I am frequently asked by
people new to the world of the historical fiction genre (the non
romance/non fantasy world that is), or by people who are beginning to
dabble their toes in its waters, “what books should I read to get a
feel for the genre?” I actually get asked it
so much that I thought I would compile a list of 10 books that I
think all self respecting readers of the genre should tackle at some
stage in their lives. It is also a list for those who are new to the
genre or those who are trying to branch out and rediscover the
broader arms of the genre.
You are not going to
like every book on this list. Heavens, I do not, why should you? In
fact, there is a Bernard Cornwell book on this list that I only gave
1 star out of 5 to. But, I still think it is a must read book of the
genre, whether I liked it or not.
This is also not a list
of my favourite books of all time in the genre. It includes some of
them, about six, but not all of them. Because this list is not for
me. It is for you.
It is not for me to
impress my own tastes upon you. That is why I have not delved into my
personal favourites top ten in order to compile this list. I have
compiled with the help of my many years of watching and listening to
people talk historical fiction.
I suppose you could
still say that I have added in a great deal of my own personal
opinion and you would be right to say it. While they aren't all my
favourite historical fiction books, some of mine are there, but I
have put a lot of my own experiences into the choices and it is only
by luck that some of my favourites got on it. It is a selection that
I think covers the diversity within the genre, battle reads,
adventure reads, mystery reads.
The idea of the list was
for me to take all the historical fiction books I have read, add a
little dash of personal taste, a teaspoon full of observational
opinion, mix it all up and then use my experience with the genre to
select the most diverse group of ten books I can think of. Books that
cover the full gambit of most common story devices in historical
fiction. Mystery, adventure, battle, invasion. A smattering of
love and maybe a snippet of passion are sprinkled amoung the stories,
if you have to have that in a historical fiction, but they are not
major plot devices and play second fiddle to the main storylines.
If you were a stalwart
of the genre, you would pick a completely different group of ten, I
am sure. But these ten books are meant to cover a vastness of life
and adventure for you to sample at will. If I have done my job
properly with the list and you decide to undertake the challenge of
reading all ten, then the reason for the selections will become
clear. You will learn which types of historical fiction you hate,
what types you think are enjoyable, and what types you really love.
Once you have discovered
all that about your own tastes, you will know what types of
historical fiction you want to pursue within the genre. The only way
to find out what sorts of reads you will like is to sample a cross
section of them all. And I hope this is what I have given you here.
*NB These books are in
no particular order. They are a list of ten, as opposed to a top ten. There are books that do deserve to be on this list. But for two reasons they have not made it. One: because I may not have read them yet so won't vouch for them. And two: there is only ten spots up for grabs not fifty.
What can I say about
this one. Anybody who knows me knows that I am the mega fan of this
series. I love it and it was the greatest historical fiction find of
my life. It also happened to be THE book that lit my path into the
warm bosom of straight up historical fiction. A guiding light to me,
I discovered the entire unisex genre of non romance and non fantasy
related historical fiction from this one beacon of light. Boy, do I
owe it my thanks.
As a stand alone book, I
do not think it is the best in the series. When I first read it, it
even took half the book before I got into it.
It is possible you will
have the same experience and if you do, hang in there. Go on with the
series - maybe the next two books - before you make a decision on
whether or not to continue with it.
Not my favourite
Cornwell by a long shot, but it is a unique and special book. Unlike
any other one that deals with this particular subject matter. King
Arthur.
For those with a
specific hankering for Arthurian books, this is a must read. It may
not appeal to you, but it is worth giving it a chance to see if it
will.
There are a number of
reasons I can give for having this book on the list. This is another
unique one. There really isn't anything else like it. There are
other books on Ghengis, but not like this one.
To write this book, the
author lived with the Mongols for a time and I believe that comes
through in the story. Surely it is worth reading it just to see how
he adapted that personal experience to the story? Yes? No?
