Best Historical Fiction

[Sulla]

What are some of your favorite historical fiction books and authors?

Or what historical fiction do you dislike?

I like historical fiction that reaches a middle ground. One that has a lot of historical information and a great story. Many historical fiction books lose that balance. They either are just pure information and no story or they are all story and have no historical value at all.

[Dark Muse]

One of my favorite authors in the genre is Morgan Llywelyn who writes primarily about Irish Lore, Myth and History. I love her writing style though and think she creates some wonderful stories for anyone who is interested in Celtic history and myth as myself.

Mary Stewart's Arthurian series are also some wonderful and very well crafted and informative books. The thing which I really enjoy about them is that she weaves in both the fantasy side of the story as well as producing a believable account that captures the historical side as well as the mythical side.

Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead though it had been a long time since I have read this one, but I remember it being a very engaging and captivating read, it was a great story and well told.

A list of other books which I count among my favorites in the genre:

The Witch of Cologne
Gates of Fire
The Birth of Venus
Girl With a Pearl Earring
Aztec

[Seasider]

Mary Renault is my No 1.

The King Must Die about Theseus and Crete
The Bull from the Sea Theseus in later life
The Last of the Wine Set in Athens at the time of the war with Sparta
Fire from Heaven The early life of Alexander the Great
The Persian Boy Also about Alexander

She uses the technique of reflecting great events and great protagonists through the eyes of a spectator who is in some way close to what is happening.
I think she gives a very vivid and historically accurate picture of Greek society and she is a very impressive writer.

[kasie]

I second DM's choice of the Mary Stewart Arthurian books and Seasider's of the Mary Renault retelling of the Greek legends.

Among my favourites have been:

Robert Graves:I, Claudius and Claudius the God.

Patrick O'Brien: The Aubrey/Maturin books, Master and Commander etc, set in the naval conflicts of the Napoleonic wars.

Hilary Mantell: Wolf Hall, a different angle of the oft-retold tale of Anne Boleyn story: I'm looking forward to the second part.

[Pecksie]

I don't like historical fiction that is insufficiently researched --- which usually shows through in anachronisms, or in characters that blatantly think and speak 21 century when they are supposed to be Elizabethan or ancient Roman or what you will. (This applies to 99% of historical romance, I suppose.)

The best historical novel I've read lately is Charles Frazier's 'Cold Mountain'. I also found myself quite unexpectedly enjoying Jude Morgan's 'Passion' (which I had only bought because of my interest in the Shelley circle), despite its many flaws. For a completely original take on the story of the man who tried to assassinate Hitler, try Paul West's 'The Very Rich Hours of Count von Stauffenberg' --- an amazing book.

And then there are the classics, of course --- Robert Graves's Roman novels, for instance. These never fail to deliver :)

[PeterL]

Kenneth Lewis Roberts, especially{i}Arundel[/i] and Rabble in Arms Both a novels of the American Revolution, and they concentrate on parts of that that are largely ignored, the campaign to capture Canada and the stopping Burgoyne's army.

[Dark Muse]

I am glad to hear some priase of Mary Renault since I have not read anything by her before but I happen to have a copy of "The King Must Die"

[ladderandbucket]

Ron Hansen's The Assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford is an interesting book. At times it reads like a historical account and at other times a novel. I doubt many writers would be able to pull this off but Hansen does it superbly. He is a very gifted writer.

I also like the Flashman series by George McDonald Fraser. Whilst the humour may not be to everyone's taste the history is always interesting and reputed to be thoroughly researched.

[WyattGwyon]

All of the following are really good works of historical fiction:

Alexander Solzhenitsyn — The Red Wheel 1: August 1914 (WWI, obviously)
Vasily Grossman — Life and Fate (Siege of Stalingrad, among other things)
Mikhail Bulgakov — The White Guard (Kiev during civil war)
Leo Tolstoy — War and Peace
Victor Hugo — The Hunchback, Les Miserables and Ninety-Three
William T. Vollman — Europe Central
Gore Vidal — Julian

War and Peace and the Hugo novels are largely fictional, but the historical accounts of battles and other things are vivid and widely influential as historical studies as well.

[WyattGwyon]

oops, double post

[kiki1982]

I don't like historical fiction that is insufficiently researched --- which usually shows through in anachronisms, or in characters that blatantly think and speak 21 century when they are supposed to be Elizabethan or ancient Roman or what you will. (This applies to 99% of historical romance, I suppose.)

I thought I was alone in that dislike. Happy to find a friend :D.

Although, I have taken to liking 19th century historical fiction, which can't be much better than 19th century thought in 17th century costume, I suppose, but they make great stories ;).

