This is an interesting request.  Because I don't read historical fiction, I would also be interested in knowing if there is a superb example to start with.

 

Check out C. J. Samson. Matthew Shardlake will give you. A nice story if you like mysteries. The author (Samson) is an English lawyer who knows his history and writes about English history ithe era of King Henry the 8th.

A very good read.

 

I was going to suggest the Horatio Hornblower series, though the two reviews of the Kindle version of the first book both indicate a pretty sub-standard job of transcription to e-book, so depending on your tolerance of such things, you might want to check out a print copy from your library, instead. These were favorites of mine when I was in my late teens/early twenties.

 

I love historical fiction that feels like the author knows his or her stuff, but doesn't show it off too much. Some of my favorites:

Dream of Scipio and An Instance of the Fingerpost - both by Iain Pears. Some people find Fingerpost slow going, but I really loved drowning myself in it. It's set in the 17th Century and if you're willing to go with it for a while, you'll come away happy once you realize where it's going. Dream is set in three time periods: the 5th Century, the 14th Century and WW II. It's incredibly engaging, but you don't have a clue as to how the story is going to come together until the last chapter and then, suddenly, it all snaps into focus. It's one of my favorite books of all time - incredibly sad, passionate and very, very smart.

The Baroque Cycle - I've met plenty of people who can't stand Neal Stephenson's massive (2000 + pages), three volume historical novel and there's nothing wrong with that. As for me, I couldn't put it down. Full of swashbuckling, algebra, lost innocence, Thief Kings, plots to topple the crown and the invention of money it's one of the biggest and most satisfying historical novels that really earns the title "epic" that I've ever read.

Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith - both by Sarah Waters. When she's on her game, no one does historical potboilers better than Sarah Waters. Fast-moving, page-turning and dishing out some of the most authentic female characters in historical fiction, these are like candy bars for historical fiction lovers, only they're low in calories and high in nutritional value.

 

A few of my favourites, not necessarily available on Kindle (yet):
- Several by Mary Renault, including "The King Must Die" and "The Bull From  the Sea", set in ancient Greece
- Edith Pargeter's "Heaven Tree" trilogy, set in the English-Welsh borderland in the 12th century (she's more famous for her "Brother Cadfael" books, written as Ellis Peters). I also liked her "Brothers Gwynedd" quartet, but found it too heartbreaking to re-read.
- Ursula Le Guin's "Lavinia", set just after the Trojan War

 

Right now, I'm reading The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl. Don't know if it's well researched or not, but it's a great read so far.

 

Bernard Cornwell.  He must have a dozen titles.  His trilogy of The Saxon Series is excellent and he does many other periods too.

 

Consider, Ralph Cotton's "While Angels Dance", months and years directly after Civil War.

Book was nominated for a Pulitzer in 1994.

It was written first person. Book one in a series of six. Powder River is book two, very funny... I find Cotton's books well-researched and dialog second to none for westerns.

He just started releasing is older title under Western Classic, doing the hybrid Indie for older titles and Traditional Publishing for his newer ones. He is a bestselling author.

 

A few of my favourites, not necessarily available on Kindle (yet):
- Several by Mary Renault, including "The King Must Die" and "The Bull From the Sea", set in ancient Greece
- Edith Pargeter's "Heaven Tree" trilogy, set in the English-Welsh borderland in the 12th century (she's more famous for her "Brother Cadfael" books, written as Ellis Peters). I also liked her "Brothers Gwynedd" quartet, but found it too heartbreaking to re-read.
- Ursula Le Guin's "Lavinia", set just after the Trojan War

Thanks for the recs, Shayne. I just devoured your Sentence of Marriage series--loved reading about New Zealand.

 

Thanks so much for all the recs! CJ Sansom and Sarah Waters I've already read and enjoyed, but the others are new to me. Will have to look them up.

Thanks again,

Kate

 

I'm not much a historical fiction guy, but I loved this book. It's set in Boston in 1918/1919.

