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!

Patrick O’Brien. The Master and Commander books. Brilliant characters brilliantly written and not just for blokes. Hilary Mantel of course. ‘Hamnet’ by Maggie O’Farrell.

Not sure if it counts as “big fiction”, but I think Diana Norman’s historical novels are really good. Lots of interesting female characters and people who feel contemporary and relatable without being anachronistic. Rosemary Hawley Jarman is maybe a bit dated these days but also good

I came on to recommend Edward Rutherford too.

I also love two books by MM Kaye set in British India. One called A Far Pavillions and one called Shadow of the Moon.

Diana Lampitt does two set in Tudor England, Pour the Dark Wine and To Sleep No More.

Robyn Young does a series about the Crusades called the Brethren Trilogy as well.

Not quite historical fiction but do try Carlos Ruiz Zafon The Shadow of the Wind as I think you'll like it based on your current reading.

@Erinrose82 Elizabeth Chadwick…I should have mentioned her…have devoured much of her work…loved the Eleanor of Aquitaine series. Spot on the type of thing I am after.

For those that mentioned Ken Follet…not sure how I could have left him off the list…loved the pillars series although I think they got progressively worse and the last one…the prequel one (can’t remember what it was called) I thought was not worthy of the series and left me very disappointed!

Some brilliant suggestions….these should keep me going for a while! Thanks all!

@BoreOfWhabylon

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.

I LOVED this book you are right…one of my favourites that has stuck with me. I feel like we have similar taste 😁

Jean Plaidy was a prolific historical fiction author but is often forgot these days.

Definitely Katherine by Anya Seton. Jean Plaidy Queen of this Realm is great on Elizabeth I. There's also Legacy about her too but can't remember the author of that. Edward Rutherford London is great. For light and frothy the Lady of Hay is good, can't remember author...

@felulageller

Jean Plaidy was a prolific historical fiction author but is often forgot these days.

I’ve never come across her…will investigate now! Thanks!

I recently read Penman's Land Beyond the Sea and enjoyed it, though it's sad to think she's no longer with us.

Have you tried Cynthia Harrod-Eagles' Morland Dynasty series? There's 35 of them, spanning the Wars of the Roses to the 1930s so they will keep you busy for a while! She also wrote a trilogy of books on Russia that covered the Napoleonic wars, Crimean war and Revolution, all seen through the eyes of English women who'd moved there.

@KillingMeDeftly

I recently read Penman's Land Beyond the Sea and enjoyed it, though it's sad to think she's no longer with us.

Have you tried Cynthia Harrod-Eagles' Morland Dynasty series? There's 35 of them, spanning the Wars of the Roses to the 1930s so they will keep you busy for a while! She also wrote a trilogy of books on Russia that covered the Napoleonic wars, Crimean war and Revolution, all seen through the eyes of English women who'd moved there.

Yes I heard she had died…loved land beyond the sea. It is a shame to think there will be no more from her…she is one of my favourite authors of all time. Moreland series sounds perfect! I love an epic series you can get engrossed in

I’ve not come across

Andrew Taylor's Cat Lovett series set in the aftermath of the Great Fire of London is great. I'm on the second - first is called Ashes of London.

honesttogod Lady of Hay is Barbara Erskine. She’s written quite a few similar ones with past and present interweaving, past lives, ghosts etc.

Diana Lampitt (aka Deryn Lake) also wrote the Sutton Place trilogy about a real life Tudor mansion and the curse which was apparently laid on it by Edward the Confessor’s wife. It’s got a bit of a bodice ripper vibe but it’s not bad.

Before Elizabeth Chadwick started writing about Eleanor of Aquitaine and William Marshal etc, she wrote pure historical fiction where real-life characters only had walk on parts. Those are worth seeking out - I absolutely loved The Champion and The Love Knot. I've actually "known" her for years through various historical fiction groups and she's active on social media and interacts with her readers a lot. I'm fascinated with the time period she covers and she's been very responsive when I've asked her various questions on her research etc.

I also like Edward Rutherford - Paris and Sarum are my favourites.

