What Historical Fiction are you reading?

[nj1]

Just finished Azincourt and it was a good solid book, kept me reading and plenty of action, though a bit predictable in parts, As usual a quality book by BC but not as good as the Arthur books imo.

I realised that I have four Historical fiction books in my to be read pile so am sticking with it for a while.

Next up - Fire and the Sword by Simon Scarrow. Book three of his Napoleon/Wellington series that has been really good so far. First book favoured Napoleon and the second Wellington so i'm looking forward to how this one will pan out.

[Clansman]

I am in the last of Stephen Lawhead's King Raven series, namely Tuck. This is a retelling of the Robin Hood (Rhi Bran Hud) myth, in a manner that would neatly explain a lot of things, and sets the story in the Welsh March. One can easily assume the later anglicization of the myth by moving it to Nottingham, and by changing the main character to Robin of Locksley, from Bran ap Brychan.

Very well done, a real page turner, and a lot of fun to read. Lawhead also appears to have done his research very well (again). Some small fantastic elements, but these are very small, more spiritual than magical, and not enough to take it from historical to fantasy. And, most importantly, Lawhead does not lose the swashbuckling and playful character that we are familiar with from the various incarnations of Robin Hood.

I highly recommend the series. Starts with Hood, then the second is Scarlet, and it finishes with Tuck.

[Theleb K]

Just re-read Ross Leckie's Hannibal trilogy. Fantastic! If you like your history ancient and you haven't come across RL yet, then I strongly recommend you have a butcher's

[nj1]

Originally Posted by Clansman

I am in the last of Stephen Lawhead's King Raven series, namely Tuck. This is a retelling of the Robin Hood (Rhi Bran Hud) myth, in a manner that would neatly explain a lot of things, and sets the story in the Welsh March. One can easily assume the later anglicization of the myth by moving it to Nottingham, and by changing the main character to Robin of Locksley, from Bran ap Brychan.

Very well done, a real page turner, and a lot of fun to read. Lawhead also appears to have done his research very well (again). Some small fantastic elements, but these are very small, more spiritual than magical, and not enough to take it from historical to fantasy. And, most importantly, Lawhead does not lose the swashbuckling and playful character that we are familiar with from the various incarnations of Robin Hood.

I highly recommend the series. Starts with Hood, then the second is Scarlet, and it finishes with Tuck.

I saw TUCK in a bookstore the other day and nearly bought it before finding it was part of a trilogy. That said though i was in doubt as i'd read Lawhead before, I've got two of his 'templar' books (i think one of the was called BLACK ROOD or something?) about a secret society i think, anyway i struggled with the second book and dropped the series due them being overly religious in my opinion. After that I have'nt been near any of his work.
This series does sound interesting though (especially being set in Wales) and i'm now tempted to take a look.

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by The Procrastinator

All lovers of historical fiction, I heartily recommend Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series. Set in the British Navy during the Napoleonic wars, following the trials, tribulations, adventures, disasters and unlikely friendship of two men - sea-captain Aubrey, and Irish-Catalan physician and naturalist Maturin.

The series begins with "Master and Commander" and goes on forever, or so you wish once you get hooked. The research is exhaustive and completely convincing, the writing beautiful, historically accurate and highly evocative (I swear I could smell the sea at times while reading) and the characterisation masterful. Full of the observation of life, from the wry to the tragic and heartwrenching to the absurd and laugh-out-loud, these books are true jewels - just like life.

I feel the same about C.S Forester's Hornblower series. He makes you travel to 18th century England like no other. So vividly,so techniqual about the sea life,ships,navy life that i can smell the sea,seeing everything clearly.

I will read O'Brien again when i have finished Hornblower. Forester hade me hungry for quality historical set in those times.

I have read most of the authors mentioned in the historical ficiton forum and i feel like no one makes historical fiction as everlasting entertaining,interesting as C.S Forester.

[misscousins]

Not currently reading, but the last I've read was "A study in scarlet" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a Sherlock Holmes novel.

I plan to read Bleak House soon.

