Recent Historical Novels (WW2, war, generals, Mexican)

[jtur88]

Aside from the well-known classics, has anyone read a good historical novel published in the last decade or so? One that is a good casual read, but also with an authentic historical perspective?

I'm currently reading "The Corpse in the Koryo" written in the first person about a police inspector in North Korea. Unknown author, using pseudonym James Church, alleged to be a long-time US intelligence agent, and endorsed as accurate by people who know North Korea.

I enjoyed Charles Frazier's "Thirteen Moons", about the leadup to the forced Cherokee march. Anybody have a comment on the historical authenticy of that?

[Grandstander]

After what had been a string of winners, I was disappointed with Jeff Shaara's "The Steel Wave: A Novel of World War II." Shaara's three Civil War era books had all been excellent (do not go by the criminally boring film version of "Gods and Generals") and his first WW II novel "A Rising Tide" was also absorbing. This streak ends with "Steel Wave" which is populated by a dull main protagonist who seems more out of the Harry Turtledove school of cliches. Ike and Rommel are the main real life characters and neither emerges as especially lively or interesting.

This read like a contractual obligation book, one where the author had been paid in advance for writing it and it wasn't a labor of love for him, just a labor, which also describes reading it. My take is that it was a matter of creative exhaustion. Shaara has worked this same pasture too many times to have anything original left to say. If this was the first Shaara book that you have read, it would likely also be the last. That would be a shame because his earlier works were all worthwhile.

[cpg35223]

Without question, the best historical novels I have ever read were Patrick O'Brian's twenty-novel series centered around Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin. Incredibly literate, meticulously well-researched, and compelling storytelling centered around the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars. My standards for reading are pretty high, centering around writers such as Evelyn Waugh, Forster, et al., and I would happily include O'Brian in my favorite authors, even though some literary snobs might call him a genre writer.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by Grandstander

After what had been a string of winners, I was disappointed with Jeff Shaara's "The Steel Wave: A Novel of World War II." Shaara's three Civil War era books had all been excellent (do not go by the criminally boring film version of "Gods and Generals") and his first WW II novel "A Rising Tide" was also absorbing. This streak ends with "Steel Wave" which is populated by a dull main protagonist who seems more out of the Harry Turtledove school of cliches. Ike and Rommel are the main real life characters and neither emerges as especially lively or interesting.

This read like a contractual obligation book, one where the author had been paid in advance for writing it and it wasn't a labor of love for him, just a labor, which also describes reading it. My take is that it was a matter of creative exhaustion. Shaara has worked this same pasture too many times to have anything original left to say. If this was the first Shaara book that you have read, it would likely also be the last. That would be a shame because his earlier works were all worthwhile.

I'm glad you said that about Harry Turtledove. The man has pretty fun ideas when it comes to alternative history, but his writing and characterization are absolute and total dreck. It's pretty sad when you know what's going to happen to a character two books before the end of the series.

[Grandstander]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

I'm glad you said that about Harry Turtledove. The man has pretty fun ideas when it comes to alternative history, but his writing and characterization are absolute and total dreck. It's pretty sad when you know what's going to happen to a character two books before the end of the series.

I have never been able to confirm it, but I am convinced that Harry Turtledove is actually a factory of writers. The man is far too prolific, cranking out two or three new novels each year, to be able to put much care into any of them. The extraordinarily enraging repetition which mars all of Turtledoves works I suspect is the product of staff writers consulting "fact sheets" about the characters and chapter which they have been assigned to write. If there is a real Turtledove, he is more of the creative supervisor than writer. What author in his right mind would feel the need to inform us at least a dozen times about how some character's light complexion meant that he sunburned easily? How many damned times did Turtledove have to tell us that the good tank commanders fought standing up in the hatch because they could see more that way even though they were more exposed? How many times did we have to be reminded that some general had to put up with nonsense from Custer when he was on his staff?

Turtledove books drive you crazy with their inconsistency. Some volumes in a series are outstanding and others are rampaging wastes of time. Some even fall apart halfway through a single volume. The last book in the WW II series about the invading Lizards is terrific for a time, and then suddenly turns into total crap the rest of the way.

[Dd714]

I enjoy Sharaa's novels, particularly the civil war series (one written by his father) and agree that his prose do not match well with his recent series on WW1 and WW2. The problem is his stiring depictions of civil war combat do not mesh well when discussing the complex strategy and tactics of commanding generals far from the front line in 20th century wars. I particularly enjoyed his novel on the Mexican-American War "Gone for Soldiers". I think he should go back to the civil war theme and write more novels, this time about the Western Theater of Operations.

Turteldove is just plain strange at times. I've read both of his Civil War novels. Entertaining but just to far-fetched. Confederate troops with AK-47's brought back in time by South Africans, OK.

Turtledove wrote one excellent book in the "Sharaa" vein - that is, accurate historical novel - "Fort Pillow", which was an excellent read about a fascinating civil war topic.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by Grandstander

I have never been able to confirm it, but I am convinced that Harry Turtledove is actually a factory of writers. The man is far too prolific, cranking out two or three new novels each year, to be able to put much care into any of them. The extraordinarily enraging repetition which mars all of Turtledoves works I suspect is the product of staff writers consulting "fact sheets" about the characters and chapter which they have been assigned to write. If there is a real Turtledove, he is more of the creative supervisor than writer. What author in his right mind would feel the need to inform us at least a dozen times about how some character's light complexion meant that he sunburned easily? How many damned times did Turtledove have to tell us that the good tank commanders fought standing up in the hatch because they could see more that way even though they were more exposed? How many times did we have to be reminded that some general had to put up with nonsense from Custer when he was on his staff?

Turtledove books drive you crazy with their inconsistency. Some volumes in a series are outstanding and others are rampaging wastes of time. Some even fall apart halfway through a single volume. The last book in the WW II series about the invading Lizards is terrific for a time, and then suddenly turns into total crap the rest of the way.

Yep. I think the only reason I held on to reading his alternative history series was to see if Birmingham, Alabama, got nuked by the Union. I guess I could have skimmed ahead.

[PA2UK]

It's not very casual, it's a huge book but Autobiography of Henry VIII (With Notes By His Fool, Will Somers) is the best Tudor novel I've read.

[KansasKris]

I agree, the Autobiography of Henry VIII (With Notes By His Fool, Will Somers) was a great read. But then, I enjoy reading almost anything about the Tudor time period. Also, Mary Queen of Scots...

Does anyone know a good autobiography of Mary Queen of Scots third husband, James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell? I have found only one that was written in the 1930's and not very interesting.

Thanks,
KansasKris

[KansasKris]

Whoooppsss! Guess that would be biography, not autobiography!