For this week's Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, the topic was a "genre freebie." So of course I have to post about my favorite genre: historical fiction. It's a very busy time right now....school, baseball, band, etc....so this week I needed to be short and sweet as I'm low on time! But I wanted to post on this topic because I just know my fellow bloggers will jump in and make it fun by giving me the books they've read set in these eras to broaden my reading. So here are the time periods I have never, ever read about in fiction. Give me all the books you recommend!
1. Pre-1066 Norman Invasion- I have not read anything prior to the conquest of England by William the Conqueror. It is not an era that appeals to me...the whole "Last Kingdom" time. I'm sure there are some great books about it though. Circa....600-1000 Britain.
2. Ancient Greece- Maybe I've never looked hard enough but there seems to be a shortage of good historical fiction for this time period. Or maybe it's because it's all battles and blood and not so much people. But surely I'm missing something!
3. Napoleonic Wars- On my Classics Club list I have a goal to read War and Peace but haven't been able to find a lot from this time period that interests me yet.
4. Ancient Egypt- The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George is the only book coming to mind that I've considered reading from this era.
5. Irish Republican Army conflict- I am sure there are some fabulous books about this topic/era that I'm missing.
6. Korean War- There is not a single book that springs to mind about this time period. It's often forgotten in the world of novels.
7. Scotland prior to 1300's- Pre- Robert the Bruce time period I haven't seen much but there are probably some books there.
8. The Roaring Twenties- Now full disclaimer....I have read The Great Gatsby which would technically fall during this time period. But other than that one, I can't recall another historical fiction book in this category.
9. 1400-1600's Italy- I know there are some great books about this period. Jean Plaidy has a series of novels about the DeMedici family and I'm sure there are lots more but I haven't tackled this era yet.
10. Pre- Crusdades Middle East- Wow...now this would be a great era to know more about through fiction. I would love to know more about the stories of those living there prior to 1100 when their world changed with the coming of the Franks.
This is such a great idea for a post!
ReplyDeleteFor 1920s fiction, check out The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery. There’s a romance in it, but it’s about so many other topics, too, like the social conventions of that decade. It’s excellent.
I wish I had more suggestions for you. I’d love to read fiction set in all of these eras, too. Hopefully, your other commenters will be able to help both of us out there. :)
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-xenofiction/
Thank you for the recommendation! I have not heard of that book but have read the Anne of Green Gables series. I didn't realize how many other books she'd written until I looked up your suggestion today.
DeleteHistorical fiction, all time periods are my favorite genres to read. Thanks for the suggestions.
ReplyDeleteHi Shellie—you mentioned pre-Crusade middle East. Yep, there’s not a lot out there, but stay tuned for my debut novel, “The Stone Cutter,” set in first-century ancient Arabia (specifically, the enigmatic desert kingdom of Nabataea/Petra). It’s set to come out in late spring of this year. Historian/author Dan Gibson says: “Brock Meier has done his research well.”
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful Brock! Congratulations on your novel, that is exciting. I will look for it :)
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