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Original poster

Medieval/Tudor Fiction

44 replies

DanceWithYourBalloon · 08/09/2023 19:04

I have read everything Philippa Gregory and I've read Elizabeth Chadwick's Eleanor or Aquitaine series.
I've also read her William Marshal series.

What else is out there for me to get my teeth into?

I'm happy with anything medieval to, at a push, restoration.

OP posts:
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Decafflatteplease · 24/09/2023 14:45

@SingingSands she's written 3 books but tb familiars is my favourite. Got another one coming out next year which sounds really good aswell!

SingingSands · 23/09/2023 23:50

Decafflatteplease · 09/09/2023 10:03

Possibility a bit later time period than what you are looking for but Stacey halls The familiars is excellent!

I've just finished this - really enjoyed it and am going to visit Gawthorpe Hall 😀

Lizzieregina · 23/09/2023 23:48

catlovingdoctor · 09/09/2023 10:06

Came on to suggest this!

Show quote history

Yes me too! Absolutely loved these!

Shinyandnew1 · 23/09/2023 23:45

The Shardlake books are fabulous. Tracey Borman has written some good stuff as well.

Mycatsbigtoe · 23/09/2023 23:45

Karen Brooks - the Good Wife of Bath
Dan Jones - Essex Dogs
Geraldine Brooks - Year of Wonders
Connie Willis - The Doomsday Book
Anything by Karen Maitland for a supernatural element

GingerScallop · 23/09/2023 23:41

Off to trawl ebay and abebooks especially for the repeat recommendations

GingerScallop · 23/09/2023 23:40

I read this around 1998 before Oprah made it famous (because I had loved his Eye of the needle and couldn't believe a tee. had written it. I think he was 19 or may be early 20s). Absolutely loved Pillars of the Earth and it was before I ever visited the Uk. Gave me a historical-socio love of cathedrals and the nameless, faceless people that built them. My imagination went into over drive

Hottytotty · 23/09/2023 23:33

Sharon Penman has already been mentioned - I’d particularly recommend The Sunne in Splendour (it’s the only way I made sense of the Wars of the Roses!)

AllMyExesWearRolexes · 23/09/2023 23:29

The John Shakespeare series by Rory Clements or The Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George.

ringoutsolsticebells · 09/09/2023 12:10

Following

Sourisblanche · 09/09/2023 11:18

@DanceWithYourBalloon lucky you Smile. We have just spent the summer house hunting there as we are moving next year.

I haven’t been to Carcassonne for years but really want to visit after reading the Kate Mosse books.

WaveyGodshawk · 09/09/2023 10:15

The Crowner John series by Bernard Knight. Kind of formulaic by the end of the series but good easy reads, the focus on the origin of how the coroner system was set up to investigate deaths (and earn more money for the Crown) was really interesting.

CaptainMyCaptain · 09/09/2023 10:15

lilyfire · 09/09/2023 07:22

CJ Samson - Shardlake books are great for Tudor period.

I came on to recommend this series.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 09/09/2023 10:13

If you fancy French history then Maurice Druon.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Accursed_Kings

catlovingdoctor · 09/09/2023 10:06

SuicideIsPainless · 09/09/2023 09:34

Pillars of the Earth trilogy- Ken Follett

Came on to suggest this!

Decafflatteplease · 09/09/2023 10:03

Possibility a bit later time period than what you are looking for but Stacey halls The familiars is excellent!

Original poster
DanceWithYourBalloon · 09/09/2023 10:00

I've discovered a Anne O'Brien book called Tapestry of Treason in my shelves.

I can see i bought it because I studied Richard II to death for both my degrees.

Something puts me off it though! Anyone know if it's worth getting stuck into while my new hoard is on its way?

OP posts:
Original poster
DanceWithYourBalloon · 09/09/2023 09:56

Sourisblanche · 09/09/2023 09:42

My favourites already mentioned, Anya Seaton, Sharon Penman etc.

I’m reading Kate Mosse’s books this summer, historical fiction set in France.

I actually live in the South of France and just visited Carcassonne with the kids! 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
DanceWithYourBalloon · 09/09/2023 09:55

SuicideIsPainless · 09/09/2023 09:34

Pillars of the Earth trilogy- Ken Follett

Oooo I'd forgotten all about these!

OP posts:
Sourisblanche · 09/09/2023 09:42

My favourites already mentioned, Anya Seaton, Sharon Penman etc.

I’m reading Kate Mosse’s books this summer, historical fiction set in France.

SuicideIsPainless · 09/09/2023 09:34

Pillars of the Earth trilogy- Ken Follett

Trolltrotters · 09/09/2023 09:31

Oops sorry to cross post with @FortunaMajor

Trolltrotters · 09/09/2023 09:29

I've just bought Ann Swinfen's murder mystery series on Kindle. They're really good, and I'm a fan of the books you've mentioned and enjoyed.

Not about high profile figures as such, but some nice readings about 14c life.

WolfFoxHare · 09/09/2023 09:24

ElizabethVonArnim · 08/09/2023 21:41

Medieval - if you don't mind older books, the Heaven Tree trilogy by Edith Pargeter (same person as Ellis Peters who wrote Cadfael) is excellent, as is her Bloody Field by Shrewsbury about Henry IV.

I meant to quote the above in my last post!

WolfFoxHare · 09/09/2023 09:24

Ah I was going to recommend these. The Heaven Tree is perfection. The Marriage of Meggota by the same author is also superb.

Not on the same level but also pretty good are Elizabeth Chadwick’s Wild Hunt trilogy.