I would like to read books about the Middle Ages, or earlier

[floorchid]

This is a very new interest so I'm not entirely sure what I'm asking. I think early Middle Ages first because chronological learning appeals to me - just after the Roman's left perhaps? And then I can go on with anything up to the Norman conquest? But perhaps onwards too?

I'm interested in realistic historical fiction, easy-to-read nonfiction, or biographies. Nothing too dry or hardgoing. I'm just dipping my toe.

But actually, maybe I also want to know about the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. They were before the Romans, weren't they?

And I want to read about the monarchy too.

I think my question is, where do I start?

What have you read that you would recommend?

Thank you.

One book that I can recommend is "Unruly: A History of England's Kings and Queens" by David Mitchell.

It's available in paperback and also as an audiobook as well.

He starts with King Vortigern in the 400s (well, actually with King Arthur and a warning that he didn't actually exist) and then goes up to the end of Elizabeth I in 1603.

It covers 39 monarchs, although it does group some of the early ones together.

So, it covers the period you're interested in but it does go further as well.

Second Bernard Cornwall Arthurian trilogy
norah lofts wrote much historical fiction in that period, I recommend her 'house trilogy, starts with the house at Old Vine. Not at home at present so can't offer any more titles.
rosemary Sutcliffe, loads of great books. The Rider on the White Horse comes to mind, but many set before the Civil war, which I prefer.

If you don't mind non-fiction, try Montaillou by Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie. "An enthralling account of day-to-day life in a medieval French village. Using records gathered by the Catholic Church in its pursuit of heretics, the book recreates the lives of a rich cast of village characters."

Oh wow - so many recommendations. Thank you so much, and hooray that other people are enjoying this thread too.

I think I definitely want to read The Anglo Saxons by Marc Morris.

I will also give Unruly by David Mitchel a go - I'm a bit worried that I'll read it in his sardonic, deadpan voice, though.

I'm getting in a muddle between various time travelers guides - will explore more there.

And it's going to take me ages to sift through all the hisorical fiction. Will start now! I think Medieval Woman: Village Life in the Middle Ages by Ann Baer is already on the list though.

I will add my own recommendation: the book that started me off in the first place is Matrix by Lauren Groff. It's an absolutely beautiful fictional account of the life of Marie de France who was a poet.

I've just started Powers and Thrones by Dan Jones. It's on audible, but only until 25 October. Already very interesting so would recommend, but I'm only at the start 😁

"I will also give Unruly by David Mitchel a go - I'm a bit worried that I'll read it in his sardonic, deadpan voice, though."

On the audiobook, he does read it himself. It works very well.

It’s later than you’re looking for, but The Man On A Donkey by HFM Prescott is a book so magical I wish I could read it for the first time all over again.

For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain By Victoria Mackenzie is another incredible one.

Thanks for this thread, this is my favourite genre of fiction and non-fiction and there are a few here I haven’t read yet.

I don't know how close it was to historical accuracy but I used to enjoy reading Jean Plaidy 30 odd years ago. Her writing style was very easy.

EDIT - Oh crikey, apparently she had a few pen names 😮
Jean Plaidy, Victoria Holt, Philippa Carr, Eleanor Burford, Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow, Ellalice Tate, Anna Percival

Femina by Janina Ramirez is good non-fiction on medieval women, there’s a lot of Anglo-Saxon and Viking examples in there with a bit of later medieval too.

Hild by Nicola Griffiths is a fictional version of the story of Hild of Whitby (Anglo-Saxon abbess), a little heavy-handed writing style but brilliant world-building. There is a sequel that I haven’t got round to yet.

Bernard Cornwall’s Warlord and Saxon novels are great as everyone else has said!

Elizabeth Chadwick for medieval fiction.

Bit later than your proposed time frame but my favourite book ever is Katherine, by Anya Seton. It's just brilliant.

As an aside, @Pixiedust1234 - I never knew Jean Plaidy and Victoria Holt were one and the same!

I think I've read almost everything recommended on this thread - I love this time period.

I will add the Owen Archer mysteries series by Candace Robb (Set in late 1300s) and the Cadfael novels by Ellis Peters (mid 12th C.)

