The Good King, or Medieval Royal Courts

[RandomReadershi]

Hello,

what good novels depict the customs and manners of medieval royal courts?

But not solely built upon the Desire-Violence-Intrigue pattern.

The works and days of the 'Good King', historical or fictitious, is what i'm seeking...:out:

[Lokasenna]

What about actual medieval literature? Something like Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur? Or most things that deal with Arthur, really.

[Whifflingpin]

... or Froissart or de Comminges or, for later mediaeval/renaissance, "The Prince" by Machiavelli or "The Courtier" by Castiglione.

But, if it has to be novels, how about "The Cunning of the Dove" by Duggan, set in the court of Edward the Confessor (definitely a "Good King",) or Maurice Druon's series about the Valois dynasty?

[RandomReadershi]

... or Froissart or de Comminges or, for later mediaeval/renaissance, "The Prince" by Machiavelli or "The Courtier" by Castiglione.

But, if it has to be novels, how about "The Cunning of the Dove" by Duggan, set in the court of Edward the Confessor (definitely a "Good King",) or Maurice Druon's series about the Valois dynasty?


Thank you for your valuable suggestions.

[prendrelemick]

Jean Plaidy. Extremely well researched historical novels.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/listmania/fullview/R38A7KG0RVB9LC

Everything you need to know will be in there

[ennison]

Many readers (mainly ladies of a certain age) learned their history from Jean Plaidy. I believe she wrote under several names. She not only wrote novels but non-fiction too.

[Jackson Richardson]

I remember seeing a paperback Jean Plaidy in the pile for a church jumble sale with the title "Flaunting Extravagant Queen" - a title from a song in Sheridan's "School for Scandal" which even in the 70s I thought was endearingly innocent.

It was about Marie Antoinette of course, not Quentin Crisp.

[prendrelemick]

Many readers (mainly ladies of a certain age) learned their history from Jean Plaidy. I believe she wrote under several names. She not only wrote novels but non-fiction too.

The Missus has read them all. Our local library got them out of central store for her, where sadly they now reside. She is an excellent writer though.

[stacy55]

No doubt, the Good king is better..

[Red Terror]

Ivanhoe and The Talisman by Walter Scott--- both are about the crusades during the Middle Ages.

Here is a list (not the list):

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/301.Best_Middle_Ages_Books