If you are into roman history The First Man in Rome series by Colleen McCullough is amazing. She researched it for 10 years before writing it and the books are huge and there are lots of them!
I enjoy book pairs, do here are a couple: the coral thief by Rebecca Stott and Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier; another good pair is Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd and The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier. My favorite a Tracy Chevalier is Fallen Angels, about the suffrage movement. Finally, if you can handle a long, chewy read, the thousand autumn’s of Jacob de Zoet is a marvel, it’s by David Mitchell.
Now that I am on my computer, with a keyboard, not my gol-darned phone, I’ll say more. 🙂
First of all, thank you, Rosalie! I knew there was a second book, World Without End, but I didn’t know there was a third in the series, A Column of Fire. Looks like I’ll be returning to this series. It is a big favorite of mine, and you just made my day!
Second, I have very particular tastes in historical fiction. I don’t like intrigues among princesses and other members of court. I like stories about the common people. This series focuses on the lives of ordinary people. The two books I have read in the series are set in a market town in England, the first in the 12th century, the second in the 14th. So obviously, no ongoing characters from one to the other. The characters include small merchants in the town, craftspeople, members of the monastery, and the local lord of the manor. Includes a lot of detail on day to day lives of people; the power struggle between church, merchants, and gentry; and the building of a cathedral.
Just read your longer comment. A third book? I’m freaking out!! I agree heartily with your description of the world Follett has created. I literally cried at the end of Pillars, not because it’s sad but because I didn’t want to leave that world and those characters.
I just finished God Is An English man. It’s by R. K. Delderfield and the first in a trilogy of the Swann Family that starts in the mid 1860s in England. Pretty lengthy but glad I finished and ready to start on the second which is over 700 pages.
I had high hopes for this one but for some reason it didn’t quite hit my sweet spot. Maybe it was the “mixed media” throughout the book…I guess I prefer a standard reading experience lol.
The Bregdan Chronicles is about the civil war, restoration, strong female characters, I learn so much from each book, the characters are so inspiring, and @Ginny is still writing the series!
Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan about Robert louis Stevenson and his life with Fanny van der Grif Osbourne, his American wife. Wonderful story.
Men to Match my Mountains, by Irving Stone. “Men to Match My Mountains is a true historical masterpiece, an unforgettable pageant of giants—men like John Sutter, whose dream of paradise was shattered by the California Gold Rush; Brigham Young and the Mormons, who tamed the desert with Bible texts; and the silver kings and the miners, who developed Nevada’s Comstock Lode and settled the Rockies.”
Ken Follet’s Century trilogy absolutely fabulous. Also the Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer. At some point I will probably read both again . Both books I was sad when they end
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, Salt to the Sea by Ruta Septa, The Wonder by Emma Donahue, A Piece of the World and Orphan Train by Christina Baker Cline, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.
Seriously, I cannot recommend “Flight of Dreams” more strongly. It was my favorite book of 2016 and in my opinion, it should have become a huge best seller – historical fiction that reads like a thriller! Lawhon is magnificent, and I also enjoyed her first novel, “The Wife, the Maid and the Mistress”. I can hardly wait for her to come out with another book!
Written by: Sebastian Barry Sebastian Barry’s latest work is a masterpiece of atmosphere and language. An intensely poignant story of two men and the makeshift family they create with a young Sioux girl, Winona, Days Without End is a fresh and haunting portrait of the most fateful years in American history and is a novel never to be forgotten.
@Lorraine it’s one of those books where you have past the first 100 pages. After that you are hooked. I read it in the late 80’s. I agree with @Sharon. I laughed, I cried and I got really mad. No hated to see it end.
I remember reading this book. I can even tell you where I was. I was living in Mexico City (teaching). It was summer break and I had a part time job as a nanny while the parents were out of town. In between taking care of three little boys, I read this book. What memories!
Before We Were Yours – Historic Fiction by Lisa Wingate Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family’s Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge—until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned to their parents—but they quickly realize that the truth is much darker. At the mercy of the facility’s cruel director, Rill fights to keep her sisters and brother together—in a world of danger and uncertainty.
The Witchfinders Sister from a recommendation by ROSBC members. Unsettling, informative and really well written. Civil war England and this Witchfinder was out of control!
