Historical Fiction Buff

[scw1217]

I stumbled on this forum from a search engine. I have absolutely no one to talk books with around me, so hope to find some fellow readers here. I am an avid reader, generally, the thicker the book the more I like it. I tend to read historical fiction, more specifically "war" novels or at least, novels with battles in them. I am definately NOT a romance reader, if that is all the book is about. I have read everything from Bernard Cornwell to Sharon Kay Penman to John Jakes to Diane Gabaldon, just to name a few. Also loved Colleen McCulloughs series set in ancient Rome. I am curious as to some other authors of this nature you would recommend. I am open to different subjects and time periods, depending on my mood at the time, from light to heavy reading. Thanks for your thoughts.

[Nightshade]

Diane Gabaldone?? Isnt that the DRangonfly in Amber series... are they any good ?
Anyway there are a couple of books that I think you kight like but the name has just presently slipped my mind
Ill have to look them up at the library tonight because I nknow whewre they are on the shelf just cant thhink of the name.

I suppose Georgette Heyer is out of the question then?:p

There are a few quite good while your reading them but sort of pointless otherwise historical mysteries by Candace Robb Arrow they are medievel (I think)

I dont know how old you are so there is this book by Robin Mckinley ( yes I realise that she usually writes scifi) The Outlaws of sherwood its a differant angle on the Robin Hood story its meant for young Adults but is still good.

[Schokokeks]

If thick books don't scare you off, you might like to work your way through "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoi. Descriptions of battles and military movements are chapter-filling! ;) Also provides quite a good insight into the time of the Napoleonic wars and the mentality of the people round 1810 in Europe.

[scw1217]

Diane Gabaldone?? Isnt that the DRangonfly in Amber series... are they any good ?

I suppose Georgette Heyer is out of the question then?:p

There are a few quite good while your reading them but sort of pointless otherwise historical mysteries by Candace Robb Arrow they are medievel (I think)

I dont know how old you are so there is this book by Robin Mckinley ( yes I realise that she usually writes scifi) The Outlaws of sherwood its a differant angle on the Robin Hood story its meant for young Adults but is still good.

I should have mentioned I have read most of the classics as well, Jane Austen, which truthfully is not really my style, Bronte (both), some Hemingway (which style I did not care for), and many others whose names escape me. Jane Eyre will forever be my favorite book, as it was the book that got me hooked on historical fiction.

As to Gabaldon, I loved the series. A little too much sex in it for my taste, but the battle scenes and the plots got me hooked. Funny enough, I read the series in reverse. I picked up book #3 by mistake and had read into it quite a way when I realized it was the 3rd in a series. Of course, then I had to go back and read books #2 and #1, which I read in that order. It was strange to read them in this manner, but somehow it worked. I later went back and read them in the correct way. It does have some sci-fi in it with the time change thing, but she handled it well I thought. I would recommend it, if you are into that style of writing.

RE: Georgette Heyer. I have not heard of her, so if there was a joke there I missed it entirely. (Typical of me.)

I loved your comment about "pointless historical mysteries". Most of them are pointless, aren't they? But, something to occupy my mind. I like to learn a little when I read as well, which is why battle scenes pull me in. I often read the book and then go research the actual war or battle.

As to my age...fortunately, for you I am not one to be senstive about that. LOL. I am 34.

[scw1217]

If thick books don't scare you off, you might like to work your way through "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoi. Descriptions of battles and military movements are chapter-filling! ;) Also provides quite a good insight into the time of the Napoleonic wars and the mentality of the people round 1810 in Europe.

I had considered reading this in the past, but have never gotten up my nerve. I don't know why but somehow telling someone the book you are presently reading is "War and Peace" seems threatening. LOL. Thanks for the recommendation, I will move it back further up my list. :)

[Nightshade]

Georgette Heyer is typically sen as romantic I think.. regency novels anyway time of Jane Austen Its like a historical romance but with absaloutly no sex.
I actually like the scifi aspectto historicles it keeps them interesting.

There are The Gemini books but I cant remebr more o them than that as they are a long series so Ive avioded reading them but will be going to work in the library in about an hour so can look these things up for you :D

[Aramis]

The only war book I've read recently is "All Quiet on the Western Front" by Erich Maria Remarque. It was a fine plot, though I'm not much of a fan of the genre. I found the movie quite interesting, though.

[Abd]

Ok I agree with you .

