Non action-packeds books about ancient or medieval times

[Sotiris]

I've finished all The Saxon Stories series of Bernard Cornwell recently and I can say that I was totally satisfied. My only problem is that like most of historical fiction about medieval and ancient times this days are mostly adventure war stories, focused on great warriors and even greater battles. I will be glad if you can recommend me some historical fiction books with a different approach to history.

[``Laurie]

In a Dark Wood Wandering: A Novel of the Middle Ages is a classic story about the Middle Ages that you might enjoy.

[Tytti]

The Egyptian and other Waltari's historical novels.

[Robin]

Helen Hollick's The Forever Queen has some battle action in it, but it's mostly about Emma of Normandy and politics.

[C.P.]

Georgette Heyer's The Conqueror, about the wife of William the Conqueror;
The Sekhmet Bed and its sequels (Hatshepsut);
The Lord of Horses and anything else by Diana L. Paxson (this particular book is about Attila, but others look at Tristan and Iseult or Cordelia, of King Lear fame);
The Last Wife of Attila the Hun;
Tristan and Iseult;
Mara, Daughter of the Nile;
The Belt of Gold (Byzantium) and many other books by Cecelia Holland.

I could go on, but that should get you started.

[``Laurie]

Books by Cecelia Holland might fit the bill.

The Firedrake

The Lords Of Vaumartin

are a couple of my favorites.

[Eileen]

Have you looked at Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series? It does have battles, but it is so much more than that.

Otherwise, Helen Hollick's and Patricia Bracewell's books on Emma of Normandy are quite enjoyable. Elizabeth Chadwick's books on William Marshall also involve some fighting, but that isn't the focus of them, or even a big part.

I've read a lot of the books recommended here, and enjoyed all of them.

[Melodi | booksandchicks]

The Physician by Gordon

[Jane]

A God Strolling in the Cool of the Evening by Mário de Carvalho.

[Abigail]

Have you read Mary Stewart’s life of Merlin series? (First book: The Crystal Cave). There is magic but overall the stories are in a very realistic vein, and the historical setting is quite genuine sixth-century Britain. Battles in the later books, but a lot of material about the politics and state of knowledge in Dark Ages Britain.

[Melissa]

The Hangman's Daughter or Mistress of the Art of Death

[Abigail]

Looking for the title of a novel I once read that was about the daily life of a peasant woman (I didn’t find it), I came across this list; you might find something here: https://bookriot.com/2017/09/07/medie...

[[deleted user]]

Red adams lady by grace ingrath

[Caitlin]

Patricia Bracewell has some medieval books I liked that I don't remember focusing on the action.

[essie]

Anything by Karen Maitland! I recommend Company of Liars, The Owl Killers, The Gallows Curse or The Vanishing Witch.

I also really enjoyed The Witchfinder's Sister

[Jane]

I enjoyed The Hawk and the Dove series by Penelope Wilcock, about life in a medieval monastery. Sounds boring, but I loved the characters and their development. I enjoyed the later ones more [after [book:The Long Fall|23229110]. which were full-length novels, rather than short story collections, which the earlier ones were.

[Lindsey]

I've enjoyed Sharan Newman's Catherine LeVendeur mystery series-it's set during the time of Abelard and Heloise. The first one is Death Comes As Epiphany. Also, Anya Seton's Katherine is fantastic- it's about Katherine Swynford and her relationship with John of Gaunt.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

The Course of Honor by Lindsey Davis.
Katherine, by Anya Seton.
The Brother Cadfael books by Ellis Peters.
The Iron King by Maurice Druon.

[C.P.]

You may also enjoy The Greenest Branch by P.K. Adams, about Hildegard of Bingen, Germany's (and, I would guess, Europe's) first acknowledged female physician.

[Louise]

I definitely recommend the Margaret of Ashbury Trilogy by Judith Merkle Riley for the medieval time period. I’ve read them multiple times: A Vision of Light, In Pursuit of the Green Lion, and The Water Devil.

[Eileen]

Melodi wrote: "The Physician by Gordon"
I know many people have enjoyed "The Physician", but I found it to be about the most historically inaccurate novel I have ever read. Even so, the author does have a way of keeping the story moving, which is the only reason why I finished it.

[Caitlin]

Steven Saylor has a mystery series set in ancient rome. There are some other ancient rome and greece historical fiction books that I have read that aren't action packed but I can't recall them.

[Shannon]

My favorite book set near the time of the Saxon Stories is Avalon by Anya Seton. Her most famous book, Katherine, was already suggested and I second that suggestion, but Avalon was a better read for me. It's set in the tenth century so much closer to the time of Alfred the Great than most medieval books.

[Jodi]

Shannon wrote: "My favorite book set near the time of the Saxon Stories is Avalon by Anya Seton. Her most famous book, Katherine, was already suggested and I second that su..."

I really liked Avalon. Haven’t read Katherine yet but it’s in my to read list.