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I grew up loving historical novels, especially ancient history, but they were largely replaced in my reading by fantasy after, as Card explains, they went out of fashion in the 70s.
OSC's latest review of historical novels caught my attention mainly because I just discovered Bernard Cornwell two years ago, when I, on the spur of the moment, bought a Cornwell book called "Sharpe's Trafalgar", about his hero Richard Sharpe at the Battle of Trafalgar (decisive English naval victory over Napoleon's France)at a remaindered book sale. There's a long series of books about Sharpe (as well as a TV series with Sean Bean) and I thought I'd try it for airplane reading for the 9 hour flight to Hawaii.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, and found the naval battle scenes absolutely stunning. As Card says in his review of "Agincourt" Cornwell creates an extraordinary sense of the horrific reality of 19th century naval warfare. The Napoleonic Wars were not something I'd been vaguely interested in but I've since bought about six other books in the Sharpe series, of which I've read four so far, and have not been disappointed. Thoroughly researched, very entertaining stories and characters, and tremendous battle scenes.
I've also just finished his "Harlequin", set around the battle of Crecy (England vs France again, but this time in the 1300s) and it's just as good.
He's also written a series on the Civil War (American, not the English) which is also supposed to be very good.
It's one of the great joys of life to discover a new author, and Bernard Cornwell has been a real discovery for me, as has been David Anthony Durham, whose book about Hannibal "Pride of Carthage" is a wonderful read.
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I'm peraonally a big fan of historical mysteries, but I will read straight historicals if I happen to see them at the library. Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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I've never read any of the historical mysteries, have always kind of shyed away from them. I'm not sure why, I'm not that big a fan of mysteries in general I guess.
Posts: 867 | Registered: Dec 2003
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Most of the historical novels I enjoy are set in biblical, or at least ancient, times. Nicholas Guild's The Assyrian and its sequel Blood Star are far and away the best I've ever read.
I think the only historical novel I've read and enjoyed from a later period is Faye Kellerman's The Quality of Mercy, which features Will Shakespeare as a main character. If you read it, you can see how the movie Shakespeare in Love was something of a ripoff.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Colleen McCullough: Masters of Rome series. All about the fall of the Roman Republic and the birth of the Principiate (Empire). Absolutely amazing and accurate. How many historical fiction authors receive an honorary doctorate for their fiction?
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Yes, Colleen McCullogh's books were excellent; it's a measure of how good they were that she glosses over battle scenes and I still enjoyed them so much, as I LOVE a good battle
I grew up feasting on ancient Greece and Rome, and my interest in ancient history is what got me into historical novels. Steven Pressfield's books are all good reading too.
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Colleen McCullough's is the standard - I have a hard time reading any historical fiction that isn't up to her accuracy and quality-of-writing levels.
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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Sarah Waters has written some really wonderful books set in the Victorian period - cool twisty plots and vivid settings. I love her books.
Posts: 910 | Registered: May 2000
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If Card liked Cornwell, and likes Arthurian based stories, he would probably like Cornwell's Arthur series: The Winter King, Enemy of God, and Excalibur.
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Do you like novelized stories of history - like Anya Seton's Katherine - or completely made up stories that are set in historical periods or during historical events - like Audrey Lindop's The Way to the Lantern?
Posts: 11187 | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote:Colleen McCullough's is the standard - I have a hard time reading any historical fiction that isn't up to her accuracy and quality-of-writing levels.
That is the truth. It's ruined many a novel-and History Channel/TLC/TDC 'documentary'- for me, because that's how it should be done- the balance between accuracy, gripping plot, real characterization (none anachronistic), and exposition. Course, I liked her battle scenes too. Marius' battle against the Germans at Tridentia and then Aqua Sextae, Sulla winning the Grass Crown in battle against the Socii, Caesar winning the Civic Crown, the circumvalation of Alesia (and general Gallic campaigns). But what I loved even more than that were all the political machinations, especially in Caesar's Women....man, I need to read those books again...
Pressfield is good, especially Gates of Fire. Peter Danielson's Children of the Lion series are OK. The characters are sometimes inconsistant, but it's steeped the history of the time, which made it very vivid and realistic. The Assyrian was good too (still remember the flaying scene...)
Stephen Lawhead's Byzantium is really pretty cool (but I wasn't really impressed with the Pendragon cycle. Too preachy.)
Curious about the Roman detective ones....but afraid McCullough's work would make me laugh at them. Anyone read them (besides OSC)?
Posts: 1346 | Registered: Jun 1999
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QUOTING kmboots: "Do you like novelized stories of history - like Anya Seton's Katherine - or completely made up stories that are set in historical periods or during historical events - like Audrey Lindop's The Way to the Lantern?" UNQUOTE
I'll go for both types. If it's a period of history I'm interested in I'm happy to take either approach.
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