Book recommendations

**Cangrande** · 01-25-2007, 21:42

Two of my big favourites are A History of Venice and A Short History of Byzantium both by John Julius Norwich

Although 'general' histories, they are both good on the political/military side. Good old-fashioned narrative history at its very best

**Mooks** · 01-26-2007, 16:18

Historical fiction anyone? Best kind of books.

Bernard Cornwell. This man is a genuis. Involves true historical information his book along with a fictional character and a good story. The characters in his books are soldiers, and bloodthirsty ones that at.

Nonfiction. "Crossing the rubicon" based on Julius Caesar. Cant remeber author.

**Marshal Murat** · 01-27-2007, 07:59

Sienkiewicz is my favorite historical-fiction author.
He wrote 'With Fire and Sword' 'Deluge' and 'Fire in the Steppe' (or Pan Wolodyjowski if you prefer)

Cornwell is a very intelligent and accomplished historical fiction writer.
Patrick O'Brian's style didn't click with me, but you can always try your local library.

Dumas writes some wicked ones to.

**Lorenzo_H** · 01-28-2007, 21:11

Originally Posted by holybandit

Historical fiction anyone? Best kind of books.

Bernard Cornwell. This man is a genuis. Involves true historical information his book along with a fictional character and a good story. The characters in his books are soldiers, and bloodthirsty ones that at.

Nonfiction. "Crossing the rubicon" based on Julius Caesar. Cant remeber author.

I don't like Bernard Cornwell that much - his writing is too dirty and unheroic for me. Even though I have read quite a few Sharpe novels...

**Kralizec** · 01-28-2007, 23:51

I heartily recommend Donald Kagans The Penelopessian war.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**Geoffrey S** · 01-29-2007, 00:19

For a very broad, and to be honest somewhat dated, view of the developments around the Mediterranean until the end of the Roman Empire, try The Mediterranean in the Ancient World by Fernand Braudel. He presents a far more abstract side of history through the geography, art and demographics and connects them with the more obvious historical events, and does so in a manner which makes it a real pleasure to read. Like I said, it is dated in places so find a version with updated notes.

**Marshal Murat** · 01-29-2007, 02:47

Peloponnesian War (I think even that is mispelled)-A very good book about the war between the Delian & Peloponnesian League.

I've heard some good things about Horatio Hornblower.

Currently reading Sea of Thunder by Evan Thomas, one that really enjoy.

**ajaxfetish** · 02-04-2007, 08:44

For some excellent medieval writing, I'd recommend A Distant Mirror, by Barbara Tuchman. It covers the earlier part of the Hundred Years War and other contemporary events, along with painting a picture of the time in general.

Originally Posted by diablodelmar

I don't like Bernard Cornwell that much - his writing is too dirty and unheroic for me.

Kinda like war, eh?

Ajax

**Randarkmaan** · 02-04-2007, 13:35

"A history of Islamic Societies" by Ira M. Lapidus is very good for Islamic history if you're into that...

Also Carl Grimberg's (A swede) "Världshistoria" is a very good collection of history books, it focuses on the lives of people (mostly those important) and is rather interesting to read, though expect som bias against certain people at times for an example the Turks and other Muslims ("Mohammedans"), in this collection I find the first ones about the ancient world to be the best. I don't know if it's available in English though, but you can get it in Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and Danish I think. It's roughly 30 books each of about 300 pages... Though not all are written by Grimberg as he died before he could complete his work, though all are written in the same style.

**Derfasciti** · 02-04-2007, 17:02

I am currently reading "The World is Not Enough" by Zoe Oldenbourg.

It's a historical fiction about a minor Baronial family in 12th century France. So far it's pretty interesting and offers fairly good insights about how life was back then.

The Gies books on life in the middle ages are supposed to be very informative as well.

I just recently finished "The Hundred Years War" by Desmond Seward. I found it very informative and it introduced me to the war, as I knew very little about it to begin with.

I unfortunately know of very few roman books.

**Lorenzo_H** · 02-09-2007, 08:47

Originally Posted by ajaxfetish

For some excellent medieval writing, I'd recommend A Distant Mirror, by Barbara Tuchman. It covers the earlier part of the Hundred Years War and other contemporary events, along with painting a picture of the time in general.

Kinda like war, eh?

Ajax

Well I guess I phrased that wrong; I just dislike the fact that Sharpe is such a womaniser and also Cornwall doesn't accuratly depict many of the things about the British Army then.

**Don Corleone** · 02-09-2007, 22:30

Has anybody actually read "The Longships" by Bengtsson? I'm contemplating, but it seems like such a daunting task. I'd like to know it'd be worth it before dedicating that much time to it.