Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
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What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)
Mrs Happy brought the latest Uthred novel home from the library Saturday - I'm almost finished (should be tomorrow)
Reading THE LAST PALACE by Norman Eisen. I am finding this story of 20th Century Prague as told by the inhabitants of this palace absolutely fascinating!!
I'm going to bring in the new year with some good historical fiction: Brigantia, the third book in the series. I've enjoyed the others a lot.
I'm going to start this new year by reading An Officer and a Spy
by Robert Harris. Based on the Dreyfus affair, a subject that has peeked my interest since I read about it in Umberto Eco's The Prague Cemetery where it's briefly mentioned.
Planning to watch the recently released Polanski movie after reading it as well.
May wrote: "Reading THE LAST PALACE by Norman Eisen. I am finding this story of 20th Century Prague as told by the inhabitants of this palace absolutely fascinating!!"You might want to try 89: The Unfinished Revolution: Power and Powerlessness in Eastern Europe as well. Nick Thorpe was the BBC correspondent in Budapest as the revolution unfolded. It covers all of Central Europe post 1989. Finished it over Christmas but I will need to read it again as there is so much detail in there.
I need a good non-fiction injection every so often but now I’m back into fiction with the latest from Christian Cameron.
Jerry wrote: "May wrote: "Reading THE LAST PALACE by Norman Eisen. I am finding this story of 20th Century Prague as told by the inhabitants of this palace absolutely fascinating!!"You might want to try [book:..."
Jerry wrote: "May wrote: "Reading THE LAST PALACE by Norman Eisen. I am finding this story of 20th Century Prague as told by the inhabitants of this palace absolutely fascinating!!"
You might want to try [book:..."
Thank you, Jerry! I will add your suggestion to my NF list. I am about half way through THE LAST PALACE. Finding the details uncomfortable, but fascinating!
Diego wrote: "I'm going to start this new year by reading An Officer and a Spy
by Robert Harris. Based on the Dreyfus affair, a subject tha..."
Goooood book!
I am currently reading Dan Jones's new history of the Crusades - from the 1st through the completion of the reconquista of Spain in 1492
“The King’s Mother” by Judith Arnopp about Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry VII - the final winner of the Wars of the Roses. Highly recommended.
Marilyn, are you enjoying the novel about Margaret Beaufort?? She fascinates me. There are theories that she was responsible for killing the Princes in the Tower... Looking forward to your review!!
I have just started the Booker prize winning book by Peter Carey True History of the Kelly Gang
A novel where the bushranger Ned Kelly tells his life like in a journal.
Picked up a random in a second hand bookstore which I thought I'd heard someone recommend. Clearly, I've mistaken it for something else as I've waded through about 70pp and it's average to say the most.Hawkwood's SwordHas anyone read this? Is it worth persisting with? Alternatively, is there a book of similar title which is likely the one I was looking for?
Adrian, were you looking for SWORN SWORD or KNIGHT OF THE HAWK by James Aitcheson? They are part of his trilogy set just after 1066. We enjoyed them immensely. Can’t speak to the book you are reading...
I think it really was a book about Sir John Hawkwood I'd heard about, but clearly not this one - which is fairly dreadful and likely to be dumped shortly.I'm not much of a James Aitcheson fan either I'm afraid - loathed The Harrowing. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Terri wrote: "I have just started the Booker prize winning book by Peter Carey True History of the Kelly Gang
A novel where the bushranger Ned Kelly tells his life like in a journal."
I loved that book I read it a while ago
By the way I read The Second Sleep thinking it was a historical fiction book and...It is not. Strange book tho.
Carlos wrote: "By the way I read The Second Sleep thinking it was a historical fiction book and...It is not. Strange book tho."That's disappointing. I had thought it was hist fic and had hoped to get to it. But it has to be hist fic for me to be interested. I don't like blurred lines, sci fi or alternative history.
Terri wrote: "Carlos wrote: "By the way I read The Second Sleep thinking it was a historical fiction book and...It is not. Strange book tho."That's disappointing. I had thought it was hist fic ..."
I like Robert Harris, his last book was interesting but here We are in science fiction territory, not his best book, but on second thought it is a book that could have been great if it was written in the seventies. The ending is just perfect for that kind of sci fi books. Don't read it.
