Title: hist-novels-msg
Subject: Reviews of various historical novels. Recommendations.
Author: Edited by Mark S. Harris
Last saved by: Mark S. Harris
Keywords: historical, novel, story, persona, movie, author, medieval

hist-novels-msg – 7/3/05

Reviews of various historical novels. Recommendations.

NOTE: See also the files: movies-msg, Gram-Letter1-art, intro-books-msg, SCA-authors-msg, SCA-romance-msg, child-books-msg, border-stories-msg.

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    Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  THLord Stefan li Rous
                                          Stefan at florilegium.org
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Subject: [Ansteorra] Period novels [was Newcomer Question]
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 11:53:57 -0600
From: "C. Weed" <cweed at austin.rr.com>
To: <ansteorra at ansteorra.org>

Lady Medb Liath wrote:
Well, not really.  Most historical novels are not good sources.  Most of
them are poorly researched, comparatively speaking.  There are some out
there, and they are worth the time to read them, just be choosy and use good
judgement.

*****************

I think one of the best and most readable historical novels is "Tirant Lo
Blanc" by Joanot Martorell.  To me it's pretty much the period version of S.
Morgansterns "Princess Bride".  Written in the 1400s, it's still racy and
rompus enough to have warranted a bodice-ripper marketing in the late 1970s
here in the States complete with Fabio and D-cups.  Great read... and you
can't really beat it for a period source.  Required reading for my squires
in the sca.

Fighting, romance, villains, daring-do, sex, damsels in distress, and
plotting.  I'm surprised it hasn't made it to the big screen, actually.

This will get you to amazons least expensive Tirant page (although they list
about 15 different versions ranging up to $60):

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446325848/qid=1005587215/sr=1-1/ref=
sr_1_8_1/107-1585001-8206900

Sir Dieterich

P.S.  Warning: if you read this book you *might* just have to alter your
view of what a tournament is all about...  *wink and nod*

Subject: RE: [Ansteorra] Period novels [was Newcomer Question]
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 12:14:04 -0600
From: Jane Sitton <jane.sitton at radioshack.com>
To: <ansteorra at ansteorra.org>

And I'd recommend Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's vampire series (begun, I believe,
before Anne Rice's) that spans Egyptian times through modern day.  The best
one in the series, in my estimation, is the one set in Nero's Rome:  "Blood
Games".  Ms. Yarbro is quite a scholar, but manages to make history come
alive.  Her books are very readable, and have kept me up into the wee hours
of the morning, turning pages as quickly as I could.

Ly Madelina de Lyndesaye

Subject: RE: [Ansteorra] Period novels [was Newcomer Question]
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 16:00:35 -0500
From: "Connie Carroll" <Connie.Bunny at worldnet.att.net>
To: <ansteorra at ansteorra.org>

> And I'd recommend Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's vampire series (begun, I believe,
> before Anne Rice's) that spans Egyptian times through modern day.

Chelsea Quinn Yarbro is a scholar who throughtly researches everything for
her novels. Just take a look at her acknowledgement lists. Her research is
one of the reasons I strongly recommend her books.

While I also loved Blood Games, Blood Roses during the time of the Medicis
is marvalous!

Mistress Bunny

Subject: RE: [Ansteorra] Period novels
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 05:10:23 -0800 (PST)
From: roger walker <draegan88 at yahoo.com>
To: <ansteorra at ansteorra.org>

Another very good (in my opinion) period writer is
Thomas B. Constain.  I have read several of his
novels.  My favorite being "Below the Salt".  It takes
place around the time of King John and the signing of
the Magna Carta.  It is VERY full of detail.

OTAR

Subject: [Ansteorra] Costain Books
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 17:12:24 EST
From: <RESTORMEL1 at cs.com>
To: <ansteorra at ansteorra.org>

Greetings.  Thomas B. Costain is an amazing author.  He has several books
that bring different ages to life....

A four book series:
The Conquering Family
The Three Edwards
The Magnificent Century
The Last Plantegenets

He also wrote:
Below the Salt - about the time surrounding the signing of the Magna Carta
The Black Rose - (can't remember the story line off hand) but a great book

The Silver Chalice -- about the time right after the death of Christ
The Darkness and the Dawn -- about Attila the Hun.

All great reads from a wonderful author!
Honor

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Costain Books
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 10:03:41 -0600
From: "Shana Hardy" <Shana.Hardy at tsrh.org>
To: <ansteorra at ansteorra.org>

>Greetings.  Thomas B. Costain is an amazing author.  He has several books
>that bring different ages to life....

Honor,
I have to agree with you.  I've read everyone of these more than once and
always enjoyed them.

Tangwystl

From: "rosine" <nothingbutadame at inthe.sca.org>
To: <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>
Subject: [Sca-cooks] Meideval Physician (was: Two pleasant announcements)
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 02:24:59 -0400

    As an aside, if you enjoy reading books set "in period" and done well, I
strongly suggest the "Isaac of Girona" series by Caroline Roe - he's a 12th
(?) century Jewish physician in Spain, learned, smart, blind - who has found
himself in the position of being the physician for the local Bishop. Very
well researched, very well written. The stories are murder mysteries, but
it's hardly noticiable, so well described is the life of a mid-sized town,
it's relationship with it's Jewish quarter and the denizens, and the inner
workings of a Bishop's household.

Rosine

<the end>

Edited by Mark S. Harris	hist-novels-msg	 of