian War
Last of the Amazons, about Theseus and Amazons
The Virtues of War, about Alexander
The Afghan Campaign, also about Alexander

11-08-2010, 12:05 PM	#32
drofgnal Wizard Posts: 1,227 Karma: 7838248 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Ipad Pro/Kindle Oasis 3/iPhone 13 Pro Max	Genghis Birth of an Empire I noticed Conn Iggulden's new book, Kahn, Empire of Silver available for preorder. I'm always looking for historical fiction, so I checked out the others in the series. The first Genghis: Birth of an Empire is available for 1.59 (US). At that price I picked it up.

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10-21-2010, 05:56 PM	#31
Metal Mick Addict Posts: 253 Karma: 2383254 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: The Book, PB 302, IQ	Hi all, Michael Crichton's (of Andromeda Strain fame) Great Train Robbery - sometimes referred-to as The First Great Train Robbery - hit the spot for me. It contains much in the way of explanation of attitudes and lifestyle for the era in which it is set - shortly after the advent of steam trains in England, during the Crimean War. So too, Caleb Carr's The Alienist was a delight. Set in New York around the start of the 20th century, an "alienist" was what they now refer to as a forensic psychologist. Both books are rich with a sense of place, and detail. Cheers,

11-10-2010, 02:28 PM	#33
sportourer1 Writer Posts: 117 Karma: 560236 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: London UK Device: none	I would like to think my own novel An Agent of the King is a good read! I have to agree that the Great Train Robbery is a cracking read too

11-14-2010, 12:33 PM	#34
TGS Country Member Posts: 9,058 Karma: 7676767 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Liseuse: Irex DR800. PRS 505 in the house, and the missus has an iPad.	Barry Unsworth is an often forgotten but very good historical novelist. Some of his books are available as ebooks, but precisely what will vary depending on where you are. And don't forget Umberto Eco.

11-30-2010, 12:44 PM	#36
JoelArnold Fanatic Posts: 544 Karma: 1036914 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Savage, MN Device: Kindle 3	I'm reading Follett's Pillars of the Earth now, and am loving it - so much wonderful detail, but without bogging the story down. I also recommend The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney (I think that's the right name.) It's sort of an historical mystery that takes place in the Canadian frontier.

12-01-2010, 12:15 AM	#37
Steve Anderson Addict Posts: 226 Karma: 260821 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Device: iPhone, laptop, more	If the 1940s count (I hope they do!), I can recommend December 6 by Martin Cruz Smith, the same author who wrote Gorky Park. December 6 has been overlooked but I think it's a great story that gets inside Imperial Japan on the eve of Pearl Harbor through the eyes of an American expat with one foot in both cultures. The story has shades of Casablanca: http://www.amazon.com/December-6-ebo...1164444&sr=1-1 Also, like Slowrain mentioned above, Alan Furst's espionage novels are always good for great historical and character detail without overdoing it (usually). Steve

12-01-2010, 12:19 AM	#38
litenin Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: kindle 1	anything by James Michener

12-01-2010, 10:00 PM	#39
JoelArnold Fanatic Posts: 544 Karma: 1036914 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Savage, MN Device: Kindle 3	The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney is a good one - takes place in the Canadian wilderness in the 1800's (if I remember correctly - it might be in the century before that, even.)

12-03-2010, 03:38 AM	#40
bookoffers Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: NOne	Puller's Runner was also a nice and inspiring story by Nick Ragland.

12-03-2010, 04:05 PM	#41
mgscarsbrook Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 75000 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Southern California Device: Sony EReader	I always like Robert Harris - his series on Cicero in ancient Rome (like CONSPIRATA) is excellent. Full of political intrigue! Like a Roman soap opera! M. G. Scarsbrook Author of The Marlowe Conspiracy Website: www.mgscarsbrook.com

12-04-2010, 07:41 PM	#42
Steve Anderson Addict Posts: 226 Karma: 260821 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Device: iPhone, laptop, more	Also, just discovered a great resource -- this site lists historical fiction by period: historicalnovels.info/ -- Steve

11-02-2012, 10:22 PM	#44
RVnook Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 18 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Boise, Idaho Device: NOOK First Edition	I'll echo the recommendation for Dorothy Dunnett. I've enjoyed her Lymond Chronicles so much that I'm reading the series for the third time.

11-12-2012, 10:14 AM	#45
Corkobo Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 1053398 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Scotland Device: Kobo Glo, Nook Touch	Colleen McCullough – the “Masters of Rome” series (my favourite Historical Fiction series) Christian Cameron - "Tyrant" series (Alexandrian times) and his new "Long War" series (Greek-Persian wars) (red only one book of this so far). Steven Pressfield: Gates of Fire, about the Battle of Thermopylae Tides of War, about the Peloponnesian War Last of the Amazons, about Theseus and Amazons The Virtues of War, about Alexander The Afghan Campaign, also about Alexander