Request some historical fiction recommendations

[long run nick]

Hi,
Been a non-fiction guy until I got my Kindle 2 several months ago, though years ago read a lot of James Minchner. Just finished Rutherfurds "New York: The Novel" and really enjoyed it. Would like some recommendations for other historical fiction. Thanks. Nick

[Ann in Arlington]

Any particular era you're interested in?

[ak rain]

Its not a genre I read but I am reading this right now era WWII sort of and an excelant read.
] I could not get kindle link--fixed Kindle link.  Betsy

Amazon Best of the Month, January 2008: One of the earliest Jewish religious volumes to be illuminated with images, the Sarajevo Haggadah survived centuries of purges and wars thanks to people of all faiths who risked their lives to safeguard it. Geraldine Brooks, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of March, has turned the intriguing but sparely detailed history of this precious volume into an emotionally rich, thrilling fictionalization that retraces its turbulent journey. In the hands of Hanna Heath, an impassioned rare-book expert restoring the manuscript in 1996 Sarajevo, it yields clues to its guardians and whereabouts: an insect wing, a wine stain, salt crystals, and a white hair. While readers experience crucial moments in the book's history through a series of fascinating, fleshed-out short stories, Hanna pursues its secrets scientifically, and finds that some interests will still risk everything in the name of protecting this treasure. A complex love story, thrilling mystery, vivid history lesson, and celebration of the enduring power of ideas, People of the Book will surely be hailed as one of the best of 2008. --Mari Malcolm

sylvia

[Leslie]

We had another historical fiction thread around here with a ton of good recommendations. I read a lot of HF. Anything in particular you are interested in, Nick? If you like war stories, might I suggest...

[DixieChick]

There are some good recommendations here.

http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/topic,1590.0.html

[Leslie]

There are some good recommendations here.

http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/topic,1590.0.html

Ah, thanks for finding the the thread, DixieChick!

L

[BoomerSoonerOKU]

Neal Stephenson has some (in my opinion) outstanding historical fiction novels that I've thoroughly enjoyed.  His Baroque Cycle discusses lots of scientific, financial, and mathematical theory and history in a very enthralling manner.  They are somewhat long, and don't stand that well on their own but as a whole I'd really recommend them.

Book 1


Book 2


Book 3


These are in some ways a prequel to his outstanding book (somewhat historical fiction) Cyrptonomicon.

[Anju No. 469]

Anything by Jeff Hepple, it is historical fiction but based on fact, and wonderful reads, he is also a KB author.

[mlewis78]

I've been reading a fictitious memoire of Mary Todd Lincoln by Janis Cooke Newman.  It's very long (636 pages in paperback but available for Kindle), but I'm liking this so much.  I've read more history than historical fiction.

[The Hooded Claw]

I was going to recommend The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, but was shocked to find it is not available on Kindle.

[long run nick]

Thanks so much for all the info. What a great community. So much to choose from. I just bought "To the Ends of the Earth:The Last Journey of Lewis and Clarke" by Frances Hunter.

Also interested in Historical fiction on Teddy Roosevelt and other Americans. Thanks. Nick

[Carol Hanrahan]

Loved this book so much, I sent the author an email.  And he replied!  I was jazzed for a whole week!

[Shastastan]

I just read "The Runner" by Christopher Reich.  Takes place right after WWII in Germany.  It's action-packed and suspensful.

[TC Beacham]

Shutter Island is a shocking read about two U.S. marshals in 1954, currently being filmed by Martin Scorsese .

http://www.amazon.com/Shutter-Island-Novel-Dennis-Lehane/dp/0688163173/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_a

Edited to correct director of the upcoming film.

[tree]

Try Shike by Robert Shea, which can be downloaded for free from Manybooks. This story takes place in the ancient samarai civilization of Japan. The book is very romantic, and also exciting. It is not completely faithful to historical dates, (at least from what I have read from reviewers says this) so I guess you could call it a type of alternate history, but it does not take too many liberties. You definitely get a wonderful feel for this cuture.  There is fighting and so forth, but the novel is character driven, and very compelling.  A plus- you get to also live in and experience the court of the Kublai Khan in China in this book!  A page-turner. The book is nice and long, also.  I can't believe it is available for free.

