I know she's no longer fashionable, but I used to love Jean Plaidy's books. Learnt more about history from reading her books than hours spent poring over history textbooks at school. I also used to love the Gothic historical romances she wrote as Victoria Holt - mysterious heroes, derelict house and spooky secrets and scandals, what's not to love?
Douglas Jacksons Gaius Valerius Verens series is absolutely fantastic. The first one is Hero of Rome, there is also Defender of, Avenger of, Sword of and Enemy of.
Anthony Riches Empire series is great too, set (initially) on Hadrian's Wall.
There's also Ben Kane who is well worth a go
I was at school with Ben Kane. He helped me along the road to a lifelong love of fantasy when he would regularly lend me books and then give me a maximum of 2 or 3 days to read each one. The first one he lent me was The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner. I'm glad to see that he has a career in writing but I'm a bit surprised that he writes historical fiction rather than fantasy or sci-fi.
Definitely going to look for the Douglas Jackson books on the Roman era, sounds intriguing, thank you for that. I've also read many of the Jean Plaidy books and as previous reader has said it's a great way to learn history. I much prefer my facts set out in a story form where you can empathise with the historical characters.
The latest book I've read in this genre was 'The Belle Fields' by Lora Adams. It's set in the Victorian era and is a really good read. If you enjoy Downton Abbey and stories like 'Emma' and 'Sense and Sensibility' you will enjoy this but it looks at life more from the point of view of the peasant than the gentry. I found it on Amazon and it has some good reviews so I can highly recommend it. Happy reading :)
The "Emperor" (Julius Caesar) series by Conn Iggulden.
I picked a book out in a supermarket for a holiday read.
It was a bit hefty but it was only a poolside holiday.
At the airport I browsed a bookshop to discover I'd bought book 2 so I then bought book 1.
I then had a very hefty read ahead of me.
I absolutely devoured it and it's since gone on to book 5!
It actually got me into reading "accurate" historical accounts.
Another Shardlake fan here. I also LOVE Rosemary Sutcliff, her books are just so evocative and moving, in my opinion.
Another historical novel I love is The Rose Grower, by Michelle de Kretser. It's beautiful - it's set in France before/during the revolution, and is about a pair of sisters and the people they know. It reminds me of Sense and Sensibility in some ways (the sisters are rather like Elinor and Marianne) and it's a really good read.
May, 1937, and London prepares to crown a new king.
Bestselling writer Josephine Tey is in town to oversee a BBC radio production of her play, Queen of Scots - but adultery, treachery and pent-up jealousies stalk the corridors of Broadcasting House.
At the height of the Coronation celebrations, Detective Chief Inspector Archie Penrose is called in to investigate the murder of one of the BBC's best-known broadcasters. A second victim - his mistress, and the play's leading actress - suggests that the motive lies close to home, but Josephine suspects that the killings are linked to a decade-old scandal.
With Archie's hands tied by politics, and his attention taken by another, seemingly unrelated death, it is left to Josephine to get to the truth. As her relationship with Marta Fox reaches a turning point, she is forced to confront at first-hand the deadly consequences of love, deceit and betrayal.
Rich in the atmosphere of coronation London and the early days of Broadcasting House, the sixth novel in Nicola Upson's 'Josephine Tey' series sets an audacious, deeply personal crime against the backdrop of one of the most momentous days in British history.
Douglas Jacksons Gaius Valerius Verens series is absolutely fantastic. The first one is Hero of Rome, there is also Defender of, Avenger of, Sword of and Enemy of.
Anthony Riches Empire series is great too, set (initially) on Hadrian's Wall.
For the Roman era, starting in Britain, I am reading Simon Scarrow's series. Previously I read the Marcus Didius Falco series by Lindsey Davis. No doubt you have looked at the lengthy list given by Wikipedia? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiction_set_in_the_Roman_Empire
For Vikings I read Bernard Cornwell's series about Uthred starting with The Last Kingdom from 866. This is set in "England".
If you like those books, and I've read them all (sansom is by far the best, IMHO), and you want Roman stuff, I'd suggest Steven Saylor's Gordianus books.
As others said Cornwell's Viking books are very good.
Just wanted to say thank you so much for all these recommendations i've made a big old list up and will work my way through them! Thanks again i'd much rather read a book on recommendation especially when it's from people who have read things i have enjoyed. Happy reading everyone!
Oh dear, 2 pages on best historical fiction and no one has suggested I, Claudius and no mention of anything by Mary Renault or Alfred Duggan. How the mighty have fallen!
I did, I've read a few of hers, I mentioned reading The Persian Boy a few posts back and I've also read the follow up Funeral Games.
I read several books by Mary Renault many, many years ago, but when I tried reading one again recently I didn't enjoy it.
It's sad when that happens.
I've recently been re-reading Georgette Heyer after I bought several of her books from the charity shop. I previously read them over 40 years ago, when I was in my teens. They're very light reading, of course, nothing serious in them at all, but they are so wonderfully witty and funny.
