Philippa Gregory. Trashy or not?

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

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I'm only aware of the two and have only read the one - it's a bit bodice-rippy at times but was recommended to DH by a history professor so it must be OK historically too.

Historical romances packaged as proper historical fiction. Really not for me.

If you want great historical fiction, read Dorothy Dunnett and Patrick oBrien.

D'you know, I only picked this up because it was in Most Active. I'd always assumed the adult fiction board was ... erm.. like 'adult films'

Checkmate was your post re Gregory or Penman (or both)?

lol, LadyW

(in this instance it's adult as opposed to children's - not adult as opposed to - er - whatever the opposite of porn is )

Ladyw - sorry, re Gregory. Penman a bit better, from what I remember, but not my thing either.

I'm not a literature snob (I like re reading georgette heyer, for example) but once I discovered the kind of historical fiction that Dunnett and OBrien write, I found it impossible to go back to the slightly vacuous wannabees.

Historical hasn't generally been my thing but I've also recently read Robert Harris's Lustrum (ancient Rome) which I also enjoyed.

I've heard of Dorothy Dunnett. What's her period?

(and does she do porn )

If you try Dunnett, start with the lymond chronicles, set in Scotland and far, far beyond in the reign of Mary queen of scots.

The flawed hero ( Francis Crawford of lymond) is the most engaging fictional character I've ever had the pleasure of encountering, and I wish he starred in some porn!

Sharon Penman's The Sunne in Splendor is great. Here be Dragons is my favourite, set in Wales in 1100-ish. There are several sequels to Here be Dragons, covering John's reign (Joanna in Here be Dragons is King John's illegitimate daughter, married to Llwelyn of Wales).

She has also done a series based on Henry (II or II?) and Eleanor of Aquitane, the latest ends with John ascending the throne, which catches up with Here be Dragons.

I'm not at all very knowledgeable about history (hence my vagueness with dates and titles) but Penman's books are apparently very well researched and very readable.

Hate Philippa Gregory's books - full of supposedly historical characters with twenty first century mindsets, and sex lives.
If you want a good (i.e. bearing a resemblance to historical truth and a good read) historical novel try Norah Lofts. She wrote books based on Ann Boleyn (The Concubine), and a lot of other historical figures, but also many on a semi-fictionalised area of Suffolk, including The Town House, The House at Old Vine, and the House at Sunset - all about the same house and its occupants from the 13th century onward.

I love them - I went through rather a phase of PG, but I read for entertainment as well as brain improvement!! They're easy, entertaining books. They probably aren't accurate (but she does do her research), but if you want an historically accurate portrayal of these people, perhaps you should go and read some Antonia Fraser or suchlike (which I do as well). I read for sheer escapism most of the time. They can be a bit Mills and Boon, but hey ho - life is all a bit too realistic for me sometimes, and I just like to forget about it all and escape into a book now and again!!

I agree re: Norah Lofts, sonearsofar , I've read a couple of her books that I really enjoyed, too.

It's worth looking at Alison Weir, She's a historian who recently started writing fiction. I have a few of her biographies and also a fiction one about Lady Jane Grey called Innocent Traitor.

Agree about Alison Weir - I think she alternates fiction and fact books - both good

I like Gregory but you have to accept that they're written mainly for entertainment. Although she is a bona fide historian and does a lot of research. She's not the best writer but by no means the worst I've come across either. I think The Other Boleyn Girl is ace, and The Virgin's Lover is the next best.

Aluson weir is fantastic and jean plaidy is good - I think norah lofts is her pseudonym for fiction. Josephine tey's daughter of time is great.

sorry, no, Norah Lofts was not Jean Plaidy's pseudonym - very different writers

oooh, I found Alison Weir's Katherine Swynford in the YMCA shop today - like new, looks unread, 99p. Happy days

I like Alison Weir too - I've read her fiction and her non-fiction. Both excellent.

Hated The Queen's Fool - didn't finish it.

Was bought The Red Queen for Easter by my mother and loved it!

Oh, and I'm reading Alison Weir's Katherine Swynford now. (At the same time as a very spooky book called Long Lankin which I won in a recent BookFest raffle!)

Good trash. I saw her at the Dubai Literary Festival (only session I have ever attended, must admit) a couple of years ago - she doesn't claim to be writing anything but a good yarn loosely based on history. Now have a bit of a girl crush on her, she was witty and fab and wore a neon pink dress which rocked!!

I just rushed to google, because i was utterly convinced that Norah Lofts was Jean Plaidy - and guess what, i was wrong. I was thinking of Victoria Holt.

I really, really like PG. I read heavy historical biogs too - and Wolf Hall - but I really enjoyed her Tudor novels, and the Plantagenet ones have taught me so much, I didn't know much at all about the royal dynasties of the period, now I'm fascinated.

The Sunne in Splendour has just arrived - gosh I do love amazon

900 pages, what a treat!

I quite liked the Other Boleyn Girl. A good yarn but possibly dodgy on fact.

Didn't like the White Queen though. It just didn't hold my interest and the character wasn't drawn well enough imo. Don't think I'll read any more of hers.

The best historical type fiction books I've read are by C J Sansom. They knock spots off Philippa Gregory.