Santa gave me a Samsung tablet for Christmas. The Nook, ASUS and IPad were getting 'too big to cuddle!' (Raising Arizona). I have not used it much, yet, because I am rereading Bernard Cornwell's Saxon series. I just finished rereading the Warlord series. His books are definitely better the second time around! Thanks to Terri who put me on to BC several years ago.I hope you all had happy holidays. Mine were marred slightly by the Vikings/Saints football game this past Sunday and the Patriot loss on Saturday. Life goes on with the good and the bad which hopefully cancel one another.
We have a third of brandied fruitcake left. Since I have gone on sugar free diet since last Monday, I cannot begin to explain what a temptation that fruitcake is to me. I think about it day and night! If one more football playoff game goes the wrong way, I am going to eat that fruitcake!
Linda wrote: "Santa gave me a Samsung tablet for Christmas. The Nook, ASUS and IPad were getting 'too big to cuddle!' (Raising Arizona). I have not used it much, yet, because I am rereading Bernard Cornwell's Sa..."Fruitcakes are a big weakness for me too. I have eaten so much Christmas fruit Cake over the last month.
Fruit cake of any type is absolutely no temptation for me. I am one of those who think Fruit Cake is best used as a door stop:)
I just started The King's Hound by Martin Jensen. It's pretty good so far, taking place in the kingdom of King Cnut.
Adrian wrote: "I think it really was a book about Sir John Hawkwood I'd heard about, but clearly not this one - which is fairly dreadful and likely to be dumped shortly.I'm not much of a James Aitcheson fan eit..."
I agree with May, Adrian -- don't judge all Aitcheson novels by his slow-moving The Harrowing. His other Norman knight novels are excellent.
And that's what makes this forum so interesting - people can see merit in places others can't and talk about it intelligently.I struggled to finish The Harrowing and it would be unlikely in the extreme for me to pick up another of his books - even though the 1066 - 70 period is one of my favourites. Indeed, I'm researching my own next effort in that period and a main reason for me picking up The Harrowing was research. I got nothing, mainly because there were no historical figures at all in the story.
Terri wrote: "The Harrowing was my fave Aitcheson. :)"I absolutely loved it. Had a taste of Canterbury Tales to it...one of my ALL TIME favorite reads!
I've started red heritage by Merritt Parmelee Allen. This is an old YA novel my husband read as a teen. Setting is upstate New York in 1777.
I'm reading The Golden Wolf by Linnea Hartsuyker, third book of the Half-drowned King trilogy. It's a bit like a Viking soap opera, in a good way.
Started this week Harlequin
by Bernard CornwellAlready familiar with the setting because I bought
years ago thinking it was a standalone book, and then decided to read it anyway as many reviews said you could, without reading the first trilogy. It was ok but pretty forgettable tbh. Now I'm going back to the beginnings to see if they were better
I set my goal to re-read Bernard Cornwell's books. So far, from December last to the present date, I have read the Arthur series and I am now starting The Burning Land, the fifth book of the Saxon series. I think of our moderator, Terri, every time I open another 'Uhtred' book. These books are much better on the second read. Thank all of you who put me onto B.C.
I’m just getting through Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon series for the first time. Still have his last one to read!!My husband & I have enjoyed this series immensely!!
I don't even consider rereading anything. I only read 1 or 2 books per month, and there are over 300 books I'd like to read, without counting comics that is. More than enough for the next 20 years at least!!
In recent months I have read several of David Pilling's novellas, particularly his battle fiction set during the 13th and 14 centuries. I have interviewed David for my blog
https://13thcenturyhistory.blogspot.c...
Otherwise, have just finished reading David Adkin's 'The Traitor and the She Wolf' about Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer , and their overthrow of Edward II in 1326. Enjoyable, but not exceptional. I have just reviewed it.
Books mentioned in this topic
M*A*S*H: A Novel About Three Army Doctors (other topics)A Court of Betrayal (other topics)
Imperium (other topics)
The Handfasted Wife (other topics)
The Swan-Daughter (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Robert Harris (other topics)Carol McGrath (other topics)
Carol McGrath (other topics)
Carol McGrath (other topics)
Ken Follett (other topics)
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I read Morris book a couple of yrs ago and it is excellent