I'd like to divide the advice into two categories: 1) historically accurate books, 2) fictional stories set in the past. The time period isn't important—from the beginning of time to the 20th century. My priorities would be: piracy and sailing ships / the Middle Ages and knights, and Crusades / the Renaissance / modern times. I want to be immersed in the story while reading and feel like I'm experiencing it myself. I've previously read a few little-known books about knightly orders, but that's it. Thanks.
by Napoleon_-_Bonaparte
4 Comments
1632 by Eric Flint.
To Turn the Tide by S. M. Stirling.
Pride and Prejudice
Wolf hall
Hamnet
Have a look at Bernard Cornwell. I really enjoyed the King Arthur and the 100 Years War trilogies. The Viking series is also good.
Then there is Conn Iggulden, with the Caesar and Genghis Khan collections.
And Ken Follett. The trilogy of the First, Second, and Cold Wars is outstanding.
The Wager is a historically accurate book with tons of research and factual documents cited to back up the story. It may be a little embellished, but everything is of account and it’s an incredible story of a shipwreck and mutiny and murder and you just have to read it. It’s a fantastic and short read as well, you can fly through it.