Historical Novels (fact based)

[Kally]

Just finished reading The Kings Pleasures by Nora Loft. I picked it up ages ago and decided to tackle it. Didn't like it to begin with it then kept going. It became I book I couldn't put down. Brilliant.
My knowledge of British History is rubbish (shame on me but studied other stuff, really)I now have a passion for reading about this era especially about the life around Henry 8th.. Above book is about Katherine (wanted something from another angle so I can slot it all in with what I've learnt.
Anyone suggest anything that is historically correct?

Hi Kally. I'm just like you - I adore this period in history, and have scoured bookshops for relevant books.

Philippa Gregory's Tudor books are excellent. They are fairly accurate, with a nice dash of embellishment to spice up an already pretty spicy era.

I'm currently reading Lady Elizabeth, by Alison Weir, which is good, but not as good as Gregory's Elizabeth books (The Queen's Fool, and The Virgin's Lover).

If you like that sort of book you should try Sharon Penman. Different period to Henry VIII but excellent books.

Dissolution and Sovereign are two books by C J Sansom that I have read. Based around a lawyer called Shardlake living in London the time of Henry VIII, fictional but in factual settings. Good reads

I can't remember the author's name - the guy who wrote 'cheasapeake'. He wrote novels base on fact with the same fictitious family threaded through them.

I have read his Caribbean, Japan, Alaska and London novels. In the London one, he followed the family of a hunter-gatherer through the ages (they all had the same shaped nose, iirc).

I'd also recommend CJ Sansom's Shardlake series (there are 4 in total) - everyone I've recommended them to has loved them!

I came to check that Sansom had already been mentioned. Have just started Revelation.

I read Sovereign. Pretty good.

Bernard Cornwell is great - his Artharian trillogy is just compelling. It's called The Warlord Saga.

Helen Hollick's Arthurian trilogy is pretty good too.

Thanks! I went yesterday to a second hand bookstore (looks like another world inside and books only 50p if tatty (love tatty books))
The guy inside looks like he comes from a warp zone... young fella, sits and reads all day.. so happy to have found this store!

I got two he recommended The Sunne in Splendour/Sharon Penman... Richard III.. and another about Francis Drake...so am nicely sorted for the weekend .

Can you tell I have little or no life?... (Comes to something when you'd rather stay in and read a book about dead Queens and Kings)...

A good book about trade wars in the Far EASt is Nathaniel's Nutmeg - it's set in the Spice Islands (oddly enough!) and is very interesting history. Bit later than the Tudors - James I period.

some of elizabeth chadwicks - particualry the scarlet lion and the greatest knight -good on medieval stuff. Anya Seton -catherine -very readable too.

All a bit beachified - if you want more factual, alison weir's biographies (isabella , eleanor of aquitaine) surprisingly readable. Thats a bit earlier though

Oooh, I love the Sunne In Splendour - might have to go reread it . Do you ever get that feeling when you're a bit jealous of someone because they're reading a book you love for the very first time, or is that just me??

Poledra I am just like that. I always give my books I have loved to read. to close friends. I get all stroppy if they say 'Well, it's not baaaad... I haven't had much time to read lately' .. Almost as if they are being disrespectful to the book. And I then think, 'right! I won't give them another book I've read'...

Have read some fantastic stuff lately by pure chance, you know browsing in charity shops etc. must tidy up all these scattered books...

Oh god 'Sunne in splendour' - have to re-read now!

Anya Seton & Jean Plaidy are both wonderful.

Another vote for the CJ Sansom books, which are meticulously researched and really gripping.

For mediaeval history, Ken Follet's "Pillars Of The Earth" and "World Without End" are good; as is "Mistress Of The Art Of Death" who I'm afraid I've forgotten the author of.

The first Philippa Gregory one is good but then they tend to get very samey - and very coincidence driven etc.

and just read this - a bit like cadfael but with a woman. Very enjoyable:
hangmans blind

The Sunne In Splendour is a brilliant book - makes me want to dig it out myself! I also love by the same author 'Here Be Dragons", about King John's daughter Joanna and Llewelyn of Wales..absolutely wonderful and I have to say I am still slightly in love with Llewelyn

Here Be Dragons is my favourite Sharon Penman. I read it again recently. How can anyone read it & not be at least a little bit in love with Llewelyn.

Norah Lofts wrote loads. Lots of other good life story ones - there's one about Anne Boleyn called The Concubine.
If you like her, I'm sure you'll also like Philippa Gregory - I agree with FfFf about how good the Tudor ones are. If you want more on Henry VIII, The Other Boleyn Girl is the one to go for first!

Phillipa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl and the Boleyn Inheritance were really good. After reading these, I'm moving on to true fact about this era and am looking for The 6 Wives Of Henry 8th.

Some of Barbara Erskines Books are good too. She writes mostly about medievil scotland and wales.

Try Edward Rutherford - a whole lot of books about the history of various cities, Dublin, Salisbury, intertwined with the story of people.

Colleen McCullogh who wrote Thornbirds has also written a series of books about Ancient Rome I really enjoyed.