The Plantagenets discussion

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Books > Recommendation of what to read next?

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message 1: by Nikki (new)

Nikki (tikki_nik2) | 1 comments Hi, I've just joined this group although I have been on a number of other history/historical fiction groups on Goodreads for some time. I am fairly new to the Plantagenets and would appreciate some advice on what to read next.

I read jean plaidy's the Plantagenet prelude a few years ago. I am now just finishing off Alison wier's captive queen and have also read the chapter about her in non-fiction Queen's consort. I would like to move on through the era, although I expect I will come back and read more about Eleanor again in future. What's the best thing to read next?


message 2: by Heather (new)

Heather | 2 comments The one I'm really looking forward to reading is When Christ and His Saints Slept..about Henry I and Eleanor of Aquitaine


Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (susannag) | 75 comments There's Katherine, by Anya Seton, which is about John of Gaunt's third wife (Chaucer's sister-in-law).


message 4: by Brian (new)

Brian (brianwainwright) | 27 comments Modesty forbids me to mention Within the Fetterlock as a follow-on to Katherine. In terms of era, not style.

Strongly second the recommendations for Sharon Penman's works, you really cannot go wrong.

A favourite for me for the Henry VI era is The Heron's Catch by Susan Curran, though I think it might be hard to find. It is a very hard-nosed non-romantic account.


message 5: by Samantha (new)

Samantha (samanthajw) | 18 comments Penman's books are all great! I also just finished

Royal Blood Richard III and the Mystery of the Princes by Bertram Fields which was exceptionally good and "readable" for nonfiction.


message 6: by Melissa (new)

Melissa Kelly | 3 comments I'm almost done with The Reckoning by Sharon Kay Penman, and I looove her. I don't think there are any of her books left that I haven't read. Where do I go from here? Any recommendations?


message 7: by Mimi (new)

Mimi | 4 comments Elizabeth Chadwick.


message 8: by Samantha (new)

Samantha (samanthajw) | 18 comments Melissa wrote: "I'm almost done with The Reckoning by Sharon Kay Penman, and I looove her. I don't think there are any of her books left that I haven't read. Where do I go from here? Any recommendations?"

I would recommend Anne Easter Smith or Allison Weir if you're looking for the same time period. Ken Follett also has some fantasic novels, though his writing is not quite as good as Penman's (my opinion of course). His Pillars of the Earth is fantastic and takes place during the war between Stephen and Maude. World Without End is the "sequel" that actually takes place approximately 300 years later. My favorite book of his is Fall of Giants which covers WWI and has a sequel, Winter of the World, which is about WWII.


message 9: by Misfit (new)

Misfit | 54 comments Mod
Marina wrote: "The Brothers of Gwynedd Quartet Comprising Sunrise in the West, The Dragon at Noonday, The Hounds of Sunset, Afterglow and Nightfall by Edith Pargeter, Treason by Meredith Whitford, anything by Susa..."

BTW, Treason is a kindle freebie today 2/7/13.


message 10: by Samantha (new)

Samantha (samanthajw) | 18 comments Thank you! I have been wanting to read Treason!


message 11: by Melissa (new)

Melissa Kelly | 3 comments Thanks guys! I've got the Brothers of Gwynedd Quartet on hold at my library. I tried to download Treason, but it says it's not available in the US. Boo! Thanks for the suggestions!


message 12: by Samantha (new)

Samantha (samanthajw) | 18 comments I am in the US and had no trouble. May be worth another try :-)


message 13: by Misfit (new)

Misfit | 54 comments Mod
This is the edition of Treason that's for free.


message 14: by Melissa (new)

Melissa Kelly | 3 comments Got it, thanks! Who knows what I was doing the first time. :-) Looking forward to reading it!


message 15: by Mimi (new)

Mimi | 4 comments I think Jean Plaidy is pretty historically accurate, although she was writing a few decades ago, so some ideas about figures and events have changed.
I've never had a problem reading them individually.


message 16: by Samantha (new)

Samantha (samanthajw) | 18 comments I personally couldn't bring myself to finish the first book by Plaidy, but I guess that's why we have so many authors to chose from!


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