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'My Top Ten Summer Reads: Shardlake, Genghis, Sharpe and more' blog discussion

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  • It was after reading Gemmell's brilliant Troy books that I discovered Conn Iggulden's Genghis Khan series (one of them wrote a review of the other - can't remember which). The two writers have very similar styles and I found both series very hard to put down. Both series rank as some of the best books I've ever read.

    I might check out Iggulden's "Emperor" books next.
    --Simon.
  • Simon (kopicbloodaxe),

    Agree absolutely. I suppose Iggulden and Gemmell do have similar styles which is why they are my current favourites. Iggulden wrote a tribute to David Gemmell at the end of the final Troy book 'Fall of Kings' and says he read Gemmell from an early age.

    Enjoy the 'Emperor' books. They lead me to read more about Julius Caesar.

    Christos.
  • bsmallwo
    bsmallwo Posts: 147 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    And if you like a challenge:

    The Baroque Cycle Series - Neal Stephenson (All about the late 17th Century and the creation of the Royal Society, Newton and beyond)[/QUOTE]

    I was just about to write a comment and say the same thing. Absolutely brilliant triology... - "Cryptonomicon" by the same author is also fantastic - about codes throughout the 20th century (WW2 onwards).....
  • infj
    infj Posts: 71 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Can I also suggest the brilliant Guy Gavriel Kay. He started as a fantasy writer with "The Fionavar Tapestry" which is still my favourite of his books. But he has become more of an historical writer with fantasy elements now - his current book is called "Under Heaven" about the Tang dynasty in China.

    And if you want more suggestions than you can ever read or have frustrated librarian tendencies - join LibraryThing on the web.
  • Both her historical series are magnificent, and I am jealous of anyone who has yet to read them. Did you know that she also published a series of 'whodunnits'; light, amusing and very enjoyable, they are set (in the present day) in the areas which she researched for her historical books. An example of canny Scots economy?
    Wee_Pea wrote: »
    I'm amazed that no-one so far has mentioned Dorothy Dunnett's books so far... Martin, tell me that you've read them?!

    While CS Forrester introduced me to historical fiction with the Hornblower series, she was the catalyst for a definite obsession with the genre!

    She has two historical fiction series - the Lymond Chronicles and the House of Niccolo. I could wax lyrical about them all night, but I will restrain myself... Wiki describes them more succinctly than I ever could:

    The Lymond Chronicles is a series of six novels, set in mid-sixteenth century Europe and the Mediterranean, which follows the life and career of a Scottish nobleman, Francis Crawford of Lymond, from 1547 through 1558. The series is a suspenseful tale of adventure and romance, filled with action, intense drama, poetry, culture and high comedy. Meticulously researched, the series takes place in a wide variety of locations, including France, the Ottoman Empire, Malta, England, Scotland and Russia. In addition to a compelling cast of original characters, the novels feature many historical figures, often in important roles.

    The House of Niccolo is a series of eight historical novels set in the late-fifteenth century European Renaissance. The protagonist of the series is Nicholas de Fleury, a talented boy of uncertain birth who rises to the heights of European merchant banking and international political intrigue. The series shares most of the locations in Dunnett's earlier series, the Lymond Chronicles, but it extends much further geographically to take in the important urban centres of Bruges, Venice, Florence, Geneva, and the Hanseatic League; Burgundy, Flanders and Poland; Iceland; the Iberian Peninsula and Madeira, the Black Sea cities of Trebizond and Caffa; Persia; the Mediterranean islands of Cyprus and Rhodes; Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula; and West Africa and the city of Timbuktu.

    I'm actually jealous of people who haven't read them yet.
  • of those I've read 2, 4, 5 and 9. Will definently look at the others. You should try the Falco series by Lindsey Davis. They are brilliant. I am now on my 4 re-read. When i've finished them I shall re-read Sharpe for the 3rd time.
    oh and i've read Jonathan Strange and Mr Noreel aswell.
  • I can't believe that nobody has mentioned the Flashman series. In terms of sheer entertainment, before I even get into singing about his historical research and education value, I can't rate this series more highly.

    Taking the character of Harry Flashman (the bully in 'Tom Jones's Schooldays), Macdonald Fraser then places him in the era's most significant historical events (1812-1915), where he endeavours to save his own skin, gain riches and bed as many women as possible. The ultimate anti-hero, you can't help but love the books.:j
  • I know this is a little late but as the subject is historical fiction, maybe it's fitting!
    Anyway, after reading all the posts I was surprised no one had mentioned Patrick O'Brian's fantastic Aubrey & Maturin series. There are 20 books in the series I think, they drag you into the Royal Navy of 1800 and once you start you just want to run away, join up and use phrases like " avast there, you lubbers!"
    The film wasn't able to do the books justice and the humour between the two main characters is worth making the effort, never mind the thrilling action on deck as the cannonballs fly!
    Great for all ages, just go with the language; it'll come naturally before the first couple of chapters race past.
  • MSE_Martin wrote: »
    Thanks for this - dont worry I've read them all.

    However I asked a member of the team to upload the blog and find and link all the book titles for me - and I can't persuade him into historic novels (he's got much mroe high brow taste)

    Shame on him! He hasn't been keeping up, or he'd have noticed that lots of authors you might describe as 'literary' are writing historical fiction. Do the words WOLF HALL mean anything to him, I wonder? Hilary Mantel is only one of many. Historical fiction can mean anything from a bodice-ripping romp to a modern classic: there's something for every kind of reader.
    'Whatever you dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin now.' Goethe



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