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  Historical Fiction

  Can anyone suggest good books on Historical fiction?

  Sridhar Oruganti started this discussion 5 months ago. ( reply )

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  Miriam Q 

  Do you have specific time periods or countries in mind? There is SO much to choose from; it would help if you could narrow it down a little.

  posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

  show 2 replies

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    Sridhar Oruganti 

    I recently read 'The Source' by James A Michener and found it simply put great.I've read Exodus and books by James Clavell.
    As you have pointed out,the number of books are too many but probably a list of the best books in historical fiction would do wonders.

    posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

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    Miriam Q 

    Both of those authors write a large number of books. I guess the reason I asked is that I don't read a huge amount of historical fiction, but have read a few things that you might like, depending on your interests. Bernard Cornwell has a great series about a soldier during the Napoleonic Wars, the Sharpe series (titles such as "Sharpe's Rifles," "Sharpe's Trafalgar" etc. I also really enjoyed Andrea Barrett's VOYAGE OF THE NARWHAL, about a 19th century sea voyage. There are many great books about China, such as Anchee Min's EMPRESS ORCHID. GONE WITH THE WIND by Margaret Mitchell is an interesting look at the American Civil War. NIGHT WATCH by Sarah Waters is about women ambulance drivers in London during WWII. Gail Tsukiyama writes a lot of books about Asia during WWII, specifically Hong Kong. Pat Barker's REGNERATION TRILOGY are three books about British soldiers suffering from shellshock and other problems during WWI. Again, I don't know that anyone would consider them the "best," but I liked them.

    posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

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  Scarlett 

  I liked the Children of the Earth series Jean Auel
  "Clan of the Cavebear" etc.
  "Pillars of the Earth" Ken Follett
  "The Tea Rose" Jennifer Donnelly
  "The Far Pavillions" M. M. Kaye
  "Slammerkin" Emma Donohue
  
  Those are just a few of my favorites.

  posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

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  tmmercury 

  I really enjoyed Medicus and its sequel Terra Incognita by Ruth Downie. They are about a Roman doctor living in Roman-occupied Britian who solves mysteries.

  posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

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  MockTurtle 

  I just finished reading RIVER GOD by Wilbur Smith. If you're interested in ancient Egypt, I recommend it. Lots of action, as well as details about life during that period.

  posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

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  Julie (edited)

  Two words: Jean Plaidy.
  
  And Immortal by Traci L. Slatton.

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

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  Vee (edited)

  I would suggest Moloka'i by Alan Brennert. It's a fictional story about the life of this girl (& those around her) who was afflicted with leprosy. Her story is fictional, but it is indeed true that the US quarantined lepers in the island of Moloka'i up until after WWII (am not sure of the year). I enjoyed it a lot. In fact, I've memorized by heart one passage from the book which goes:
  
  "Fear is good. In the right measure it prevents us from making fools of ourselves, but in the wrong degree, it prevents us from fully living. Fear is our boon companion but never our master."
  
  Isn't that great?

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

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  Seatah 

  I am reading "The Last of the Mohicans" by James Fenimore Cooper. It’s a classic historical fiction; so far I am enjoying it.

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

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    Mengxia 

    "Deerslayer" by James Fenimore Cooper is also very good.

    posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

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  primadonna20 

  Oooo! One of my favorite genres. Some authors you might check out: Thomas Costain, Morgan Llywelyn, Karen Cushman, Leon Uris, Sir Walter Scott
  
  And some specific titles: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, Dante's Daughter by Kimberly Heuston, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner...
  
  Ok, I'll stop, now. So many good ones!
  
  
  
  

  posted 3 months ago. ( reply )

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  Deborah 

  Try "Outlander", by Diana Gabaldon. It's rare for me to fall absolutely in love with a book, but I did with this one. Don't be put off by the kooky book description, it's an excellent, historical read.

  posted 3 months ago. ( reply )

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