I'm reading a novel set in 1971 in what became Bangladesh. I wonder if any of you guys have found on the web or somewhere a list of historical novels grouped under the periods & places they cover? It would of course be a giant list, and always incomplete, but it might be useful or fun or both.

I have not.

I have a lot of historical fiction books on my shelves, and some of my GR friends have many more than I do, but I don't know of such a list. It would be interesting.

You might try to ask in one of the historical fiction groups on GR (list may not be complete if other key words are used):

http://www.goodreads.com/group/search?q=...

Wouldn't it be fun to read the history of the world chronologically in novels. Or do you think it's an idea better in the telling than in the doing?

I guess it would depend on the novels!

Several of the Michener novels were a lot like that, taking the reader from pre-history to the present. I think I enjoyed Centennial the most.

Maybe that would be a fun shelf idea, favorite historical novels in chronological order.

A bit like the Penman novels for instance?

Those are a good instance.

Kristin Lavransdatter. 13th century Norway.

Island of Ghosts: Roman Britain - Sarmatian Cavalry

Oh yeah, that was a good one.

Also
The Beacon at Alexandria 4th century Thrace.

The Persian Boy, 4th century Persia.

Kristen L. has defeated me twice. She doesn't get a third chance.

Fair enough. Many other books in the sea.

William Carlos Willilams once famously declared that he could not read Undset's work. I love WCW, but still hope to give her a try some day...

Ruth wrote: "Wouldn't it be fun to read the history of the world chronologically in novels. Or do you think it's an idea better in the telling than in the doing?"

Ruth given the, ah, variety we find in such, I wonder if fun would be the correct adjective. But I have a few to put on the list:

Goat Song Second Peloponnesian War, Greece, 410 BC or so.

The Alienist New York City, 1896.

Isle of Woman (Geodyssey, #1) In this series, Anthony follows a particular group (a different one in each novel, of which there are so far four) as they are reincarnated through time from the ancient past to the near future. It sounds cheesy, I know, but it's actually rather interesting. In a way, Ruth, Geodyssey is what you're talking about, but in one book.

Hey there.
The novels of Edward Rutherfurd come to mind, Sarum and London are the only two I've read, but he's got a whole slew of the same ilk. Those two at least I can vouch for as excellent reads.

Edward Rutherfurd

Yep....they are the best of his I think....he also did The Forest (New Forest) and a trilogy about Dublin. Also one about The Steppes area of Russia but I can't remember what it was called....wasn't that good anyway.

Russka, yes, I started it and didn't get past 20 or 30 pages. I have several other of his, The Forest, and the Irish series in the TBR stack.
Someday.

Hey Pontalba, welcome to True North.

And of course, let's not forget about James A. Michener, the uncrowned king of research. I admit to coming away from The Covenant (South Africa) and Centennial (Colorado, U.S.A.) with a better understanding of the subject matter. I got graveled on Poland, though.

Funny note: I remember being quite indignant when a college history prof referred to Michener's novels as 'potboilers.' Now, I suppose, I see his point.

BunWat wrote: "Hey Pontalba, welcome to True North. "

Thanks BunWat. :)
I've lurked for a few days, and finally had to add my two cents worth.
Many interesting threads here.

Rob, Yes, I've read a few of Michener's as well. Hawaii, Centennial, maybe another I can't recall at the moment. I have to admit I stalled out on The Covenant though.

Another author that might fit here is Taylor Caldwell. Not all of her books, but many at any rate. A Pillar of Iron first and foremost comes to mind.

....and pillars remind me of Pillars of the Earth and its sequel by Ken Follett.....

Oh Taylor Caldwell!! My grandmother had a huge stash of her novels. I remember one summer stay at Gma's when I was .. eleven? twelve? was all about Dear and Glorious Physician.

BunWat wrote: "Oh Taylor Caldwell!! My grandmother had a huge stash of her novels. I remember one summer stay at Gma's when I was .. eleven? twelve? was all about Dear and Glorious Physician. "
That's my other favorite Caldwell. She was an interesting woman.

And yes, Debbie, the Follett books as well, although I haven't read the sequel yet. It's in the stack.

I see by the list of "books mentioned in this topic" The Persian Boy, I read that many, many years ago, and only last week ran across something related by her, Funeral Games The Combat of Alexander's Heirs. Looks interesting.

To return to the original subject of the thread though, I do have a book called The Timetables of History A Horizontal Linkage of People and Events. Bare factoids only, but at least it strings them together in coherent fashion.

I have that book too. Its really helpful to me. I can remember the chronologies (more or less) of regions or countries - Russian history or English history etc, because that's how I learned them. But I am not very good at linking the regions up together; figuring out what was happening in Russia when the Stuarts were on the throne, or whatever.

In searching for a list, I came upon the Historical Fiction Network http://www.histfiction.net/, which one would think would at least have books sorted by era or locale. And LO! Books by timeline. http://www.histfiction.net/books.php

This link, which I found on that site, is also interesting: http://www.literature-map.com/ It maps out the most Closely related (by what means I'm not sure) authors to the one you enjoy so you can plan your nest read.

Rob, Thanks for that link. I looked when this thread started and all I found was a list of historical fiction children's books that no longer seemed to exist.

Thanks Rob, you finally found one! Case closed!

Oh, thanks, Rob; on the bookmarks it goes.

Ruth, I think you have the germ of an excellent idea there: reading history through novels. One would have to pick carefully, of course.

Great find Rob, thanks!! I had forgotten all about the Judge Dee novels. Those were fun. And lots of other good stuff on there.