Historical fiction recommendations, please!

[PeacePlease]

I love historical fiction. I just finished up The Winds of War and War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk (who is still alive at the the ripe old age of 93!).

Other authors I have enjoyed include Philipa Gregory, Gary Jennings, Leon Uris, and Margaret George, off the top of my head. I really enjoyed the narrative and learned a ton about WWII from the Wouk books (especially about the war in the Pacific theater.) I've never cared for reading about war as a topic so a lot of it was new information for me. Mr. Wouk called them 'war romances' but there was certainly plenty of detail! I would prefer nothing more than this level of war-type stuff. But I love learning about history in this kind of way. It really makes it come alive for me.

Does anybody have any recommendations for me in this arena? I love books with maps and family trees!!

I need to return this tome (War and Remembrance) to the library so any new recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

[Little Nemo]

George MacDonald Fraser

[eenerms]

Middle Ages Kings, Queens, Knights, Wars etc.: Sharon Kay Penman, Elizabeth Chadwick
Genghis Khan: Conn Iggulden
Edo Period Japan: Lesley Downer
WWII Jeff Shaara

[squeegee]

I liked Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth, if you have any interest in the middle ages.

[PeacePlease]

I've heard that you either love or hate Pillars of the Earth. I actually own that book and have had a hard time getting into it. Did you, squeegee?

[Sefton]

The Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian. Absolutely magnificent.

[Zoe]

You didn't mention which Leon Uris books you have read. If you haven't read Trinity, you have missed a feast!

[The Second Stone]

The Tarn Trilogy. Wasn't quite finished before the author kicked off, but I rather liked it. Hannah Closs was the author. I really liked it.

[squeegee]

Originally Posted by PeacePlease

I've heard that you either love or hate Pillars of the Earth. I actually own that book and have had a hard time getting into it. Did you, squeegee?

Well, I somewhat cheated -- I read it during a week's tour of southern England; I was traveling through about the territory the book covered, so it was pretty easy to get caught up the book. I still think it is a worthwhile book if you're interested in that period in England, although it is just average quality.

[PeacePlease]

Originally Posted by squeegee

Well, I somewhat cheated -- I read it during a week's tour of southern England; I was traveling through about the territory the book covered, so it was pretty easy to get caught up the book. I still think it is a worthwhile book if you're interested in that period in England, although it is just average quality.

Cheater, cheater!!! My very favorite historical novels involve London for the same reason...I've been there! I love the history of London and England so this is another book that I obviously should plow through, eh?

See, now Zoe, Trinity was another one that I had and it was a struggle for me to get past the first few pages. I just looked it up to refresh my memory and it is the one that I thought it was about Irish history. I've never really had an interest in Ireland, but I will give it another try on your recommendation.

Thanks to all. I'm currently one of the unemployed SDMBers so I have been reading. A lot.

[maplekiwi]

The Forsythe Saga may be what you're looking for. A big family saga.

I prefer Jean Plaidy's Tudor historicals to Phillippa Gregory. Less sensational. I think she is out of print, so you may have to try second hand book shops.

As well as regency romances, Georgette Heyer also wrote historical novels. The Conqueror was the best of them. You may lake her regencies though, as she uses real life figures as secondary characters. One example of this kind would be Regency Buck.

[Loach]

I love the Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwall. Maybe not as deep as some of the others mentioned but very entertaining. I was not very familiar with that part of history when I read them and it intrigued me. At the end of each book there is an afterward that puts it in historical perspective. It was amusing that often the most outrageous and fictional sounding parts of the book were often the parts that were firmly based on history. By the end of the series it became harder to buy the fact that he was at every major event over 40 years. I would suggest reading them in the order they were written to get a feel for how the character progressed. He wrote a bunch of prequels but I think they shoud be read after.

[bengangmo]

You might want to try Wilbur Smith for Africa / Rhodesia.

He has also done a great Egyptian novel called River God, which is a tracription and dramatisation of actual Egyptian scrolls.

