Suggestions for Historical Fiction (war, Roman, general, Mexican)

[grubbyhubby]

I need more Historical Fiction. Preferably, something along the lines of Patrick O'Brien or Owen Parry's 'Abel Jones' series. American History, 18th or 19th Century stuff, Colonial Period, Frontier ( not Louis Lamore , already read his stuff), or Civil War. Not really into Gone with the Wind type romanticism, but something a little more gritty and real. Thanks for any suggestions.

[cpg35223]

Well, it's really hard to beat Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. A seriously great novel about the old west that's really not a western. It really defies genre.

Herman Wouk wrote two World War epics, Winds of War and War and Remembrance.

And I looooooooove Patrick O'Brian. I went into mourning after reading his last Auburn/Maturin book. I'll say this to the rest of the history forum. If you haven't read Patrick O'Brian, you're missing a serious treat.

[Grandstander]

Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe's series does for the British army, what O' Brian does for the Royal Navy. There are a wealth of them out there, I've read seven or eight of them. I have to hand it to Cornwell in that despite using the same character and general circumstances over and over, each book is fresh and imaginative with complex plots, sly humor here and there, and extremely well written battle scenes.

Cornwell also started a series on the American Civil War (four books...more to come?) a series on King Alfred (five books out) and several independent books, the best of which is "Agincourt."

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by Grandstander

Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe's series does for the British army, what O' Brian does for the Royal Navy. There are a wealth of them out there, I've read seven or eight of them. I have to hand it to Cornwell in that despite using the same character and general circumstances over and over, each book is fresh and imaginative with complex plots, sly humor here and there, and extremely well written battle scenes.

Cornwell also started a series on the American Civil War (four books...more to come?) a series on King Alfred (five books out) and several independent books, the best of which is "Agincourt."

You know, I have thought about taking up Sharpe. Thanks for the reminder.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by grubbyhubby

I need more Historical Fiction. Preferably, something along the lines of Patrick O'Brien or Owen Parry's 'Abel Jones' series. American History, 18th or 19th Century stuff, Colonial Period, Frontier ( not Louis Lamore , already read his stuff), or Civil War. Not really into Gone with the Wind type romanticism, but something a little more gritty and real. Thanks for any suggestions.

Well, I'm working on a historical novel set in 1859. I'll let you know when it's ready.

Thanks for letting me know that gritty and real is a goal I should be working toward!

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

Well, it's really hard to beat Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. A seriously great novel about the old west that's really not a western. It really defies genre.

Herman Wouk wrote two World War epics, Winds of War and War and Remembrance.

And I looooooooove Patrick O'Brian. I went into mourning after reading his last Auburn/Maturin book. I'll say this to the rest of the history forum. If you haven't read Patrick O'Brian, you're missing a serious treat.

Thank you for the heads up. I'll check him out.

Nice thread.

[Alexva]

“Empire on the Platte” by Richard Crabb. More of a non-fictional account than historical fiction. Great read, nonetheless.

[Chava61]

Have you read books by Leon Uris? He wrote many historical fiction books. The most famous one was "Exodus".

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by grubbyhubby

I need more Historical Fiction. Preferably, something along the lines of Patrick O'Brien or Owen Parry's 'Abel Jones' series. American History, 18th or 19th Century stuff, Colonial Period, Frontier ( not Louis Lamore , already read his stuff), or Civil War. Not really into Gone with the Wind type romanticism, but something a little more gritty and real. Thanks for any suggestions.

Well, it's historical fiction anyway, but might be a bit more "GWTW" than you'd like, but I enjoyed John Jakes' 'Kent Family Chronicles'....

It basically follows a family through the first 100 years or so of American History.... I liked it. Of course it's a bit hokey at times (These people always seem to stumble upon the most famous people, but I guess that's part of what makes it interesting....)...

Anyway, it's an 8 book series (The Bastard, The Rebels, The Seekers, the Furies, The Titans, The Warriors, The Lawless and The Americans...). Fun read IMO.

[Dd714]

There's always the Shaara books on the American (revolutionary, mexican, civil) wars. Michael and his son Jeff. Some find it a bit too dramatically wordy, but I liked them.
I wouldn't call the above fiction really - I like to read about historical figures, rather than fictional figures in historical settings.

For outright fiction I did enjoy "Lonesome Dove" and all the sequels.