What historical figure would you like to read more about?

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Nothing under Richmond either....

[Sir]

Many many books about Louis XIV, the Sun King.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

There are some good ones out there about Louis XIV. I can recommend Antonia Fraser's Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King.

[Susan]

Tee wrote: "Has anyone focused on Henry Fitzroy? He was the son of Henry VIII and Elizabeth Blunt. Unlike the short lived character in the popular "Tudor's" TV series, lord Fitzroy lived into young adulthood b..."

I don't know of a novel about him, but there's a biography of him:


There's a novel about his wife, Mary Howard, called

[Sara W]

Susanna wrote: "I just read Children of Henry VIII, and can't remember him in it. Hmm, must go check index...

ETA: nothing under Fitzroy. What was his title?"

Hhhmmm, my book has his portrait on it (along with Edward, Elizabeth and Mary), but maybe not much is stated about him. I read it a while ago. Is Bessie Blount in the index at all? I don't have my copy any longer.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Not unless she also went by Gertrude, Marchioness of Exeter.

[Brigid]

Yeah, I looked in my copy, too (which I bought recently and haven't read yet), and he's definitely not in the index. Surely he's in the book somewhere. I'll keep an eye out when I finally do read it.

[Sir]

Susanna wrote: "There are some good ones out there about Louis XIV. I can recommend Antonia Fraser's Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King."

I was an interesting book. I've also read Nancy Mitford's book The Sun King, and the selected letters of Madame de Sevigne.

[Rosalie]

I would like to read more about Charles II (Stuart). His reign seems so interesting since he follows Oliver Cromwell and the Reformationists.

[Debra]

Mandy wrote: "I'd like to read more about Elizabeth Plantagenet, Edward and Elizabeth's daughter, wife to Henry VII.
She's been a background character in so many novels I've read, but I'd love to see one where a..."

Mandy: Try To Hold the Crown by Jean Plaidy. A good start anyway.

[Debra]

Karla wrote: "I've love to read some HF about Peter the Great. Talk about rich in material! I'd take anything that's not about the Russian Revolution. But no! Just more tree-killing Tudor retreads. :("

This is not historical fiction, but I am currently reading Peter the Great by Robert Massie and it's a great read! Chalk full of details but fascinating.

[Terri]

"Karla wrote: "I've love to read some HF about Peter the Great. Talk about rich in material! I'd take anything that's not about the Russian Revolution. But no! Just more tree-killing Tudor retreads...."
Sorry if I offend anyone, (as I know there are many people in this group that love Tudor) but I have to agree with Karla about Tudor retreads. Books on this era have been done and done and done and done, and they just keep on coming.

I know what you are thinking :-) if you don't enjoy them don't read them. True, and I don't, not for many years. I just couldn't restrain myelf when I saw Karla's comment. he he. ;-)

[Misfit]

I agree with Terri, I am Tudor'ed to death. It has to be a very very good book to hold my interest in this period. That includes Mary Q of Scots as well. Enough already.

[Carla]

Susanna wrote: "There are some good ones out there about Louis XIV. I can recommend Antonia Fraser's Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King."

Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland Mistress of the Sun: A Novel is a historical novel about Louise de la Valliere, Louis IX's first mistress. I found it an interesting read in a period I didn't know much about, if a bit detail-heavy.

[Alyssa]

I would love to read more about Queen Anne. She was the last Stuart monarch after William and Mary before they imported the Hanovers in. :) I think she is such a fascinating person considering she is considered one the great female monarchs in Great Britain and yet her personal life with the loss of every child born to her is so tragic. I would love to read novels, biographies, anything. :)

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Misfit wrote: "I agree with Terri, I am Tudor'ed to death. It has to be a very very good book to hold my interest in this period. That includes Mary Q of Scots as well. Enough already."

I still have an interest in the Tudors (though probably not a bottomless one). Mary Queen of Scots, however, I find neither interesting or romantic.

[Robin]

Has anyone mentioned the Borgias yet? I just found out Showtime are doing a show on them after The Tudors so I'm interested in reading about them. Looked on the bookshelf for this group and couldn't find any on the Borgias?

[Allie_oco]

I have read





I am quite fascinated with the Borgias too! I found that the Jeanne Kalogridis book was VERY entertaining, but probably stretched the facts more than Jean Plaidy. The Jean Plaidy's are very dry compared to Kalogridris, but still okay. The second Jean Plaidy book was not as good as Madonna of the Seven Hills, but it is only one that I have found that details the later life of Lucrezia Borgia.. Read my "reviews" for little more detail!

[Robin]

Thanks for the input. I agree about Kalogridis - I read her novel on Catherine de Medici and it also stretched the truth. I don't mind though, I thought it was good. I was also hoping for a bio on Lucrezia but they all seem poorly rated? So I might try this one instead: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39...

[Misfit]

I wasn't quite so enamored of the Kalogridis novel myself, especially a couple of *liberties* she took at the end. If you're going to make that stuff up PULEEZE do an author's note and tell us.

[[deleted user]]

Deb wrote: "This is not historical fiction, but I am currently reading Peter the Great by Robert Massie and it's a great read! Chalk full of details but fascinating."

Loved that book! The Russian History college class got me fascinated with PtG, and Massie's bio just fueled it.

[[deleted user]]

Misfit wrote: "If you're going to make that stuff up PULEEZE do an author's note and tell us."

It wouldn't harm them to "show their work" in a tiny little afterword, would it? Not asking for much here.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

I may have to watch The Borgias if the rumor I heard about Derek Jacobi as a Cardinal are true.

[[deleted user]]

Susanna wrote: "I may have to watch The Borgias if the rumor I heard about Derek Jacobi as a Cardinal are true."

Okay, now that would be worth the rental time on my Netflix. :)

[Sara W]

Robin wrote: "Thanks for the input. I agree about Kalogridis - I read her novel on Catherine de Medici and it also stretched the truth. I don't mind though, I thought it was good. I was also hoping for a bio on ..."

I have this Hibbert book, but I haven't read it. I read the Plaidy ones and enjoyed them enough.

[Sara W]

The Borgias were made for Showtime! It should be fun to watch.

[[deleted user]]

what i want to read is a couple of books chronologically. historical books are rare from where i come from but the onse i find, i read them instanty and actually gregory introduced me to this genre so i'm a huge fan although i didn't like the queen's fool! loved the boleyn inheritance and vrgin's lover. will read the white queen but first i want to read when christ and his saints slept. any idea how's that one. and people please be honet because the used ones are not availale and it's gonna cost me quite an amount given my current situation! beside that, these days i just keep on wondering abut the princes in the tower and will read alison weir's book about them. but i'm going to try to find the fall of ann boleyn so that i may contribute to the group discussion.

[[deleted user]]

just bought forever amber, innocent traitor, when christ and his saints slept and the duchess! cant wait to read them!

[Misfit]

"I was very underwhelmed by the Alison Weir I tried ("The Lady in the Tower") but will give her another try."

I loved Innocent Traitor but I'm afraid to say that Captive Queen is very poor so far. Library only.

[annie]

Jane Seymour! She's always an added character in novels, I'm having a hard time finding one that is solely focused on her.

[[deleted user]]

annie wrote: "Jane Seymour! She's always an added character in novels, I'm having a hard time finding one that is solely focused on her."

I'm sure that Jean Plaidy would have something on her!

[Susan]

suffiyan wrote: "annie wrote: "Jane Seymour! She's always an added character in novels, I'm having a hard time finding one that is solely focused on her."

I'm sure that Jean Plaidy would have something on her!"

I could be wrong, but I don't think Plaidy did a novel on Jane. A shame she didn't!

[[deleted user]]

she has novels on everyone!cats dogs and people who are not important!out of 100s she couldn't give one to jane seymore!?! shocking! i think she also has a book about jane boleyn, the disgraced wife of george right?

[Sara W]

Plaidy doesn't have one focused on Jane Boleyn either that I'm aware of (although you are right suffiyan, she does cover some random people every now and then!).

I own a book called Plain Jane by Laurien Gardner which is about Jane Seymour. I haven't read it yet, so I'm not sure if it's any good, but it's the only book I can think of off the top of my head that is devoted to Jane.

[annie]

Sara W wrote: "I own a book called [book:Plain Ja..."

I actually ordered this one the other day from my library. Some people on GR have told me it's really good so you should read it!

[Angelica]

I would like to read more Spain/Spanish historical fiction. I read the Last Queen and loved it. Does anyone have any recommendations?

[Sara W]

Petunia wrote: "I would like to read more Spain/Spanish historical fiction. I read the Last Queen and loved it. Does anyone have any recommendations?"

I think you would have to find it used, but Jean Plaidy's trilogy about Isabella and Ferdinand is very good: Castile for Isabella, Spain for the Sovereigns, and Daughters of Spain. She also wrote The Spanish Bridegroom about Philip II of Spain (this seems to have been republished in March under the title For a Queen's Love: The Stories of the Royal Wives of Philip II, but at amazon it only appears to be available for the kindle or used).

[Angelica]

Sara W wrote: "Petunia wrote: "I would like to read more Spain/Spanish historical fiction. I read the Last Queen and loved it. Does anyone have any recommendations?"

I think you would have to find it used, but..."

I will definitely check those out. If memory serves, I found out about The Last Queen from this group. Thank you.

[Gemma]

I have confessions of catherine de Medici on my tbr pile. I loved C W Gortner's The Last Queen. I picked it up at the airport and flew through it.

Weirs book about the Princess Elizabeth was really good and I loved innocent traitor.

I want to read more about the Italian royals, especially during the renesance.

The Tudors are my favourite, especially Henry VIII's reign.

[Aimee]

Hi! I know I'm coming to this disscuion late, but for those that were looking for books on the William the Conquerer era I read a book awhile back that I really enjoyed. Queen Emma and the Vikings: Power, Love, and Greed in 11th Century England

I would classify it as more of a non-ficition book, but if you are into that I would recommend it.

[M.G.]

Since writing my novel The Marlowe Conspiracy, I've become hooked on anything to do with Elizabethan playwrights. I'd like to read more historical fiction about the Tudor era, but set outside palaces - something like A Dead Man in Deptford or Shakespeare in Love: A Screenplay

[Lisa]

I would like to read anything concerning the members of the Plantagenet line; I have found very fascinating people!

[Jennifer]

I would like to read more on Anne of Cleaves.

[Barbara]

Yes, I'd second Anne Of Cleves- I've just read Margaret Capmpbell Barnes "My Lady of Cleves' and I'd like to read more about her life after Henry

[Susan]

There's a biography of Anne of Cleves by Elizabeth Norton. In my experience, Norton can be hit-and-miss, but it might be worth checking out.

[Barbara]

Thank you Susan, I 'll check her out

[Gemma]

I still liked The Boleyn Inheritance though it didn't really give much insite into Anne after she was divorced

[Jennifer]

Mandy wrote: "I'd like to read more about Elizabeth Plantagenet, Edward and Elizabeth's daughter, wife to Henry VII.
She's been a background character in so many novels I've read, but I'd love to see one where a..."

To Hold the Crown: The Story of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York is about their marriage and may be more focused on Elizabeth than others you've read...

[Jennifer]

Alyssa wrote: "I would love to read more about Queen Anne. She was the last Stuart monarch after William and Mary before they imported the Hanovers in. :) I think she is such a fascinating person considering she ..."

The Queen's Favourites is about queen Anne. I liked the book although just about everyone in it turned out to be annoying, including Anne. Not the author's fault-- the fault of history!! :-)

[Sara W]

Jennifer wrote: "Alyssa wrote: "I would love to read more about Queen Anne. She was the last Stuart monarch after William and Mary before they imported the Hanovers in. :) I think she is such a fascinating person c..."

I enjoyed The Queen's Favourites as well, but I agree that most of the people ended up being pretty annoying! Sarah Churchill was quite the character!