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Original poster

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

110 replies

floorchid · 15/10/2024 09:34

This is a very new interest so I'm not entirely sure what I'm asking. I think early Middle Ages first because chronological learning appeals to me - just after the Roman's left perhaps? And then I can go on with anything up to the Norman conquest? But perhaps onwards too?

I'm interested in realistic historical fiction, easy-to-read nonfiction, or biographies. Nothing too dry or hardgoing. I'm just dipping my toe.

But actually, maybe I also want to know about the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. They were before the Romans, weren't they?

And I want to read about the monarchy too.

I think my question is, where do I start?

What have you read that you would recommend?

Thank you.

OP posts:
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Caferouge · 15/10/2024 10:03

Fiction - The Evening and The Morning by Ken Follet. Set around the year 1000AD. It’s a prequel to Pillars of the Earth, mentioned above.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 15/10/2024 09:59

This is an interesting book covering the 14th century. I think.there are a couple of other sequels that cover different periods

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Time_Traveller%27s_Guide_to_Medieval_England#:~:text=The%20Time%20Traveller's%20Guide%20to%20Medieval%20England%3A%20A%20Handbook%20for,released%20on%2029%20February%202012.

Cooroo · 15/10/2024 09:59

Angles Saxons and Jutes came after the Romans! I've started getting interested in all this too.

LakelandDreams · 15/10/2024 09:59

For historical fiction, Sharon Penman is brilliant. Try her books on the Angevins and Plantagenets.

motherofsnortpigs · 15/10/2024 09:58

Anthony Bale’s book A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages is great (non fiction)
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett is an extraordinary piece of fiction set in the 1100’s (it’s really long, my Kindle estimated it would take me 28 hours to read. A novel usually takes me about 4!)

Ormally · 15/10/2024 09:57

And in terms of fiction - it's late for the period you are looking at, but Tracy Chevalier, 'The Lady and the Unicorn', would be one to look out for.

Ormally · 15/10/2024 09:56

There's a book called 'The Year 1000' which goes through a rare piece of written work from this time - an almanac. That was quite readable.

Original poster
floorchid · 15/10/2024 09:52

Thank you both. Great place to start. I'll have a look at your suggestions and choose something.

OP posts:
Midwinterblues · 15/10/2024 09:50

Hi, I love history and am a bookseller and am trying to think of books to get you started- I’m not at work today otherwise I’d have a good look at the shelves, but off the top of my head here are some great books:
A Time Traveller’s Guide to the Middle Ages by Ian Mortimer (accessible, has a series of them - Elizabethan, Regency etc)
there’s a newish book A Time Travel Guide to the Middle Ages by Anthony Bale but I don’t know much about that one.
The Middle Ages might be too ‘late’ as it were (more medieval), maybe books on the Anglo Saxons might be worth a look?
The Bone Chests by Cat Jarman is an accessible one.
Unruly by David Mitchell (yes the comedian) is a brilliant book on kings and queens as is Gimson’s Kings & Queens. They might be a good place to start? There’s also a book on Kings & Queens by Plantagenet Somerset Fry (great name) which I think is still available and is also very good.
Hope these are useful suggestions!

mrssquidink · 15/10/2024 09:45

If you’re after the early Medieval period (the current academic term for the period after the Romans) some good non-fiction reads are:
Britain After Rome by Robin Fleming
The Anglo-Saxons by Marc Morris
Empires and Barbarians by Peter Heather (this has more of a wider European focus)

For fiction, Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles series (begins with The Winter King) are very popular although I’ve never read them. They are set in the period of the (mythical) King Arthur. He also wrote the Saxon Stories series (starts with The Last Kingdom I think) which are set a bit later, in the time of Alfred and the Vikings.