Historical fiction suggestions?

Question

I'm in the mood for reading historical novels, lately. I don't know where to go for good suggestions, though, and the last time I picked up a book in the historical fiction section that sounded good, it turned out to be a flimsy romance novel masquerading as legitimate historical fiction.

So I come to you, bookworms of Yahoo! I'm particularly interested in novels set in or around the Renaissance, as well as anything set in ancient Greece or Rome. I certainly don't MIND romance, but I don't want that to be the only thing going on, you know?

Answer 1

As far as novels set in ancient Greece...I loved Goddess of Yesterday by Caroline B.Cooney. It is a YA book, but it's a great read.

If you don't mind reading YA books (I'm an adult who can't get enough of them), then you might like Carolyn Meyer. Although she's been writing for decades, I've only recently discovered her works. She is wonderful! Her newest book is Loving Will Shakespeare. She has a series (Young Royals, I believe) focusing on the Tudor women. She has one on Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Mary, and Elizabeth. (Patience, Princess Catherine, Doomed Queen Anne, Mary, Blood Mary, and Beware, Princess Elizabeth). She also has written books about other European women/royals. For example, right now she is working on a book about Catherine de Medici which will be called Duchessina.

Answer 2

Shouldn't an english major know more about this then the rest of us? The only Renaissance stuff I can think up is Shakespeare, and his work doesn't really count as a novel. How about Machiavelli's "The Prince?" I like Dickens, but that's not Renaissance. "Ivanhoe" (Sir Walter Scott) was alright...a little dry maybe, but Robin Hood has a cameo...though, again, not Renaissance. R.L Stevenson's "The Black Arrow" is one of my favs, though that's got elements of romance in it and is set during the War of the Roses, which is pre-Renaissance I think. As for the classical period, all I can think of is "The Illiad" or "The Odyssey." I've been through the latter. It's very long-winded. I have a novelized version that's a little better. You could try Robinson Crusoe. It's not Ancient Greece, Rome, or Renaissance, but at least there's no romance ;)
Email me sometime...maybe I can come up with something else.

Answer 3

Colleen McCullough's series set in late-Republic, early-Empire Rome, such as The First Man in Rome, or The Grass Crown.

Iain Pears's The Dream of Scipio, part of which is set in late-Empire Rome and part in Renaissance France. Also, An Instance of the Fingerpost, by the same author, although it is set in Restoration England. It's great, though.

As for more modern stuff, I highly recommend Caleb Carr's The Alienist, set in 1896 New York. I've read it four times. The sequel, The Angel of Darkness, is pretty good, too.

There are lots out there, but all of these are very good, in my humble opinion.

Answer 4

Some of the best historical fiction I have read are:
Matthew Pearl's "The Dante Club" and "The Poe Shadow"
Tracy Chevalier's "Girl With a Pearl Earring"
Tobsha Learner's "The Witch of Cologne"
Kathryn Lasky's "Beyond the Burning Time" and "Blood Secret"
Elizabeth George Speare's "The Witch of Blackbird Pond"

Answer 5

A historical novel? Gone With The Wind!

Answer 6

I was crazy about reading historical fiction while in middle school. I loved all of Ann Rinaldi's books, and I don't think they're all that young. I like Tracy Chevalier's books, especially Falling Angels and Girl with a Pearl Earring. Those would be considered historical fiction I suppose. That's about all I can think of. Oh, The Other Boleyn Girl was one that I enjoyed. I loved reading books about Henry VIII. I don't remember all of them though. I hope some of that helps.

Answer 7

Read Diana Gabaldon. She is writing about Scotland and America from about the time of 1740 to the Revolutionary War. She has romance in her books, but she also talks about the history. The last book(s) isn't out yet.

The Titles are:

The Outlander

Dragonfly in Amber

Voyager

Drums of Autumn

The Fiery Cross

A Breath of Snow and Ashes

She also has a book out called 'The Outlandish Companion' that talks about how she got the idea for the books, how she writes, and other info on the series.

Answer 8

I enjoyed "Little huge guy" by using Thomas Berger. it extremely is one among those historic novels that thoroughly deconstructs what you think of you comprehend approximately historic previous. Wyatt Earp, to illustrate, feels that folk who belch in his presence are insulting his call. Berger additionally wrote "The return of Little huge guy" which became enormously stable, yet not as stable by way of fact the 1st one. in the comparable vein is John Barth's "The Sot-Weed element" set lots erlier in American historic previous, and extra difficult to examine, yet staggering in case you're taking it somewhat at a time. Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" and "the homestead of the Seven Gables," which does escalate into Hawthorne's cutting-edge are historic novels. Kenneth Roberts, and the authors of the Hornblower sequence (Forester) and the grasp and Commander sequence even have very readable historic novels. large Scott, ultimately, there is Sir Walter Scott.

Answer 9

Rozencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard was a wonderfully written play paralleling the story of Shakespear's Hamlet. It is written like a play, but is still a remarkable book.

From Hamlet, you know the two men are going to die, and you see the play if it were written from their perspective and it is delisciously hilarious.

Answer 10

I write such stories. They are at http://www.fjkluth.com. Please tell me what you think of them or if they have any problems. I am currently writing a story about Hyacinth traveling from Corinth to Croton to meet Pythagoras. In order to do this I am building a 4' model of an ancient sailing ship from that time, 550 BCE.