Historical Novels - recommendations? favourites?

For nineteenth century history the Flashman novels by George Macdonald Fraser are hard to beat.

Read Alaska again, still enjoyed it, after a 25 year gap.

Thought of another one The Red Tent - based on an old testament story.

I was born and brought up in Newport in South Wales. Alexander Cordell wrote a series of books about Wales during the industrial revolution, mainly set in the South Wales valleys. Meticulously researched they contain sagas of family histories and the struggles to survive, when men, women and even young children had to work down the mines or in dangerous steel works. His books are available on Amazon and a fair few libraries. If I had to pick one book to start with I'd suggest Rape of the Fair Country. Here's a link to a webpage that gives a few details about the author.

cordellcountry.org/en/about-cordell

Bring Up The Bodies - easier to read than Wolf Hall (I thought) and absolutely gripping.

I posted on "What are you reading right now" just finished "The Kingmaker's Daughter" by Phillipa Gregory this is her 4th book in her Cousins War series. I hadn't read any of her historical novels before. Again, enjoyed it very much and have now just started "The White Queen" first book in this particular series. I gather her Tudor books are very good, but did loads on that period at school. I had never read much about The Wars of the Roses before and Richard III being very much in the news at the moment, it gave me the impetus to want to read about this tumultuous period of English history when the throne changed hands five times and a handful of manipulating families pulled the strings and switched sides at the drop of a hat, although some paid the ultimate price when charged with treason.

glamma have just bought World without End after watching the Saturday night series which finished a few weeks ago.

Ive just finished reading "The other Bolyn Girl" by Phillipa Gregory. Enjoyed it very much.

Thanks, JessM for the Katherine Swynford recommendation. It's now on my Kindle and I look forward to seeing how much I remember from the Anya Seton novel.

Am tacking a Walpole. Interesting that he is from NZ. I wonder if any of his books were set there.

London by Edward Rutherfurd. A big fat paperback but a jolly good read. A long sweep of history told through linked stories; fascinating how the family fortunes rise and fall in different generations.

I am reading A Humble Companion by Laurie Graham. She doesn't normally write historical novels, but this is about a girl who is a companion to one of George III's daughters. Very well written, interesting and amusing. She wrote one about a fictional nanny to the Kennedy family. I love her wry observations and always download one of her books when I need a bit of gentle escapism.

I too found Wolf Hall heavy going for quite a long way in but struggled manfully on because I'm so interested in Cromwell. But once I got used to the style I became completely hooked. Raced through Bring Up the Bodies and am now waiting impatiently for the last episode. It's worth persevering.

LullyDully I don't agree! Historical books, be they novels or non-fiction, are written about a time in the past - most of Dickens describes (and how!) life is it was when he wrote the books. I almost always find such writings superior to the historical novel.

I'm currently up to my armpits in David Copperfield, which was apparently he favourite of his novels, and is semi-autobiographical.

Yes Phillipa Gregory does set a standard these days - some of her earlier series not so good (wildacre is it?) but the tudors and the cousins war she had obviously matured as a writer. You could see the same progression if you compare Joanna Trollope's work early and late.
Eventually finished a Plague on all your houses. Eventually realised that yes, i had read it before. A rather boring whodunnit with too many male characters in it I thought. Only interesting thing the background which was the early days of Cambridge uni. Now I can pick up on some of these kind recommendations

All the Tudor books and the Cousins War [Wars of the Roses] books by Philippa Gregory. Also enjoyed Norah Lofts The Suffolk House trilogy. I enjoyed the CJ Sansom books but have got quite stuck on his last one Heartstone. Doesn't help that it's physically quite heavy for reading in bed. Have had Wolf Hall in hardback for a couple of years but I think I could do myself an injury reading that in bed. After reading above comments I don't feel so guilty now for not starting it. Also, Imogen Robertson has written a really good series of murder mysteries set in the 18th century. Someone said it's like Silent Witness meets Jane Austin.

Oh Dickens, forgot him. All his books are now historical. I love Great Expectations, well worth another read if you haven't read it since childhood.

"Tale of Two Cities" - that's what I call a page turner!

Couldn't get into Barnaby Rudge.

Barnaby Rudge is one of two historical novels that Charles Dickens wrote - it's set in the time of the Gordon Riots. The other is of course A Tale of Two Cities...

Sharon Penman is a realfavourite of mine, along with the roman series that Colleen McCullough wrote, much better than Thornbirds.

Yes Jess. I'm struggling a bit with it now. To give up or not give up?

Can't seem to find a page-turner at all at the moment. Even the latest Bernard Cornwell got boring halfway through.

I like Lindsey Davies who writes about Roman Britain and Roman "Italy", if you see what I mean. If you like detective stories they are worth a read - and it's amazing what history I have picked up as well.

I'm just reading the last of the "Herries "series by Hugh Walpole. I 1st read them 40 odd years ago and have recently reread them. I'm going to start on the Poldark novels next(again 2nd time round) My 1st grown up novel was Anya Setons Katherine. It's hard to get hold of English books here which is why I'm reading these again!! I have to stock up when we go to England!!

I have remembered why i didn't remember a Plague on Both your houses. It is pretty boring so far. Have a hazy memory of having read the first few chapters a couple of months ago. Will persist though if only because it is nicely soporific. Nodded off at 10 last night. There is a downside to a gripping page turner.

yes, Galen, I remember crying buckets at the time. Mind you, I love a good weep!