[Clansman]

Originally Posted by nj1

I saw TUCK in a bookstore the other day and nearly bought it before finding it was part of a trilogy. That said though i was in doubt as i'd read Lawhead before, I've got two of his 'templar' books (i think one of the was called BLACK ROOD or something?) about a secret society i think, anyway i struggled with the second book and dropped the series due them being overly religious in my opinion. After that I have'nt been near any of his work.
This series does sound interesting though (especially being set in Wales) and i'm now tempted to take a look.

Your criticism about being overly religious is perhaps understandable, but you are judging an historical novel based on todays' ideals. Religion was EVERYTHING in those times. Faith, belief and superstition wound together in a cord that strangled everything, and Lawhead does a really good job of pointing that out. The Church was not just a religious institution, but wielded real and very heavy political power. One of Lawhead's main themes in his medieval books is the hypocrisy of the Church, and the contrast between evil churchmen and genuine Christian priests (such as Tuck). Any historical novel of medieval Europe that does not contain a heavy component of religion is blatantly un-historical, and really, is misleading, because it was a major part of European history.

King Raven is really brisk and a lot of fun, and the main thrust of the story is not religious, but it is rather the efforts of Rhi Bran Hud and his band of followers trying to gain justice for their people, and in the end, how that story morphed into Robin Hood and his Merry Men.

[misscousins]

currently reading...

TORQUEMADA

[nj1]

Originally Posted by Clansman

Your criticism about being overly religious is perhaps understandable, but you are judging an historical novel based on todays' ideals. Religion was EVERYTHING in those times. Faith, belief and superstition wound together in a cord that strangled everything, and Lawhead does a really good job of pointing that out. The Church was not just a religious institution, but wielded real and very heavy political power. One of Lawhead's main themes in his medieval books is the hypocrisy of the Church, and the contrast between evil churchmen and genuine Christian priests (such as Tuck). Any historical novel of medieval Europe that does not contain a heavy component of religion is blatantly un-historical, and really, is misleading, because it was a major part of European history.

King Raven is really brisk and a lot of fun, and the main thrust of the story is not religious, but it is rather the efforts of Rhi Bran Hud and his band of followers trying to gain justice for their people, and in the end, how that story morphed into Robin Hood and his Merry Men.

I agree that religion and the church was everything in those days and in other books i've read it has never been a problem, but with those two books i think i just got a bit annoyed with the overly oppressive view of the church that for me took over from the story.

[Clansman]

Originally Posted by misscousins

I plan to read Bleak House soon.

I have the recent BBC television adaptation with Gillian Anderson as Lady Deadlock, and Charles Dance as the lawyer Tulkinghorn. Great series! In fact, Dance's performance as the powerful and manipulative (evil) lawyer made me think that he would be perfect as Lord Tywin Lannister in the HBO series of G.R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.

Bleak House is on by TBR list.

[Connavar]

The Gun by C.S Forester about Napoleon peninsular war.

Not a navy story. I have also The Captain from Connecticut by same author. But im not in a rush to read about an American Navy Captain in 1812 war against the British.

[Riselka]

Decided to read Dissolution, by C.J. Sansom instead of Pargeter's Heaven Tree Trilogy.

I'm really enjoying it, and looking forward to reading the other three books in Sansom's Matthew Shardlake series, Dark Fire, Sovereign, and Revelation.

[Memnoch]

Just started "The Tower" by our favorite Italian, Valerio Massimo Manfredi!! High hopes as love alot of his other work, although it feels by chapter 4, almost like a Dan Brown "Da Vinci Codesque book!!" which has thrown me a touch! Fingers crossed though.

[Lioness]

I just finished The Trout Opera, and I wouldn't call it historical fiction as much as just an insight into Australian life. It was really good though, and the ending was brilliant.

[nj1]

Just finished FIRE AND SWORD by Simon Scarrow, REALLY enjoyed it, like the first two books and SS keeps the story running at a good pace and with characters like Napoleon and Wellesley you can't really go wrong. Never realised just how much of a genius Napoleon was and the achievements of both men are astounding. Can't wait for the next (final?) book of the series which covers the decline of Napoleon.

Now onto KING OF ITHACA, by Glyn Iliffe, a take on the Odyseus legend, started well so fingers crossed.