If you want to move a bit further west you might enjoy Elizabeth Boyle's Fierce Appetites. Part history of early medieval (5th to 12th c) Ireland (she is an academic historian) part memoir, part Covid year diary. Readable, funny, erudite.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59819516-fierce-appetites

Haven't read the thread. Cadfael mysteries. 12th century monk. Very well written imo.

If you like chronological learning, Francis Pryor's books are great. He's an archaeologist but he writes about the people behind the 'stones and bones'.

Britain BC and Britain AD would be the best hopping off points to learn whether you enjoy his writing style.

More of a place mark than anything else!

If you're looking for an all encompassing history of the British Isles I can thoroughly recommend The Isles, a History by Norman Davis.

Millennium by Tom Holland is brilliant.

Women in Medieval Life by Margaret Wade Labarge - readable nonfiction. But it sounds as you want some stuff that's earlier.

I would suggest some In Our Time as well

Yes to all the above - especially Bernard Cornwell’s The Winter King and Last Kingdom series.

Also the Brother Cadfael series by Ellis Peters set in the civil war era of Stephen vs Matilda - early 12th century.

If you are a member of a city library you should be able to access the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online - plenty of information on there about historical figures.

I’ve started listening to the Rest is History podcast on Spotify. It’s really interesting and discusses lots of different eras of history. I know you have said book but you might like to whittle away some mundane chore time listening to some educated people discuss days gone by, it makes cleaning a damn sight more interesting!

The Time Travellers Guides are brilliant, very well written and informative without being remotely dry. They are non fiction.
you want the one to Medieval Britain

I did enjoy the Ken Follett and Cadfael books mentioned. I’ll have a look at
the others.

I really didn’t enjoy Unruly unfortunately, I did hear it in David Mitchell’s voice!

I listen to the Gone Mediaeval podcast on Spotify, which often has book recommendations.

This is my academic area, and I really love it, so a few recommendations of things I've read more recently. (I haaaaaated Matrix though, so our historical fiction thoughts may not match - I didn't find it in any way a good representation of an early medieval woman and her thought world, and the self-importance of it made me cross.)

Non-fiction:
The Once and Future Sex by Eleanor Janega - I have some quibbles, but fundamentally fascinating, amusing and well-written.
Femina by Janina Ramirez - a little weaker on the early stuff but basically great.
The Bright Ages by Matthew Gabriele and David M. Perry - worth a look, very much a general history (no footnotes!!) but interesting and a good starting place.
River Kings by Cat Jarman - very good on the Vikings and the archaeology of their travels.
Max Adams writes the most fascinating early medieval non-fiction that I know of, and all of his books are worth reading, although possibly not as a starting point - he assumes some knowledge of the period. Morris' book, mentioned by a previous poster, is a good starting point.

Fiction:
For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain by Victoria Mackenzie - a much more plausible attempt than Matrix to think about women and religion in the medieval period.
Storyland by Amy Jeffs - really stunning illustrations and lovely retellings of some of the medieval myths about Britain.
Cecily by Annie Garthwaite - this is later than you want (15th century), but is so excellent that it's worth mentioning, a really great character study and story.
Cathedral by Ben Hopkins - also later than you want (12th and 13th century) and set in Germany but really really good on some of the slow changes throughout the period and on atmosphere.
To Calais In Ordinary Time by James Meek - ALSO later, I'm so sorry, I keep getting distracted with great books! This one is 14th century, Black Death, but it is hands down the best piece of historical fiction I've ever read. It does completely fascinating things with language and is amazing.
Cuddy by Benjamin Myers - big sections in the right time period, and it's a powerful book which takes an early medieval life as its starting point.

Can I also really recommend reading some early medieval literature? Available fairly widely, with my personal recommended translations: Beowulf (Heaney). Mabinogion (Davies), Táin Bó Cúailnge (Kinsella), Icelandic sagas (Smiley's edition is excellent) are all great and relatively easy places to start. Gantz has a good edition of some of the early Irish stuff that isn't the Táin and if you went mad a wanted to spend a load of money, Rowland's edition of the Englynion is a stunner.

The only thing that comes to mind is Myself As Witness, by James Goldman.

app.thestorygraph.com/books/0114a193-18ca-4bdd-9576-5626490859e5