Love Historical Fiction! Need more authors to explore. Who's your favorite? Why?

Answer 1

Catherine Coulter is OUTSTANDING. Jude Devereaux has become a much better storyteller in the last twenty years or so, and I like Hannah Howell, too. All three are wonderful writers of historical fiction, without falling into the traps in which so many others are stuck. Not formula writing at all, and that's so much more enjoyable.

Answer 2

I like Bernard Cornwell as A historical fiction author. He has books on king Aurther, The Civil War, and the war in Europe with during the Napolianic Wars. In the early 19th century. Have not read the King Aurther ones, But the Civil War ones With the first book being called "Rebel" Was a little slow at first, but picked up and stayed that way till the end with book Four. The first Book for his other one is called "Sharpes Tiger" which takes place India when the british were fighting them. The Sharpe series continues on through to Waterloo. There are also Movies out for the Sharpe series. But Bernard Cornwell. Historically acturate. He visits the actual battle grounds so that he knows what to write.

Answer 3

Historical fiction, in my opinion, involves setting a fictional situation in an Historical context. This means that the history portrayed should be as accurate as possible. By that standard the best writers of Historical Fiction I have encountered are Louis L'Amour (writing about the American old west), George MacDonald Fraser ( writing about the military campaigns of Victorian England), and Mary Renault (writing about Classical Greece). Good tales well told all, and none of them differ from actual eye-witnesses any more than they differ from each other. If those particular periods of History aren't to your taste, sorry, best I can do for you.

Answer 4

Do you want serious historical fiction? By serious I mean carefully researched with some meat to the plot and not just Countess Robyn being swept off her feet by the dark, glowering Baron Brad or whatever. (No offense to people who like those books - I just don't care for them.) Philippa Gregory (The Other Boleyn Girl, The Queen's Fool) is good and very readable. Jean Plaidy is a bit lightweight - depends a little too much on those classic "George Washington and the cherry tree" type stories that usually just aren't true - but her overall history is accurate and she's written dozens of books, many of which are being rereleased in large format softcovers. If you really want to get down and dirty Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series, which covers the last hundred years or so of the Roman Republic including the life of Caesar, who is the pivot of the series, is the way to go. If you like mysteries there are tons of excellent series out there, including Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael, Karen Harper's Elizabeth I series, and Lindsey Davis' Marcus Didius Falco series, set in Imperial Rome.

Answer 5

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Diana Gabaldon yet. Maybe because her main character jumps through time, but it's told in such a way and surrounded by such a surfeit of factual historical information, that you forget you're reading fiction and believe it could happen!!! Her series begins just before the Scottish Uprising, and ultimate defeat, and continues to America and through the Revolution. The characters are thoroughly believable; the kind I'd want to have over for dinner. I love it when truly enjoyable fiction actually helps me learn something too!!!

Answer 6

I love it aswell. The last good ones that I read are:

*The Crimson and The White- Michel Faber. Its about a prostitute living in c16th London (be warned, its quite rude and v. long but really really good)

*The Dante Club- Matthew Pearl. About a group of American men from c19th that love the work of Dante but come across a murder. Really inventive and addictive.

*An Instance of the Fingerpost- Iain Pears. Really well researched mystery set after the Civil War in England. A really clever book.

*Perfume- Patrick Suskind. Although not strictly what you would call historical fiction it is set in pre-Revolution France and really evokes the period well.

Hope this helps! They are really good quality literature, not any of that bodice ripping crap you sometimes get with historical fiction. Enjoy!

Answer 7

a million. i love multi-type, with the major base both horror or myth. Sub-diverse varieties for those will be sensible fiction, drama, or comedy. Romance will be extra, yet i don't like it being shoved down my throat. 2. i somewhat do not care, see you later because the nature is nicely-rounded and is not any longer a stereotypical jerk (-cough- Zoey Redbird -cough-) 3. My in demand POV is third man or woman restricted. It helps the reader to ascertain the ecosystem nonetheless by the nature's eyes, yet helps the author to narrate, too. i visit ascertain third man or woman Omniscient, yet First man or woman is a no flow for me. that is too own and stressful. the in person-friendly words way i might want to ascertain it really is that if the nature became comparable to me. in the different case, no. 4. sure, I somewhat adore them. something to distract me from my existence. 5. i love the nature progression, in my opinion. I also use analyzing to flee. 6. It relies upon on what that is about. ordinary, I have a tendency to ascertain longer novels. 7. back, relies upon on the e book. i imagine longer chapters are better, besides the undeniable fact that. 8. relies upon on how that is used. If the e book is determined in a conflict that somewhat did ensue, besides the undeniable fact that the nature is fictional, i'd examine it. 9. "puppy Sematary" by utilizing Stephen King. The breakdown of the major personality intrigued me. also taught a needed lesson of no longer making an same mistake back, no remember how nicely you imagine it really is going to exhibit out. 10. they are exciting, yet no longer my cup of tea. 11. possibly. 12. sure. 13. Any time period, as well medieval circumstances. I draw the line there. 14. everywhere from 350+ pages. 15. an section that exists, or a minimum of the city. 16. IDK, killer mermaids? i visit't say vampires or werewolves. i am going to flow with zombies. :D 17. commonly used. 18. i do not decide a e book by utilizing that is conceal. I examine the precis particularly. 19. something with horror. 20. sure, if I ever had any ideas. 21. i do not ideas them (being one), yet some might want to look extra into getting an editor.

Answer 8

I don't typically read books that are called "historical fiction." Since I have to read a lot of what's considered "good literature" for classes, here are some I've run across:

Octavia Butler's "Kindred" has sci-fi elements, but is at its heart a historical novel.
Tracy Chevalier's books about art are interesting, and seem to be accurate.
Kazuo Ishiguro's novels, except "Never Let Me Go" are based upon historical events.
Many of Toni Morrison's novels are set in historical contexts (though more recent than many of the other suggestions you've gotten). Try "Beloved," "Jazz," and "Sula."
Dava Sobel's "Galileo's Daughter" is good.
Umberto Eco's "Name of the Rose" is a murder mystery. You'll have to be up on your vocab and church history for this one. The man is meticulous about his details.

Answer 9

I don't know that I'd say he's my favorite historical fiction author, but I just read John Steinbeck's "The Moon is Down" recently...kinda short, but really good if you like World War II historical fiction.

Answer 10

Gillian Bradshaw has written some very nice historical fiction, including one of the best *historical* interpretations of the Matter of Britain. Lindsey Davis' mystery series about a Roman informer makes you feel like you are there, walking the hot, dusty streets of Rome alongside Falco. And there is a very obscure book, Fitzempress' Law, by Diana Norman, that is unbeaten when it comes to involving all your senses. And I mustn't forget Robert Graves' I, Claudius (which you've probably read) which I love for its reinterpretation of history.