Book suggestions for historical fiction, women's biographies and westerns

[Freshton]

Please could I have some new book suggestions? I asked a couple of years ago and got some great ones

I love historical fiction and non fiction including biographies, particularly about women. I never seem to gel with the most popular authors in that genre. have tried a few Phillipa Gregory books over the years but not really enjoyed them. Also tried Alison Weir but not a fan. They are well researched but there's something about the writing style, I wish I could better articulate why I don't like certain books!

Last book I read was House at Rivington by Kate Morton which was alright but based on the reviews I expected to like it more.

I'm now reading the Handmaid's Tale and I really love it. Also read Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix and enjoyed that so maybe I need to switch to contemporary US fiction? I love Westerns too

Have you read anything by Anya Seton? She wrote Katherine and I'm currently reading The Winthrop Woman.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon ticks a few of your boxes

I like the historical novels of Edward Rutherfurd. My favourites are The Forest, Ruska and his two Ireland books.

I've only ever read one Western, but it was very good: The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt. Dark, violent and hilarious.

Books by Sally Magnusson! So good.

Also agree with The Frozen River and books by Edward Rutherford

You'd probably enjoy Whiskey When We're Dry by John Larison and maybe The Secret River by Kate Grenville.

If you like Westerns, I adored How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang. Totally different twist on the genre and really powerful.

Your mention of Westerns makes me think of The Sisters Brothers, which I think is a great book (much better than the film). Very funny, strange, and poignant.

There was a webchat with the author on MN when it first came out, if you fancied digging around for it.

If you like Westerns and biographies about women you might enjoy Brave Hearted: The Dramatic Story of Women of the American West by Katie Hickman.

The best historical fiction novels I've read are by Sharon Kay Penman. So detailed, great research, nearly all the characters are real people from history. The Cicero Trilogy books by Robert Harris were great, I've no special interest in Roman history but he made the period come alive, I'd happily re-read them.
I think I've only read one Western-set novel, 'The Son' by Philipp Meyer, a Texan family saga from 1800s to early 20th century,

Philippa Gregory historical fiction based on fact. Wonderful reads.

Philippa Gregory historical fiction based on fact. Wonderful reads.
Not really, IMO.
Norah Lofts was THE writer of historical fiction.

I’m assuming you’ve already read Hilary Mantel’s Cromwell trilogy, or didn’t get on with it?

For biographies, Hermione’s Lee’s Virginia Woolf, or Judith Thurman’s Isak Dinesen and Colette biographies.

Western: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty.
Historical: The World is Not Enough by Zoe Oldenburgh. (Set in France at the time of the Crusades)

Both superbly written.

I read bring up the bodies and enjoyed that

Another vote for Lonesome Dove, I'm reading this just now and it's gripping

You might enjoy These Is My Words by Nancy Turner - based on the author’s grandmother’s diary of her journey as a teenager from Arizona to Texas in the 1880s.

Totally different, Dorothy Dunnett’s Lymond Saga (6 books) and King Hereafter (a retelling of Macbeth) are great - not a female lead, but strong female characters throughout.

The Red Tent. Amazing story of a woman mentioned obliquely in the Bible.

The novel about the cathedral..... Agh what's it called???!!!

And Kristin Hannah has written many good books, some of which are historical. There's one about Russia during WWI , one about the Vietnam War.

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett is the cathedral one. I had to Google. Brilliant read. Life in 12th century England

Did you even read the OP?

@Freshton is there any historical period in particular that you like to read about?

Black Diamonds
by Catherine Bailey
""Black Diamonds" is an extraordinary tale of family feuds, forbidden love, civil unrest and the downfall of a mining dynasty in the village of Wentworth, South Yorkshire. This is the extraordinary story of Wentworth Woodhouse and how the fabric of English society shifted beyond recognition in fifty turbulent years in the twentieth century."

This book is even better if you have visited Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire. If you havent yet, I bet you will add it to your bucket list road trip visit, after you have finished.

This is womens historical biography, but also of several generations

I really enjoyed Romantic Outlaws by Charlotte Gordon

It's a kind of double header - biographies of both Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley, told separately but in simultaneous life stages ( difficult to explain!)

If you might stretch to historical crime fiction, Anne Perry’s two different series set in separate parts of the Victorian era are excellent.

letters from 6 sisters by the Mitfords might tick a few of your boxes?

Try the following authors - Elizabeth Chadwick, RF Delderfield, M M Kaye, Ellis Peters, Edith Pargetter, Victoria Holt, Jean Plady and Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove.

Patricia Finney writes under different names. My favourites are writing as PF Chisholm. The Sir Robert Carey (Real) series set on the Borders and Carlisle in Elizabeth's last years. A Courtier in an environment like the Wild West. A famine of Horses is the start of the series. In other books he meets King James.