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Give me some good historical fiction novel recomendations
Posted on 7/13/16 at 10:28 am
Posted on 7/13/16 at 10:28 am
I've read most of the Cornwell stuff and I've tried William Dietrich (but thought his Hadrian's Wall was only ok). And of course I've read some of the old stuff like Vidal. Even read some of the old Jean Auel stuff (which I guess would be pre-historical fiction).
Not sure where to look next.
So, any recommendations? Anything from classical antiquity or earlier through the middle ages to the present day would be fine - even anything based in Louisiana or the Ohio valley in the last couple of centuries.
What ya got?
Not sure where to look next.
So, any recommendations? Anything from classical antiquity or earlier through the middle ages to the present day would be fine - even anything based in Louisiana or the Ohio valley in the last couple of centuries.
What ya got?
22
Posted on 7/13/16 at 10:32 am to Methuselah
The Masters of Rome series by Colleen McCullough is really good.
Start with the First Man in Rome.
The Library should have every book in the series.
Start with the First Man in Rome.
The Library should have every book in the series.
Posted on 7/13/16 at 10:33 am to SpqrTiger
I also enjoyed Aztec by Gary Simmons. That's a very vibrantly-written book.
Posted on 7/13/16 at 10:35 am to Methuselah
Anything by Ken Follett... focused on English history.
Pillars of the Earth (also made into an excellent miniseries)
World Without End
Fall of Giants, and the other two in that trilogy.
Pillars of the Earth (also made into an excellent miniseries)
World Without End
Fall of Giants, and the other two in that trilogy.
Posted on 7/13/16 at 10:41 am to TejasHorn
If you're interested in Vlad Tepes, check out Vlad Dragwlya: Son of the Dragon. Written by an LSU employee if I recall correctly.
Posted on 7/13/16 at 10:43 am to Methuselah
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara or anything by Jeff Shaara.
Posted on 7/13/16 at 10:49 am to Methuselah
If you're looking for Ohio Valley based, Harriet Simpson Arnow is solid. Hunter's Horn gets into Eastern Kentucky Appalachian life around WWII. The Dollmaker is another Appalachian fiction piece by her.
I'm currently reading Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff. It's ok but it definitely drags in parts. I've heard her books The Witches (based on the Salem witch trials) and Vera (based on the wife of Russian author Vladimir Nabokov) are better reads but I haven't trie them.
Have you read any Erik Larson? Devil in the White City is really good.
I'm currently reading Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff. It's ok but it definitely drags in parts. I've heard her books The Witches (based on the Salem witch trials) and Vera (based on the wife of Russian author Vladimir Nabokov) are better reads but I haven't trie them.
Have you read any Erik Larson? Devil in the White City is really good.
Posted on 7/13/16 at 11:04 am to Methuselah
I've enjoyed the Marcus Didius Falco series by Lindsey Davis. He's a private investigator, or informer, set in the days of the Roman Empire.
Posted on 7/13/16 at 11:06 am to Methuselah
Gates of Fire - Steven Pressfield
The Ten Thousand - Michael Curtis Ford
The Ten Thousand - Michael Curtis Ford
This post was edited on 7/14/16 at 7:23 am
Posted on 7/13/16 at 11:50 am to Methuselah
The Lion of Ireland by Morgan Llewellyn, it's her version of the life of Brian ap Baru, the first Irish High King.
Actually, anything she writes is fantastic. Some of her stuff delves into slight fantasy, similarly to Stephen R Lawhead, but is very well done.
I would also advise Lawhead, some of his stuff is pure fantasy, and all of it will have at least some small Christian themes throughout, but he is an incredible writer. He truly makes you walk the same roads as his character. His Pendragon Cycle is a historical fiction version of the Author legend. Written in a similar fashion to a high fantasy epic, in contrast to Cornwell's sometimes gritty reality.
All of that being said, my favorite Historical fiction novel ever is The Walking Drum by Louis L'Amour. It's an almost perfect book, it beautifully blends history with the faintest hints of fantasy. It's also a true epic in which the character covers almost the entirety of Europe, East Russia, and parts of the Middle East.
Lastly, one more is The Frontiersmen by Allen W. Eckert. A somewhat fictionalized life story of Simon Kenton, maybe the least known of the great early explorers.
Actually, anything she writes is fantastic. Some of her stuff delves into slight fantasy, similarly to Stephen R Lawhead, but is very well done.
I would also advise Lawhead, some of his stuff is pure fantasy, and all of it will have at least some small Christian themes throughout, but he is an incredible writer. He truly makes you walk the same roads as his character. His Pendragon Cycle is a historical fiction version of the Author legend. Written in a similar fashion to a high fantasy epic, in contrast to Cornwell's sometimes gritty reality.
All of that being said, my favorite Historical fiction novel ever is The Walking Drum by Louis L'Amour. It's an almost perfect book, it beautifully blends history with the faintest hints of fantasy. It's also a true epic in which the character covers almost the entirety of Europe, East Russia, and parts of the Middle East.
Lastly, one more is The Frontiersmen by Allen W. Eckert. A somewhat fictionalized life story of Simon Kenton, maybe the least known of the great early explorers.
This post was edited on 7/13/16 at 12:00 pm
Posted on 7/13/16 at 12:26 pm to Methuselah
An Officer and a Spy - Robert Harris
Fictionalized account of the Alfred Dreyfus affair.
Fictionalized account of the Alfred Dreyfus affair.
Posted on 7/13/16 at 12:26 pm to Methuselah
Jack Higgins writes some great historical fiction. Also some of the early Greg Iles books are WW2 themed. Spandaux Phoenix and Black Cross.
Posted on 7/13/16 at 1:06 pm to Methuselah
Libra by Don DeLillo, if you haven't read it, is a brilliant piece of writing.
Have you read John Dos Passos' USA trilogy? Might not be what you are looking for but it is an impressive work.
Have you read John Dos Passos' USA trilogy? Might not be what you are looking for but it is an impressive work.
Posted on 7/13/16 at 1:17 pm to Methuselah
Jeff Shaara
Stephen Pressfield
Stephen Pressfield
Posted on 7/13/16 at 2:51 pm to pvilleguru
Jeff Shaara novels.
I recently read "Chain of Thunder." It was a great story based on the siege of Vicksberg. Three of my grandfathers were in the 39th Ga and were there. The story paints a good picture of the main characters (Grant, Sherman, Pemberton) and their tactics. The entire city was starved into submission. Easy but informative read.
I recently read "Chain of Thunder." It was a great story based on the siege of Vicksberg. Three of my grandfathers were in the 39th Ga and were there. The story paints a good picture of the main characters (Grant, Sherman, Pemberton) and their tactics. The entire city was starved into submission. Easy but informative read.
Posted on 7/13/16 at 2:55 pm to Ace Midnight
+1 for Gates Of Fire. I also love the Flashman series; read them in order:
Posted on 7/13/16 at 3:45 pm to Methuselah
War and Peace.
Posted on 7/13/16 at 4:09 pm to rebelrouser
Flashman series would be tough to beat.
Posted on 7/13/16 at 5:07 pm to Methuselah
Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier. Same author as Cold Mountain and another one set around the Civil War.
ETA Slaughterhouse Five by Vonnegut too.
ETA Slaughterhouse Five by Vonnegut too.
This post was edited on 7/13/16 at 5:09 pm
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