A well loved series, I
think every reader of historical fiction needs to try this book (and
maybe even the one that follows) to see what you make of it. From my
observations, so many people who like this book go on to absolutely
love the entire series. If you go on to love the series, then you
will be glad I suggested you read this first book.
An absolute tour de
force by this acclaimed author. Gates of Fire is, unequivocally,
hands down, the greatest battle historical fiction ever written. A
stroke of genius.
In my opinion, this was
Steven Pressfield's masterwork. He has never done one as good
as it, and I doubt he ever can again. Wherever that place was inside
him that he managed to pull this book from, that place was drained of
resources on its completion. He may try, but he will never write
another book that can touch Gates of Fire. It is battle as poetry.
“A king does not abide
within his tent while his men bleed and die upon the field. A king
does not dine while his men go hungry, nor sleep when they stand at
watch upon the wall. A king does not command his men's loyalty
through fear nor purchase it with gold; he earns their love by the
sweat of his own back and the pains he endures for their sake. That
which comprises the harshest burden, a king lifts first and sets down
last. A king does not require service of those he leads but provides
it to them...A king does not expend his substance to enslave men, but
by his conduct and example makes them free.” Gates of Fire by
Steven Pressfield
Oh bravo, Mr Pressfield.
It stirs me still.
It has to be on the
list. Yes, he's my favourite author, yes this is book one in one of
my top two favourite series' of all time, but forget all that, this
book, this series, is masterful beyond words. The best Viking
historical fiction to date.
It is rough, crude
brutality rolled into a shieldwall along with Norse mythology (not in fantasy form) and
blasts of humour. I have to have it on this list.
Discover this series if
you dare!
This is a controversial
choice. For the simple reason that the punters are split on this
book. Half believe it is dull and boring, the other half (of which I
am one) believe it magnificently written and the kicking off point
for a really marvellous mystery series set in Tudor times.
Read it, see what you
think. It could be the best thing you have read, or the worst thing. You could go either way, but you probably need to find out
which way that will be.
Something about this
book captured my imagination and it has to make an honorary
appearance on this list for that. It is so well loved. Not everyone
does, mind you, but many do. Me included.
The ending. Gosh. As the
volcano starts to erupt, I can still smell the ash and feel the
avalanche of pumice stone on my face.
How could a book that
moved me so little end up on my list of ten? Easy. Everybody else
likes it but me. Considering what I am trying to achieve here with
this list, that is as good a reason as any for it to be here.
If you only try one
Bernard Cornwell, let it be this one. From my experience, it is quite
possibly the closest thing to a guaranteed winner. Something I cannot
say about The Last Kingdom or The Winter King.
I have asked myself over
and over, why The Hangman's Daughter should be on the list. Once I
explain my reasoning then you may understand why I did it.
There are better
mysteries out there. Others you will like more than this one. This
one's gravitas, during my list decision making session, was its being
not only a mystery set during a period of European history that is
not covered a lot in historical fiction, but because it is a
translation. There are so few translations in historical fiction that
can work. I think this one did most of the time.
There were times, however, where I feel it did
lose something in translation, but overall, it is a good book and may
awaken in you an interest in more translated historical fiction out
of Europe. That can only be a good thing.
Plus it is dark and
gothic and that is so in right now!
What a book to close out
the ten. Pride of Carthage.
For me this book is up
there with Steven Pressfield's Gates of Fire as one of the best
battle historical fictions ever written. Only this book has so much
more to it. More characters, more lands, more cultures. It
encompasses a vaster span of land mass than Gates of Fire and that
really worked for me to give the story a real sense of place on the
historical timeline. The reason I can't put it on the same exact
pedestal as Gates of Fire is that there are times when I think Pride
of Carthage waffles. For that reason, Gates of Fire pips it at the
post.
This book may even get
you to cry in the end. I have no shame in admitting that it made me
cry. And books rarely make me cry. I can count the books that have
done that to me on one hand. With fingers to spare.
You may also hate it,
but isn't that the aim of this list? To stir you to action? To make
you hate and love and, most important of all, to make you learn who you are as a reader in this genre?
- MM
