Historical Fiction Recommendations - Page 4

neilmarr · 09-08-2009, 08:16 AM

Mark Twain is quite brilliant in his books about Joan of Arc and King Arthur (Connecticut Yankee). Both public domain, so free downloads ... and terrific historical reads, beautifully researched. I re-read them both on a 505 over the past week or two and was reminded of just how great a writer ol' Sam was. And, of course, the contemporary Huck and Sawyer now become historical fiction. Unusually for a Brit, I guess, I've always been more than impressed by the best of American fiction. The US has stars (of yesterday and today) to rival anyone in European literature. Hoots. Neil

bookfiend · 09-08-2009, 10:34 PM

I just finished The White Queen, by Philippa Gregory, and really enjoyed it. She does take liberties with the characters and events, but it's a novel and not a history textbook, so I didn't mind. She has a good series on the Tudors, and The White Queen is the first of a new series on the Plantagenets. I've found e-book versions at Books on Board.

kerry431 · 09-09-2009, 02:10 AM

Wow, so many great suggestions. I have read a lot of them already but lots I have not. I just found a series lately that is an excellent read. It is Jack McGee's series of the the Bow Street runners.

http://www.amazon.ca/Ratcatcher-Jame...2476344&sr=1-1

This is the first one of 3 books and I couldn't put them down. Only thing was I had to get them in paperback as I couldn't find them as an e book.

wayspooled · 09-09-2009, 02:41 AM

Bruce Alexander has a series of novels about Sir John Fielding who started the Bow Street Runners, unfortunately only the last couple are ebooks.. Here is one of 'em http://www.ebooks.com/ebooks/book_di...asp?IID=356754 You'll have to find the earlier ones in print.

Some of the best David Liss novels are set in the 1700s London and he's the better writer. His first of three is called "A Conspiracy of Paper" is absolutely great, but not ebook'd, however the two followups with the same main character are available. His "The Coffee Trader" is good stuff too.

cmbs · 09-09-2009, 02:43 AM

I love Sharon Kay Penman's The Sunne In Splendour. About Richard III and his brother Edward IV. It's big but it's really good.

She also has a very good trilogy about Simon de Montfort and Wales, I think the correct order is Falls the Shadow, Here Be Dragons, and The Reckoning, but I might be wrong. I haven't read them in a while.

I've read some of her other books and I didn't think they were good, but these four are very good.

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden was very good.

In A Dark Wood Wandering by Hella Haasse was also very good. It's about the Duke d'Orleans.

Stitchawl · 09-09-2009, 03:40 AM

OH MY GOD!!! I actually forgot 'Lydia Bailey.' My bad...

How can any man forget Lydia Bailey?!? ('She' is a ship!)
And I forgot 'Rable in Arms' too. Must be having a senior moment.
Both written by Kenneth Roberts and both wonderful reads!

Stitchawl

wayspooled · 09-09-2009, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

OH MY GOD!!! I actually forgot 'Lydia Bailey.' My bad...

How can any man forget Lydia Bailey?!? ('She' is a ship!)
And I forgot 'Rable in Arms' too. Must be having a senior moment.
Both written by Kenneth Roberts and both wonderful reads!

Stitchawl

Unfortunately I can't find any Kenneth Roberts available in ebook form.

wayspooled · 09-09-2009, 06:17 AM

John Drake, Flint and Silver, a prequel to Treasure Island for adult readers.

The Elephant Keeper by Chris Nicholson

Journier · 09-12-2009, 04:29 AM

I just thought of another one I read a long time ago. Roger's Rangers, I think it was about the French and Indian War. Correct me if I'm wrong on the title or subject matter. But, it was good.

wayspooled · 09-18-2009, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexBell

Rafael Sabatini and Stanley J. Weyman were prolific authors in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and were very popular in their day. Many of their books are available on this forum.