As there are Scott and Dumas who both blatantly disregard some things. Dumas made La Vallière about twenty years younger, but made great stories. Both thrilling, and interesting. Particularly towards court things :D. Scott from his side decided to get the Saxons have problems with the Normans way after that was the case in Ivanhoe. Though, he provides you with a lot of info in Waverley... Sometimes a bit too much. :as-sleep: Not mentioning of course that the character and end of the plot is stupidly romantic for the 18th century... :rolleyes:

But, there you go. I suppose I only have that dislike with 20ieth and 21st century things. Too recognisable, I think :p.

[Kafka's Crow]

John Macdonald Fraser: The Flashman Series
Robert Graves: The two Claudius books
Hillary Mantel: Wolf Hall

Among the classics:

War and Peace (Tolstoy)
Germinal and L' debacle Zola
Les Miserables Balzac

I have got a few of Mary Renault books, should start reading them some time.

[kiki1982]

War and Peace (Tolstoy)
Germinal and L' debacle Zola
Les Miserables Hugo

I thought I'd save you the trouble :D

[PeterL]

I also like the Flashman series by George McDonald Fraser. Whilst the humour may not be to everyone's taste the history is always interesting and reputed to be thoroughly researched.

I strongly concur. hen the first one came out some scholars thought that it was a real personal journal. The novels give excellent overviews of the history of some obscure places and events.

[Kafka's Crow]

I remember reading John Jakes's Rebels when I was a teenager. I was impressed by that book and developed some sort of an obsession with America and American history for a while.

Irving Stones's Agony and Ecstasy gives a good picture of Renaissance society, specially political and artistic circles.

[Kafka's Crow]

I also like the Flashman series by George McDonald Fraser. Whilst the humour may not be to everyone's taste the history is always interesting and reputed to be thoroughly researched.

That humour is to my taste: "It's fun to teach new wife old tricks":yikes::crazy:

[country doctor]

'julian' was mentioned earlier...the doc concurs...but then again, he has enjoyed every one of the gore vidal books he's read...

'lincoln' is so true to life that the doc thinks that doris kearns goodwin used much of it as a template when she wrote 'team of rivals'...

[Wilde woman]

I rather like Tracy Chevalier's historical fiction because she takes a piece of art and re-imagines the story behind its creation. I've always found the personalities she draws and their creative process fascinating.

[B. Laumness]

I usually dislike the historical fictions à la Walter Scott or Ken Follett, because they lack authenticity by definition, and thus they seem to me false and kitsch, often contaminated by contemporary prejudices. I prefer to read books of history, but the problem is that the historians also have a biased vision despite their so-called objectivity. Eventually, I have more satisfaction with those who treat history with art, for whom the historical matter is designed at their artistic purposes, whether it be the accuracy of a realist novelist who also works the style, the narrative and the characterization, or the use of ancient themes and myths whose value is universal. Among my favorite “historical fictions”, I would cite Salammbô by Flaubert, Mémoires d’Hadrien by Marguerite Yourcenar (very interesting combination of three genres, novel, biography and autobiography), several Shakespeare’s plays, etc.



Les Miserables Balzac


I’m sure he did it on purpose, just for the joke.

[Seasider]

I am glad to hear some priase of Mary Renault since I have not read anything by her before but I happen to have a copy of "The King Must Die"
That was the first book of hers I read and I think it may be my favourite. I went to Crete a few years after to look around the Palace of Minos, Loved it.

[hazelk]

Ireland - Frank Delaney

[The Comedian]

The old Bard wrote some good historical fiction too. Lots of it.

[jocky]

What are some of your favorite historical fiction books and authors?

Or what historical fiction do you dislike?

I like historical fiction that reaches a middle ground. One that has a lot of historical information and a great story. Many historical fiction books lose that balance. They either are just pure information and no story or they are all story and have no historical value at all.

You would like Machiavelis' The Prince ' He thoroughly believed in the Via Media or as you would term it the " middle ground ". I think you are referring to the difference between narrative history, Simon Schama, Bethany Hughes and Neil Oliver and post reconstruction modernity, ( Geez A Break ) Or if you wish to go back further, Gibbon, Thucydiddes, and so on. If you just want a good read Harry Potter is available.

[kiki1982]

I usually dislike the historical fictions à la Walter Scott or Ken Follett, because they lack authenticity by definition, and thus they seem to me false and kitsch, often contaminated by contemporary prejudices. I prefer to read books of history, but the problem is that the historians also have a biased vision despite their so-called objectivity.

Yes, most of them used 'leading historians' of their day, and incorporated theories based on memoires of others. Some of them in the meantime disproven. Makes an interesting angla, though ;).

[Kafka's Crow]

I thought I'd save you the trouble :D


Thanks kiki, I read the book about 15 years ago. Got it all mixed up there. Any way I didn't do it on purpose. It was a genuine mistake.

[kiki1982]

sssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh you shouldn't tell people that, just pretend :D

[prendrelemick]

I can't believe no one has mentioned Jean Plaidy, over 100 million books sold, every one a well researched page turner. She often came at history from the female perspective-before it was fashionable to do so.