Historical Fiction Recommendations?

[AnneCatherineJane]

I am trying to get back into reading more regularly as my youngest is getting slightly more sensible. I really love historical fiction, and wondered if anyone had any good recommendations? Particularly women-focussed. I have read quite a lot of Tudor historical fiction (Philippa Gregory etc), so might be good to read about a different era. I have already read and loved The Red Tent and most Tracey Chevalier books.

Thanks in advance!

I always but always recommend Wilkie Collins The Woman in White or The Moonstone.

He is a Victorian novelist- contemporary of Dickens. He writes fabulous tales- and very strong female characters.

Gillespie and I - Jane Harris
Restoration - Rose Tremain
Music and Silence - Rose Tremain
The All True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton - Jane Smiley
The West Country trilogy - Tim Pears
Once Upon A River - Diane Setterfield

I've been listening to the Tracy Bormann's The King's Witch trilogy set in the court of James I and the Gunpowder Plot. Makes a change from yet another Tudor tale!!

Alison Weir
Conn Igguldon - gates of Rome series

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon

Another vote for Alison Wier. She's a great Tudor court writer.

I'm thoroughly enjoying 'Tsarina' by Ellen Alpsten. It's about Catherine the Great's rise to power in the Russian Court. An excellent read!

Phillips Gregory esp dark tides series.

Dorothy Dunnett - either Lymond or her Niccolo series.

They are easily the best historical fiction I have ever read.

Another Jane Harris - The Observations.

And The Mystery of Glass by Sue Gee.

Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters.

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber.

And have a look at Daphne du Maurier. I especially enjoyed Frenchman's Creek.

Place marking

Have you read the cazalet chronicles? Set between ww1 and after ww2. Absolutely fantastic. Easy reading.

I have recently read Rodham by Curtis sittenfield. Amazing book but maybe too recent history? See also American Wife. About Laura Bush fiction.

Have you read hilary mantel? I like her French revolution tome as well as wolf Hall trilogy. Heavy going though. Philippa Gregory she isn't!

I find all the Queens in PG novels have the same voice. I also get bored of historical fiction series. I wanted to like CJ Sansom but I found him formulaic.

I like Everyone Brave is forgiven set in WW2, very easygoing. The nightwatch by Sarah waters similar era and Atonement by Ian mcewan is a classic WW2 novel.

I'm considering the new Kate Atkinson set in 1920s.

@highlandcoo we have similar taste. I think the observations and TCPATW are 2 of the best books ever written, as well as Rebecca of course. I love My Cousin Rachel too.

I love books by Kate Mosse…Labyrinth, Sepulchre, Citadel. And the Burning Chambers series. Set at different times in history but focusing on women in the Langeudoc area of France.

Rosemary Hawley Jarman - We Speak No Treason and The King's Grey Mare

@ZenNudist so nice to hear from someone else who loves The Observations!

I'm always recommending to to people and no-one has ever heard of it.

The new Kate Atkinson one, Shrines of Gaiety, is very good.

Hilda Lewis - Mary Tudor trilogy.

Sharon Penman all day.long. Especially The Sunne in Splendour (Richard III) and her Welsh trilogy,.Here Be Dragons, Falls The Shadow and The Reckoning.
She was an incredible writer and I was very sad when she died recently.

The Secret Children by Alison McQueen

Oh my goodness, thanks so much for so many recommendations! I’ll have to have a good look through these. Has anyone read the Sarah Dunant? I read Sacred Hearts and The Birth of Venus and really loved them, I forgot about those. I love Italy so that helps!

@ZenNudist I read about half of Wolf Hall and then ditched it 😬. I did love the TV series though. I’ve found since having my kids I struggle with ‘heavier’ books as I just fall asleep. I have read American Wife and loved it, forgot about that, must check out Rodham too. I think I know what you mean about PG voice, I also find once you’ve read a few there is sort of a pattern of a pious woman vs wild/ passionate woman.

Someone mentioned the Gunpowder Ploy which I have to say I don’t know that much about so will look at that too.

I have also read a couple of books by Sarah Waterman and Rose Tremain and really liked them. I think of Rose Tremain I read Tresspass, which I loved and The Colour which I didn’t enjoy as much.

Thanks again everyone all of your suggestions are much appreciated!

Also I had forgotten about Kate Mosse, thanks for the reminder!

Completely agree, they’re delightful and wide ranging in terms of history and geography!

@AnneCatherineJane I also struggled with Hilary Mantel, I know exactly what you mean about struggling with heavier books when you have young kids. Kate Mosse is great as although they are long books, the prose is quite easy to read.

I'm 3/4 of the way through Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurty. Set in the USA in the 1880s. Never thought I'd be interested in a western, but this is one of the best written books I've ever read as well as being utterly gripping and superbly drawn characters. NB rather a daunting prospect as it is massive but well worth it and it sweeps you along. Be aware it is terrifyingly violent at times.