The other one that's possible is James Clavell. (Shogun, Taipan, and for a novel set in WWII prison camp, King Rat)

[glee]

Originally Posted by Little Nemo

George MacDonald Fraser

Seconded - his Flashman books are amusing, exciting and informational.

A reviewer once said of the Hornblower books by C.S.Forester 'you can practically taste the salt in the sea breeze'.

[Left Hand of Dorkness]

I'll third Flashman. My wife is a huge fan of Patrick O'Brien's books, and the one of them I've read was pretty fun.

I recently read Pride of Carthage, a novelization of Hannibal's life. I found it very interesting and gripping, got so involved in it that I realized I was avoiding reading the last third, where I knew that Hannibal was going to fail. It may be too militaristic for your tastes, but there's a lot going on in that book besides battles. Don't get me wrong--the battles are very well-written--but a lot of the book is about camp followers, Hannibal's sisters, and other folks who aren't directly involved in the fighting.

[eenerms]

David L. Robbins: More WWII novels. Liberation Road about the Red Ball Express, supply route. War of the Rats Stalingrad

[Estilicon]

The "Accursed Kings" series by Maurice Druon.
What are they about? The last capetos, the first Valois and the origin of the Hundred Years war between France and England

[Hentor the Barbarian]

I enjoyed Gates of Fire (the Battle of Thermopylae) and Tides of War (Alcibiades) by Steven Pressfield, but these are more military history books; character development is not a strong feature of them.

[Damfino]

Originally Posted by PeacePlease

Cheater, cheater!!! My very favorite historical novels involve London for the same reason...I've been there! I love the history of London and England so this is another book that I obviously should plow through, eh?

.

Then you should read London by Edward Rutherford. It gives the history of London from pre-Roman times to the present day through episodes in the lives of a few families and their descendants. I found it enjoyable and interesting. Fascinating details of how to make chain mail and forge coins, for instance!

[Shirley Ujest]

Because of The Dope, I found Flashman and Marcus Didius Falco Series by Lindsey Davis. Learn Roman history without your brain drying up and find out you want to fark the hero and his best friend along the way (regardless of your sexual proclivities.)

[Giles]

For the Napoleonic era from an English point of view, try Thackeray's Vanity Fair. (Yes, it qualifies as a historical novel, because it was written in the 1840s about events in the 1810s).

[SaharaTea]

I just finished The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber. It's a wonderfully complex and descriptive novel set in Victorian London. It's a little long and the ending is ambiguous, but the characters will stay with you long afterwards.

[squeegee]

Originally Posted by Damfino

Then you should read London by Edward Rutherford. It gives the history of London from pre-Roman times to the present day through episodes in the lives of a few families and their descendants. I found it enjoyable and interesting. Fascinating details of how to make chain mail and forge coins, for instance!

Also Sarum, same author. The author's approach is to choose a locality (London, ancient Salisbury) and tell a series of short stories that span pre-history up until present day. In both books, there are both good and weak stories, but you can always skip to the next story if you're bored with one of them.

[burundi]

Definitely agree with the Aubrey-Maturin recommendations. Patrick O'Brian's stuff is like Jane Austen but with espionage and naval battles. What's not to love?

Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series is good, too. Plenty of family trees and maps! (I also really dig those things.) It begins during the last days of the Roman Republic and ends with the story of Antony and Cleopatra.

[PeacePlease]

You guys all rock!

Thank you so, so much for all the recommendations. I've noted most of them and already put a couple on hold. I will be keeping this thread marked forevah!

You know what seems to be missing are historical novels based in France, say, circa 15th-16th century and later. I would be very interested to know if any of you have read anything from that time and place. I don't believe I've really ever delved into the French court except as an extension of England.