If you liked Lonesome Dove, read News of the World. Awesome book set in Texas in about the same time frame as Lonesome Dove- or maybe a few years earlier. I loved it!
Lonesome Dove is one of my all time favorite books. Check out The Son by Phillipp Meyer. The Son: an epic, multigenerational saga of power, blood, and land that follows the rise of one unforgettable Texas family from the Comanche raids of the 1800s to the border raids of the early 1900s to the oil booms of the 20th century. I think they made into a mini series which I have not watched.
Ride The Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson. Based on the true story of Cynthia Ann Parker, who was kidnapped in 1836 during a brutal raid by the Comanche Indians, then adopted and raised by the tribe. An older book but one of my all time favorites! Another of my favorite books, technically not historical fiction, is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.
Just started The Gilda Stories for a change of pace after rereading six Louise Penny Armand Gamache novels. It’s historical fiction with a black, lesbian vampire as the protagonist.
Long time ago, I’ve read NOAH GORDON’s THE PHYSICIAN and it was very good. He also wrote SHAMAN and THE LAST JEW, The Cole Family Trilogy. Also, GORE VIDAL have written many Historical Fiction. And HILARY MANTEL wristes good historical fiction based on England’s history.
If you are into roman history The First Man in Rome series by Colleen McCullough is amazing. She researched it for 10 years before writing it and the books are huge and there are lots of them!
These are older, but I really liked the North and South trilogy by John Jakes and Centennial by James Michener.
11/22/63
If I tried to explain it I would sound crazy. It’s really great!
I LOVED this book even though I’m not a S. King fan. Not his usual style for sure. ?
This is one of my all time favorite books.
@Marilyn I am not a fan of his as well but this one was so good!
The nightingale
I enjoy book pairs, do here are a couple: the coral thief by Rebecca Stott and Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier; another good pair is Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd and The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier. My favorite a Tracy Chevalier is Fallen Angels, about the suffrage movement. Finally, if you can handle a long, chewy read, the thousand autumn’s of Jacob de Zoet is a marvel, it’s by David Mitchell.
All the light we cannot see
Ooh I loved this one!
Pillars of Earth
This whole series is good. Ken Follett
Now that I am on my computer, with a keyboard, not my gol-darned phone, I’ll say more. 🙂
First of all, thank you, Rosalie! I knew there was a second book, World Without End, but I didn’t know there was a third in the series, A Column of Fire. Looks like I’ll be returning to this series. It is a big favorite of mine, and you just made my day!
Second, I have very particular tastes in historical fiction. I don’t like intrigues among princesses and other members of court. I like stories about the common people. This series focuses on the lives of ordinary people. The two books I have read in the series are set in a market town in England, the first in the 12th century, the second in the 14th. So obviously, no ongoing characters from one to the other. The characters include small merchants in the town, craftspeople, members of the monastery, and the local lord of the manor. Includes a lot of detail on day to day lives of people; the power struggle between church, merchants, and gentry; and the building of a cathedral.
I was going to recommend this one too. It is in my top 3 fave books of all time.
Just read your longer comment. A third book? I’m freaking out!! I agree heartily with your description of the world Follett has created. I literally cried at the end of Pillars, not because it’s sad but because I didn’t want to leave that world and those characters.
Paris by Edward Rutherford is exactly like you described. His other books England and New York are the same way. They are long but great.
Thank you for the recommendation, @Katie.
Lilac Girls – Martha Hall Kelly SO INCREDIBLE!
The outlander series by diana gabaldon
I like the show
books are fantastic..show is great.
So many great ones! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18222767-a-death-struck-year
If you have not yet read Dorothy Dunnett, the Lymond Chronicles are fabulous.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22838927-the-steep-thorny-way
the 13th wife
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7728889-the-diviners
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11925514-code-name-verity
I’m reading Lincoln in the Bardo. It’s historical fiction, but not what you’d expect. I’m liking it quite a bit.
Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum. Amazing
I just finished God Is An English man. It’s by R. K. Delderfield and the first in a trilogy of the Swann Family that starts in the mid 1860s in England. Pretty lengthy but glad I finished and ready to start on the second which is over 700 pages.
We were the Lucky Ones, Invention of Wings, Orphan Number 8
The Gilded Hour by Sara Donati. Strong women. Long, but good read.
I loved her Into the Wilderness series
All the light we cannot see
The Book Thief. Technically a YA novel, but I’m WAY past YA ? and it remains a favorite three years after I read it.
