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Historical Fiction

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Neoquellist (U7722885) on Monday, 22nd February 2010

  Hi,
  
  I've been occasionally redaing these boards for some time but never really posted before, my interest in history is very much amateurish and i'd like to ask a couple of questions of the more knowledgable posters here.
  
  Like most people interested in history (but not academically) i'm a big reader of historic fiction, I would like anyones opionion on any authors out there they think are better at staying in the realms of accepted historical facts?
  
  I'd like to think that its possible to learn a bit about how people lived etc in the context of a good story but i dont want to read fantasy i want fiction that is based as much as possible on fact.
  
  I've just finished reading the second in a series of novels set in ancient greece ( the 'Tyrant' series) and i wondered if anyone had read it and had any opinion? In addition it deals with Alexanders empire on the verge of his death and i think goes on to be set in the world afterwards - does anyone know of any good sources which discuss how the empire breaks up?
  
  Any comments would be appreciated, thanks.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Stoggler (U1647829) on Monday, 22nd February 2010

  Hi
  
  Welcome to the boards.
  
  We had a recent thread on historical fiction, you might this of interest:
  
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by TonyG (U1830405) on Monday, 22nd February 2010

  The other thread was quite diverse. As you are posting on this board, I assume you are looking for books that deal with earlier periods in history.
  
  I always enjoy Bernard Cornwell's stories and his Alfred series is quite entertaining and uses an interesting interpretation of real events.
  
  For stuff on ancient Rome, you could do worse than try John Maddox Roberts "SPQR" tales (lots of good detail and well-researched) or, for 2nd / 3rd century Rome and Roman Britain, Gordon Anthony's "In the Shadow of the Wall" is well worth a read.
  
  I haven't read the book you mention but there was one I did read a while back called Gates of Fire, about Thermopylae, by Steven Pressfield. Ienjoyed that one but I struggled to get into Massimo Manfredi's books. Perhaps it was the translations, but I found them a bit laboured.
  
  Christian Jacq has wrtten some interesting stories set in ancient Egypt.
  
  If you want historical accuracy, avoid Conn Iggulden at all costs. Entertaining stories, but pure fantasy.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by TwinProbe (U4077936) on Monday, 22nd February 2010

  Hi Tony
  
  That's a good point. If the OP want's an historical novel dealing with the break-up of Alexander's empire then 'Elephants & Castles' by Alfred Duggan does exactly that. Duggan is a bit dated I gather, but I've always enjoyed his novels and they reflect the facts as they were known 50-60 years ago.
  
  Best wishes,
  
  TP

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by TonyG (U1830405) on Tuesday, 23rd February 2010

  Hi TP,
  
  I had forgotten about Alfred Duggan. I did enjoy his books. Ther is also, of course, Robert Graves and the excellent Claudius books.
  
  I don't think there are too many authors around just now who write true historical fiction set in ancient times. There are those like Simon Scarrow who set their stories in Roman times, and are enjoyable enough as fiction, but there is little real historical detail in the books. Good luck to those authors but, like the person who posted the question, I prefer something with a bit more grounding in history while still maintaining an interesting and exciting fictional story.
  
  Another couple I enjoyed, although they were from more recent periods in history, were "Warriors of the Dragon Gold" by Ray Bryant which was about 1066 and all that. Also "Aztec" by Gary Jennings which was very good indeed.
  
  Tony

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by somewhatsilly (U14315357) on Tuesday, 23rd February 2010

  Hi Sir N.
  There's always the Lindsey Davies 'Falco' series which I've enjoyed a lot and been impressed by her research. 'Last Act in Palmyra'has a remarkable description of Petra and '3 for the Lions'was recommended to me by a professor at Tripoli University for its account of the north African connection at the time. They are ideal holiday reading!
  
  Regards.
  
  Ferval

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Neoquellist (U7722885) on Tuesday, 23rd February 2010

  Hi,
  
  Thanks for the replies and especially the link to the previous discussion - plenty of ideas there!
  
  I love the Lindsey Davies books, absolutely brilliant.
  

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Neoquellist (U7722885) on Tuesday, 23rd February 2010

  Hi TonyG, thanks for the reply - I've read lots of Cornwell but after reading the first of the Alfred series I just couldnt get into it.
  
  'Gates of Fire' was excellent and like you i couldnt seem to get into Manfredi - so i'll have a look out for John Maddox (your right, its the greek/roman periods i'm interested in)

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by mismatched (U14242423) on Tuesday, 23rd February 2010

  A lot of people cannot get into Manfredi, perhaps it is the translators style. I work in a paperback swap shop and have noticed that he is one of the authors that people try once then do not bother with again

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• Message 10

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Anglo-Norman (U1965016) on Thursday, 25th February 2010

  Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:15 GMT, in reply to ferval in message 6
  
  The Falco books are excellent, as is Davis's first Roman book, 'The Course of Honour' - it's an interesting one as it is based on historical events much more closely than the Falco books. True, the Falco books sometimes take historical events as a jump-off point - say, the Civilis Revolt in 'The Iron Hand of Mars' - but mainly use them as background; 'The Course of Honour', though, looks at Vespasian's rise to power from a fictionalised viewpoint, that of his mistress Caenis. Caenis was a real person but almost nothing is known about her so Davis was free to give her a (pretty plausible) fictional life.
  
  I'm currently reading her new, British Civil Wars-set book, 'Rebels and Traitors'.

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