[Nightshade]

the authours are Tracy Grant and Dorathy Duunit (DD is medivelish i think while TG is Regency spies quite good actually)

[papayahed]

Angel of Darkness (?) and The Alienist by Caleb Carr were pretty good.

Also, one of my favorites is "THe Eight" by Katherine Neville.

[scw1217]

the authours are Tracy Grant and Dorathy Duunit (DD is medivelish i think while TG is Regency spies quite good actually)

Dunnett I have read all of. GREAT books. I have also read Remarque's "All's Quiet on the Western Front". Both great recommendations, btw. Grant is a new one for me. I will have to look her up next trip. I just checked out a book by a new author (for me) and have yet to crack it. Smaller than my usual fare. I tend to pick thick books and long series. Beats me why.

If you like sci-fi in historical fiction, you would like Jack Finney's Time and Again series set in turn of the century New York. A little off beat, but intriguing. Not long novels either, fwiw.

Thanks for the info on Georgette Heyer. Every now and again I will branch out and read something of that nature.

[mono]

Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace, which I read recently, does seem a difficult read; if you plan on reading it, intend on reading only that for some time.
My favorite historical fiction book, I would easily call Giovanni Boccaccio's The Decameron, especially if you enjoy older Italian literature (contemporary of Dante Alighieri).
Good luck!

[ArcherSnake]

The best war books that I can think of are about the Civil War, Gone With The Wind and Raintree County, to be specific. You might want to try those if you havent read them already.

[dejosc]

some pretty amusing war books are the sharpe books they contain amusing things and are quite hstorically accurate, more fun if youre english though cause basically its just brits kicking the french's behind

[scw1217]

some pretty amusing war books are the sharpe books they contain amusing things and are quite hstorically accurate, more fun if youre english though cause basically its just brits kicking the french's behind

Yes, those are by Bernard Cornwell and are an excellent read. He writes a good battle scene. I was also fortunate to see the PBS series with Sean Bean playing Sharpe. It was semi-accurate as far as book-to-movie goes. His other series placed in the Civil War is good, but he never did finish the series. Kind of left all the readers hanging indefinately.

[scw1217]

The best war books that I can think of are about the Civil War, Gone With The Wind and Raintree County, to be specific. You might want to try those if you havent read them already.

I have read Gone with the Wind at one point in time, but it has been a while. Papayahed also mentioned Caleb Carr. I have also read both of those. Great books!

[genoveva]

I tend to read historical fiction, more specifically "war" novels or at least, novels with battles in them. I am definately NOT a romance reader, if that is all the book is about. I have read everything from Bernard Cornwell to Sharon Kay Penman to John Jakes to Diane Gabaldon, just to name a few. Also loved Colleen McCulloughs series set in ancient Rome. I am curious as to some other authors of this nature you would recommend. I am open to different subjects and time periods, depending on my mood at the time, from light to heavy reading. Thanks for your thoughts.


Isabel Allende's Daughters of Fortune could be considered a historical fiction as it talks about the Californian Gold Rush and about immigrants & slaves sailing from Chile (& other countries) to the USA. Definately has some romance. A great read- interesting and informative!

[Vedrana]

Have you tried Bryce Courtenay? His books are fairly thick, they are often placed in a historical period, don't involve romance in the main, and are quite well-researched. Might be worth a try.

[Whifflingpin]

If you like Colleen McCullogh's Roman series (and personally I think they are much better than "Thornbirds") you might like Cecilia Holland. I'd have to admit that her books vary considerably in quality, but when she is good she is very good. My favourites of hers are "Great Maria," "Death of Attila" and "Rakossy."

[higley]

I love historical war novels too :) I've found the best to be written by Michael Shaara as well as his son Jeff. Michael Shaara wrote The Killer Angels, an awing book about Gettysburg that won the Pulitzer in '75. Jeff Shaara is really good too; I've read about three of his books and they don't disappoint. A ton of research is put into these novels and they're incredibly accurate. I can't say enough about his stuff :)

[mtpspur]

You might like C. S. Forester's Hornblower series if you enoyed Cornwell. They are consistent in content (I find the Sharpes vary from book to book) and are a fascinating look at the British Navy system.

[dfloyd]

was excellent. As far as the books go, I tried one or two, but they are cotton candy for the brain. definitely not literature, but fot the less experienced reader.

As for War and Peace, it's not hard to read, just a little long. Get the Russian version on VHS with subtitles, and watch it first. The only hard part is keeping track of the families and their patronymics. Down load a list of characters from Wikipedia or some other source and you'll be set. War and Peace and Anna Karenina are two books every literate person should read.

