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Intrigued, new reader to "Historical Fiction"


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I'm not so knowledgable in historical fiction (I haven't read a lot of books in the genre), but what time period do you like to read about?

 

Some of my favourite authors in the genre include Jean M. Auel (prehistory), Penny Vincenzi (more for women than men, 20th century) and Thea Beckman (Dutch Young-Adult author, most of her books were not translated into English as far as I know, except for Kruistocht in Spijkerbroek (Crusade in Jeans, medieval) the time period depends on which book or series you select to read). These are all authors of whom I've read multiple books. Singular books I enjoyed Michel Faber - The Crimson Petal and the White (Victorian era). There are books by other authors still on my shelf, such as Ken Follet, Elizabeth Chadwick and Catherine Cookson.

 

Then of course there are the classics, I don't know if they can be seen as historical fiction or not (the ones that were, for its time, contemporary fiction). Many play in the 17-18-19-20th century. I haven't read a lot of them yet, most are still on my shelf. What time period(s) do you enjoy, or multiple?

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Ooh, loads.  A lot of the ones I like use real events as a background to their story, if that's of any interest to you?  Some of my faves are:

 

Bernard Cornwell - try Harlequin (I know others here can recommend his Sharpe books, too)

 

Patrick O'Brian - try Master and Commander which is the first book of his Jack Aubrey series, although it's quite heavy on nautical terms so could try jumping to Post Captain or HMS Surprise instead

 

Hilary Mantel - Wolf Hall and its sequel Bring Up the Bodies, about Thomas Cromwell (probably my favourites but her writing style seems to be an acquired taste)

 

Steven Pressfield - try Gates of Fire, brilliant novel about the Battle of Thermopylae

 

Rory Clements - try Martyr, the first of his Elizabethan 'John Shakespeare' thrillers

 

Robert Harris - try Imperium, about the Roman senator, Cicero

 

Steven Saylor - try Roman Blood, the first of his 'Roma Sub Rosa' series of mysteries set in Ancient Rome

 

Phil Rickman - try The Bones of Avalon

 

Karen Maitland - try The Owl Killers

 

C J Sansom - try Dissolution, the first of his 'Shardlake' murder/mysteries set in the time of Henry VIII

 

Conn Iggulden - his 'Emperor' series, about Julius Caesar, or his 'Conqueror' series, about the Mongol warlords (Genghis Khan etc)

 

 

There are others I haven't delved too deeply into so far, but want to, like Simon Scarrow and Ben Kane, but that'll do from me - hope it helps  :smile:

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I have really enjoyed some of the books that Robert Harris has written. Fatherland is a book which is based in post war Germany, written as if Hitler had won the war, its more of a crime novel than a historical one. He has also written 3 books based in Roman times. Pompeii is a stand alone book and he has also written 2 of a trilogy based around the life of Cicero, they are called Imperium and Lustrum and I can highly recommend them.

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These are wonderful. Much thanks, to each of you. I'm getting rather excited.

Which ones did you finish up trying, then BWG - what did you think of them? It can take time to find your favourites. 

 

You know us bookworms .... we're so nosy about what we're each reading! :D

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I had a look at the history fiction authors and thought I might like to try Dissolution - usually don't read much history, fact or fiction, dating back to a terribly boring history teacher in school. :blush2:    I did have a go at Bring Up The Bodies but didn't manage too well.  Thank you Avid Reader.  It's time I broadened my horizons.  Pontalba has brought some to my attention already so thank you too Pontalba.

Edited by mrsmac
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I can highly recommend Shogun by James Clavell. It´s set in medieval Japan and is about the rise to power of the Togukawa clan and the simultaneously arrival of a English sailor in Japan.

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Steven Saylor - try Roman Blood, the first of his 'Roma Sub Rosa' series of mysteries set in Ancient Rome

x

I just remembered, I have some of these books (in Dutch), in a box. I quite liked them when I read them (I think I was a teenager or in my early twenties).

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x

I just remembered, I have some of these books (in Dutch), in a box. I quite liked them when I read them (I think I was a teenager or in my early twenties).

 

The ones I've read so far have been great fun!  Fortunately, a friend of mine has them all and is lending them to me :D

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Which ones did you finish up trying, then BWG - what did you think of them? It can take time to find your favourites. 

 

You know us bookworms .... we're so nosy about what we're each reading! :D

 Robert Harris was one who has been mentioned many times to me. Rory Clements was another. 

 

I have honestly never read a book in this genre before. I came across the genre at a conference and was very intrigued.

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I must admit that historical novels are a big first love for me.

