recommend me good historical novels

[parietal]

I love historical novels - the feeling of being in a different place and time. So why are 50% of the modern ones full of anachronisms, especially in people's attitudes and interpretations. I'm currently reading one with an 11 year old black boy in 18th century London who is worrying about structural racism rather than just trying to survive. Yes, obviously there is lots of racism around in that era, but I don't believe that a kid would be theorizing about it, he'd just be living it. And it would be so much more powerful if the author just showed his experience. Similarly, I hate it when novels make their characters into modern feminists in a way that is completely out of place.

what authors / novels can you recommend that depict strong interesting characters that will not jar in this way?

@massistar I was lucky enough to meet her at an event at Bosworth around the time that they found Richard. She was lovely and I treasure my signed books.

Oh that's lovely and what an apt venue too.

Amitav Ghosh: The Glass Galace
Tracy Chevalier: Remarkable Creatures

I've really enjoyed some of the other suggestions (Sharon Kay Penman, Ken Follett, Georgette Heyer, CJ Sansom, Hilary Mantel).

I'd also recommend The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.

I like Tracy Chevalier as well but haven't read anything of hers recently.

The Andrew Marwood series by Andrew Taylor set in Restoration London are good.

Anthony Trollope - the Pallisers

@Hellohah I really enjoyed The Single Thread, if you haven't already read it. She has a new book coming out late this year about glassmaking in Venice which looks interesting

He is wonderful. It's my favourite Heyer book, hands down.

The Sunne is Splendor is one of my favourite books. Can also recommend Norah Lofts House trilogy.

Funnily enough I just clicked on this to see if anyone had mentioned Norah Lofts.
I started rereading Knight’s Acre last night and was blown away, though the House trilogy were always my favourite.

Me too, I’m in the middle of reading them again, I got the special edition box set as a gift.

The Romanovs - Simon Sebag Montifiore is a proper page turner and eye opener.

Dunstan - Conn Iggulden is one of my favourites.

Mist over Pendle, Robert Neill.

I loved the TV series too.

It's fiction but based on fact.

Innocent traitor - Alison Weir. I knew what was coming and I still sobbed at the end.

The Cazalet trilogy by Elizabeth Jane Howard - starts with the light years. Set in the years around WW2. Very evocative of the time, lots of bits of social history intertwined and the characters feel authentic for their time . Don’t bother with the fourth one set in the 1950s , bit of a let down.

I read this many years ago, one of the best tellings of the tale of the Pendle witches. I grew up in the shadow of Pendle. Such an atmospheric place, even now.

I love the Outlander books by Diana Gabaldon. So much better than the TV series.

Starts in Scotland with the Rising and Culloden and ends up in Colonial America.

Nine books of ten are altrasy written.

Only criticism is that they coukd have been edited better, especially the last one.

I really enjoyed them. I was in hospital and pretty unwell for a few weeks last year and I put the last 4 on my kindle. I can't wait for the next one.

This.

I am enjoying Andrew Taylor's series set in Restoration London, about James Marwood and Cat Lovett, starting with The Ashes of London. I also love Laura Shepherd-Robinson's books, set in the Georgian era, starting with Blood and Sugar.

Thanks @SydneyCarton I'll see if I can request at the library.

@MissMuffetisin you are correct that the last one is rubbish .. but it's the fifth one that needs to be avoided. The first four are great.

Your right, I lost count!