[meh!]

Well Walter Scott is always thought of as having invented our historical novel, so why not try him. Waverly, ivanhoe, rob roy etc

[jinjang]

I borrowed Sarum the novel of England by Edward Rutherfurd. My history buff husband read it and thought it an enlightening book about England. It is a thick one and so you will like it because it covers 10,000 years from the Ice Age to the present day.

On the book cover:

Sarum is a meticulously researched, authoritative account of the entire sweep of English civilization: the life of the early hunters and farmers, the creation of Stonehenge, the dawn of Christianity and the building of Salisbury Cathedral, the Black Death, the Wars of the Roses, the Reformation, the wars in America, the Industrial Age, Victorian social reforms, the WWII invasion of Normandy-with troops massing on Salisbury Plain-and the modern-day concerns of a once-preeminent empire.

Now I will read the book, hoping to learn something about England since I just finished a book.

[Lynne Fees]

Does some good work on royalty. Not so much war, though.

[Niamh]

I like Bernard Cornwalls Grail Quest Trilogy. Harequin, Vagabond and Heratic


I borrowed Sarum the novel of England by Edward Rutherfurd. My history buff husband read it and thought it an enlightening book about England. It is a thick one and so you will like it because it covers 10,000 years from the Ice Age to the present day.

On the book cover:


Now I will read the book, hoping to learn something about England since I just finished a book.

I read his Dublin: A Foundation. was really really good!

[jinjang]

Do you mean The Princes of Ireland the Dublin Saga? There is a sequel to it. I saw that one, first, but forgot the title. All of his books are thick. I am on vacation for 3 weeks and so I should be able to read them all, right?

[Niamh]

Its called Dublin a Foundation here... the follow up was just called Ireland. Might be called something else where you are. so I reckon its the same one.

[jinjang]

"I reckon" you are British. Most good English books I like are written by you folks nowadays. Why Americans do not say, "I reckon?" Most English catch phrases I learned are from Harry Potter series. I am not a teen but read all Harry Potter series, Golden Compass series, the Lord of Rings, Bartimaeus Trilogy, etc. They are all great and fun!

[billl]

'I reckon' can sometimes be heard in the U.S., but it sounds distinctly 'country'. I've heard it from various Southerners (maybe Northerners, too), but can recall only one person and region for sure (Georgia). It kind of sounds old-fashioned, here, and would possibly raise eyebrows in a big city, even some Southern ones.

Anyhow, seeing you mention it reminded me of my surprise at hearing some British co-workers use 'reckon' a few years ago! I haven't been reading enough British novels recently, I guess :).

[Niamh]

"I reckon" you are a British. Most good English books I like are written by you folks nowadays. Why Americans do not say, "I reckon?" Most English catch phrases I learned are from Harry Potter series. I am not a teen but read all Harry Potter series, Golden Compass series, the Lord of Rings, Bartimaeus Trilogy, etc. They are all great and fun!

I'm actually Irish. :) I know the Kiwi's and the Aussies use it alot too. :)

[jinjang]

Ouch! I was afraid you might be Irish. I hope you are not offended. But, I read your poem: REMEMBRANCE. I like it very much. I should comment it under that thread.


'I reckon' can sometimes be heard in the U.S., but it sounds distinctly 'country'. I've heard it from various Southerners (maybe Northerners, too), but can recall only one person and region for sure (Georgia). It kind of sounds old-fashioned, here, and would possibly raise eyebrows in a big city, even some Southern ones.

Anyhow, seeing you mention it reminded me of my surprise at hearing some British co-workers use 'reckon' a few years ago! I haven't been reading enough British novels recently, I guess :).

Thank you for the information. I noticed that older engineers speak better English with wider vocabulary than younger ones, although they may be as good engineers as older ones. There may be some flaws in our education system when it comes to training language skills to future scientists and engineers. I could be wrong and I hope I am wrong.

[waterfallin]

yay! another die hard Jane Eyre fan! I found Conn Iggulden to be quite good- i like his series about Genghis Khan, it creates a neat look at his life. He also wrote about Julius Caesar's, which was interesting. Not a ton of war per say, but theres a good deal of combat and war like bahaviour going on :]

[Scheherazade]

For those who are interested in historical fiction:

In June, the Book Club will be reading a historical novel:

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43145

[bounty]

just got done mentioning this in another thread---not so much war, but certainly military and high adventure: the bounty trilogy by nordhoff and hall.