magister militum
Well-Known Member
Right now I'm thoroughly enjoying Simon Scarrow's "Eagle" series set in early imperial Roman times. Can anyone recommend other works of historical fiction?
Lets discuss historical fiction
- Thread starter magister militum
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Dan Morton
A Fixture
Don't know if you might be interested in Great War books, but...
The most fun read I've ever had was not fiction, but reads like a novel - Fix Bayonets by John W. Thomason, Jr., Capt., USMC
Historical Fiction
Flanders by Patricia Anthony
This is about a teenager from Texas who works his passage across the Atlantic and joins the British army. Sounds like juvenile fiction, but it's not. Pretty good plot.
How about a series of four books about an Austrian naval hero of the Great War? One of them is The Emperor's Coloured Coat: In Which Otto Prohaska, Hero of the Habsburg Empire, Has an Interesting Time While Not Quite Managing to Avert the First World War (The Otto Prohaska Novels) by John Biggins.
Good stuff!
All the best,
Dan
The most fun read I've ever had was not fiction, but reads like a novel - Fix Bayonets by John W. Thomason, Jr., Capt., USMC
Historical Fiction
Flanders by Patricia Anthony
This is about a teenager from Texas who works his passage across the Atlantic and joins the British army. Sounds like juvenile fiction, but it's not. Pretty good plot.
How about a series of four books about an Austrian naval hero of the Great War? One of them is The Emperor's Coloured Coat: In Which Otto Prohaska, Hero of the Habsburg Empire, Has an Interesting Time While Not Quite Managing to Avert the First World War (The Otto Prohaska Novels) by John Biggins.
Good stuff!
All the best,
Dan
Steve
A Fixture
Steven Pressfield's "Gates of Fire", "Tides of War" "The Afghan Campaign", et al about ancient Greece; Bernard Cornwell's many series including Sharpe and the Napoleonic Wars and the Hundred Years war chronicles; the novels of Terry C. Johnston about the plains wars and mountain men; CS Forrester; Wilber Smith's novels of colonial and modern African history; Jeff Shaara's novels of the American Revolution, Mexican-American War, Civil War, and the World Wars; Michael Shaara's Killer Angels about Gettysburg; The novels of Newt Gingrich and William R. Forschen about the ACW and WW2; Thomas Kenealy's "Confederates"; Evan S. Connell's "Deus Lo Volt" about the Crusades; Stephen Harrigan's "Gates of the Alamo". Good reads and great inspiration all!
jacksparrow1979
Well-Known Member
While not strictly speaking a book, the graphic novel Charley's War set in WW1 is the best I can think of. Simply outstanding in everyway and on so many levels.
renarts
A Fixture
If you are a fan of the middle ages, I highly reccomend Sharon Kay Penman's series of books. She has a trilogy that is set just prior to Edward I ascension to the throne. Another great story set during the Wars of the Roses and some early works dealing with Eleanor and Henry. Great stuff, well written and acurately done with a section in the back where she explains some of the name changes to make it easier on the reader and some time compression. War, mystery, intrigue etc. Great stuff.
magister militum
Well-Known Member
Of course! The Sunne in Splendour is a masterpiece. Great suggestions gentlemen. Thank you all. I have a problem with history books, fiction and non-fiction. I have the same problem with figures now. I love too many periods!
ghamilt1
PlanetFigure Supporter
I always enjoyed reading Bernard Cornwell's "Sharpes" series which formed the basis of a very popular TV series. Set during the Napoleonic wars, these are a fun, quick read, ideal for camping trips or taking on a long flight.
There was an excellent book on the Middle Ages called "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follet. I really enjoyed it, and found it difficult to put down. I understand he has published another one that forms a sequel called "World Without End" which I've been meaning to pick up. Maybe someone here can share a review?
There was an excellent book on the Middle Ages called "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follet. I really enjoyed it, and found it difficult to put down. I understand he has published another one that forms a sequel called "World Without End" which I've been meaning to pick up. Maybe someone here can share a review?
chippy
A Fixture
I'm just reading one of the best historical fictions I've ever read ,The Religion by Tim Willocks . Its about the Ottomans seige of Malta in 1565 , how 800 of the Knigths of St. John of Jerusulem and 8000 millitia hold out against a horde of 40,000 . Something a bit more lighthearted is the Flashman series by George Macdonld Fraser , a mix of 19th.cnty. James Bond meets Sharpe. The fictional character in placed in real historical events with such detail you get a history lesson at the same time . Loads more I could go on about but if you have favourite period let us know
chippy
chippy
magister militum
Well-Known Member
I'd have to say that the crusades and ancient Rome are my favorite periods. Lately I'm on a 17th century Europe thing though. I had the urge to read a classic so I read The Three Musketeers for the first time and now I just started the first book of the Aventuras del Capitan Alatriste series. On a side note I'd like to recommend to you all God's War: A New History of the Crusades by Christopher Tyerman. It is the new definative book on the subject and it is fantastic!
busso_boy
Well-Known Member
yup love this series, got all the books and DVD's, read and watch them often
Horatio Hornblower isn't too bad either
chippy
A Fixture
Hi magister miltum I've picked out a few I think would be worth trying
1.Conn Iggulden "Emperor" series, life of Julius Caesar starting from early childhood. First one is "Gates of Rome", Then "Death of Kings", "The Field of Swords" and finally "Gods of War"
2. Robyn Young trilogy "Brethren", "Crusade" and "Requiem" a young knight entering the Crusades and finding as many deadly enemies on his own side.
Something a bit out of the loop, again by Conn Iggulden, a trilogy charting the life of Genghis Khan, "Wolf of the Plains", "Lords of the Bow" and "Bones of the Hills"
Happy reading
Chippy
1.Conn Iggulden "Emperor" series, life of Julius Caesar starting from early childhood. First one is "Gates of Rome", Then "Death of Kings", "The Field of Swords" and finally "Gods of War"
2. Robyn Young trilogy "Brethren", "Crusade" and "Requiem" a young knight entering the Crusades and finding as many deadly enemies on his own side.
Something a bit out of the loop, again by Conn Iggulden, a trilogy charting the life of Genghis Khan, "Wolf of the Plains", "Lords of the Bow" and "Bones of the Hills"
Happy reading
Chippy
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