I started reading the conn iggulden genghis Khan series and found it incredibly engrossing - some of the same stuff occurs in game of thrones but this was real... it is violent, but because that was the life but it isn't dwelt on IMO.

Also Ken Follets century series about the 20th century.

@SydneyCarton

honesttogod Lady of Hay is Barbara Erskine. She’s written quite a few similar ones with past and present interweaving, past lives, ghosts etc.

Diana Lampitt (aka Deryn Lake) also wrote the Sutton Place trilogy about a real life Tudor mansion and the curse which was apparently laid on it by Edward the Confessor’s wife. It’s got a bit of a bodice ripper vibe but it’s not bad.

I'm just rereading some Dinah Lampitt now as Amazon have all her novels on Kindle Unlimited, though she goes as Deryn Lake these days. The King's Women is my favourite - all about Charles VII of France and the various women in his life, from his mother to Joan of Arc to his mistress. The writing can be a bit OTT - it's full of women so beautiful that they make grown men weep etc - but it's a good story.

I enjoy Barbara Erskine too. Her recent novel about Offa's daughter was a bit of a departure as it deviated from her "woman moves to remote cottage after relationship breakup and discovers ghosts and an attractive neighbour" formula.

Also Ken Follets century series about the 20th century.

Those were much better than his Pillars of the Earth series, which never truly felt to me like they were set in the Middle Ages. He was on much firmer ground with the 20th century. Surprised they've not been optioned as a TV series as POTE was, but it would be a very expensive one given the times the trilogy covers.

What a nice thread for a Saturday morning!

A rather lurid novel I read recently was Tsarina by Ellen Alpsten about Catherine I of Russia. Not Catherine the Great but the wife of Peter the Great, who was born a Polish or
Lithuanian peasant and rose to become Empress of Russia. It's a bit blood-thirsty but there isn't much out there about Catherine and she is a fascinating character. I think there's now a sequel about Empress Elizabeth.

Jean Plaidy. She also wrote as Victoria Holt and Phillippa Carr. Each pseudonym has a distinct style.

Plaidy was my "gateway drug" to historical fiction! Her Tudor novels like Murder Most Royal (Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard) are her best. The others get a bit samey and don't have the depth of research that say, Penman or Chadwick do.

I second Morland Dynasty. I've read and re-read them again. They are fab !

@mrselizabethdarcy if only CHE would continue with it! But she lost the contract a while ago I enjoyed her War at Home series which covered WWI (with guest appearance from a certain Morland Dynasty character) and she's got the first in a new series out that is set in the early 1900s.

Very excited to come back and read this thread when I have more time …
But have to throw in my ‘gut reaction’ first thoughts …
If you are open to different periods of history I strongly recommend Jean Auel books - do start with Clan of the Cave Bear (they are better in correct sequence) - all huge books, great story but also learn SO much …. (With a touch of literary artistic licence)

Also, Mary Renault is fantastic - my favourite is The King Must Die (about Theseus and bull-leaping in Crete) but that might be because that was the first book of hers that I read…

One other - very relevant after going through a pandemic!
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
“ novel is written in the point of view of a housemaid named Anna Frith, on what she lives through when the plague hits her village. It is based on the history of the small Derbyshire village of Eyam that, when beset by the plague in 1666, quarantines itself in order to prevent the disease from spreading further”

I absolutely LOVED this, great story and agin learned so much! Based on TRUE story… but again, with some fictional licence!

@AnonyMum21 I loved Year of Wonders too. Was literally in tears at the last line. I also liked People of the Book, by the same author.

I also loved Jean Plaidy … but writing as Victoria Holt and Phillips Carr

Actually - her real name was Eleanor Burford - she had at least 7 or 8 pen-names, a very prolific writer - in swifter the styles/genres including history, and romantic books

@Bideshi

Patrick O’Brien. The Master and Commander books. Brilliant characters brilliantly written and not just for blokes. Hilary Mantel of course. ‘Hamnet’ by Maggie O’Farrell.

I'll just leave this year, @Bideshi :)