Interesting reading this thread - seems the Roman and Tudor eras are the most popular.
But I was wondering why certain eras aren't popular - the English civil war era for example, or 18th century . Obviously there are books set in these centuries, but not in the numbers for tudor, roman, etc. And they are rarely successful ( The Miniaturist being an exception to the rule , seeing as it was massively promoted by the publishers).
I wonder what it is that makes these eras a bit of a turn off for readers - is it the era itself, or simply the lack of diversity in the available stories or what?
I thought The Crimson Ribbon by Katherine Clements was quite good, but did The Minitarist outsell it simply because of the promo, or because it was an easier book?
Interesting reading this thread - seems the Roman and Tudor eras are the most popular.
But I was wondering why certain eras aren't popular - the English civil war era for example, or 18th century . Obviously there are books set in these centuries, but not in the numbers for tudor, roman, etc. And they are rarely successful ( The Miniaturist being an exception to the rule , seeing as it was massively promoted by the publishers).
I wonder what it is that makes these eras a bit of a turn off for readers - is it the era itself, or simply the lack of diversity in the available stories or what?
I thought The Crimson Ribbon by Katherine Clements was quite good, but did The Minitarist outsell it simply because of the promo, or because it was an easier book?
The Civil War is becoming quite popular
I've just finished The Bleeding Land by Giles Kristian, I'm currently reading the sequel Brothers Fury. Both set in the English Civil War and both brutally brilliant.
The same author also writes the Raven novels, set in the world of Vikings. I haven't read them but they came highly recommended (I've just left Waterstones after buying the first of the series so it'll be going onto my 'to read' pile).
I've also just bought The Siege of Krishnapur bu JG Farrell, it won the Booker prize so expecting great things!
Another Indian Mutiny one is The Mutiny by Julian Rathbone, very good and very much recommended.
I've read so many historical novels, mainly on the subject of witchcraft, eg:
The Witch's Daughter - Paula Brackston
Witch Light - Susan Fletcher (an extraordinarily beautiful book)
Daughters of the Witching Hill - Mary Sharratt
However, my all-time favourite period is the Vikings, and my favourite novel of all time is:
The Greenlanders by Jane Smiley
This huge doorstopper of a book is based on the true story of Vikings who sailed from Iceland to Greenland, to set up new colonies, in the 9th century. For the first few centuries, they thrived, then they mysteriously died out, and no-one to this day is sure why............. Jane Smiley tells the story of the colonists in the language of the Sagas, and it's not all about raping and pillaging, it's as much about the women Vikings, making cheese, socialising, having affairs......................................
I have never been as wrapped up in a book as this one; it's difficult to get into at first, but persevere with it, and you'll feel you took a time-travel trip back to Greenland. 100% recommended!
I've just finished The Bleeding Land by Giles Kristian, I'm currently reading the sequel Brothers Fury. Both set in the English Civil War and both brutally brilliant.
The same author also writes the Raven novels, set in the world of Vikings. I haven't read them but they came highly recommended (I've just left Waterstones after buying the first of the series so it'll be going onto my 'to read' pile).
I've also just bought The Siege of Krishnapur bu JG Farrell, it won the Booker prize so expecting great things!
Another Indian Mutiny one is The Mutiny by Julian Rathbone, very good and very much recommended.
Thank you very much for that. It sounds just up my street. I've just ordered the first book of the series from the library.
The 'Roger Le Breuc' stories are fabulous in a 'boys own' way. Wheatley was a clever guy - he simply took a story about an earlier hero of his called Gregory Sallust set in WW2, renamed him Brook and set it in Napoleonic times.
I've recently been re-reading Georgette Heyer after I bought several of her books from the charity shop. I previously read them over 40 years ago, when I was in my teens. They're very light reading, of course, nothing serious in them at all, but they are so wonderfully witty and funny.
I love Georgette Heyer. I took Black Sheep with me on a long flight recently and it was sheer bliss. Time flew by in no time. It's light historical romance of the best kind.
Comments
I was at school with Ben Kane. He helped me along the road to a lifelong love of fantasy when he would regularly lend me books and then give me a maximum of 2 or 3 days to read each one. The first one he lent me was The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner. I'm glad to see that he has a career in writing but I'm a bit surprised that he writes historical fiction rather than fantasy or sci-fi.
The latest book I've read in this genre was 'The Belle Fields' by Lora Adams. It's set in the Victorian era and is a really good read. If you enjoy Downton Abbey and stories like 'Emma' and 'Sense and Sensibility' you will enjoy this but it looks at life more from the point of view of the peasant than the gentry. I found it on Amazon and it has some good reviews so I can highly recommend it. Happy reading
I picked a book out in a supermarket for a holiday read.
It was a bit hefty but it was only a poolside holiday.
At the airport I browsed a bookshop to discover I'd bought book 2 so I then bought book 1.
I then had a very hefty read ahead of me.
I absolutely devoured it and it's since gone on to book 5!
It actually got me into reading "accurate" historical accounts.
