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If you love historical fiction, please
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the Society today. You won't be sorry.
'I've
just read Solander - it's a triumph!' - Bernard Cornwell.
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This page is a work in progress. We are starting a new list of favourites, as the previous one was corrupted by spammers.
Help us by contributing information on
your favourite titles!
5/30/08:
Falls the Shadow, by Sharon Kay Penman
This one and all Penman's novels mix real historical figures with
fictional characters in a very believable way. They include history,
politics and romance in equal measure and are true to their times.
Penman is one of the best I have read!
-- recommended by Julie Rosica
My Name is Red,
by Orhan Pamuk
Great characters and detail.
-- recommended by Ken Hoffman
5/26/08:
The Winds of War, by Herman Wouk
Love story + WWII. Can't beat it!
-- recommended by Nancy Turner
5/23/08:
Caribbean, by James Michener
This book is absolutely outstanding. The scholarly research and
descriptions of politics and history are created in such a way that
you feel you are living in history. All the way from Spain's
support of Columbus to the settling of the Caribbean and how it took
place on the islands to the present-day settling of Miami, Florida.
This is one of the most informative, and interesting books I ever
read. It was like taking the best of the best of college history,
foreign policy, and the life of the islands. I have a BA in history,
by the way. I spoke to an elderly woman who had read all of
Michener's novels, and she said I believe he is the best writer.
This book is outstanding! I would say that a person who reads this
book will have a great understanding of the major powers of the
world from 1492 to the present day and will educate themselves
greatly!
-- recommended by Jeff Chicoine
The Crystal Cave,
by Mary Stewart
With respect, I have to disagree with another nomination - if you
read any Arthurian novel, this book and series is the ultimate. Ms.
Stewart's writing style is both intelligent and "readable," and her
interpretation of the Arthurian myth (of Geoffrey, I think) is truly
excellent. This is an addictive read - the whole series - which I
return to every few years. If you haven't read it, you're really in
for a treat!
-- recommended by Judy
5/12/08:
The Quest, by Wilbur Smith
This is my favorite historical novel because he goes so far in depth
that you can feel smell, hear, and see everything he puts out there.
It's as if he knows what we need to visualize the situation. It must
have took him months of research to make this novel. As far as I
know all he has done is historical novels -- this is why I admire
him, because historical novels in my opinion are the hardest to
write. He has written at least a dozen historical novels and still
retains the quality and dazzling attention to detail.
-- recommended by Silas Lackey
5/7/08:
Cry, The Beloved
Country, by Alan Paton
Lyrical in its prose, this novel tells the story of life in South
Africa around the time of WWII. It's an accurate portrait of the
struggles of the South African nation in that time as it tried to
define itself in the 20th century. One of the most accurate and
beautiful novels ever written in the English language. Alan Paton
used his own experiences in South Africa to write a riveting story
of one man's personal and family journey.
-- recommended by Amy Ferguson
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