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Fiction

In reply to the discussion: Historical Fiction Frustrations. [View all]

malthaussen

(17,990 posts)
28. You could try Dorothy Dunnett...
Sat Feb 12, 2022, 01:16 PM
Feb 2022

... the Lymond Chronicles and the House of Niccolo series are set in the Renaissance. She uses a lot of dialect in the first, so it's a tough read. Lindsey Davis combines the genres of historical fiction and the detective series in her books about Marcus Didius Falco, set during Vespasian's reign. My favorite for the Matter of Britain is The Pendragon by Catherine Christian, which sets Arthur during the period of the breakup of the Roman Empire in Britain. I also like Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle, which along with Necronomicon combine history and information theory.

I like to read novels written in certain eras to get a feel for the times, even though the books are not "historical fiction" per se. The novel really got going in the 18th century (a lot of them were bodice-rippers of a sort), although there are a few examples that antedate that period.

R.F. Delderfield wrote a slew of historical novels, many of them adapted for the big or little screen. A lot of the themes of his work revolve around early 20th century social history subjects, especially adapting to society after the Great War and the increased de-ruralization of England. Then, of course, we have Nobel laureate John Galsworthy with The Forsyte Saga, which in a way combines that idea of historical and period writing.

One could go on. When it comes to historical fiction, there is no end to the number of books written.

-- Mal

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Historical Fiction Frustrations. [View all] hippywife Feb 2022 OP
Agree! RockCreek Feb 2022 #1
I'm not entirely sure Diamond_Dog Feb 2022 #2
That might be interesting. Thanks! nt hippywife Feb 2022 #19
Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series was excellent eShirl Feb 2022 #3
I can't believe I forgot that one! hippywife Feb 2022 #6
Excellent series kimbutgar Feb 2022 #23
Bernard Cornwell has a lot -- a LOT- of well-researched historical series viva la Feb 2022 #4
A lot of them, including Michener hippywife Feb 2022 #9
That's the problem with British historical fiction... viva la Feb 2022 #15
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, One Hundred Years of Solitude Ocelot II Feb 2022 #5
I've read Wolf Hall hippywife Feb 2022 #8
But at least they're not romance novels! Ocelot II Feb 2022 #11
Wolf Hall is wonderful-- viva la Feb 2022 #18
Just read The Silence of the Girls and was pleasantly surprised despite the weird title. Scrivener7 Feb 2022 #7
Thanks, I'll check it out. nt hippywife Feb 2022 #12
I love The Circle of Ceridwen series for its historical vanlassie Feb 2022 #10
Thanks for the rec. hippywife Feb 2022 #13
Yea, it's not, actually. vanlassie Feb 2022 #24
That was the impression I got hippywife Feb 2022 #26
I totally agree! CrispyQ Feb 2022 #14
I'd be against hippywife Feb 2022 #16
They're old, but Jilly_in_VA Feb 2022 #17
How about Edward Rutherford? He does big fabulous books Scrivener7 Feb 2022 #20
Thanks, hippywife Feb 2022 #21
Have you read any Gary Jennings books? kimbutgar Feb 2022 #22
Yes, I read Aztec because a friend sent it to me after she finished. hippywife Feb 2022 #25
Good stuff! madamesilverspurs Feb 2022 #27
I've re-read a few of Michener's. hippywife Feb 2022 #30
You could try Dorothy Dunnett... malthaussen Feb 2022 #28
WWII, WESTERN werdna Feb 2022 #29
I love good historical fiction I just re-read, The Little Book, Selden Edwards, have you read it? ShazamIam Feb 2022 #31
Here are some authors that I like quite a bit. You might enjoy some of them. japple Feb 2022 #32
Thank you. hippywife Feb 2022 #33
The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek - about the blue people of Kentucky. patricia92243 Sep 2022 #34
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