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Can anyone recommend a good saga series

24 replies

Longlive · 02/01/2024 20:54

There were loads written in the 80/90s, but nothing more modern that I can find.

I've read all the older ones, like The Thorn Birds, The Earth Children, Outlander Series, but can't find anything now.

OP posts:
highlandcoo · 02/01/2024 21:19

Have you read Elizabeth Jane Howard's Cazalet Chronicles and Jane Smiley's Hundred Years trilogy?
There's also the Elena Ferrante series, starting with My Brilliant Friend. I didn't enjoy the first one but many people love them.

Longlive · 02/01/2024 21:20

I've read the Cazalet Chronicals, not heard of the others. Will look them up.

OP posts:
Latenightreader · 02/01/2024 21:24

Have you read Maeve Binchy? The last 8 or so she wrote (Evening Class onwards) are interconnected with lots of overlapping characters. Not as fluffy as some people think.

ElizabethVonArnim · 02/01/2024 21:29

I have a sneaking fondness for Penny Vincenzi's Spoils of Time series, starting with No Angel. It's a family saga of rich folks across the early 20th C. I stole it from a hotel bookshelf and it was a magnificent holiday read, delivering exactly what it promised. I would have been too snobbish to buy it, but it was great.

Pushkinini · 02/01/2024 21:44

Not a series, but Any Human Heart by William Boyd is spans one man's life during the 20th century.

Talisin · 02/01/2024 22:19

Lucinda Riley’s Seven Sisters series?

TeaMeBasil · 03/01/2024 18:20

Oh I came on to recommend the Spoils of Time series too, just what I wanted in a family saga!

Cryingbutstilltrying · 03/01/2024 23:06

Another recommendation for the Seven Sisters series. I’m reading the final Atlas story now, 500 pages in a day so far, it’s brilliant. Lucinda Riley is a wonderful writer, so sad she’s no longer with us.

Riverlee · 05/01/2024 20:30

i’m a big fan of Steve Higgs. The two series I’ve enjoyed so far are the Patricia Fisher series, and Albert and Rex. They’re both light hearted, cozy mystery but are enjoyable.

notawittyname1954 · 24/01/2024 20:24

Cynthia Harrod Eagles, the Morland series. There are loads of them. Definitely worth reading.

notawittyname1954 · 24/01/2024 20:26

The Morland Dynasty spans 1434 to 1931. 35 books.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 24/01/2024 20:27

The Forsyte Saga. An upper middle class family in Victorian England late 19c to after WW1.

CurlewKate · 24/01/2024 21:06

I came on to recommend The Cazalets. Love them! And the audio books are good too. Jilly Cooper's Riders, Rivals and so on have the same people in them too.

SapatSea · 24/01/2024 21:25

Susan Howatch Family Sagas - The Wheel of Fortune, Penmarric. Cashelmara.
(published in 1970's and 80's)
I also liked RF Delderfield's: The Dreaming Suburb and the follow up, The Avenue goes to War.

Elizabeth Strout has written lots of books about residents in a fictional area in Illinois. She has several books about a resident called Lucy Barton, from "Amgash" that I found enjoyable:
https://www.penguin.com.au/articles/3530-elizabeth-strout-lucy-barton-reading-guide

and her other novels, such as the famous "Olive Kitteridge" one, that was adapted for a mini series are all loosely connected
https://www.fantasticfiction.com/s/elizabeth-strout/

A useful guide to reading Elizabeth Strout’s Lucy Barton books

Learn about Elizabeth Strout's Lucy Barton books in honour of her Booker prize longlist nomination for Oh William! Learn more about the series and the order in which we recommend reading the four books.

https://www.penguin.com.au/articles/3530-elizabeth-strout-lucy-barton-reading-guide

Nearlyadoctor · 24/01/2024 21:30

Another vote for The Seven Sisters series Lucinda Riley. Every book is a story in itself but all so intertwined.

SapatSea · 24/01/2024 21:38

You might like Ken Follett's "Century Trilogy" 3 long books about 5 interconnected families in England, Wales, The Soviet Union, America and Germany across the 20th century encompassing the First World War, Second World War, Fall of the Berlin Wall and lots of other events.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/AO8/the-century-trilogy/

If you like older history his "Kingsbridge" novels (originally a trilogy)that began with Pillars of the Earth about building a cathedral in medieval times now also has a prequel novel The Armour and the Light and a book further forward into the 1700's based in Kingsbridge.
https://www.panmacmillan.com/blogs/fiction/ken-follett-s-kingsbridge-books-in-order

The Century Trilogy

Buy books online and find book series such as The Century Trilogy written by Ken Follett from PenguinRandomHouse.com

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/AO8/the-century-trilogy

massistar · 25/01/2024 11:56

I came on to recommend Ken Follett but see someone beat me to it!

SapatSea · 25/01/2024 12:47

I made a mistake in my post above about Ken Follet's Kingsbridge novels. The Kingsbridge prequel is called The Evening and the Morning and the time jump book to 1792 is called The Armour of Light.

Ambertonix · 30/01/2024 17:22

My favourite saga series is the Woman Of Substance series. There are seven books in it following Emma Harte and her subsequent family. Such a comforting read for me especially the first one. They are written by Barbara Taylor Bradford.

OwlDoll · 30/01/2024 21:06

Elizabeth Elgin's 'I'll Bring you Buttercups' starts a family saga in WW1 and continues with two or three other books up to WW2. All very enjoyable except for the very last book which I think was written shortly before she died and which definitely isn't up to the same standard as the other books.

Dustyblue · 01/02/2024 05:10

@Ambertonix I'd forgotten about BTB's Woman of Substance! I didn't read all of them at the time, I must look those up.

Another vote for Penny Vincenzi's Spoils of Time Trilogy.

There was an American author, Julie Ellis, who wrote the most wonderful historical family sagas. She did one 2-parter called "The Hampton Hertiage" and "The Hampton Women". Her books are very hard to find unfortunately.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 01/02/2024 05:25

Manda Scott's Boudicca series is fascinating. Really well written. It follows the life of Boudicca and her people. I think the first one is called "Dreaming the Eagle" . There are 4 in total.

Luckingfovely · 01/02/2024 05:57

Seven Sisters

Discovery Of Witches

Wheel Of Time

SevenKingsMustDie · 01/02/2024 06:03

Nearlyadoctor · 24/01/2024 21:30

Another vote for The Seven Sisters series Lucinda Riley. Every book is a story in itself but all so intertwined.

I love these too - the fact they are all set in a different place in the world is great too! I read the one set in the Lake District when I was there as well as the one set in London when there.

Unfortunately Brazil, Australia etc. had to be read from home 😂

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