Time Travel: Historical Fiction Set in Europe
Nov 13th, 2004, 01:31 PM
#22
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Here's another plug for the Outlander series - love it and LOVE Jamie Fraser... (sigh...) 
Totally makes me want to go back to Scotland!
I've been meaning to read Dunnett's Scotland series for ages. I think I might have to dig into them soon...
Totally makes me want to go back to Scotland!I've been meaning to read Dunnett's Scotland series for ages. I think I might have to dig into them soon...
Nov 13th, 2004, 02:24 PM
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I think you'd like Kate Ross's "Julian Kestrel" mysteries, which take place in the 1820's and feature a crime-solving Regency dandy. There are only four of them (Ross died tragically young) -- in order (I think), they are: Cut to the Quick, A Broken Vessel, Whom the Gods Love, and The Devil in Music. They're all set in England except for the last one (which is probably the best), which takes place in Italy.
You might also like Lucifer's Shadow, by David Hewson. It's a thriller set in Venice, with parallel plots: one in the 18th century and one in the present. (A word of warning: I found some of the violent scenes a little too graphic, so avoid it if you're squeamish about violence.)
I loved Life Mask, by Emma Donoghue, which is set in London in the 1780's and 1790's and uses real historical people (the Earl of Derby, the actress Eliza Farren, etc.) as characters, but it may not be fast-paced enough for you, judging from your description of what you like..
You might also like Lucifer's Shadow, by David Hewson. It's a thriller set in Venice, with parallel plots: one in the 18th century and one in the present. (A word of warning: I found some of the violent scenes a little too graphic, so avoid it if you're squeamish about violence.)
I loved Life Mask, by Emma Donoghue, which is set in London in the 1780's and 1790's and uses real historical people (the Earl of Derby, the actress Eliza Farren, etc.) as characters, but it may not be fast-paced enough for you, judging from your description of what you like..
Nov 13th, 2004, 03:28 PM
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Flashman: a true cad, coward, braggart, boozer, skirt chaser and scoundrel of the highest order. You got to love the crazy way he becomes a hero, amasses great wealth and gets all those hot babes.
Here is the series in order.
Flashman: From the Flashman Papers
Royal Flash
Flash for Freedom
Flashman at the Charge
Flashman in the Great Game
Flashman's Lady
Flashman and the Redskins
Flashman and the Dragon
Flashman and the Mountain of Light
Flashman & the Angel of the Lord
Flashman and the Tiger
Here is the series in order.
Flashman: From the Flashman Papers
Royal Flash
Flash for Freedom
Flashman at the Charge
Flashman in the Great Game
Flashman's Lady
Flashman and the Redskins
Flashman and the Dragon
Flashman and the Mountain of Light
Flashman & the Angel of the Lord
Flashman and the Tiger
Nov 13th, 2004, 04:38 PM
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How many suggestions do I get? Anne Perry is one of my favorites. Set primarily in Victorian London and the surrounding countryside, I have read every one of the Pitt and Monk series. Both series are full of well-developed characters, life-like settings, and a great murder or two. What could be better?
I just finished reading a series that was new to me--it is by Laurie King and tells the story of what happened to Sherlock Holmes after he "retired" to the country to keep bees. Great stories-lots of imagination. Oh, how I hate when I finish books/series that I really enjoy. Hope you will give these a try.
I just finished reading a series that was new to me--it is by Laurie King and tells the story of what happened to Sherlock Holmes after he "retired" to the country to keep bees. Great stories-lots of imagination. Oh, how I hate when I finish books/series that I really enjoy. Hope you will give these a try.
Nov 13th, 2004, 04:56 PM
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Great question - I've taken notes. I too liked London and Sarum by Rutherford. Supplement that with Illars of the Earth by Follet and you got a good novelist's view of the period. In fact cathedrals and their construction might be a trip theme.
I have killed so many spies I can't begin to remember. [By the usual cast of WWII and Cold War authors. However, I've just gotten into Dan Silva's stuff. More contemporarry spies and mysteries. He seems to have done a fair amount of research. Good beach books.
