favorite time in history

[Patricia]

If you like books about the civil war read Bregdan Chronicles by Ginny Dye. I'm on the 8th book but I believe the first one is Storm Clouds Rolling In What a great story about a Southern family and the people that come into their lives. I'm so involved in this families life that I have a hard time remembering they are fictional characters. I've also Googled some of the events that happens in the books and am amazed at how accurate they are.

[Helen]

Patricia, my novel James´ Journey is based on a southern family right before the civil war.
James changes views on slavery and becomes an abolitionist and a conductor on the underground railroad.

[K.]

Definitely the 1940s. Because? Everything. I just can't elaborate on why, because I can't think without getting overexcited about how awesome it would be to live then. There are too many reasons why.

[[deleted user]]

Eileen wrote: "Byzantium because it was dynamic, vibrant and forgotten by most novelists."

I am rereading that right now. What an adventure.

[[deleted user]]

I prefer the middle ages through the Tudor time period. Usually anything before the twentieth century.

[Jonathan]

Hi. I’m currently working on a script placed in 1960, which is more than 50 years ago, just before the beetles, long hair, sex-drugs-and-rock-and-roll and generally qualifies as HF. So this is, of course, currently my favorite time in history. When the story takes off we’re in Paris, France. In short order the main hero, an American expat, is arrested for a murder he didn’t commit. I’m having problems researching the workings of the French judicial system at the time as well as what a detainee would actually experience in a French 1960 prison. Does anyone have any suggestions of not-too-scholarly books I could read on the subject or even 1960 films relating to the mentioned issues?

[Paul]

If you're writing about the late 19th and early 20th centuries, one of my favorites is the Thomas Edison to Wright Bros period when so many inventions were quite literally changing the world forever. I myself write novellas about historical disasters from that period. Bottom line, write what your passionate about!

[Helen]

Jonathan,
I don´t know of any books or movies. But I do find that you can e-mail almost everyone to ask them questions.
I would contact a prison, they most likely have some kind of contact info to a department. E-mail them and explain that you are doing research for a novel and ask if they can put you in touch with someone who may know. There might be someone who worked in the prison system at that time who might be willing to talk to you.
E-mail a law firm and ask specific questions.

I have been very surprised with how helpful people are. I have an appointment on Monday for example to speak to a person at the Christie Auction House regarding expensive jewelry, art and gold coins.

[Grace]

I like the middle ages a lot and the beginning of the 20th century. A Moment in the Sun captures this period rather nicely. However I recently read an e-book which really describes the 1970's very well. It is really well written:
When Saigon Surrendered.
This is an interesting topic, thanks for posting it.

[T.J.]

Cold War: I just spent time in Berlin walking the wall, soaking in the atmosphere, visiting the museums and trying to imagine myself in that city back then.

It's modern enough that people can relate to it but definitely historical.

[A L Jordan]

Hi Helen - I've really enjoyed reading this thread, great idea for splashing some ideas around.

I wonder if I could throw in another direction to the discussion?

I love many of the periods which have already been mentioned, but I often find myself falling in love with a setting not because of the period in the end, but because of a person. A real person! I often end up thinking of a completely fictional character who might have met this person at some point, but for me I think someone from history might be the thing to really get your creative sparks flying off all four walls.

To name a few names... Nell Gwyn, Wellington, Lord Hague (if you're thinking WW1), or even Churchill as a young man in the war, Nefertiti (I saw someone mention ancient Egyptians.

Great topic for a thread Helen! Look forward to hearing what you decide on in the end.

[Kathryn]

I like periods of change, when one era is ending and another is beginning. I think that's why I like the WWI/1920s era so much: the modern world was really being born. That was also why I selected the period of the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of Christianity in my own novel. The 1950s - 60s Civil Rights era is another era that comes to mind.

[Antoinette]

I like those periods too, big change. Pilate's Wife was about change and then I wrote Sacred Well about the Mexican Revolution and the Determined Heart about the Romanic era with Mary Shelley , the "mother" of Frankenstein and ultimately science fiction.

[T.J.]

K. wrote: "Definitely the 1940s. Because? Everything. I just can't elaborate on why, because I can't think without getting overexcited about how awesome it would be to live then. There are too many reasons why."

Have also had my daydreams. The hairstyles, the music, the huge and terrible events taking place (though looking back on them sure beats having to live through them). I can't help wondering if people fifty years from now will look back with the same nostalgia at our decade - I somehow very much doubt it.

[Tytti]

T.J. wrote: "Have also had my daydreams. The hairstyles, the music, the huge and terrible events"

The bombings, funerals, constant fear, the shortage of food, the shortage of everything, losing your home, losing your loved ones... Probably the worst decade in the last century (or two, or three).