Scaramouche is probably the best known of Rafael Sabatini's books, and A Gentleman of France or Under the Red Robe were probably the best known of of Stanley J. Weyman's

Regards, Alex

Sabatini was sort of the Bernard Cornwell of his time, popping out popular historical fiction books one after the other. It's hard to find one that's a poor read. Particularly good are Captain Blood and one of my all time favorites - Scaramouche, but also excellent are The Sea Hawk and The Black Swan and Mistress Wilding.

Steve Anderson · 04-30-2010, 08:30 PM

I want to suggest any of Philip Kerr's noirish crime novels set in Berlin during the 1930s and mid-20th Century as well as Alan Furst's espionage books set in the same period. Furst has a great eye for detail but not as much plot movement as Kerr.

This begs the question, though -- is something set less than 100 years ago still considered historical fiction to most? I say, if it captures a period, why not?

Steve

sunnysmiles · 05-01-2010, 09:48 AM

Thomas Rutherford I think Dublin was very good . Also the Ken follet were good too . In fact most of the recommendations I have read accept the naval ones and Mark Twain whom im thinking of Downloading . It is one of my favourite generes I dislike SF and Fantasy.

mcspice · 05-01-2010, 07:16 PM

I just purchased To Judge or Not to Judge from Amazon after meeting the author (Frits Forrer) today. My daughter wanted a book not yet available in a digital edition (Five Years Under the Swastika: Through a Childs Eye) - so I bought the paper-version & he signed it for her.
He was VERY interesting & I'm really looking forward to reading BOTH books!

church mouse · 05-24-2010, 11:32 AM

Just seen this thread and thought I would put a word in for the Matthew Shardlake series of books by C J Sansom - they are sort of crime novels with the central character being a lawyer in Henry VIII period England. All are available as e-books for purchase (in the UK at least).

lene1949 · 05-25-2010, 04:16 AM

I LOVE Wilbur Smith's writings... He has always got a disclaimer if the history doesn't quit meet the timeline of the books...

Unfortunately his ebooks are not available in Australia... and I don't read paper books anymore.. Too hard on hands and shoulders...

09-09-2009, 06:17 AM	#53
wayspooled Crab In The Dark Posts: 486 Karma: 2328180 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Device: Tablet PC until a 10" comes out that I like	John Drake, Flint and Silver, a prequel to Treasure Island for adult readers. The Elephant Keeper by Chris Nicholson Last edited by wayspooled; 09-09-2009 at 06:26 AM.

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09-08-2009, 08:16 AM	#46
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Mark Twain is quite brilliant in his books about Joan of Arc and King Arthur (Connecticut Yankee). Both public domain, so free downloads ... and terrific historical reads, beautifully researched. I re-read them both on a 505 over the past week or two and was reminded of just how great a writer ol' Sam was. And, of course, the contemporary Huck and Sawyer now become historical fiction. Unusually for a Brit, I guess, I've always been more than impressed by the best of American fiction. The US has stars (of yesterday and today) to rival anyone in European literature. Hoots. Neil

09-08-2009, 10:34 PM	#47
bookfiend Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 2075332 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Clara HD, Kobo Forma	I just finished The White Queen, by Philippa Gregory, and really enjoyed it. She does take liberties with the characters and events, but it's a novel and not a history textbook, so I didn't mind. She has a good series on the Tudors, and The White Queen is the first of a new series on the Plantagenets. I've found e-book versions at Books on Board.

09-09-2009, 02:10 AM	#48
kerry431 Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2009 Device: 505	Wow, so many great suggestions. I have read a lot of them already but lots I have not. I just found a series lately that is an excellent read. It is Jack McGee's series of the the Bow Street runners. http://www.amazon.ca/Ratcatcher-Jame...2476344&sr=1-1 This is the first one of 3 books and I couldn't put them down. Only thing was I had to get them in paperback as I couldn't find them as an e book.