One of my all-time favorite books! Read it with my book group, discovered YA books. So good.
I had high hopes for this one but for some reason it didn’t quite hit my sweet spot. Maybe it was the “mixed media” throughout the book…I guess I prefer a standard reading experience lol.
I loved it but it wasn’t for everyone.
The Bregdan Chronicles is about the civil war, restoration, strong female characters, I learn so much from each book, the characters are so inspiring, and @Ginny is still writing the series!
Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan about Robert louis Stevenson and his life with Fanny van der Grif Osbourne, his American wife. Wonderful story.
I just recently finished and loved this book! I’ve not seen it much here, but, SO worth the adventure!
I was going to recommend the same title!
The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott. Also Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen.
Men to Match my Mountains, by Irving Stone. “Men to Match My Mountains is a true historical masterpiece, an unforgettable pageant of giants—men like John Sutter, whose dream of paradise was shattered by the California Gold Rush; Brigham Young and the Mormons, who tamed the desert with Bible texts; and the silver kings and the miners, who developed Nevada’s Comstock Lode and settled the Rockies.”
Sorry, I went to non fiction
Paris Wife
Book Thief
Pretty much anything by Jennifer Chiaverini
I’ve read everything by Michael (Killer Angels) and Jeff Shaara.
Killer Angels is one of my favorites.
…Outlander! ?
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, The Book Thief, Sarah’s Key, America’s First Daughter, Lilac Girls, The Chilbury Ladies Choir, Kitchen House
Gore Vidal’s books “Burr”, “Julian” and “Creation” are all very good
JG Farrell – Troubles, Siege of Krishnapur
All the Light We Cannot See tops them all for me!
Penelope Fitzgerald – The Beginning of Spring
Ken Follet’s Century trilogy absolutely fabulous. Also the Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer. At some point I will probably read both again . Both books I was sad when they end
Fiona Davis!
The oracle glass by Judith merkle Riley.
The shardlake series of books by CJ Sansom. The first one is called Dissolution. They’re historical crime fiction set in tudor England.
hilary mantel anything bu her
The Girl With The Pearl Earring
And After the Fire by Lauren Belfer, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, Sarah’s Key by Tatiana Dr Rosnay
187 palmen aus plastik
I will not stop promoting “Flight of Dreams” by Ariel Lawhon… it is about the flight of the Hindenburg and it is AMAZING!
The Paris Wife and The Aviator’s Wife
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, Salt to the Sea by Ruta Septa, The Wonder by Emma Donahue, A Piece of the World and Orphan Train by Christina Baker Cline, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.
Burial Rites was phenomenal. Loved it!
Thank you all!!!
Seriously, I cannot recommend “Flight of Dreams” more strongly. It was my favorite book of 2016 and in my opinion, it should have become a huge best seller – historical fiction that reads like a thriller! Lawhon is magnificent, and I also enjoyed her first novel, “The Wife, the Maid and the Mistress”. I can hardly wait for her to come out with another book!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1556721989?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10414941-catherine-the-great?ac=1&from_search=true
One of my all time favorite. Love Massie. Love his outstanding Nicholas and Alexandra.
The Heretic’s Daughter is about the Salem Witch Trials and one of my favorite books of all time ❤
Kent, Blythe or Wyndham? (Authors of books all titled The Heretic’s Daughter)
Oh, so sorry, Kathleen Kent!
Sarah’s Key….Orphan Train
I LOVE The Orphan Train!
Sarah’s Key❤️? get teary eyed just thinking about it.
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18079776-the-invention-of-wings?from_search=true
Oh my gosh excellent!!!
Days Without End: A historic Novel
Written by: Sebastian Barry Sebastian Barry’s latest work is a masterpiece of atmosphere and language. An intensely poignant story of two men and the makeshift family they create with a young Sioux girl, Winona, Days Without End is a fresh and haunting portrait of the most fateful years in American history and is a novel never to be forgotten.
The Secrets of Mary Bowser. Set in Richmond VA during the American civil war.
I loved The Year Of The French by Thomas Flanagan. Also loved Troubles by j G Farrell
Before We were Yours by Lisa Wingate
This is my favorite historical fiction. It is an investment but it is worth it
And Ladies of the Club https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/576666?source=ebfg_sms
OMG! I loved this book….I loved following these ladies through their lives. I cried, I laughed, I got angry…just as you do with your friends.