[Michael]

A time period that is currently under-represented - 1000-1200 Italy - the period of the Norman Invasion of Southern Italy through the rise of powerful merchant fleets of Venice, Pisa and Amalfi.

[Antoinette]

I prefer World l, restoration England and anything about Colonial India. Currently I'm writing about the Caribbean in the 17 century and would love and book sugestions.

[D.B.]

Sorry, can't help you there, Antoinette. I've written historical fiction pertaining to the fifteenth century and the nineteenth century. Good luck!

[Alice]

I think I'm drawn to the French Second Empire era (thanks to Emile Zola's novels), 17th & 18th century China (Kangxi Emperor's and Qianlong Emperor's reigns) and 18th century Russia (Catherine the Great's reign).

[Lisa]

I adore the medieval period in England, specifically around King John's rule. As many other series as I write, I'm always drawn back to this one.

[C.L.]

I would say the Regency period. I'm not saying just because of Jane Austen style, but just the romance and etiquette involved is amazing.

I also love early 8th and 9th century times, specifically in Wales. Sarah Woodbury writes several amazing series about ancient Wales and I am totally in love with them. I would suggest them for anyone looking for historical pieces!

[Catherine]

I enjoyed writing about WW1 and my research was so interesting. I almost cried at the conditions those poor lads were forced to fight in. Since then, my family have moved on, and in each generation, I enjoy the research as much as i enjoy writing about that period in time. I have become so emerged in my family now, I feel I know them personally and don't want to let them go.

[Catherine]

If there's a number five, it will be set in WW2. Planning it already.

[Tammy]

I enjoy a variety of times. I prefer pre- electric and other such modern marvels. It brings out my imagination and a break from everyday life.

[Andrew]

I write stories inspired by mythology of the ancient world so not surprisingly that's my very favorite time in history.

It's hard for me to single out my very favorite era within that. Because there's a lot of source material, I read a lot about the classical age of Athens. I love the old kingdom period of Egypt, and I've lately been interested in learning more about Sumer and other early periods in Mesopotamia. Across the Atlantic, I'm really intrigued by early Mesoamerican civilizations like the Olmecs, and have done some research there.

[Cynthia]

My own story is set in late ancient Rome and Gaul. This was an era ripe with drama and upheaval. I think it has gone unnoticed because it's not taught too much in school. Attila the Hun, the barbarian tribes, the fall of Rome and the rise of the Merovingians are just a few aspects of this time period. I love it!

[Gary]

And my favorite time/location in history is Post WWII Europe. And that would be because little is written about what people endured during the recovery. I personally witnessed and wrote about some of this recovery after arriving in West Germany in 1956 and spending twelve years there, off and on, until 1976.

[Tytti]

Gary wrote: "And that would be because little is written about what people endured during the recovery."

Reconciliation ends in the 1950's, though of course it is the last volume of the trilogy and the post-war part isn't very long.

[Jerry]

Picking up on Cynthia's post, I wouldn't call that period my favourite time in history, but it is certainly one of the most fascinating, perhaps because I know so little about it. I have read a couple of general histories, but almost nothing in fiction about this time period. I blame Vanished Kingdoms: The History of Half-Forgotten Europe by Norman Davies for setting off my inquisitiveness. I just haven't had the time to follow up on so much history yet.

[Gary]

"The 5K Zone." by yours truly, contains much fluff about living conditions and attitudes of Germans and European refugees living in West Germany from war's end until the '60s. The fluff is not central to the plot, but is informative nonetheless. It's fiction based on my own observations and experiences.

[Cynthia]

Jerry wrote: "Picking up on Cynthia's post, I wouldn't call that period my favourite time in history, but it is certainly one of the most fascinating, perhaps because I know so little about it. I have read a cou..."

Vanished Kingdoms sounds very interesting. I will look for it. One fiction book I can suggest that is not my own and in this time period is by Michael Curtis Ford.

[Andrew]

Cynthia wrote: "Jerry wrote: "Picking up on Cynthia's post, I wouldn't call that period my favourite time in history, but it is certainly one of the most fascinating, perhaps because I know so little about it. I h..."

I have not read much from that time period, and it does interest me for the same reasons. Thanks for the rec by Michael Curtis Ford. I like medieval period fiction too, but I haven't seen too many titles that don't skip ahead quite a few centuries.

[Cynthia]

Andrew wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Jerry wrote: "Picking up on Cynthia's post, I wouldn't call that period my favourite time in history, but it is certainly one of the most fascinating, perhaps because I know so litt..."

I stumbled into this time period when I taught a World History class. I love it and my own novel deals with some real historical persons such as General Aetius and Attila who had a huge impact on the empire.