09-09-2009, 02:41 AM	#49
wayspooled Crab In The Dark Posts: 486 Karma: 2328180 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Device: Tablet PC until a 10" comes out that I like	Bruce Alexander has a series of novels about Sir John Fielding who started the Bow Street Runners, unfortunately only the last couple are ebooks.. Here is one of 'em http://www.ebooks.com/ebooks/book_di...asp?IID=356754 You'll have to find the earlier ones in print. Some of the best David Liss novels are set in the 1700s London and he's the better writer. His first of three is called "A Conspiracy of Paper" is absolutely great, but not ebook'd, however the two followups with the same main character are available. His "The Coffee Trader" is good stuff too.

09-09-2009, 02:43 AM	#50
cmbs non-believer Posts: 384 Karma: 713 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: USA Device: Cybook Gen 3, JetBook Lite	I love Sharon Kay Penman's The Sunne In Splendour. About Richard III and his brother Edward IV. It's big but it's really good. She also has a very good trilogy about Simon de Montfort and Wales, I think the correct order is Falls the Shadow, Here Be Dragons, and The Reckoning, but I might be wrong. I haven't read them in a while. I've read some of her other books and I didn't think they were good, but these four are very good. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden was very good. In A Dark Wood Wandering by Hella Haasse was also very good. It's about the Duke d'Orleans.

09-09-2009, 03:40 AM	#51
Stitchawl Opsimath Posts: 12,344 Karma: 187123287 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy	OH MY GOD!!! I actually forgot 'Lydia Bailey.' My bad... How can any man forget Lydia Bailey?!? ('She' is a ship!) And I forgot 'Rable in Arms' too. Must be having a senior moment. Both written by Kenneth Roberts and both wonderful reads! Stitchawl

09-12-2009, 04:29 AM	#54
Journier Groupie Posts: 194 Karma: 415 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Northern CA Device: Kindle Oasis	I just thought of another one I read a long time ago. Roger's Rangers, I think it was about the French and Indian War. Correct me if I'm wrong on the title or subject matter. But, it was good.

04-30-2010, 08:30 PM	#56
Steve Anderson Addict Posts: 226 Karma: 260821 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Device: iPhone, laptop, more	I want to suggest any of Philip Kerr's noirish crime novels set in Berlin during the 1930s and mid-20th Century as well as Alan Furst's espionage books set in the same period. Furst has a great eye for detail but not as much plot movement as Kerr. This begs the question, though -- is something set less than 100 years ago still considered historical fiction to most? I say, if it captures a period, why not? Steve

05-01-2010, 09:48 AM	#57
sunnysmiles Addict Posts: 279 Karma: 1188010 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: London Device: I pad air, kindle pw2 and kindle touch , kindle had fire Nook pad nook	Thomas Rutherford I think Dublin was very good . Also the Ken follet were good too . In fact most of the recommendations I have read accept the naval ones and Mark Twain whom im thinking of Downloading . It is one of my favourite generes I dislike SF and Fantasy.

05-01-2010, 07:16 PM	#58
mcspice Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Kindlel & Sony	I just purchased To Judge or Not to Judge from Amazon after meeting the author (Frits Forrer) today. My daughter wanted a book not yet available in a digital edition (Five Years Under the Swastika: Through a Childs Eye) - so I bought the paper-version & he signed it for her. He was VERY interesting & I'm really looking forward to reading BOTH books!

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05-24-2010, 11:32 AM	#59
church mouse Evangelist Posts: 482 Karma: 5277078 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Voyage, Kobo Clara HD, Kobo H2O, Boox Poke 2	Just seen this thread and thought I would put a word in for the Matthew Shardlake series of books by C J Sansom - they are sort of crime novels with the central character being a lawyer in Henry VIII period England. All are available as e-books for purchase (in the UK at least).

05-25-2010, 04:16 AM	#60
lene1949 Wizard Posts: 1,952 Karma: 213930 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Middelfart, Denmark Device: Kindle paper white	I LOVE Wilbur Smith's writings... He has always got a disclaimer if the history doesn't quit meet the timeline of the books... Unfortunately his ebooks are not available in Australia... and I don't read paper books anymore.. Too hard on hands and shoulders...