Historical fiction lovers: Which time & place do you prefer to read about most & what are your favorite books set then?
Historical fiction lovers: Which time & place do you prefer to read about most & what are your favorite books set then?
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I really like WWII books, not for the war/fighting/etc, but moreso the relationships people develop in hard times. In particular I’ve read some very good LGBT literature set in this time period where people have to struggle with their sexuality and the war, too. It’s interesting to say the least
What are your favorites? I suggest The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer then. Woman goes back to WWI and WWII and has a gay brother who must deal with this issue in those times.
Nice I’ll check it out! Have never heard of it and I am always looking for WWII reads with that subject so thank you so much. I liked The Charioteer by Mary Renault the best, it’s an old classic about WWII with an injured soldier who falls in love. I also like Bitter Eden by Tatamkhulu Afrika, it’s about a POW from WWII who describes his experiences with love in a camp (almost autobiographical).
Have you read this? I’ve heard it’s difficult to handle but very good.
I haven’t, but I have heard of it! I heard it’s very good too. I’ve only read Branded By the Pink Triangle and The Pink Triangle
The 1800s !! Civil war !! English ladies and gentlemen !! Slavery , not because I approve of slavery but some of the stories are really interesting !!
Who are your favorites?
@Cathy Took the words right off my keyboard! What ARE your favorites @Shaerry. BTW interesting spelling of your name
John Jakes ! His Centennial series !! Can’t get rid of these !! Both wars are faught in this series !!
Thanks ! As far as I know , there are only 2 of us with this spelling !!
Ancient history – Clan of the Cave Bear series
I like to read World War II fiction and non-fiction.
Favorites?
Goodreads Choice Awards winner 2015 for Historical Fiction. There will be a movie adaptation coming to cinemas in January 2019.
I REALLLLLY hope the movie does this book justice. It’s fantastic!!! ?
I enjoy civil war . Mainly because it reminds me how this country has been through much worse and persevered! I love Jennifer chiaverini
WWll. Love them
Favorites?
I think I would read any time period with strong women characters in them
My favorite books are novels set during the Civil War
My favorite, too!
I do also enjoy the ’20’s-30’s era, circa Hemingway, Fitzgerald.
I’ve decided that this is the next period of history I will immerse myself into. I’m from Australia though so I don’t know much- can you suggest some novels for me please?
World war two , London. Love the Meggie Hope series.
Bernard Cornwell. The Last Kingdom. (Originally the Saxon series) Late 800s to early 900. Best ever
My favourites too 🙂
That guy that wrote The Kite Runner ? I’d like to read another of his books !! Very different reading for me !!
Good morning, his name is Khaled Hosseni, his two other books are ‘And the Mountains Echoed,” and “The Thousand Splendid Suns.” Hope you will like them too.
I may have that mountain one !!
He’s amazing!!!
I’m quite partial to the Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian, and the Hornblower series by C. S. Forester, both of which recount the exploits of officers of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. I’ve got some of Alexander Kent’s series about Richard and Adam Bolitho, also Royal Navy, from the American Revolution through Napoleon, but I haven’t actually gotten to read any of them yet.
There are other periods I’m digging into, but those are favorites of mine.
World War 2. And a bit of the Tudor period
I kinda like the WWII era. Have read Louis de Bernieres Captin Corelli’s Mandolin and loved it. Reading Spymistress by William Stevenson; getting to love real spy stories. May start reading Herman Wouk soon with The Winds of War; and War and Remembrance.
Old west; Victorian; WWII
I like WW2 or Viet Nam (you can’t find much on Nam).
What about Sir Walter scott,,I started Ivanhoe but couldn’t finish it.
I like books about Queen Victoria and and like King Charles that kind of stuff !!! Oh ! He!! ! I like to read it all !
Outlander and Into the wilderness ?
No ! But the ones about knitting club and the Mormons and like that !! I like to read about the different states and how the settlers work through bad weather trying to raise cattle !! And the sexy Cowboys in Texas and Montana !
Wilderness Gemmel and Tolkein style
I’ve been reading several series, each of which is set in a different era. It’s interesting to see the changes in social mores, fashion and language.
I have a John Jakes book called! California Gold !! Love it !
1800’s Old West Historical Romance. Johanna Lindsey, Georgina Gentry
I like the books set in the medieval times. I love reading about the myths and legends of King Arthur. Even though he wasn’t a real person, the places in these stories are real.