 

Thanks for the recs, Shayne. I just devoured your Sentence of Marriage series--loved reading about New Zealand.

Thanks, Kate! That's great to hear.

 

I'm not much a historical fiction guy, but I loved this book. It's set in Boston in 1918/1919.

I've read that one... I loved it too

 

If you like Sharon Kay Penman, you might like Helen Hollick, I found their writing styles and accuracy similar. Check out:

 

If you like Sharon Kay Penman, you might like Helen Hollick, I found their writing styles and accuracy similar. Check out:

Thanks! I'll have a look.

 

Anything by Jack Whyte.

 

Lehane's The Given Day is excellent, the reader is sorry to reach the end.

E. Rutherfurd wrote of New York (not just 19th century) in his novel of that name; of course there is the classic, Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow.

Am about to begin reading Clara and Mr. Tiffany (2011 pub date) by Susan Vreeland and assume it will be very good, atmospheric without being too obvious with the details.

 

I'm reading the 6 volume set about the French and Indian War by Altshaler. Wonderful read.

 

I liked Sarum a lot.

 

Hi,

There is an enormous amount of historical fiction out there, and more and more of it is making it into Kindle and other ebook formats.

--- sorry no self-promotion outside the Book Bazaar forum. please read our Forum Decorum thread.

 

Another little shout-out for Geraldine Brooks: her novel, Year of Wonders, is a great treatment of the Black Plague, is that's your cup of tea.

 

I strongly recommend Robert Low's Oathsworn series, at least part of which is available for Kindle. It is extremely well researched and well written, which is unusual when it comes to Viking culture. In fact, it is by far the best series of Viking novels I've ever read, a bit dark and violent at times and no romantic nonsense.

 

Seconding Edith Pargeter's Brothers of Gwynedd Quartet if you like Sharon Kay Penman. It's a very different style of writing, but tells the story of Llewelyn ap Gruffydd and his brothers, so it's interesting to compare with Falls the Shadow and The Reckoning. Pargeter also wrote the Brother Cadfael series of historical mysteries under the name Ellis Peters, which are kind of fun if you like historical mysteries.

For something a bit more Penman-like in tone, I recommend Legacy, by Susan Kay, which is a really excellent and sadly overlooked Elizabeth I novel.

 

I have a problem with historical fiction: so much of it seems to me to be irredeemably of the time of writing, and thus no more than contemporary fiction in period dress.

This fault, I think, is not to be found with any of the following:

Patrick O'Brian: The Aubrey-Maturn series
Set on a British warship during the Napoleonic Wars. O'Brian's knowledge of his subject was encyclopaedic, yet he wears his learning lightly.

William Golding: To the Ends of the Earth trilogy
A young upper-class Englishman keeps a journal of his voyage to Australia in 1812. Smells of salt and ship's tar, and was a thoroughly deserved winner of the prestigious Booker Prize.

Joseph O'Connor: Star of the Sea
Eighteen forty-seven. To escape the famine raging in Ireland, a group of refugees take ship to America. If you want to learn about the Irish potato famine without having to plough through anything too academic, this is where you should go. A wonderful and heartbreaking novel.

George MacDonald Fraser: The Flashman series
Fraser resurrects the bully Flashman of Tom Brown's Schooldays, and makes him an officer in Queen Victoria's army. Though a cad and a coward, events always conspire to make him look a hero. Meticulously researched, exciting and hilarious. But be warned: when the first volume was published, one American reviewer in three took the work for fact.

 

I have a problem with historical fiction: so much of it seems to me to be irredeemably of the period of writing, and thus no more than contemporary fiction in fancy dress.

I agree completely with this. Or when the author uses a period term and proceeds to define it. Ugh. I'll look it up if I need to.

I've been wanting to try the Flashman series. I think I was too dumb to understand the Aubrey-Maturin books--sometimes I actually wasn't completely positive what was happening--something about some woman riding a horse??