[Improvisor]

Jeff Shaara was already mentioned above, but I wanted to further point out that he's done a number of books on alot of American wars. He's in the middle of a WWII trilogy that basically follows the No. African and European campaigns. It's told from the perspective of tank commanders, paratroopers, real generals (i.e. Eisenhower, Rommel), etc. Not the greatest literature in the world, but a good "popcorn-movie"-type book.

[Hentor the Barbarian]

Another book that I wouldn't necessarily have considered historical fiction is The Alienist, by Caleb Carr. It is a mystery/crime drama set in late 19th century New York, with a protagonist who is a very early forensic psychologist. I thought Carr did a very nice job with the setting, in particular describing the investigative tools of the day.

[Damfino]

Originally Posted by PeacePlease

You guys all rock!


You know what seems to be missing are historical novels based in France, say, circa 15th-16th century and later. I would be very interested to know if any of you have read anything from that time and place. I don't believe I've really ever delved into the French court except as an extension of England.

I'm sure you know about these: the only historical novels I can recall reading of that period (17th century France) are the Musketeer novels by Alexandre Dumas.

[Jettboy]

I love Cornwall's Sharpe series of books and Dewey Lambdin's naval series with Alan Lewrie.

Nothing against O'Brien or Forester, but Lambdin's main character is much more in line with the sailors I've known (dad, grandpa[s], older brother & all of his friends, most of my cousins...); a grinning rogue who can't wait for the fightin' to be over so they can get into port to drink, fight and chase women.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Vietnam: Mark Berent.

[AuntiePam]

Originally Posted by PeacePlease

You know what seems to be missing are historical novels based in France, say, circa 15th-16th century and later. I would be very interested to know if any of you have read anything from that time and place. I don't believe I've really ever delved into the French court except as an extension of England.

France! They're out of print and there's a bit of bodice-ripping, but maybe your library has the Angelique series by Sergeanne Golon. I devoured those in my 20's.

I know I've read some HF featuring Louis XIV but I'm drawing a blank on titles.

I love historical fiction. Ditto the recs for Sharon Kay Penman, James Clavell, The Forsyte Saga, Leon Uris (Mila 18 and Exodus), and Crimson Petal and the White.

I've been happy with HF novels by Sarah Waters (Fingersmith -- wonderfully twisty), Iain Pears (Instance of the Fingerpost and The Dream of Scipio), Kathleen Winsor (Forever Amber and Wanderers Eastward, Wanderers West, Emma Donoghue Slammerkin), Margaret Atwood (Alias Grace).

Also the Civil War mystery series by Owen Parry starting with A Faded Coat of Blue, and the Matthew Shardlake mystery series (set in Reformation England) by C. J. Sansom.

Don't forget westerns -- they're historical too! Lonesome Dove and the sequels and prequel by Larry McMurtry are particularly good, if a bit violent. Incident at Twenty Mile by Trevanian has a psychotic killer and a whole bunch of great western cliches, but set on their head a bit.

How about some historical time travel? Doomsday Book by Connie Willis!

WWI -- Flanders by Patricia Anthony (recommended by a Doper, and I've never cried so hard over a book) and the Regeneration Trilogy by Pat Barker.

Post Civil War America, the transition from rural to urban -- Paradise Falls by Don Robertson.

A good WWII novel (also a Doper rec) is A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell.

[Mister Owl]

It's been some years since I read them, but an author by the name of Parke Godwin wrote historical fiction versions of several legendary tales, Robin Hood, Beowulf for instance. The novel that introduced me to the author is Firelord, a "factual" version of the King Arthur story. It would appear that much of his work is out of print at present and I think that unfortunate. If you pick up a used copy of Firelord try and get Beloved Exile as well. It picks up the tale and follows Guinevere after the death of Arthur and may be the better story. I still recall one amusing scene that takes place in an early Saxon "court of law."

[Daylate]

I enthusiastically concur with the Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser. Two pieces of advice. Be sure to read the first in the series, "Flashman", before the others. The order you read the others doesn't really matter, but do the first one first. That sets the tone for all the rest.

