I am planning a lenghy trip through the UK and Ireland. Can anyone recommend any engrossing, juicy novels to get me in the mood? (other than the Bronte sisters or Jane Austen - already read them!) <BR>Thanks.

Hi Wendy, <BR>Have you read the Diana Gabaldon books? The hero is a Scot and the heroine is an English nurse who travels back in time to ancient Scotland. Great action and romance in one series. There are four books: "Outlander", "Dragonfly in Amber", "Voyager" and "Drums of Autumn". All are available in paperback.

Anything by Thomas Hardy--especially Mayor of Casterbridge and Tess of the D'Ubervilles. The man is a master.

My favorites include anything by Dickens ("A Tale of Two Cities" is my favorite), "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier, "Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt (non-fictional book about his life as a boy growing up in Ireland), "Howard's End" by EM Forster, and "Brideshead Revisited" by Evelyn Waugh. <BR> <BR>You might also try Wilkie Collins. Or if you want something light, PG Wodehouse. <BR> <BR>If you go to Amazon.com and search for English literature you can get a list of English fiction and see what looks interesting <BR>

Try "Sarum" and "London" by Edward Rutherford. They aren't juicy novels, but historical fiction and fascinating, especially if you want a sense of the history of the England. <BR>

Wendy -- Lovely to meet a kindred spirit. I, too, consume with glee novels based on a locale I'm to visit. All the above recommendations are good ones; I'd add the following (more current) titles which are really good and lusciously juicy! <BR> <BR>MARY WESLEY <BR> Harnessing Peacocks <BR> The Vacillations of Poppy Carew <BR> <BR>JOANNA TROLLOPE (several of her books have been give the Masterpiece Theatre treatment on TV) <BR> The Choir <BR> The Recor's Wife <BR> A Village Affair <BR> The Men and the Girls <BR> <BR>DAVID LODGE <BR> Small World <BR> Therapy <BR> Nice Work <BR> <BR>MATIN CRUZ SMITH <BR> Rose <BR> <BR>Especially delightful are numerous (thank all the gods) mystery novels; herewith just a few of the best authors and their titles: <BR> <BR>P.D. JAMES (surprise!) <BR>Especially these titles: <BR> Original Sin <BR> A Certain Justice <BR> Devices & Desires <BR> <BR>MINETTE WALTERS <BR> The Sculptress <BR> The Ice House <BR> <BR>ELIZABETH GEORGE <BR> Deception on His Mind <BR> Payment in Blood <BR> <BR>DEBORAH CROMBIE <BR> Leave the Grave Green <BR> All Shall Be Well <BR> A Share in Death <BR> Mourn Not Your Dead <BR> Dreaming of the Bones <BR> <BR>There are many, many more . . . let's hear from others! <BR> <BR>Cheers, <BR>Kat

Hi. <BR>For Cornwall color, try the "Poldark" novels which were done on PBS many years ago. <BR>I believe they are out of print in the US but a good bookstore or amazon.com <BR>may be able to get them for you. <BR>Author is Winston Graham, if I recall correctly. <BR> <BR>A good read from the 1940s is <BR>"Forever Amber" which was shocking in its time. About the reign of Charles II. Book was much better than the 40s movie that was based on it as movie was "cleaned up". <BR> <BR>"The Mists of Avalon" was a wonderful <BR>retelling of the King Arthur legends from the women's viewpoint. It was very long but I was sorry when it ended. <BR> <BR>I second the motions on "Brideshead Revisited" (even better than the wonderful tv series) and Howard's End. If you read Brideshead, try and pay a visit to Castle Howard, in Yorkshire, on which the Brideshead mansion was supposedly based. <BR>I'd add Henry James's "The Wings of the Dove" (you get some Venice as a bonus). <BR> <BR> <BR>

Hi. <BR>For Cornwall color, try the "Poldark" novels which were done on PBS many years ago. <BR>I believe they are out of print in the US but a good bookstore or amazon.com <BR>may be able to get them for you. <BR>Author is Winston Graham, if I recall correctly. <BR> <BR>A good read from the 1940s is <BR>"Forever Amber" which was shocking in its time. About the reign of Charles II. Book was much better than the 40s movie that was based on it as movie was "cleaned up". <BR> <BR>"The Mists of Avalon" was a wonderful <BR>retelling of the King Arthur legends from the women's viewpoint. It was very long but I was sorry when it ended. <BR> <BR>I second the motions on "Brideshead Revisited" (even better than the wonderful tv series) and Howard's End. If you read Brideshead, try and pay a visit to Castle Howard, in Yorkshire, on which the Brideshead mansion was supposedly based. <BR>I'd add Henry James's "The Wings of the Dove" (you get some Venice as a bonus). <BR> <BR> <BR>

Wendy, try something up-to-date so you can get a flavour of what the UK is like now rather than what it was like years ago. Try 'Notes from a small island' by Bill Bryson , a classic travel novel.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm off to the library! <BR>But more recommnedations are still welcome.

<BR>I agree with the suggestion of Diana Galbadon's books. They are fantastic and should definitely get you in the mood. I am going to the UK/Scotland in 99 and am looking forward to 'feeling' the experience.