There's something so fascinating in clothing the dry facts of schooldays history lessons with the colour and emotion of a novel, and historical research is so good nowadays, that what's written is almost like retelling it how it happened.

 

Of course, the imagination of the author also comes into play, but even so, it's interesting to read about "where we've been" in an entertaining form - and hopefully not repeat the mistakes of our historical forebears.

 

I wish you many hours of :readingtwo:  pleasure from your investigations, BWG ... and the same to all of us! :smile:  

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  • 2 months later...

Can't  resist adding - "The Clan of Cave Bear" series - all six of them - by Jean Auel.

 

They're magnificent - and you can't get more "historical" really, as they're set in our last Ice Age!

A wonderful change of pace from even the modern-ness of our usual historical novels, the series draws you in from Book 1.  

 

Anyone else read them?  .

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I've read the first four. I've bought the whole series in English (read them before in Dutch) and plan to re-read (and read) them all sometime. I quite liked the books, particularly the first one. Somehow that one was the most impressive, when I read them when I was a teenager. I look forward to see what I'll think of them reading them as an adult.

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I haven't read Jean Auel's books, but another author who I think is covering the same themes and time/era is Linda Lay Shuler. I've only read her She Who Remembers, but it's a real gem and I wish more people would read it :) I don't think I've seen anyone on here talk about her books, which I personally think is a shame.

 

Edit: Just read a few posts above and saw that Auel's books are ice agey? Then I must say I was wrong :D The book is set in "American Southwest during the 13th century", says amazon. :giggle2: Not quite ice agey.

Edited by frankie
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You're still on the "historical" theme though, Frankie - another author  for us to investigate. :smile:

 

Something I've noticed a lot with series of books - the first blows you away, and from then on we get more critical!

Especially in a series like this, where the time period is pretty unique.

 

I've usually found if I stick with them, I settle into the progressing story, which originally had maybe a year or two between books, but now we may notice more to grumble about, as they're being read consecutively?  

 

What do y'all think?    

Edited by Booknutt
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I've usually found if I stick with them, I settle into the progressing story, which originally had maybe a year of two between books, but now we may notice more to grumble about, as they're being read consecutively?  

 

What do y'all think?

x

I think you might be right. If you read a series (not necessarily historical fiction) consecutively the flaws become more apparent, to me. Because it can start to get very 'samey'. I lately try to have one or a few books in between a series that I read (if it's completed), not waiting too long between each book of the series but waiting a little while just so it won't feel as 'samey'.

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You're still on the "historical" theme though, Frankie - another author  for us to investigate. :smile:

 

Something I've noticed a lot with series of books - the first blows you away, and from then on we get more critical!

Especially in a series like this, where the time period is pretty unique.

 

I've usually found if I stick with them, I settle into the progressing story, which originally had maybe a year of two between books, but now we may notice more to grumble about, as they're being read consecutively?  

 

What do y'all think?    

Hi Booknutt! :smile:

 

I agree with you. The first Historical fiction book I read  by my favorite Historical fiction author (Jean Plaidy) was Rose Without A Thorn. It was an excellent book and one of my favorites! After that I read many of her other books i.e. The Lady in the Tower, and began to notice some flaws in her writing whereas in the beginning I did not.

 

But maybe it has nothing whatsoever to do with one's initial awe of the author. Perhaps it's just that certain books are just not written as well as some others.

Edited by cuppycakes
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Hi Booknutt! :smile:

 

I agree with you. The first Historical fiction book I read  by my favorite Historical fiction author (Jean Plaidy) was Rose Without A Thorn. It was an excellent book and one of my favorites! After that I read many of her other books i.e. The Lady in the Tower, and began to notice some flaws in her writing whereas in the beginning I did not.

 

But maybe it has nothing whatsoever to do with one's initial awe of the author. Perhaps it's just that certain books are just not written as well as some others.

 

Yes, you have hit the nail on the head there!  Some books are just not as good as others, maybe the publisher was pushing the author to turn another one out too quickly as often seems to happen [stephen King books seem to suffer from that!]Other times, maybe the muse just wasn't on them, who knows?

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Hiya All -

 

Well, I suppose we have to let authors be "human" too - can't expect each book to be a thumpin' good read, but they're usually good enough to bring us back for the ones which are.   

 

Talking of Jean Plaidy Cuppycakes (love your name! :smile: ) I've just recently bought the whole of her "Tudor" series as a seriously good bargin I'll hastily add, and am looking forward to making my way slowly through it.

 

 I do agree with Athena, though - it's a good idea to read other books in between before taking up another in a series.There's more pleasure in getting back to a familiar story, then.

 

One of the pleasures of oncoming  Winter fellow Nutts - planning our seasonal reading. :D    

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