House of Spirits - Isabel Allende
Possession AS Byatt
French Lieutenant's Woman John Fowles
Daughter of Time Josephine Tey
Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz
Siege of Krishnapur by JG Farrell
The Serpentine Cave - Jill Paton Walsh
Conspiracy of Paper- David Liss
Oscar and Lucinda - Peter Carey
Jack Maggs by Peter Carey
Dead Man in Deptford - Anthony Burgess
Hawksmoor - Peter Ackyroyd
Martha Peake - Patrick McGrath
Sarah Walters books, too and the CJ Sansom detective novels set in Tudor times (they've probably been mentioned).
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_12?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=paul+doherty+hugh+corbett+in+order&sprefix=Paul+doherty%2Caps%2C144
Another historical novel I love is The Rose Grower, by Michelle de Kretser. It's beautiful - it's set in France before/during the revolution, and is about a pair of sisters and the people they know. It reminds me of Sense and Sensibility in some ways (the sisters are rather like Elinor and Marianne) and it's a really good read.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/London-Rain-Josephine-Tey-Book-ebook/dp/B00UQYHCQK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1434009682&sr=1-1&keywords=nicola+upson
Try the marriage game and innocent traitor
Just wanted to say thank you so much for all these recommendations i've made a big old list up and will work my way through them! Thanks again i'd much rather read a book on recommendation especially when it's from people who have read things i have enjoyed. Happy reading everyone!
I did, I've read a few of hers, I mentioned reading The Persian Boy a few posts back and I've also read the follow up Funeral Games.
I read several books by Mary Renault many, many years ago, but when I tried reading one again recently I didn't enjoy it.
It's sad when that happens.
I've recently been re-reading Georgette Heyer after I bought several of her books from the charity shop. I previously read them over 40 years ago, when I was in my teens. They're very light reading, of course, nothing serious in them at all, but they are so wonderfully witty and funny.
But I was wondering why certain eras aren't popular - the English civil war era for example, or 18th century . Obviously there are books set in these centuries, but not in the numbers for tudor, roman, etc. And they are rarely successful ( The Miniaturist being an exception to the rule , seeing as it was massively promoted by the publishers).
I wonder what it is that makes these eras a bit of a turn off for readers - is it the era itself, or simply the lack of diversity in the available stories or what?
I thought The Crimson Ribbon by Katherine Clements was quite good, but did The Minitarist outsell it simply because of the promo, or because it was an easier book?
The Civil War is becoming quite popular
I've just finished The Bleeding Land by Giles Kristian, I'm currently reading the sequel Brothers Fury. Both set in the English Civil War and both brutally brilliant.
The same author also writes the Raven novels, set in the world of Vikings. I haven't read them but they came highly recommended (I've just left Waterstones after buying the first of the series so it'll be going onto my 'to read' pile).
I've also just bought The Siege of Krishnapur bu JG Farrell, it won the Booker prize so expecting great things!
Another Indian Mutiny one is The Mutiny by Julian Rathbone, very good and very much recommended.
The Witch's Daughter - Paula Brackston
Witch Light - Susan Fletcher (an extraordinarily beautiful book)
Daughters of the Witching Hill - Mary Sharratt
However, my all-time favourite period is the Vikings, and my favourite novel of all time is:
The Greenlanders by Jane Smiley
This huge doorstopper of a book is based on the true story of Vikings who sailed from Iceland to Greenland, to set up new colonies, in the 9th century. For the first few centuries, they thrived, then they mysteriously died out, and no-one to this day is sure why............. Jane Smiley tells the story of the colonists in the language of the Sagas, and it's not all about raping and pillaging, it's as much about the women Vikings, making cheese, socialising, having affairs......................................
I have never been as wrapped up in a book as this one; it's difficult to get into at first, but persevere with it, and you'll feel you took a time-travel trip back to Greenland. 100% recommended!
Its a subject and period im interested in and it's been recommended by a few people so here's hoping!
The 'Roger Le Breuc' stories are fabulous in a 'boys own' way. Wheatley was a clever guy - he simply took a story about an earlier hero of his called Gregory Sallust set in WW2, renamed him Brook and set it in Napoleonic times.
I love Georgette Heyer. I took Black Sheep with me on a long flight recently and it was sheer bliss. Time flew by in no time. It's light historical romance of the best kind.
His books are amazing & I particularly loved Sarum
I've just had a walk into town to have a look. They are £1.99 each or three for £5
I bought:
The Sixth Wife (Katherine Parr)
The Thistle And The Rose (Princess Margaret and James IV of Scotland)
Katherine The Virgin Widow (Katherine of Aragon, younger years)
The Shadow Of The Pomegranate (Katherine Of Aragon, later years)
The Kings Secret Matter (Anne Boleyn)
Lord Robert (Robert Dudley)
I have a pile of books waiting to be read so these will have to go to the end of the queue ;-)
I have another Jean Plaidy to read too, Mary Queen Of France. I've read lots of Philippa Gregory books, but no Jean Plaidy as yet :cool: