If I have to read another historical fiction novel about WWII I’m going to punch a wall. I’m looking for well written historical fiction set in atypical time periods. I’m not super picky about the where and when, but I’m really interested in Scottish history, medieval history, and Ancient Rome. I like romance, but find the genre of romantic historical fiction to be full of the same five basic tropes. So I’d want a historical fiction WITH romance rather than a historical romance, if that makes sense.
by Momimbored
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Master and Commander series by Patrick O’Brien.
Pompeii by Robert Harris
For a historical novel with romance, Possession by A.S. Byatt
For ancient Rome, The First Man in Rome + sequels by Colleen McCullough
I’m presently reading China by Edward Rutherfurd, and really like it.
Hild by Nicola Griffin. Takes place in 7th century Britain when it was a loose collection of smaller kingdoms. Interesting time period because it’s well before the stereotypical ‘knights and castles’ of the Middle Ages. Really well written too though takes a while to catch on to all the Old English names.
The Alexander Seaton series by SG MacLean, 1620s Scotland, and the Gil Cunningham series by Pat McIntosh, 1490s Glasgow.
The Religion – Tannhauser series
The Pillars of the Earth
The Birth of Venus or any of the other Sarah Dunant novels (she covers the Borgias and Renaissance Italy)
The Way Of All Flesh by Ambrose Parry
Takes place in Victorian Scotland around the time of the invention of chloroform
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet sets in Japan during isolationist period where the Netherlands/Dutch East India Company is the only foreign presence allowed in. Pretty unique.
Beasts of a Little Land is set in Korea and have some romance in it, although a tragedy.
Mary Renault
Katherine by Anya Seton (14 century England). Based on a real person.
Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset (14th century Norway). Book won the Nobel Prize
The Wolf Den trilogy by Elodie Harper (ancient Rome)
Anything by Sharon K. Penman (Scottish history)