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Topic: Recommendations for historical novels.

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Subject: Recommendations for historical novels.
Date Posted: 6/19/2009 7:22 PM ET
Member Since: 5/16/2009
Posts: 3
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Some of my favorite books Bernard Cornwells Sharpes Series, Nathanel Hornblower Series, Deerslayer/Last of The Mohicans. Can anyone recommend books in that vain i.e. historical action adventure. Also like any good miltary action fiction novels. Thank You.

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Katy -
Date Posted: 6/20/2009 10:44 AM ET
Member Since: 3/11/2008
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You should check over in the Historical Fiction forum--there are a bunch of ladies in there that have a wide range of knowledge on historical fiction novels. :)

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Date Posted: 7/20/2009 11:34 PM ET
Member Since: 3/14/2009
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Try Simon Scarrow's series starting with "Young Bloods".  The books are about Wellington and Napoleon very good historical fiction.  As good as Cornwell in my opinion, beautifully reasearched.



Last Edited on: 7/23/09 2:19 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
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Kat (polbio) -
Date Posted: 7/31/2009 10:37 PM ET
Member Since: 10/10/2008
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Jeff Shaara writes some great Historical military novels

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Date Posted: 8/11/2010 3:21 PM ET
Member Since: 7/27/2010
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George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman series is A1.  He wrote others, too.  Did a bang up job with Quartered Safe Out Here, a nonfiction account of his experiences as a British infantryman in Burma during WWII (look for the editions that include the afterword he wrote several years after initial publication).  Jeff Shaara's account of Robert E. Lee's, and other officers who later became prominent on both sides in the Civil War,  service during the Mexican War is also worthwhile.



Last Edited on: 8/11/10 3:23 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
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Subject: Antonia Fraser wrote a number of Historical Biographies and fiction
Date Posted: 8/25/2010 9:44 PM ET
Member Since: 1/2/2010
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I loved her biography on Oliver Cromwell and the English Civil War of the mid 1600's.  She wrote several Biographies of the Kings and Queens of England that are exciting to read.  She also has several Historical Fiction books surrounding some of the Historical mysteries.  I enjoyed The King's General very much. 

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Date Posted: 11/17/2010 1:25 PM ET
Member Since: 7/12/2010
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British Rule of India is covered in the Raj Quartet.

See my Signature Area for a deal on the books.

-RD

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Date Posted: 11/21/2010 4:46 PM ET
Member Since: 8/9/2005
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Last Edited on: 2/4/15 5:59 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
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Subject: The British Raj
Date Posted: 4/2/2011 2:06 PM ET
Member Since: 9/22/2010
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For whatever reason, I enjoy historical fiction on the British Raj in India. In fact, my all time favorite book is Kim by Kipling.  What boy wouldn't have wanted to live Kim's life?  Of course, when you read about the actual conditions in India, the disease, the poverty, the uncertainly of life, etc., you might change your mind.  The movie with Errol Flynn (as Mahbub), Dean Stockwell (as Kim) and  Paul Lukas (as the Lama) is also very good. but takes liberties with the book.

I found Kim riveting as a youngster and more so as an adult.  If you prefer a more adult adventure, than I think the next best book on the British Raj is The Far Pavilions.  Read the book, but then go to the library and start checking out the TV series based on the book.  While it does not totally follow the book, and many events are left out, it is so good you almost feel it is following the book word for word.

If you get hooked on the British Raj, then start with the John Masters novels. He served in the Brrtish Indian Army before and during World War II and his two non-fiction books on his career are amazing military history. However, he wrote numerous novels about India. One Indian critic once stated, "Kipling understood India, but Masters understands Indians."

There there is an very nice series on the British East India Company Army by V.A. Stuart. She was born in India and served with the British 14th Army in Burma during World War II.    She has written seven book on a officer named Alex Sheriden and his wife that follows him from the Crimean War (one book) to the Sepoy Mutiny (six books).   A couple of those books are posted here.  She has also written naval fiction, but I have yet to read any of those.



Last Edited on: 12/12/11 8:13 PM ET - Total times edited: 5
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Date Posted: 4/14/2011 1:50 PM ET
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Love all the recommendations.  Thanks so much.  I've read a couple of wonderful historicals this year and looking for more.  Usually read historical fiction but I found a couple additional historicals that I am looking forward to reading - one right here, The Last Ridge by McKay Jenkins and River of the Golden Ibis by Gloria Jahoda which received good reviews for writing and accuracy.

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Date Posted: 12/4/2011 3:48 AM ET
Member Since: 10/4/2010
Posts: 280
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You might check out Pressfield if you have any interest in ancient Greece. Conn Iggulden's Genghis Khan novels are great too.