Your Favorite Historical Fiction Novels

I was wondering whether anyone here has read any historical fiction set in the medieval time period which they would recommend? I have read a couple, and I enjoyed them very much. If you would like to recomend a book or three, please give a short description of the book and rate it on a scale from 1 - 10 (10 being the best). *NO SPOILERS PLEASE!*

Pillars of the Earth is a very long book which centers around a stone mason and his family. It focuses on medieval politics, especially where the Catholic Church is concerned. I also learned a great deal about the life of common people during the time period from this book. I would recommend it 9/10.

I enjoyed another series of books, but unfortunately I can't remember the exact title. The title is simply a year, i.e. 1985. I believe it is actually set in the 1300's. The sequels to the book are titled with the next successive years. The original premise of these books is a bit, well okay VERY, science-fictionish. A small mining town in modern America is suddenly picked up and dropped in the middle of Germany during the middle ages. The science fiction goes no farther than that point. Throughout the rest of the series, the author does an amazing job of exploring every facet of life, religion, politics, war and survival for "the americans" and for the Europeans who now live among them. I can't describe in this post how well the author addresses every facet of life and survival for the people in this town. What do they do when the medicine runs out? When the ammo for their guns runs out? How do they deal with medieval Europeans who wish to become part of their new country? How do they deal with mercenary armies consisting of tens of thousands of men assaulting their small town? The cast of characters includes many actual historical figures. I would imagine that the accuracy with which these figures are portrayed would depend on the reader's own prejudices. (The facts of every historical argument I've read on this site can be argued differently depending on which side of the conflict the historical source was on) Watching these people learn to govern themselves and learn to interact with other governments and powers while also learning to adapt their resources and technologies to the limitations of the Middle Ages was entertaining and educational in the extreme for me. I would highly recommend this series of books 10/10.

... this has nothing to do with the MTW game, a mod will probably coem along and move this...

Moved to the Monastery.

Alexander trilogy by Manfredi.

I also hear the series by Simon Scarrow is pretty good too.

I enjoyed Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose very much. I don't think the book is spoiled in any way if you've seen the film. The novel is a murder mystery, but illuminates medieval attitudes, philosophy, and religious thought by contrasting them with the more modern, rational approach of the protagonist.

If you enjoy Eco, you might also be interested in his Baudolino which is a lighter book but similar in its interest in medieval modes of thought.

Bernard Cornwell: The Grail Quest.

Yes, Also The Last Kingdom by Cornwall, while your at it check out his Warlord Chronicles for a "historical" version of Arthur.

Shogun by James Clavell, set in medieval Japan. 10/10

Colleen McCulloughs Masters of Rome. Not really mediveal but damned good anyways. 8/10

If you ever happen upon one or more books of Maurice Druon's seven-part series The Accursed Kings, don't hesisate.

I might give those a try. I saw the series on TV during the autumn and found it very good, although the scenery was a bit strange, a sort of Excalibur setting (i.e completely wrong).

The Flashman novels by George MacDonald Fraser, which are side-splittingly funny as well as being well researched.

Yes, the Flashman novels are fantastic. I've only read the first ony, Flashman, and the description of the 1st Afghan War is excellent.

I liked Gates of Fire by... damn, I don't rember is name. Anyway, it's the battle of Thermonoplyae from the view of a Spartan squire, telling it to his Persian captives.

Knight Crusader - Ronal Welch, a fantastic book, I've read it several times - there are a few others by the same author that wander through history - well worth picking up.

Also, The White Company by Conan Doyle is a must-read medieval historical fiction novel.

I'll add another mention of Bernard Cornwell's Grail Quest series, they're good fun.

What else is there... I know I've read a few more, but can't for the life of me remember titles and authors... One called Kemp or something about an archer at Agincourt... Umberto Eco's work is good - Name of the Rose, Baudolino...

To be honest, I am far more interested in novels set in the Classical era, but that's just me - the McCullough series were an excellent coupla months entertainment, the Manfredi books are... not particularly accurate in my opinion - airport novels... Of course, the person to read is Mary Renault, who is excellent. I find that I'm reading more fact than fiction on the subject though, so hmm...

Other areas... Clavell's good, for something similar, this is good for early 20th century China. The Flashman series is awesome in every way shape and form. Patrick O'Brian's Napoleonic era sailing novels are great...

I could go on and on, but I am getting off-topic, so I won't.

Originally Posted by Steppe Merc

I liked Gates of Fire by... damn, I don't rember is name. Anyway, it's the battle of Thermonoplyae from the view of a Spartan squire, telling it to his Persian captives.

By Steven Pressfield I think....

Originally Posted by Sjakihata

Colleen McCulloughs Masters of Rome. Not really mediveal but damned good anyways. 8/10

I second that. Someone at the Org put me onto them and I've read all 6 books in the last year. Outstanding stuff, from Gaius Marius to Octavian

Cornwell is entertaining, not always believable but entertaining.

I especially liked being able to identify most of the source material for the "historical" aspects of his warlord trilogy, very entertaining (both identifying the sources and the trilogy).

The author of the Cadfael series has done some other entertaining historical novels too.

Edit: for spelling

Originally Posted by Mount Suribachi

I second that. Someone at the Org put me onto them and I've read all 6 books in the last year. Outstanding stuff, from Gaius Marius to Octavian

Eh, I read a few, but it was too politicy... not enough battles, too much stuff about whos sleeping with who.

Spartacus by Rafaello Giovanolli ( very interesting novel focused on Rome)
Great insight, great subject, great ending.
Also I enjoyed Shogun by James Clavell.