Also, have two bookmarks. One for the body of the book, the other for the footnotes - that's where a lot of the real history is. Be SURE and read the footnotes.

I once sort of amazed a Hindu co-worker of mine with my knowledge of Indian history. Which I got from reading several of the Flashman novels.

It was a sad day last year when the author died.

[Shirley Ujest]

Originally Posted by Damfino

Then you should read London by Edward Rutherford. It gives the history of London from pre-Roman times to the present day through episodes in the lives of a few families and their descendants. I found it enjoyable and interesting. Fascinating details of how to make chain mail and forge coins, for instance!

Thanks for this recommendation!

[ivylass]

Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. 18th century Scotland. Big red-headed warriors in kilts. Lot of loving, fighting, and intriguing.

Mmmmm....Jamie Fraser....

[RealityChuck]

Thunder on the Mountain by David Poyer. Fine novel set in the Depression.

[maplekiwi]

& I forgot - I Claudisu by R Graves. Best hiistorical novel ever

[Left Hand of Dorkness]

Originally Posted by Damfino

I'm sure you know about these: the only historical novels I can recall reading of that period (17th century France) are the Musketeer novels by Alexandre Dumas.

As much as I liked The Three Musketeers (haven't read the others), I'd recommend The Count of Monte Cristo even more. It's perhaps the best book I've ever read. I've heard it described as the best adventure novel ever written, and I believe it: as great as the adventure is, it's also a profound meditation on vengeance and mercy.

There have been a lot of adaptations of it, but the ones I've seen or read miss out on the mercy aspect, which is like surf & turf without the lobster.

[Frostillicus]

Originally Posted by Hentor the Barbarian

Another book that I wouldn't necessarily have considered historical fiction is The Alienist, by Caleb Carr. It is a mystery/crime drama set in late 19th century New York, with a protagonist who is a very early forensic psychologist. I thought Carr did a very nice job with the setting, in particular describing the investigative tools of the day.

I have already read the first two parts of his WWII trilogy. I can't wait for the last one, which deals with the invasion of Normandy. Woo-hoo!

[Equipoise]

When I was a teenager I was a Gwen Bristow fan. I fell in love with San Francisco decades before I ever got a chance to visit there, just from the book Calico Palace. It starts out in San Francisco just before the Gold Rush when it's a boring, sleepy berg, then she puts her main character Kendra right into the thick of the early days Gold Rush country before the rest of the country finds out about it, then back to San Francisco as it grows, and burns, and grows, and burns, and grows and grows and burns and then explodes with growth, as the word spreads and more and more people show up. I thought it was all so fascinating, and I loved the naive and sheltered (but not for long) Kendra and her unlikely friend Marney, a worldly woman with big plans to open a gambling parlor/saloon in the wild town.

It may not be "up there" (Epic, Important) with many of the wonderful books mentioned already, but it's a must, I'd think, for anyone interested in that time and place, and it's also perfect for adolescent girls. I need to dig it out again. It's been way too long since I've read it.

I've read other Gwen Bristow books and liked them all, but Calico Palace was like an old friend to me growing up and was my favorite.

[The Real Regency Elf]

I haven't finished it yet, but so far I'm quite enjoying The Virgin Queen's Daughter by Ella March Chase. It's in a similar vein as Phillipa Gregory's work, but I like Chase's prose a great deal - it's descriptive without being "purple" and her analogies are pretty original. There are a few emotional "I'm OK, you're OK" -type moments that somehow seem a bit anachronistic to me (don't know why I can't envision Elizabethan courtiers engaging in soul-searching therapeutic dialogues, but I just can't). Otherwise, it's a good story so far and I'm interested seeing more from her in the future.

If your interest extends back to the Roman Empire, Steven Saylor has a neat detective series called Roma Sub Rosa, which kicks off near the end of Sulla's reign. And of course there's the mighty Lindsey Davis!

[madmonk28]

Another vote for Patrick O'brian