Good chance he was real but stories embellished
If he was real historians believe he would have been alive sometime in the 200 bc era. I’ve done extensive research on this subject.absolutely fascinating. Archeologists also believe they dound the ruins of his likely castle. Which is how they think he was somewhere in the 200s.
Found**
I enjoy stories based on some facts. Particularly bible related like The Prophecy. Actual scripture.
I love mythology stories as well. Greek, roman, norse, native american. But i cant really get into rick ridoran’s stuff. Mostly because of the inaccuracies on the mythology. A subject he has been teaching college students for 20 years.
Bernard Cornwells Arthur trilogy is excellent and feels a much more realistic take on the story.
I don’t really have a favorite period, but I was draw to mid-First Millennium in my studies. I like all history though. Anyway the series I am reading has some great historical fiction parts.
Tudor England, WW2. I’m getting interested in the civil war now so if anyone has any suggestions I’d love to hear them ?
I suggest this series because I’m totally into it myself.
Try Jeff Shaara’s books. I’m reading Gods and Generals right now, which is part of a trilogy on the Civil War. It’s very good!!
The Kingsbridge series by Ken Follett. Especially the first in the series. The Pillars Of The Earth.
My absolute favorite! I just finished his new book, the 3rd in the series, A Column of Fire…It was so good! It’s where now I’m in a bad place because I finished it and I feel like I’m not going to find another to read as good as that. 🙂
I’m reading the third book. Have you read the Outlander series?
No.
There you go 🙂
https://www.amazon.com/Outlander-Diana-Gabaldon/dp/0440212561
Thank you! 🙂
You’re welcome. 🙂
I also like Ken Follett’s Century Trilogy he did about the entire 20th Century.
And The North And South Trilogy by John Jakes, set before, during, and after the American Civil War.
I haven’t read the North and South Trilogy, I’ve always meant to. I did read all of the Century Trilogy, really enjoyed those. I always finish Ken Follett and feel down that the book is finished! Lol…
I’m slightly dyslexic and it takes me long time to read the books, but it’s worth reading Ken.
The Tudor time, I like the most Philippa Gregory’s books
Me too!
Yes, i love her work!!!
LOVE her.
18th century
13th century Europe . I love ‘The name of the rose’ by Umberto Eco .
World War 2…..
1910 up to 1945.
Favourite novel; Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks. But of the two world wars I prefer the first as it harks back to an older sensibility and still is very recent. But in general I enjoy most historical periods with a strengthening regard for the 20th century in particular…..
Tudor England. I love books by Alison Weir, Philippa Gregory and I’m reading C.J. Sansom’s Matthew Shardlake-series now, which I love.
Alison weir is twice as good as Philippa Gregory,but Gregory did introduce me to the genre
@Kait, I agree, but I still love Philippa too though ?
The Holocaust. I’m facinated and moved by the stories of those affected by the Holocaust, as well as fiction based on the issues of this time in history.
Same. Ever since my mom sat me down and had me watch Schindler’s List when I was 16, I’ve been hooked.
House of Niccolò series by Dorothy Dunnett: the Sharpe and the Last Kingdom novels by Bernard Cornwell, the Accused Kings by Maurice Druon.
Jean Plaidy’s Plantagenet Saga is also very good.
These are all available on Kindle which is cheaper than paperback versions.
That should keep you going for a while!!!!
I have a weakness for Georgette Heyer’s regency novels, the Victorian Era and theRoaring Twenties and Depression era.
1900-1945 WWI and WWII, just before and after
I love outlander by Diana Gabaldon which is set in 1743 Scotland
@Mikael
Ancient Greece: Sappho’s leap by Erica Jong. Mary Renault. Renaissance Italy: the passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland. Anglo Saxon England: Hild by Nicola Griffith. Biblical Israel: the red tent by Anita Diamant. Many in Hebrew. If translated then look for Seven Mothers by Yochi Brandes
I love reading about the British monarchy(especially King Arthur and Queen Victoria). I also enjoy WW2 books
Have you read Victoria by Daisy Goodwin? She also wrote the tv show Victoria
Not yet. But I’ll check it out
Both the book and show are excellent.
