What is the best British historical fiction book you ever read?

Answer 1

"Sarum" by Edward Rutherfurd.

I liked it because instead of telling the history of a family or a person, it tells the history of a place. Sarum is an old hill fort near the Salisbury area in England, and the story always sticks to that area. It starts out with pre-historic man coming to the area, and follows the story all the way to the 20th Century.

Rutherfurd, naturally, also deals with the people of the area, but they are not the main focus of the story--the land is.

It's a thick read, probably around 1000 pages, but well worth it if you can stick to it. You learn plenty of history along the way, and it makes you consider how much importance location plays in history. I thought it was a really good book.

If you are willing to read something that deals in a tangential manner with British history, I highly recommend "Trinity" by Leon Uris. It tells the story of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (forerunner of the IRA), and helps give the reader a greater understanding about the conflict. Since a great deal of the book takes place in Northern Ireland, which is part of Britain, you might consider it as well. I don't think you will look at "the troubles" in the same way ever again if you read the book.

Answer 2

Bernard Cornwell's "Sharpe's" series is the best historical fiction I have ever read. The series is set in the British Army during the Nepoleonic Wars. Most of the series takes place in Spain and Portugal and the books rarely set foot in Great Britian proper.

George MacDonald Frasier's "Flashman" series is also wonderful. Most of the stories take place in exotic locations, but they all have some of the action set in the UK.

Answer 3

It was a children's book but very well written and researched. Master Cornhill. It's about an orphan during the great London fire of 1666.

Answer 4

Possession by A.S. Byant

Answer 5

it's set in britain but it's not by a british author.
a great and terrible beauty-libba bray