One of my favorites is Seville Communion by ? which is set in current day Sevilla. Neat book as are a couple of others of his that I have read. I am guilty of being very blase about the author. He has won a number of awards and, I am told, should be considered serious. Serious or not, it is great fun when the book takes places on streets and in restaurants that you have vilited.
After reading the Jack Aubrey sagas, I took a crack at "Wellington and Napolean" by ?. A serious study of their conflicts, it was a great read, not heavy, and would offer another theme for a trip. My particular interest is in tracing their battles in Iberia.
I have killed so many spies I can't begin to remember. [By the usual cast of WWII and Cold War authors. However, I've just gotten into Dan Silva's stuff. More contemporarry spies and mysteries. He seems to have done a fair amount of research. Good beach books.
One of my favorites is Seville Communion by ? which is set in current day Sevilla. Neat book as are a couple of others of his that I have read. I am guilty of being very blase about the author. He has won a number of awards and, I am told, should be considered serious. Serious or not, it is great fun when the book takes places on streets and in restaurants that you have vilited.
After reading the Jack Aubrey sagas, I took a crack at "Wellington and Napolean" by ?. A serious study of their conflicts, it was a great read, not heavy, and would offer another theme for a trip. My particular interest is in tracing their battles in Iberia.
Nov 13th, 2004, 05:50 PM
#30
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There are lots of great suggestions here.
Weber6560, I really like your idea of tracing Wellington and Napolean through the Iberian Peninsula. Have you read the Bernard Cromwell Sharpe Series that degas mentioned? You can smell the powder and feel the hot sun on the back of your neck when you read one of those. I've been thinking about a similar idea, but from a different time period--tracing the Western Front from Belgium to Switzerland. However, I think I have a couple of years of reading to do before I start.
degas, although not fiction, and therefore a little outside your original post, have you read some of George MacDonald Fraser's memoires? <i>The General Danced at Dawn</i> and <i>McAuslin in the Rough</i> are hilarious.
Anselm
Weber6560, I really like your idea of tracing Wellington and Napolean through the Iberian Peninsula. Have you read the Bernard Cromwell Sharpe Series that degas mentioned? You can smell the powder and feel the hot sun on the back of your neck when you read one of those. I've been thinking about a similar idea, but from a different time period--tracing the Western Front from Belgium to Switzerland. However, I think I have a couple of years of reading to do before I start.
degas, although not fiction, and therefore a little outside your original post, have you read some of George MacDonald Fraser's memoires? <i>The General Danced at Dawn</i> and <i>McAuslin in the Rough</i> are hilarious.
Anselm
Nov 13th, 2004, 06:17 PM
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Thanks so much for wonderful suggestions. Please keep them coming.
An old bar fight injury has forced me inside today and I've spent much of it tracking down book reviews. Also ordered a quite a few to beat the christmas mailing rush.
Anselm, The General Danced at Dawn was the last one I checked out and its on my wish list. Looks like great fun.
An old bar fight injury has forced me inside today and I've spent much of it tracking down book reviews. Also ordered a quite a few to beat the christmas mailing rush.
Anselm, The General Danced at Dawn was the last one I checked out and its on my wish list. Looks like great fun.
Nov 13th, 2004, 06:40 PM
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I also enjoyed The Seville Communion by Arturo Perez-Reverte. Another of his books is The Flanders Panel. These were originally written in Spanish. For More on Spain, try the Caroline Roe series featuring Isaac of Girona, a blind, Jewish doctor who solves mysteries. These are very good on lifestyle and social issues of the 14th century, while the mysteries are a bit tame.
For France, the Sharan Newman mysteries set before the French revolution made some of the political/religious issues clearer for me. I never did study much European history, but it would have been wasted on me in my teen years!
For Italy, the Lindsay Davis series about detective Marcus Didius Falco give a wonderful picture of daily life in ancient Rome-- humorous, too. These books were wonderful preparation for a trip to Ostia Antiga. And the Steven Saylor detective series is excellent as well.
Degas, great thread! Thank you.
For France, the Sharan Newman mysteries set before the French revolution made some of the political/religious issues clearer for me. I never did study much European history, but it would have been wasted on me in my teen years!
