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Historical fiction books

38 replies

meemaw12 · 18/03/2020 17:29

I've read all of phillippa Gregory's books so does anyone have any suggestions for similar books? I prefer tudor but anything will do. Anything to pass the time whilst stuck in the house!

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Squiz81 · 31/03/2020 18:40

Just before the Tudors, but I enjoyed Conn Iggulden's War of the Roses trilogy.

LumpySpacedPrincess · 31/03/2020 18:04

Dorothy Dunnett, the Lymond series for Tudor or The Niccolo series for an earlier period. Both series are amongst the finest historical fiction you will read.

Sharon Penman.

There is also a fantastic book by Susan Kay called Legacy about Elizabeth I but it's hard to get, I have an old dog eared copy.

EmpressAlexandra · 26/03/2020 22:09

Samuel Black - the ground is burning - brilliant.
Sarah dunant’s Borgia series.

ChristmasFluff · 26/03/2020 19:38

I love Margaret George - the Mary Queen of Scots one a PP recommends, and also 'The Autobiography of Henry the VIII'. She's a far better researcher than Alison Weir, even though she lacks the qualification.

Her Cleopatra was also really good.

TheDuchessofDukeStreet · 26/03/2020 09:54

Hilda Lewis, her Mary Tudor trilogy is good.

LittleCandle · 26/03/2020 09:53

Anne O'Brien is quite good too. I was also going to say Sharon Penman. Her latest book came out a couple of weeks ago and as well as her fact-based books, she has also written some medieval mystery books which are fantastic.

Margaret George is another. Try also Reay Tannahill, who has written a very good book about Mary Queen of Scots.

Whathappenedtothelego · 26/03/2020 09:48

Also, Stacy Halls: "The Familiar" and "The Foundling", but one is a new release, so only hardback at the moment, I think.

Tracy Chevalier is good - the Lady and the Unicorn is maybe the period you are after. Also try Girl with a Pearl Earring.

SorrelForbes · 26/03/2020 09:34

Rosemary Hawley-Jarman. Especially, We Speak No Treason.

Whathappenedtothelego · 26/03/2020 09:32

Cynthia Harrod Eagles: the Morland Dynasty. It follows one family through history - there must be about 40 books.

StarbucksSmarterSister · 26/03/2020 09:29

Sharon Penman is amazing. They're also as historically accurate as she can make them so you learn something too.

DuckyMcDuck · 26/03/2020 09:10

The autobiography of a Henry VIII by Margaret George is brilliant and very very long so perfect atm!

Lots of second hand ones available online.

MaMaLa321 · 24/03/2020 22:43

Norah Lofts. The queen of historical fiction

Copperas · 24/03/2020 20:54

Anything at all by Diana Norman!

cdtaylornats · 23/03/2020 22:21

If you don't mind listening to it
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/genres/drama/historical/all

WisestIsShe · 23/03/2020 20:59

I absolutely loved the Kingmaker series by Toby Clements. It's based around the War of the Roses. I was really sad when I got to the end!
SJ Parris Bruno series is much easier but a bit of a mystery and lots of 16thc detail.
Conn Iggulden's Dunstan is set in the 10th c and was also very enjoyable.

TeaSoakedDisasterMagnet · 19/03/2020 13:28

Oh yes, Jodi Taylor books are great, especially the chronicles of st. Mary's ones. It's where my username comes from!

QuentinWinters · 19/03/2020 10:54

Restoration by rose tremain
Green Darkness by Anya Seton is also good but a bit woo
Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George

Original poster
meemaw12 · 19/03/2020 10:45

Oh yes I've got the mirror and the light on my list.

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Lunaballoon · 19/03/2020 08:49

I’m currently reading the Shardlake series by CJ Sanson. They’re all set in Tudor times and very readable.
Planning to read The Light and Mirror, the final part of the Thomas Cromwell trilogy, by Hilary Mantel once I’ve finished.
I love learning about history along with a cracking read!

Dramadrama · 19/03/2020 08:41

Eliza Graham, if you like books about women in particular during WW2.

Original poster
meemaw12 · 19/03/2020 08:38

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've downloaded the first Jodi taylor book and the Anya seton book. I don't know much about english history before the war of the Roses to my shame so will definitely look into that period of history as well.

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TheCanterburyWhales · 19/03/2020 08:13

Sharon Penman is fabulous.
Generally earlier, medieval etc but amazing research.
I reread Jean Plaidy recently and tbh, they seem a bit Mills and Boon now. I was gutted as I remember the Ferdinand and Isabella trilogy making me yearn for Spain.

FrancisCrawford · 19/03/2020 08:11

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DancelikeEmmaGoldman · 19/03/2020 08:10

Judith Merkle Riley, Christie Dickason and Diana Norman are good (the last a bit hard to find now).

ShakespearesSisters · 18/03/2020 22:15

Jean Plaidy books. Goes all through history. Great books, I might dig them back out of the attic.