Big Historical Fiction

[GrandPrismatic]

It started with Margaret George then discovered the joy that was Sharon Kaye Penman. Devoured all of her epics over the course of last year. Have enjoyed Philippa Gregory, Madeline Miller, Robert Harris (especially Cicero trilogy), Lisa See.

I’m at a loss where to go next…any suggestions?
I love epic engaging stories and series that I learn history from. I can’t believe I hated history at school…making up for it now! I’ve not read any Bernard Cromwell or Conn Iggulden which feel like a similar vein…not sure why but they feel a bit more brutal perhaps? I may have been put off by the quite masculine looking covers.

Help me find my next Sharon Kaye Penman!

No idea if this is what you're after, but your post made me want to re-read the 'Spoils of Time' trilogy by Penny Vincenzi.

Set initially in England, it spans from WW1 through & past WW2, one big family dynasty (a publishing house) with a fierce but likeable protagonist. Three big juicy novels- I learnt more about the 1st two World Wars reading these than years of school history classes!

I haven't read all the authors you mention, but if you're after big historical fiction, how about the Wolf Hall books by Hilary Mantel?

CJ Sanson and SJ Parris both write brilliant novels set in Tudor times.

For ancient epics, try Mary Renault (especially her trilogy about Alexander the Great that starts with Fire from Heaven). There’s also Colleen McCullough’s series on Julius Caesar.

Some Bernard Cornwell is very brutal, but his series on Arthurian legend is brilliant and it’s the work he himself rates most highly. The first one is The Winter King.

Masters Of Rome series by Colleen McCulloch. Ancient Rome towards the end of the Roman Republic. Huge, immersive, impeccably researched.

x-post @LadybirdDaphne!

I also second Bernard Cornwell Arthurian series.

I love the Wolf Hall trilogy. I’ve just started Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir (it’s about Lady Jane Grey). I also like the Tudor era detective stories about the hunchback lawyer Matthew Shardlake by CJ Sansom (eg Dissolution, Dark Fire, Lamentation).

Oh these all look spot on! Thank you!
@Dustyblue - I love it when you come away from a book thinking…I can’t believe I didn’t know any of this history! I’ll definitely look out this trilogy.
@LoveComesQuickly, yes! I’ve read the Wolf Hall series and really enjoyed it too.
@Choirgirl30 I shall look those authors up…hard not to love the Tudors…that is where it all started for me!
@LadybirdDaphne do you know I’ve started the Alexander trilogy but really struggled with it…I got about 1/4 of the way through but wasn’t feeling compelled to keep on reading. I might have to give it a go.
@BoreOfWhabylon and @LadybirdDaphne will look up the Rome series and give Cromwell a go…it’s great to have some direction - I was looking at the back catalogue and didn’t have a clue where to start!

@CallMeRisley I love that you took your name inspiration from the series 😁

You could also go right back in time with Jean Auel. Clan of the Cave Bear is the first in her series about Early Modern Humans and Neanderthals.

@BoreOfWhabylon ohbinteresting…I enjoyed the Sapiens book…a fictionalised version sounds ideal!

I also really enjoyed Cromwell's Saxon series, starting with The Last Kingdom (and I loved the TV adaptations).

I love anything that takes you to another time/place and immerses you in how the people lived.

If you can take a bit of fantasy with it, my very favourite is Mary Stewart's Arthurian series, starts with The Crystal Cave.

And for frothy and light hearted but superb period research any Georgette Heyer Regency novel (there are lots!)

Burial rites by Hannah Kent is 'inspired by a real story' according to the blurb. Set in Iceland in 1829. Actually it was an audiobook now I think about it. But still haunts me a bit.
His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnett is fiction set in 1869 Scotland but very believable. Also still with me.

For historical fantasy, I loved The Court of the Midnight King by Freda Warrington. The bones of the story would be familiar from Philippa Gregory, but here the story of Richard III is intermingled with real magic and fantastical creatures. There’s also The Terror by Dan Simmons - based on the true story of the doomed Franklin Expedition to find the North-West Passage. The fantasy there tends towards horror though, and it is very masculine (the few women who appear all get their boobs out despite the sub-zero Arctic conditions). So while I loved it, probably not what you’re after. Certainly epic at 900+ pages though!

Jung Chang - Wild Swans. The author's own family history of three generations of women in China from her footbound grandmother, concubine of a warlord., through rise of the communist party, the Red Guards, cultural revolution and aftermath.

Not keen on horror elements, I must admit, but the Midnight King one sounds like something I'd like.

The Outlander Series by Diana Gabledon. Book nine us released next week. They are huge books. So much better than the series that has come from them.

Susan Howatch. Particularly the Starbridge novels - the C of E moving through the twentieth century. Admittedly this sounds somewhat dull, but actually gripping.

I also liked ‘The Rich are Different’ and ‘Sins of the Fathers’ which rewrites Cleopatra in the context of an American Banking Dynasty.

The crimson petal and the white by Michel Faber is absolutely wonderful book.

Ken Follett Kingsbridge trilogy starting with Pillars of the Earth.

My all time favourite historical novelist is the much underrated Norah Lofts- her House trilogy starting with The Town House is one of my favourite books ever. Her Knights Acre series might also hit the spot for you.

Thanks for all these recommendations. I will be putting on my book watch list

Elizabeth Chadwick... the summer queen and subsequent novels in the series...you'll love that from the sounds of it.

Following in case I hear of any historical fiction that I’ve missed. Can only add Anya Seton to what’s been mentioned already. Old now but I alway love a reread of Katherine and some of her others.

I did start a series from the library a long time ago, which was set during the English civil war. I’ve never been able to find it again if anyone has any clues…

I came on to suggest Ken Follet and his Kingsbridge novels.

Also, Edward Rutherford. He takes a place (I've read London, Sarum & Forest so far) and journeys it's history over centuries interweaving families/events. He's also written similar about Moscow I think.