Best history books ever?

[Paulclem]

I like hisorical novels, which are informative and which have good writing and stories. I particularly enjoyed CJ Sansom's series set in the court of Henry VIII for the historical detail and the mystery. It's a fun way to get a general idea about a period in history, and was reccommended by an old history teacher of mine. I didn't pursue the subject, but it still stands as a good introduction.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?as_a...ed=0CB0QsAMwAw

Robert Harris is also very good on Rome - Pompeii and Imperium were a particularly good read.

http://www.randomhouse.com/author/re...authorid=12040

I'm also looking forward to rading Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, which is also set in the court of henry VIII. It won the 2009 Man Booker Prize.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolf-Hall-Hi.../dp/0007230184

[lyni]

another vote for Robert Harris's Pompeii - great read.
Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy.
Neil Hanson's Great fire of London.

all great reads.

[Michael T]

Some great history books mentioned. However, this is the MUST HAVE if you want to know about the world YOU live in, and how we got here.

World Politics 1945 - 2000 Peter Calvocoressi.




Highly recommended

[Nico87]

Stephen W. Sears has written some great books about the Civil War.

Bruce Catton's 'Army of the Potomac' trilogy is also worthy of a read.

[Nick Capozzoli]

My vote for a few: Letters from an American Farmer, Of Plymouth Plantation, Democracy in America, and the section of In the American Grain in the persona of Christopher Columbus arriving in the New World.

[Inka]

to me is one of the best historic novels is "Peter 1" by Alexey Tolstoy.

lyni
thankx for the advise, I'll definitely read "The Great Fire of London"))

[papayahed]

Anybody have an recommendations for non European/American history? (I skimmed that previous posts and didn't see anything)

[lyni]

lyni
thankx for the advise, I'll definitely read "The Great Fire of London"))[/QUOTE]

Inka - hope you enjoy it like I did

[Inka]

Inka - hope you enjoy it like I did

I wanted but I didn't find it in the stores =(

[rightbackathugh]

Personally I don't see how Gibbon's work is still a great history book unless you're studying 18th Century intellectual history.

[Emil Miller]

Among the the history books on my bookshelf is one that really is a superb read for afficionados of military history. Hitler's Generals by Correlli Barnett gives a marvellous insight into the reasons for the Wehrmacht's brilliant campaign in the West and also for its disastrous defeat in the East.

[dafydd manton]

The Mabinogion - very early Welsh history, although not necessarily 100% accurate. Nonetheless compelling