Thanks for the recommendation ! ☺
1930’s, 1940’s Los Angeles, crime thrillers, Raymond Chandler’s “The Big Sleep” – Dashiell Hammett’s “The Maltese Falcon” – James Ellroy’s “The Black Dahlia” and throw in th 1920’s with Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
WWII but love most all of it!
Revolutionary war, civil war, Tudor era. Occasionally some eastern historical fiction.
1920s & WWII on occasion
If anyone’s interested in Medieval crime fiction try Ellis Peters and the Cadfael novels. He is a monk with a past and an expert in herbs. No forensic science, just logic and knowledge of human nature. The books are set in 12th century Shrewsbury, in Shropshire, England. Read them in order are they do relate back.
I haven’t read a book set in mid evil times in years !! Now I’ll have to read one !!
Medieval England and the Tudor Era…I have too many faves, but the best authors for these periods are Elizabeth Chadwick and Diane Haeger
@Katy
Thought you could recommend some books. This is right up your alley.
Anthing by Philipia Gregory…love love her work
Victorian England, no contest. Lol.
WWII; The Nightingale, The Book Thief, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, etc.
I also love the Tudors era (Phillips Gregory) and right now I’m into the Civil War and I’m reading Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara.
I love WWII, I suggest THE DIPLOMATS DAUGHTER, about the Japanese side of the war, it didn’t just happen in Germany. Or if you like Russian Revolution, try THE SECRET WIFE by Gill Paul! It’s amazing!!!
Cold war and romonav family
Then you would love The Secret Wife, the book I suggested above!
Oh interesting
Anything and everything from William the Conqueror through to the death of Elizabeth the First.
Charles 2nd
Any time period but I particularly like Roman, Tudor, Victorian, Roaring Twenties.
Good reading there !
I love all time periods, but I love the Sherlock Holmes books and the Thomas Pitt series by Ann Perry Fabulous and now a new series around his son
Try Bonnie MacBird’s books, ART IN THE BLOOD
World War II– Citizens of London, All the Light We cannot See, The Lilac Girls, The Book Thief
Civil War and WWII, esp. stories on the homefront.
Excuse my ignorance, what is the homefront?
During the war Britain was known as the homefront. It is not ignorant to not know but to not ask.
Javier P Sánchez the United States was referred to as the Homefront during WWII. I love reDing about how the citizens here dealt with rationing, paper drives, metal drives, etc.
@Debi yes those are fascinating.
I didn’t know about those terms at all. Thanks!
I write a series of historical naval stories set from late 1750’s to 1800. few books written about the period yet it was a time when the world changed due to the 7 years war and the events leading up to american War of Independence .
Thank you Mary @Mary-Ann
I love Alexander Kent books
So do I, a great writer along with CS Forrester.
Mid to late 1800’s
Alison Weirs books on the 6 wives of Henry the VIII. Amazing. Have read Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Waiting for Jane Seymour to come out in 2018
There was a documentary series on our (US) PBS station from the UK. Do you happen to know if the series is based on these books? I cannot remember the woman’s name who spoke. You haven’t read the later ones yet who seem the most interesting to me actually. Wonder how they are portrayed in the books?
Mary-Ann Cupples I really don’t know, but she is a British author and historian and had written many books about English royalty and evidently done tons of research on them. The first two queens were just absolutely amazing. I can hardly wait for the next ones
Have you tried Jean Plaidy? She does that period
@Anna Believe it or not I hadn’t heard of her until I went to the library sale the other day and I got two of her books and I found out that this lady wrote under like four or five different names. Very interesting she was quite a prolific writer.
I grew up loving her Victoria Holt books. I thought she was absolutely fabulous and she is probably the reason why I live in Scotland instead of the US. I fell in love with the idea of Cornwall.
I love books set in the Victorian era. Something Strange and Deadly, These Shallow Graves, Soulless, and so many more.
Regency and steampunk
What is steampunk?
Think Jules Verne
Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction or science fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery.[1][2] Although its literary origins are sometimes associated with the cyberpunk genre,[3] steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the 19th century’s British Victorian era or American “Wild West”, in a future during which steam power has maintained mainstream usage, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power. However, steampunk and Neo-Victorian are different in that the Neo-Victorian movement does not extrapolate on technology and embraces the positive aspects of the Victorian era’s culture and philosophy.[citation needed]
I especially love Victorian gothic and the like
I like WW2 and I am just getting into WW1
Anne Perry has some great WW1 books out
@Anna Thank you!!