I would like to read books about the Middle Ages, or earlier

I love Ken Follett and it ticks all your boxes. He does get sneered at because it's not literary fiction but as a taster for historical fiction it's great. Don't watch the tv series though, it was awful.
I also loved his later series about the 20th century.

So many wonderful books mentioned on here, many of which I have read and reread.

I did struggle with Kristin Lavransdatter which is unusual for me given the timeframe. I really didn’t like any of the characters and found the language a little dated. The overwhelming Christianity theme wasn’t for me either.

Sharon Penman is my favourite author on these times

I have nothing useful to contribute but this has been an excellent thread, thanks for starting it. Although it's going to cost me a fortune.

Another vote for Cadfael/Ellis Peters, and she also wrote historical fiction as Edith Pargeter. There are also a lot of Ellis Peters crime novels set in the 20th century, which are good, but not necessarily what you're looking for!

Zoe Oldenburg's The World is not Enough and its sequel The Cornerstone follow the life of a woman in 12th century France. Wonderful books.

Within the Fetterlock by Brian Wainright is another good read. It’s about Constance of York, cousin of Richard II.

One novel that stands out in my mind is Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undsett. It's set in medieval Norway but is a really good read. I need to read the other two in the trilogy now!
(Edited for spelling)

Read the Penguin Tiina Nunnally translation, the 1920s version by Charles Archer and J. S. Scott is a bit ye olde worlde. Absolutely fabulous.

Another book set around the same time in the UK is Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. There are lots of errors in her history (and indeed her depiction of a modern Oxford) but this is a very atmospheric read about a time travelling historian who goes back to 1348 Oxfordshire.

Rosemary Sutcliffe. Some around the romans but not all. I enjoyed them and as far as I know they were well researched and good for accuracy. Of course a historian may tell me otherwise!

Neither did I. I used to enjoy Jean Plaidy back in the day but I'd forgotten about her. I'm also now reminded of King Hereafter by Dorothy Dunnett, which is superb. We studied Shakespeare's MacBeth in school and I really enjoyed it. A relative mentioned this to an acquaintance who happened to be a teacher and she told the relative to recommend to me I read King Hereafter - it's the story of the real MacBeth from boyhood into adulthood, paints a different picture of him as a villain and is superb. I might get it to re-read it actually thanks to this thread

Essex Dogs by Dan Jones (set in 1346)

I loved this.

This thread has cost me so much money 😂 Worth every penny thus far though!

Thank you for this fabulous thread. It's reminded me of many long forgotten favourites and spurred me on to try some new reads. I need more hours in a day!

Fascinating thread. Thanks for starting it OP. It's later ( the wars of the roses) on but I'm about to read The Hollow Crown by Dan Jones. Lots of people have recommended it to me.

Cathedral - Ben Hopkins

Set around a cathedral building site in a fictitious German town starting in 1230. It’s told from the pov of different characters

Another vote for Unruly by David Mitchell. Brilliant

Ah I read Kristin Lavransdatter as a teenager too. Remember nothing about it at all apart from that I liked it, so I should re read!

Good to know Rosemary Sutcliffe has aged well, I have a 9 year old I think will enjoy them if I can pry him away from the bloody wimpy kid.

There are some great suggestions here, I'd definitely recommend Rosemary Sutcliff and Henry Treece too. Also, one of my favourite history books is Lord of the Forest by B.B. It's a wonderful tale of a huge oak, tracing it's growth from a tiny acorn to a gigantic, old tree over hundreds or years and the history that it saw, from the middle ages up until WW1. It is a children's book, but it's very well written and very enjoyable.
Also, Children of the New Forest by Captain Marryat and Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall.
One novel that stands out in my mind is Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undsett. It's set in medieval Norway but is a really good read. I need to read the other two in the trilogy now!
(Edited for spelling)

I'm new to this topic too but have enjoyed reading Femina, about medieval women. There is a Guardian review of it here:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/books/2022/jul/20/femina-janina-ramirez-review

Conn Iggulden is a great author for this genre. He has many series of books, not what you’re interested in, but I loved his Golden Horde series. But he has a wide range and I have just started his Dunstan series. I love his writing style. And reading his historical fiction has led me to study the history of the period he writes about.

It's maybe more historical fantasy than historical fiction but I really enjoyed Mary Stewart's Merlin/Arthurian saga, starting with The Crystal Cave which begins just after the Romans have left Britain

If you want to read original Middle English I would suggest starting with a good annotated edition (such as this blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Malory-by-Thomas-Malory-Eugne-Vinaver/9780192812179 ) of Le Morte d’Arthur by Malory. It’s not hard to understand as it’s late Middle English (so less challenging than Chaucer in the original) and so enjoyable. In fact quite hilarious in parts but also romantic
(edited to redo broken link)

Oh, I love this thread, many books I have read and lots more I didn't know about!

My contribution:

The Girl who would be Queen by Jane Ann McLachlan.
It's book1 in the Kingdom of Naples series set in the 14th Century. I found it an easy read, no prior knowledge required, however a bit of research as you read along is always a good for better understanding and separating fact from fiction (= has the author done their homework?)

@Copperas You are the first person I’ve ever found who has also read these! I love them!

Another vote for Cadfael.

Rosemary Sutcliffe has aged exceptionally well. Her Dolphin Ring saga runs from the end of Roman Britain forwards in time.