Best novels to learn about history, travel etc.

[spearly]

I was recently reading some reviews of Ken Follett's, 'The Pillars of the Earth' in which quite a few reviewers commented that they learnt so much about the history of that period and also understanding architecture just from reading the book. I wondered what other novels were good for an understanding of history, geography, languages, any areas really that we might not normally think about that could be recommended?

Adding to Regeneration trilogy, Pat Barker's other trilogy Life Class. First 2 set just before and during WW1 and the third WW2. Which is slightly less unusual. More from a woman's perspective than Regeneration trilogy.

Also mentioned before is Sara Walters but I would choose The Paying Guests. Very strong sense of people and society in the 1920s.

Oh and as a young teen I read Helen Forester's autobiographical books Twopence to Cross the Mersey etc. Which read like novel but are autobiography and are set in the depression in Liverpool and then WW2 in the same city. Lots of details.

Judith Merkle Riley or maybe Reilly about being a medieval or early modern woman - really engaging. The wonderful Diana Norman aka Arianna Franklin for the same over a longer time period. Both write about feminist themes but the books are also exciting, funny and very well researched. Also Pamela Belle about Wintercombe in the civil war

Its not a novel ,but I am currently reading Killers of the King by Charles Spencer. (Princess Diana's brother if relevant) It is a really readable account of what happened to those responsible for the execution of Charles I.

The Cadfael novels by Ellis Peters cover a period of 12th century history about which I knew nothing at all. Very interesting. King Stephen and the Empress Matilda (aka Maude!) fighting over who was the rightful sovereign.