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!

Her Niccolo books are also highly recommended but I tried twice and just couldn't get into the first book.

The Niccolo books are very good, read them all many times but they aren't a patch on Lymond for a good story, in my opinion. Dunnett got into a sort of war with her readers who were constantly trying to outwit her and the books suffered, I think, as a result. She also wanted to use every single bit of her extensive research which does bog it down a bit in places.

Haven't read the whole thread, sorry, but if not already mentioned, I recommend London by Edward Rutherfurd, which is a great epic following the history of the city through generations of an ordinary family from an early settlement to modern times.
Also The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, about the building of a cathedral in an English city, in the 12th century.

Another massive vote for the Spoils of Time trilogy. Only of my favourites series ever.

The Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer is a 7 book series that spans 3 or 4 generations and is completely engrossing - heads up to make sure you have the next book ready when you get near the end of each one as there are cliff hangers.

Also worth looking at the Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley. Again 7 books in the series and they go back and forth between past and present. Just finished book 5 today and they have all been 5 star reads.

Have you tried the Ken follet trilogy-epic!

Kate Mosse , Labyrinth series.

As pps have said, the Starbridge series by Susan Howatch is brilliant, as is the Spoils of Time trilogy. Years ago, I read a book about Elizabeth I, called Legacy, by Susan Kay. Highly recommend it.

I've not read Howatch's C of E books but I loved her historical epics like Penmarric and The Wheel of Fortune. I liked how the characters in the books mirrored characters from history.

Legacy is probably the best novel I've read about Elizabeth Tudor, although I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles is up there too.

Norah Lofts. A lot (mysteriously) is out of print, but easy to get online. Excellent middlebrow HF. And I'm not being snobbish when I say that, having struggled with Dorothy Dunnett (who I think is highbrow). I think DD is excellent, it's just that I can't follow her plots.
I also second the Susan Howatch books.
Lastly, I've just got round to reading Merivel by Rose Tremain, which is wonderful. So much so that I consumed it in 2 days. A worthy successor to Restoration.

I was going to suggest Legacy but I didn't think anyone would have heard of it! It's a great book, and I love the ending.

I remember my mum reading the Starbridge books years ago - I think Susan Howatch converted to Christianity later in life and that influenced her to write the series

Seconding @MaMaLa321 re Norah Lofts, she was a v good writer and is unjustly neglected now. Her series about a house in Suffolk is excellent (The Suffolk Trilogy)

If you're interested in royal history then there was an author called Maureen Peters who wrote about various queens, from the Conquest to the Tudors, and was almost as prolific as Jean Plaidy. Her novels were fairly short and easy reads. I think they're out of print now but probably available second hand somewhere.

re Norah Lofts, can I add that I visited Bury St Edmunds this year for the first time, where Norah Lofts lived and set many of her novels (it appears as Baildon). It was a wonderful experience to see their setting. One of the pubs is called The One Bull, which Lofts' aficionados will 'get'.

@awesomekilick

Light along a pot of coffee there!

Seriously, the Master and Commander series is utterly superb. One of the nicest set of fans too. Can hope the reboot/prequel kicks a series off.

I'd also massively recommend the Lone Wolf and Cub manga. Very, very long even by manga standards but it's so worth it. Really does transport you to 1700's Japan. The film versions are bonkers (either the main series or the USA mash up which is Shogun Assassin)

[quote Pazuzu]@awesomekilick

Light along a pot of coffee there!

Seriously, the Master and Commander series is utterly superb. One of the nicest set of fans too. Can hope the reboot/prequel kicks a series off.

I'd also massively recommend the Lone Wolf and Cub manga. Very, very long even by manga standards but it's so worth it. Really does transport you to 1700's Japan. The film versions are bonkers (either the main series or the USA mash up which is Shogun Assassin)[/quote]
Waste not a minute!

I have never ventured into Manga but if a POB fan rates it then I'll give it a go. I reread the entire series every couple of years. The Ric Jerom Audible version is good too, his Killick is just wonderful.

@Pazuzu
What I should have said of course is, "which it's coming ain't it?"

@awesomekilick

And offer to make a soused hogs face!

That's reminded me, how many other series get people daft/passionate enough to research the food? Lobscouse and Spotted Dog is also well worth a read.

Judith Merkle Riley

Philippa Carr ( daughters of England series although not the final one which was ghost written after her death) (also writes as Jean Plaidy and Victoria Holt though some of the novels under that last name aren't very politically correct by modern standards)

Barbara Erskine (if you're happy with a bit of time travel and the supernatural along with the history)

Dinah Lampitt

Not sure if it has been been mentioned @GrandPrismatic- but as well as the Thomas Cromwell trilogy - Hilary Mantel's "A place of greater safety " I think is fabulous - French Revolution.

I've just enjoyed Daughters of the Night, by Laura Shepherd-Robinson. A whodunnit based in Regency England.

DK Broster, Flight of the Heron, Gleam in the North, The Dark Mile.
Jacobite rebellion and aftermath

Seconding Edith Partegers historical fiction. Years since I read them, but I loved them when I was in my historical fiction period, along with Sharon K Penman and Dorothy Dunnett.

I’ve spent two days reading this thread and downloading recommendations.

I loved Susan Howatch, particularly Cashelmara. This thread has prompted me to download it.

I’ve recently enjoyed a Sharon Kay Penman book which was on kindle unlimited. It’s the first of a series, The Queen’s Man. Would recommend.

I've not actually read her, but Rosemary Sutcliff is meant to be good for Ancient Rome fiction.
And in the same era, the Flavia Albia series by Lindsey Davis. Quite light-hearted, but I get the impression the setting and history are well researched.
Also look at the publisher Bookouture (digital-only, I think); they publish lots of fiction set in periods and places ranging from colonies in the early 20th century, to the two world wars, to the Renaissance... loads. They're not really literary fiction but they are often good reads.

@claracluck1978

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.

I was thinking of trying one of Edward Rutherford's books on audible. Does anyone know if there are gratuitously violent or sexual scenes in them as I really don't like either in a book, the former plays on my mind after and the I find the latter just cringey and it snaps me straight out of the story.