Tyrant by Valerio Manfredi (sp) - he also did the Alexander trilogy

A brief synopsis

The thundering new historical epic from the bestselling master of the genre Sicily 412 BC: the infinite duel between a man and a superpower begins. The man is Dionysius, who has just made himself Tyrant of Syracuse. The superpower Carthage, mercantile megalopolis and mistress of the seas. Over the next eight years, Dionysius' brutal military conquests will strike down countless enemies and many friends to make Syracuse the most powerful Greek city west of mainland Greece. He builds the largest army of antiquity and invents horrific war machines to use against the Carthaginians, who he will fight in five wars. But who was Dionysius? Historians have condemned him as one of the most ruthless, egocentric despots. But he was also patron of the arts, a dramatist, poet and tender lover.

Bloody good stuff for RTW fans

Also the Emperor series by Conn Iggulden

Conn Iggulden brilliantly interweaves history and adventure to recreate the astonishing life of Julius Caesar - an epic tale of ambition and rivalry, bravery and betrayal, from an outstanding new voice in historical fiction.

Set from the start of Ceaser's lifr to the bloody end. Great characters and very enjoyable.

[QUOTE=Craterus]Alexander trilogy by Manfredi.

Yes, that is a good read...is it famous? I got it 4 Christmas years ago...

Aonther book...not novel but just as good to read is "The Adventures of Ibn Batutta". To sum it up: theologically educated guy travelles as Muslim scholar pretty much through the whole Islamic world of the 14th century. From Byzanz (i know that one ain`t Islamic) to Indonesia, from Siberia to the Maledives....It is very interessing and funny....

[QUOTE=Subedei]

Originally Posted by Craterus

Alexander trilogy by Manfredi.

Yes, that is a good read...is it famous?

Fairly famous, AFAIK.

Amin Maalouf's Leo Africanus and Samarkand were quite good. The first one especially achieved to depict the early Renaissance from both christian and muslim point of view, without falling in the 'They were more bad than us' kind of thing.
Oddly, I didn't like other novels by Amin Maalouf, cause they seemed quite more biased toward one 'side'.
If you want summaries, google or wikipedia is for you. Basically, Leo the African depicts the life of a Muslim traveller born in Granada in the end of the 15th century, who visited a lot of places in Africa (Fez, Cairo, the Songhai Empire) and later converted to Christianism and served a few popes in Roma. It's based on a real character, although little is known about his real life. Dunno how much was made up by Maalouf, but the book is great anyway.
Samarkand is, if my memory isn't fooling me, composed of 2 different stories taking place in the great city of Samarkand, the first one during the growth of the Turkish power in the Middle East, and the second one during the colonial era.
I'd rate Leo the African 8/10 and Samarkand 7/10

I also enjoyed the Children of the Grail serie (I only read the first 2 books), by Peter Berling, although I don't think it's great litterature (rather an historical novel with the cheap stuffs that increase solds : sex, violence, weird things a la japanese porn there and there). I liked it cause it reminded me of MTW and because it has everything I like about the Middle Age : Knight Orders, Great Kings, Battles, Mongols, Cathars, a Roman Emperor struggling with different Popes, a Grail theory, Arab characters a la Arabian Nights, Gay Greeks (joking ) etc. etc.

The Accursed Kings serie is great too. Quite a shame both TV series were totally crappy (What was Philippe Torreton doing here anyway ? )

Originally Posted by gunslinger

I enjoyed another series of books, but unfortunately I can't remember the exact title. The title is simply a year, i.e. 1985. I believe it is actually set in the 1300's. The sequels to the book are titled with the next successive years. The original premise of these books is a bit, well okay VERY, science-fictionish.

Those would be 1632, 1633, and 1634 (so far), by Eric Flint, with David Weber collaborating on the 2nd volume. Also related is The Grantville Gazette, a collection of shorter stories placed in the same alternate history setting. All very good reads, if not total pageburners. Recommended.

A good series I've read has been the "Camulod Chronicles" by Jack Whyte. It is set in Britain at the end of Roman occupation in the 5th century. It is suposed to be a realistic/historical story cronicleing the beginings of Camalote (Camulod) and the early life of Aurthur told from the perspective of Caius Merlyn Britannicus (Merlyn). The series has about 7 books and is fairly well written. It makes a good attempt at turing the legand into somthing that is realistic and belivable.

I vote for The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco andShogun by Clavel. I like I, Claudius by Robert Graves , too.
There is a good story in the Mead hall about princess Eleanor written by Frogbeastegg ( I am reading it from time to time )

My favourites is books by Mika Waltari - The Dark Angel (Johannes Angelos, 1952),The Etruscan (Turms kuolematon, 1955),The Egyptian (Sinuhe egyptiläinen, 1945). Deep historical context makes you believe, that everything was like Waltari writes. And of course Eco's -"the name of the rose".

"The Bastard King" i dont remember by who but its about William the Conquerer and its really good

I hope you don't mind a little fantasy too (demons and magic), but I really really liked The Shadow of Ararat by Harlan. The series was quite absorbing, but boy, I think that sucker blundered to a halt. I would advise just reading the first (as it is standalone) but the next three run into each other. It was tough to get into (I wasn't used to his style) but once I was in, I was hooked.

It is set during Heraclius' reign.

Azi

Originally Posted by monkian

Also the Emperor series by Conn Iggulden

Conn Iggulden brilliantly interweaves history and adventure to recreate the astonishing life of Julius Caesar - an epic tale of ambition and rivalry, bravery and betrayal, from an outstanding new voice in historical fiction.

Set from the start of Ceaser's lifr to the bloody end. Great characters and very enjoyable.

Absolutely - loved the Emperor series, especially the way it describes Caesars childhood and youth, something not often touched upon in mainstream literature.