[Thom]

My favorite period in history would have to be from 1750 to 1870. The American Revolution, Napoleonic Age, and Civil War have always fascinated me. I love everything (with the exception of no deodorant and indoor plumbing) about this time. Life was harder but you knew that you were alive.

[Julia]

We love every period in history, especially old egypt and the Stone Age. But also Rococco and Barock in Europe.

[Alice]

Alice wrote: "I think I'm drawn to the French Second Empire era (thanks to Emile Zola's novels), 17th & 18th century China (Kangxi Emperor's and Qianlong Emperor's reigns) and 18th century Russia (Catherine the ..."

For Chinese history, I also like transitional periods from one dynasty to another. For French history, I'm most intrigued by the French Revolution period.

[Margaret]

I have read some very interesting books on the Nazi occupation of France.

[Victor]

As mexican I love the pre-columbian era. I wonder how much knowledge and traditions were lost in time. How rich, in reality, were civilizations in america before being conquered? However, I realized that these losses happened in most, if not all, of the cases where a conquered took place. In general, I think that is very challenging to judge history from an objective point of view, considering the context of such events rather that using the moral and knowledge of our current time. Cheers!

[Pamela]

Since I spent over 10 years researching and writing my WW2 novel, I would have to go with WW2. Those countless research hours afforded not only facts, but also a valuable glimpse into the Italian sentiment during this horrific period. However, I have had a lifetime passion for ancient Rome and Etruscan studies.

[Tytti]

I guess the most interesting era to me is also WWII, though my perspective is probably different from what many other people have.

But it's also "funny" to hear/read what misconseptions other people have. Like yesterday some man (who claims to have a PhD and stuff according to his profile) disagreed with me about whether my country was occupied after/during WWII or not. He was very adamant about that but of course he was completely wrong. I really wonder what they teach to students in some countries...

[Spencer]

My favorite time is between 1600 and 1700. But it is the two locations that are shrouded in mystery. Japan and America in the Pacific Northwest. Two very similar cultures an ocean apart from each other. The Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest had beliefs and social ranks very similar to each other, other then Japan had an emperor. I have read many books from these two locations from this time period. The ones from Pacific Northwest being mostly anthropology though...
My reasons for liking the two places in history are 1, I'm a nerd, I like Japan. and 2, I actually am Native American from Pacific Northwest Coast Salishan Quinault.

[Jerry]

Spencer wrote: "My favorite time is between 1600 and 1700. But it is the two locations that are shrouded in mystery. Japan and America in the Pacific Northwest. Two very similar cultures an ocean apart from each o..."

I think you are doing yourself down Spencer, because having a deep interest in the history of your own part of the world does not make you a nerd in my opinion. Good for you mate! You have also touched on two countries and a time period of which I know absolutely nothing, so I would enjoy a good bit of historical fiction on either or both. I read Shōgun many years ago, and although it was a damn good story I never came to understand what was really happening in Japan at that time.

My own favourite time in history is 1290 to 1603 and the Anglo-Scottish border wars. I live in the English county of Cumbria, right at the heart of where that conflict happened, so I think that choice of time and place was inevitable. While I enjoy novels from all periods of history I keep coming back to my home turf and delving into the annals of my local history group. Does that make me a nerd as well?

Perhaps we should form a historical fictionistas nerds sub-group.

[Spencer]

Thank you Jerry, I agree there should be an historical groups for nerds. Oh and I was calling myself a nerd because I like Japan. Not because I like my heritage.
And I too made it through Shogun, if you want similar reads, then you should read Shinjú: Sano Ichiro mystery by Laura Joh Rowland.. A murder mystery of Japan in the 1600s. She wrote dozens of the Sano Ichiro murder mysteries.
And in the way of Native American fiction, I have just started Clan of the Cave Bear. But there is another author who has wrote a bunch of murder mysteries that take place in modern times on an Alaskan Indian Reservation. I will have to find them in my pile of books upstairs first.

[Zoe]

^^ just to ask is the author by any chance jean M Auel because if so that is not Native American more like early prehistoric man and it's quite a hefty series. If not sorry my mistake.

[Spencer]

Zoe, Yes it is, but it is Ice Age time. Sapian man living among the Neanderthal man. And Jerry, the author of the modern day Alaska murder mystery is Danna Stabano.

[Zoe]

That's what I meant hehe just to point it out

[Anthony]

I like to visit the trip with my family.

[Anthony]

Would make the trip back to Custer's last stand and put all the mysteries to rest.

[Harald]

Some of you might find HF writer/blogger M.K. Tod's reader surveys interesting where she asks this very question ("What's your favorite time period?") and has charts showing the stats. These are not huge surveys, but they're interesting nonetheless.

Go here and you'll see the three survey links:
https://awriterofhistory.com/reader-s...

[Pamela]

I am most interested in ancient Rome, the Renaissance, and World War 2 Italy.