For Italy, the Lindsay Davis series about detective Marcus Didius Falco give a wonderful picture of daily life in ancient Rome-- humorous, too. These books were wonderful preparation for a trip to Ostia Antiga. And the Steven Saylor detective series is excellent as well.
Degas, great thread! Thank you.
Nov 13th, 2004, 10:30 PM
#34
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Fingersmith by Sarah Waters is brilliant - set in Victorian England it has mystery and a bit of spice thrown in as well.
Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor (brother of Sinead) has sold by the lorryload over here in England).
Haven't read all the above posts, but Sebastian Faulds is another author who spirngs to mind, especially Birdsong (which is now a set text for exams in many English schools).
Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor (brother of Sinead) has sold by the lorryload over here in England).
Haven't read all the above posts, but Sebastian Faulds is another author who spirngs to mind, especially Birdsong (which is now a set text for exams in many English schools).
Nov 14th, 2004, 04:27 AM
#35
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That Outlander series has a huge following - must be a devoted bunch as there are hundreds of book reviews at amazon.com
I've not tried that kind of novel before, but my LW always says I live in a Fantasy world so it might be easy to get started.
I've not tried that kind of novel before, but my LW always says I live in a Fantasy world so it might be easy to get started.
Nov 14th, 2004, 06:56 AM
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If I start buying an entire series, it could get expensive. Does anybody have any recommendations for buying new and used books over the internet at discount prices?
I have used amazon.com and half.com before and not been disappointed.
I have boxes of paperback books in the garage and the used book stores give you next to nothing on a trade. I may just give them to something like a nursing home or hospital.
I have used amazon.com and half.com before and not been disappointed.
I have boxes of paperback books in the garage and the used book stores give you next to nothing on a trade. I may just give them to something like a nursing home or hospital.
Nov 14th, 2004, 08:15 AM
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I found these on some older threads:
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters - Set mainly in Victorian London
Sweet Thames by Matthew Kneale - Victorian atmosphere and themes
Necropolis Railway by Andrew Martin - Victorian atmosphere and themes
The Heat of the Day by Elizabeth Bowen - WW2 atmosphere in London
Forever Amber by Kathleen Windsor - fantastic romance novel set in London during the Plague and Great Fire.
Sergeant Cribb stories by Peter Lovesey - historical detective stories set in the UK
Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
The Sun King by Nancy Mitford.
Voltaire in Love by Nancy Mitford
City of Darkness, City of Light by Marge Piercy - a wonderful novel about the French Revolution.
Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini - A Romance of the French Revolution.
Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard (first book in the series is "The Light Years"
- a great family
saga that begins just before WWII.
An Instance of the Fingerpost" by Ian Piers - an excellent literary mystery set in 17th century London.
The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
Bridehead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters - Set mainly in Victorian London
Sweet Thames by Matthew Kneale - Victorian atmosphere and themes
Necropolis Railway by Andrew Martin - Victorian atmosphere and themes
The Heat of the Day by Elizabeth Bowen - WW2 atmosphere in London
Forever Amber by Kathleen Windsor - fantastic romance novel set in London during the Plague and Great Fire.
Sergeant Cribb stories by Peter Lovesey - historical detective stories set in the UK
Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
The Sun King by Nancy Mitford.
Voltaire in Love by Nancy Mitford
City of Darkness, City of Light by Marge Piercy - a wonderful novel about the French Revolution.
Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini - A Romance of the French Revolution.
Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard (first book in the series is "The Light Years"
- a great family saga that begins just before WWII.
An Instance of the Fingerpost" by Ian Piers - an excellent literary mystery set in 17th century London.
The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
Bridehead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
Nov 14th, 2004, 09:01 AM
#39
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......I'm glad I draw not paint - and
I draw in black or sepia - even simpler!
First thing I do in a new country is
hit an art supply store and buy some
Conté sketching pencils or sticks and
a block of med. quality paper - and
I'm good to go! Finding undraped life
models in rural villages is a little
more difficult........
I draw in black or sepia - even simpler!
First thing I do in a new country is
hit an art supply store and buy some
Conté sketching pencils or sticks and
a block of med. quality paper - and
I'm good to go! Finding undraped life
models in rural villages is a little
more difficult........