[Leslie]

Shutter Island is a shocking read about two U.S. marshals in 1954, currently being filmed by Clint Eastwood.

http://www.amazon.com/Shutter-Island-Novel-Dennis-Lehane/dp/0688163173/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_a

Actually, the director is Martin Scorsese and the film is in post-production right now. Scheduled release date for the US is February 10, 2010.

L

[TC Beacham]

Actually, the director is Martin Scorsese and the film is in post-production right now. Scheduled release date for the US is February 10, 2010.

L

oops, that's right - Clint did Mystic River. Can't wait to see Shutter Island!

[Leslie]

oops, that's right - Clint did Mystic River. Can't wait to see Shutter Island!

Yes, it sounds good. I should probably read the book first, though...LOL

[Carol Hanrahan]

Shutter Island is a shocking read about two U.S. marshals in 1954, currently being filmed by Clint Eastwood.

http://www.amazon.com/Shutter-Island-Novel-Dennis-Lehane/dp/0688163173/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_a

Oh jeeez, that 1-click....  This sounds too good to slip by.... better hurry and finish my current read so I can start this!

[Leslie]

Oh jeeez, that 1-click....  This sounds too good to slip by.... better hurry and finish my current read so I can start this!

Watch out, there is a total spoiler review over at Amazon. I am so annoyed that I read it! Grrr....

[Fuzzy Dunlop]

Robert McCammons latest series is good
Speaks the Nightbird and Queen of Bedlam
A third in the series is coming out soon titled Mr Slaughter

[TC Beacham]

Watch out, there is a total spoiler review over at Amazon. I am so annoyed that I read it! Grrr....

That's terrible because this book really takes you by surprise (at least it did me)!

[PaulGuy]

I was going to recommend The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, but was shocked to find it is not available on Kindle.

True, but an amazing read and well worth the effort even if it is a DTB.

[Fuzzy Dunlop]

the series of Sharpe books by Bernard Cornwell are excellent as well

[MariaESchneider]

Let me preface this with the fact that I don't really enjoy historicals so I am by no means an expert! 

One that I did enjoy was a fictional retelling of Crazy Horse--Stone Song by Win Blevins. It's a DTB only, but it's basically a story set up as a fictional memoir.  I learned quite a bit from it and it sure beat reading dry history.   I know that Blevins has written other historicals set in the same time period about mountain men and so on.  The writing is crisp and the storytelling excellent.

I haven't read but have seen Ariana's Pride by Margaret Lake (it's on Kindle):

http://www.amazon.com/Arianas-Pride/dp/B0028K3CAA/?tag=fxsouandmag-20

I don't know how much it follows the true historical line or real people, but here's the blurb:

Ariana’s Pride is an historical romance set during the Wars of the Roses. The story commences shortly after the Battle of Barnet where Warwick The Kingmaker was killed and Edward IV has just taken his throne back from the mad king, Henry VI. This one decisive battle affected the lives and attitudes of Ariana and Jeremy.

Ariana Devoe is the willful and arrogant daughter of Earl William. What happens when she finds that she has lost her home and family? Will she lose her heart, too, as she struggles to reach the elderly Baron to whom her father has promised her? Or will she throw away her chance to avenge her father’s death and regain her titles and estates to be with the dashing Jeremy?

Jeremy Gowen has lived most of his life in the Earl’s stables, but does not intend to end his days there. Aided by the stablemaster, once a soldier in the King’s service, Jeremy secretly learns horsemanship and sword fighting.

After the attack on her father’s castle, Jeremy finds Lady Ariana, lost and alone. He promises to take her to the Baron, but as their journey progresses, he is no longer willing to turn the woman he loves over to another man. Jeremy holds the secret which could make Ariana his, but he wants her to love him for his own sake.

Unfortunately my knowledge of history is such that I am more familiar with Crazy Horse and if I'm going to read historical stuff, I'm more inclined down that route, but this title caught my attention. 

Maria