Posted on 09/27/2013 12:03:41 PM PDT by Hugin
Hi everyone,
Recently I've found myself with a lot of spare time on my hands, so I've been doing a lot of reading, and I'm looking for recommendations. I'm not looking for anything heavy, but basically escapist fiction, with my favorite genre being historical fiction. I've read everything by most of my favorite authors; Bernard Cornwell (Sharpe's Rifles, Saxon Tales, etc.), Conn Igulden (Emperor, Genghis series), Stephen Pressfield (Gates of Fire, Afghan Campaign, etc.), and also Michael Crichton. So I'm looking for recommendations and who better to ask than Freepers?
Wow, four recommendations for George MacDonald Fraser’s Flashman books; should have read the entire list before posting my own.
Two recommendations for Kenneth Roberts’ novels based on American history, to which I’ll gladly add my own two cents; they’re brilliantly written and full of character, plot, and history. Someone recommended ‘Oliver Wiswell’ specifically, which is a wonderfully well-written book and very ‘grabbing.’
Myself, I’d start with ‘Northwest Passage’, which is, if I recall correctly, the earliest in time, but all are good.
One caveat - many are out of print and difficult to find in this rather un-patriotic era. Try Amazon; they feature many sellers of out-of-print volumes.
I forgot to mention Winston Churchill’s Six volume “History of World War II”
It is huge but absolutely fascinating reading. Unbelievable amount of information. And he won the Nobel Prize for it.
It is one of those books that you put it down and can’t wait to pick it up again.
Recommended The Devil In The White City was borderline trash.
I get what your saying about being leery of recommendations but how does one know which is trash and which isn't until reading them.
On to recommended Blood and Thunder....
you`re...... I hate when that happens...
May I recommend Bruce Alexander’s historical mysteries, set in 1760s London. They feature the real life Judge Sir John Fielding, although the stories are made up out of whole cloth. Very enjoyable.
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/85989.Bruce_Alexander
It’s a series, so they are numbered. I’d definitely start with the first, if you can find it- Blind Justice.
ok. thanks.
One ought to know by the reputation of the authors and genres, from reviews, by critics, and by everyone, since everyone's a critic, on Amazon and elsewhere. I always check Amazon, and always read the one star reviews first, that you know don't come from friends, family, fans of the author or bots. In the Saturday WSJ my favorite book critic there recommended a novel titled "Personae" by Sergio De La Pava. I went and checked out other reviews, and found an excerpt to read. No, I don't think so.
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