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I like to read historical fiction. Unfortunately non fiction is a little too dry for me that's why I'd like to know if you can recommend books about medieval England / Scotland / Ireland / Russia / France?
I've also enjoyed reading about the times of Queen Elizabeth, King Henry or even St. Petersburg in times of Lenin and Stalin so any books about these periods would be great also.
Have you tried Philippa Gregory? I don't like her books personally, but a lot of people do and she's probably the biggest name in Tudor historical fiction. Alison Weir is another well known author - but be careful because she writes both historical fiction and non-fiction. Jean Plaidy is like the matriarch of European royalty historical fiction but some people don't like her writing style. Her work is known for being very accurate though so it's a great way to learn history in a novel format.
If you like medieval history, I would check out authors like Elizabeth Chadwick and Sharon Kay Penman.
Don't give up on non-fiction, there are plenty of them which aren't dry at all. Some authors have picked up on the fact that dry, textbook style non-fiction doesn't really appeal to the masses, only to students and scholars. So there's a number of non-fiction books written in an entertaining, witty, easy to read style - check out authors like Leslie Carroll and Michael Farquhar.
PA2UK, thanks for the suggestions! I have read The Other Boleyn Girl, The Boleyn Inheritance and now I'm nearly through The Constant Princess. All of those I really liked. Anyhoo', I'll check out the other authors and would give also non-fiction a try.
I would suggest Sharon Kay Penman for English history and Edward Rutherford for mostly the UK as well as Russia. Also, try The White Russian by Tom Bradby for St Petersburg just before the Russian Revolution.
The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon (18th century Scotland and America and France)
The Sister Fidelma series by Peter Tremayne (7th century Ireland)
I loved "Harriet and Isabella" about Harriet Beecher Stowe and her younger half sister but I'm sorry I can't remember the author's name. It seems Harriet and Isabella's brother who was a promanent minister was involved in a scandal and it split the family - those that supported him and those that didn't.
This seems a tremendous site, thank you for sharing it.
Have you read, MMom, anything by Tracy Chevalier?
A number of her novels are historical novels such as :
Girl with a pearl Earring
Lady and the Unicorn
Burning Bright
I was actually looking for a website I'd used years ago in which I'd discovered the Fidelma series. It said 7th century Ireland and a light went on in my head. The site was through SUNY but can't find it. This one looks good though.
Haven't read the books you mentioned. Century and country?
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that's why I'd like to know if you can recommend books about medieval England / Scotland / Ireland / Russia / France?
