2006-06-24 12:38:39 · 12 answers · asked by CleverGal 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
My personal favs are Margaret George, Sharon Kay Penman and Phillipa Gregory.
2006-06-24 12:54:44 · update #1
I don't mean romance novels. Real historical fiction based on the lives of people who really existed such as Cleopatra, Henry VIII, Eleanor of Acquitaine, etc.
2006-06-24 13:28:35 · update #2
Glad someone mentioned Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I read this a few years ago and couldn't remember the name of it. Great book! I also have enjoyed London by Edward Rutherford. Great ideas so far everyone. Any others?
2006-06-25 02:52:19 · update #3
Ken Follett -- Pillars of the Earth -- you must hear this book on tape -- and it must be unabridged -- you will not regret it! I didn't want the book to end -- even after 15 or so tapes!
2006-06-24 20:26:45 · answer #1 · answered by amuse4you 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That depends on the type of story being told.
Mystery -- Laura Joh Rowland. Her novels set during the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan are total brain candy, rich in period detail with compelling characters and excellent mystery plots.
Adventure -- Patrick O'Brien. You just can't do better than the Aubrey/Maturin books for high seas adventure at the time of Nelson and Napoleon. I'm a big fan of tall ships and nautical stories, so I might be a little biased here. ;-D
Romance -- Laura Kinsale. Her novel For My Lady's Heart is the absolute best medieval romance novel I've ever read. At one time there was a version of the manuscript written entirely in Middle English. Now that is a stunning accomplishment!
Hope this helps. Happy reading!
2006-06-24 16:40:24 · answer #2 · answered by Scribe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Conn Iggulden, Rosemary Sutcliff, Lindsay Davis
2006-06-25 04:17:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Matthew Pearl is a new author on the scene of historical fiction who has done a great job with "The Dante Club" and "The Poe Shadow".
2006-06-25 02:53:08 · answer #4 · answered by BlueManticore 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Michael Crichton
2006-06-24 12:40:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Harry Turtledove.
2006-06-24 12:41:55 · answer #6 · answered by elizian 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bernard Cornwell.
Michael Crichton has a couple of excellent historical novels.
2006-06-24 17:59:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
George MacDonald Fraser, C. S. Forester (Turtledove is good too!)
2006-06-24 12:46:29 · answer #8 · answered by aboukir200 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm never really interested in novels of historical fiction....
2006-06-24 13:28:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like Anya Seton. Her books almost seem like time-travel to me. I start reading them and it's like I'm in another place, meeting characters who feel like real people.
2006-06-24 13:26:07 · answer #10 · answered by poohba 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