Your Favorite Historical Fiction Novels

[Sjakihata]

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

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

[Adrian II]

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

[King Henry V]

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).

[Red Peasant]

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

[Duke Malcolm]

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

[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.

[Somebody Else]

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.

[AggonyDuck]

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....

[Ultras DVSC]

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

Agree, it represents magnificiently France (and England) before the 100-year war. Fair Philip IV's splendid reign, the wise Pope John XXII's incredible carrier and the atmosphere of the medieval life. My favourite was undoubtedly Robert d'Artois, who was a quite extreme character with his huge stature, sense of humour, sexual dissipations, alcoholism.... Otherwise he was a pair of the French kingdom, and was buried in the St Paul's Cathedral in 1343.

[Spartakus]

Undoubtedly "The Sword and the Scimitar", also published as "Ironfire", by David Ball.

From Publishers's Weekly: "The Ottoman Empire's vicious 1565 assault on the island fortresses of Malta, and the vigorous defense of the island by the Knights of St. John, a military religious order dedicated to preserving Christendom from the Muslims, serves as the backdrop for Ball's second historical epic. Amid bloody land and sea battles, four protagonists struggle to survive in a world of disease, brutality and religious persecution. Nico, a young Maltese boy, is captured by Algerian corsairs in a pirate raid and taken to North Africa, where he serves as a slave to a shipbuilder. To save his life, he converts to Islam and becomes captain of one of the sultan's war galleys. Maria, Nico's sister, vows to find and rescue her brother, but priests, knights and her own desire for revenge thwart her plans. Christien Luc de Vries is an unwilling Knight of St. John who prefers studying medicine and surgery to butchering Muslims. Father Giulio Salvago is an Inquisitor determined to stamp out heresy through torture and fear, but whose own guilt over past sins torments him. All four characters confront lies, broken vows and unexpected twists in their efforts to vanquish their enemies and save themselves during the massive Turkish siege of Malta. Ball's bold, gruesome descriptions convincingly evoke the savagery of this 16th-century religious war and the treachery and zealotry of Muslim and Christian authorities alike."

It's one of the finest novels I've read, and it's definetely not just for the historically inclined, this is a must for all who appreciate the written word.

[Kraxis]

I think I'm going to add a couple of... let us just call them interesting, writers.

Sven Hazel's books. Historical? Hardly, but they have an interesting setting and they can be pretty nasty.

Even 'worse' are the books of Leo Kessler. They are enjoyable to a great extent, if you can ignore his obsession with women, and the male interaction they sometimes have.

I guess both could be called good books for 13-14 year olds, but I found them quite enjoyable even now. I guess I'm trying to be more of a devil's advocate here.

[phred]

Dorothy Dunnet's Lymond series is a lot of fun.
It takes place in the 1500s and follows her character Francis Crawford through Scotland, France (court of Henry II?), Malta, Istanbul, Moscow and a few points in between.

It starts with "The Game of Kings"

[King Henry V]

Oh my mum is a huge fan of the Lymond saga. She tried to make me read it once, but I found it very heavy going and I switched off after page 20.

[Mount Suribachi]

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

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

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

[Steppe Merc]

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.

[Cronos Impera]

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

[monkian]

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.

[eadeater]

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.

[Kagemusha]

I would like to point out one not that well known author but a great one.Mika Waltari.His best known novel is the Sinuhet Egyptian,but he has lots of other good historical novels ranging from rise of Rome to the Fall of Constantinopole and 30 years war.I recommended his novels whole heartedly.

[VAE VICTUS]

anyone heard of jack whytes arthur series? i like it at any rate,a more believable than cromwell,cornwell whatever his name is.

love the sharpe series.

[Randal]

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

I'd like to add that the Emperor series is extremely innaccurate, historically speaking. I've only read the first book, admittedly, but Iggulden twists the known record so far it's not even recognisable anymore. There really is no excuse to do this when writing about a person so well documented as Ceasar. Background details are also dubious, depictions of politics and military matters are bollocks, characteristation seems anachronistic as well.

I'd furthermore add that the writing is mediocre and the characterisation poor, but I may be prejudiced because the historical innaccuracy ticked me off. Sole redeeming feature would be that the book is fast paced and action packed, though I didn't find the action believable either.

For further details, see my post (well, long rant really) in the stickied literature thread in this forum. Post almost halfway down this page.

Bottom line would be: read if you want a quick action story and don't mind the flaws, but please don't take anything in there as historical fact.

Edit: to add something constructive to my post: I've always liked the little-known historical novels by Alfred Duggan. He wrote a ton of them in the 50s and 60s, and they're being reprinted now. Some are on medieval history, others are about ancient Rome. Favourites would include "The Conscience of the King", which is about the semi-legendary founder of the English royal house, Cerdric of Wessex, plotting, scheming and murdering his way to the throne.

If you like the idea of Cornwell's "historical Arthur", I recommend checking out Rosemary Sutcliff's "Sword at Sunset." This book is the first to look at Arthur this way, and provides a magnificent look at 5th century England, and a truly believable interpretation of Arhur. (or in this case, Artos the Bear.") Bear in mind, though, that this book isn't nearly as heavy on the battles and action scenes as Cornwell's novels.