I read this many years ago. I think I’ll reread.
Have tried three times. Cannot get into this! So frustrated!
@Lorraine it’s one of those books where you have past the first 100 pages. After that you are hooked. I read it in the late 80’s. I agree with @Sharon. I laughed, I cried and I got really mad. No hated to see it end.
@Katherine I want that. I really do! After I finish The Weight of Ink, I’ll give it another shot!
I remember reading this book. I can even tell you where I was. I was living in Mexico City (teaching). It was summer break and I had a part time job as a nanny while the parents were out of town. In between taking care of three little boys, I read this book. What memories!
Sandra Dallas, two of my favorites are Alice’s Tulips and Tallgrass.
Cutting for Stone
Following cuz I love historical fiction!
I read it this summer. Absolutely loved it. You must give it at least 100 pages before giving up.
Before We Were Yours – Historic Fiction
by Lisa Wingate Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family’s Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge—until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned to their parents—but they quickly realize that the truth is much darker. At the mercy of the facility’s cruel director, Rill fights to keep her sisters and brother together—in a world of danger and uncertainty.
I have it on hold
This looks very good! Were there discussion questions for a book club included?
@Maureen don’t know.
The Witchfinders Sister from a recommendation by ROSBC members. Unsettling, informative and really well written. Civil war England and this Witchfinder was out of control!
“The Other Boleyn Girl.”
Anne murray , Maureen Lee ! They write amazing historical fictions
A Melody of Secrets by Jeffrey Stepakoff
Alexander Chee’s “The Queen of the Night” reads like a tour of Europe.
These Is My Words by Nancy E Turner
City of Thieves by David Benioff
One of my all-time favs!
The Greek Treasure by Irving Stone.
The Travels of Jamie McPheeters won the Pulitzer Prize and is my favorite book ever. Also, try Lonesome Dove.
If you liked Lonesome Dove, read News of the World. Awesome book set in Texas in about the same time frame as Lonesome Dove- or maybe a few years earlier. I loved it!
I’d second that motion. My favorite book so far this year.
Lonesome Dove is one of my all time favorite books. Check out The Son by Phillipp Meyer. The Son: an epic, multigenerational saga of power, blood, and land that follows the rise of one unforgettable Texas family from the Comanche raids of the 1800s to the border raids of the early 1900s to the oil booms of the 20th century. I think they made into a mini series which I have not watched.
3 great but sort of the same. Remarkable Creatures, Essex Serpent, The Signature of All Things. Women , Science, 1800’s
The kitchen house
The Nightengale by Kristen Hannah
Yes
I loved both The Son and Lonesome Dove. Adding News of the World to my list ?
Ride The Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson. Based on the true story of Cynthia Ann Parker, who was kidnapped in 1836 during a brutal raid by the Comanche Indians, then adopted and raised by the tribe. An older book but one of my all time favorites! Another of my favorite books, technically not historical fiction, is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.
The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23719270-vengeance-road
Americas first daughter
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3367956-hotel-on-the-corner-of-bitter-and-sweet?from_search=true
Great book
Marriage of Opposites
Read “The Son of Ponni”…U forget this world…Jst an awesome Book…Try it…
Anything by Kate Morton. Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Lilac Girls.
I just finished The Aviator’s Wife. It is about the Lindberghs, fiction based on facts. Good read
Just started The Gilda Stories for a change of pace after rereading six Louise Penny Armand Gamache novels. It’s historical fiction with a black, lesbian vampire as the protagonist.
Long time ago, I’ve read NOAH GORDON’s THE PHYSICIAN and it was very good. He also wrote SHAMAN and THE LAST JEW, The Cole Family Trilogy. Also, GORE VIDAL have written many Historical Fiction. And HILARY MANTEL wristes good historical fiction based on England’s history.
Anything by Erika Shephard Robuck.
Night overwater
The Alice Network. Women spies!
Into the Wilderness series by Sara Donati. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Yes. Outlander ALWAYS & forever!
Molokai by Alan Brennert, one of my favorites. About the leprocy epidemic in Hawaii
Agree! Molokai was fabulous. Enjoyed Honolulu as well by the same author. Compelling and well-researched.
@Jen