For “lyrical southern”, how about Cold Mountain - the book, not the movie? I liked it.
That Malthus, he don’t read my posts. 
It is, but if you let inaccuracies bother you, you’re going to be somewhat limited in your choices for authors. There are a lot of authors who fudge things a bit or decide to go with a historical “urban legend” as part of their plot.
One of my favorite bits of historical fiction is “Pope Joan” by Diana Norfolk Cross and it’s probably 100% fiction. For those of you unfamiliar with the legend, there was supposedly a woman in the ninth century who disguised herself as a man and later became pope. (The author does make some compelling arguments in the afterward that it may have had some historical basis.)
Perhaps the books should come with a disclaimer: “Some suspension of belief may be required.”
Another vote for Gary Jennings’s “Aztec” (BrainGlutton, maybe your username should be BloodGlutton?). Big, fascinating tour de force of a novel, showing Aztec society at every level, both before and after the conquistadores came. Lots of exploration, keen social observations, politics, warfare, sex, human sacrifice, comedy, tragedy, etc. I re-read it every ten years or so.
George R.R. Martin’s “Fevre Dream” is a great novel about vampires along the Mississippi River, almost as if Mark Twain and Bram Stoker cowrote it. Highly recommended.
Thomas Berger’s “Arthur Rex” is a wonderful retelling of Arthurian legend, basically respectful but with some sly asides. A favorite.
Forgot to add, I got bogged down in Charles Frazier’s “Cold Mountain” until I saw the movie. Despite all its flaws, I liked the movie, and when I returned to the novel the pages just flew past. More than any other book/movie pairing, I found that each added immeasurably to the enjoyment of the other.
Then try “The Conquering Family” and it’s three sequels by Costain. More Historical than fiction. Very good reading. Some of those also are “big fat”.
For “big fat historical fiction” you have Shogun and ect by Clavell.
I second Can Handle the Truth’s suggestion of Rutherford.
Seconding the recommendation for the Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett. The Game of Kings is one of my two favorite books in the world.
Please Please Please read the “Kristen Lavransdatter” trilogy by Sigrid Undsett! 3 volumes telling the life of a woman in medieval Norway. It is so very very good. Won Undsett the Novel prize, but don’t let that stop you.Try to get the newest translation.
Other historical fiction I enjoy & push onto people:
The Raj Quartet by Paul Scott (end of the British empire - World War II era India). At four books it qualifies as big and thick. and quite enjoyable.
How about “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” or “All the King’s Men”? Certainly their eras have passed into history, and while not huge books, they are of fair size, and both excellent.
Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks
A fictionalised story of John Brown told by his son Owen. Events leading up to the attack on Harpera Ferry and the onset of the American civil war.
Apparently a well researched book. I found it a good story, an engrossing read and informative about events I previously had no clue.
Cheers
Yes, yes, yes! I second this. This is a wonderful book and yet another one that doesn’t get nearly enough attention.
And I have to second the vote for Lonesome Dove. I can’t believe I forgot about it. I reread it once every year or so. It never gets old.
My gosh but you folks have good taste. Everything mentioned that I’ve read, I’ve liked. 
I think I’ll go with well he’s back’s Kristen Lavransdatter suggestion. Can’t go wrong with three volumes (big fat), and I’ve never read anything set in Norway, except for some modern day mysteries.
The other suggestions are going on a list that I’ll take to the library.
If you can wait `til next month, there’s a book I just reviewed and really enjoyed that’s coming out in September: it’s called The Meaning of Night, by Michael Cox. It’s a Victorian murder-story, from the murderer’s point of view.
The story begins with a murder, but not the murder our narrator intends to commit; it’s more a sort of dress rehearsal for the murder of the person he hates most in the world–with good reason, as it turns out. The rest of the novel is backstory on how and why the narrator got to the point where the story begins. It’s about 700 pages (Is that fat enough? ).
I also just reviewed an “autobiography” of Marie Antionette that was pretty good–kind of slow at the beginning, but it really picked up once the Revolution started. The title is Abundance, author Sena Jeter Naslund, and it’ll be out in October.
I, Claudius and Claudius the God are both wonderful.
It won the Nobel prize in 1928, when a Nobel Prize in Lit usually meant well written good reading rather than PC crap. Never read it myself, but I have heard good things about it.
Oh, and I agree with WordMan’s Rome and BrainGlutton SPQR suggestion, although the last series isn’t so “big fat”. Best political mysteries ever.
Yes. I should have mentioned those over in the “Movies That Inspired You To Buy The Book” thread.
AuntiePam, Sharon Kay Penman has a newer series of mysteries out, set during Richard I’s reign. They’re The Queen’s Man, Cruel as the Grave, and Prince of Darkness, which was just published last year. The protagonist is a special agent working for the elderly Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Sharyn McCrumb writes 2 murder mystery series, one taking place in the Appalachains. I find the Elizabeth MacPherson series, hilarious (see Highland Laddie Gone for the southern version of midwestern me), but the other one that takes place in the Appalachains is really good, too. A lot of folk music lore working its way through the books.
I’ve enjoyed everything written by James Clavell…WhirlWind is especially relivant in light of the current Afgani/War for oil situation.
ymmv,
tsfr
Have to third the I Claudius and Claudius the God suggestion. Didn’t see the movie though.
Oh, I can wait. I went to put in my order for Kristen Lavransdatter and when I went to pay, I realized that I’d tossed the gift certificate and kept the packing slip. They’re reissuing it, but it’ll take a month or so.
I love Victorian murder stories. The Trial of Elizabeth Cree by Peter Ackroyd was excellent, and the Boris Akunin books are good too.
It’s a good thing, all these recommendations. It’s been awhile since we talked about historicals, and I like that the same ones keep coming up (it’s a testament) as well as the new ones.
Her Henry VIII book is one of my all-time favorites. There are tons of Tudor-period fiction books from the POV of his various wives; she may be the only author ever to write from Henry’s side.