Since A Writer of History is a blog about ‘reading and writing’ historical fiction, it’s not surprising that I’m a huge fan of the genre. I began in my early teens by borrowing my mother’s picks from the library and reading authors like Georgette Heyer, Rosemary Sutcliff, and Jean Plaidy, then followed those with choices on my own such as Herman Wouk, James Clavell and Leon Uris. I loved them all, and used to search out novels that were well over 400 pages because those allowed me to stay in their far away worlds for as long as possible.
- Jean Auel‘s Clan of the Cave Bear novels captivated me for their look at the dawning of humankind. I’ve read them all and wish there were more.
- John Jakes wrote more than one series but it was his Civil War trilogy that provided a glimpse of the issues dividing America at that time.
- With its sweeping story of the Australian outback, Colleen McCullough‘s The Thorn Birds was a favourite of mine for many years.
- Leon Uris wrote the kind of novels that not only transported me in time and place but also kept me turning the pages well into the night. Uris often featured 20th century Jewish history in stories like Exodus, the founding of the State of Israel; Mila 18, the Warsaw ghetto; Armageddon, the Berlin airlift; Battle Cry, a WWII marine regiment.
- Anne Perry‘s WWI novels took me to the trenches as well as behind the lines of WWI France. I read them a second time for research and inspiration while writing my own first novel (Unravelled) which was set in WWI.
- Norah Lofts specialized in historical fiction but also wrote mysteries under the pen name Peter Curtis. I loved her biographical novels of queens like Catherine of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile.
- Michael Shaara and Jeff Shaara – father and son – exposed me to the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg and the emotional drama of soldiers fighting old friends as north battled south.
- Mary Renault was an author I enjoyed in my twenties when I was able to find time to read again after finishing university. Many of her novels featured ancient Greece – The Persian Boy, The Mask of Apollo, The King Must Die – and had been published years before I discovered them.
- Who can forget Michael Ondaatje‘s prize-winning novel The English Patient that featured the Italian campaign of WWII? And I also enjoyed his novel In the Skin of a Lion which is set in my hometown of Toronto and was a prequel to The English Patient.
- I discovered Sharon Kay Penman years ago with her novel Sunne in Splendour. According to the Historical Novel Society website, she had that ability to “steep you in the life and times of her characters and even make the politics understandable and fascinating.” Her keen observations of human nature made her characters real and relatable to modern-day readers. I had the great good fortune of meeting Sharon on several occasions and of securing her endorsement for my novel Lies Told In Silence.
- Anya Seton was another favourite author. She wrote biographical novels like Katherine (Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt) and The Winthrop Woman (Elizabeth Fones and the Massachusetts Bay colony), My Theodosia (Aaron Burns’ daughter) and other historical fiction like Dragonwyk and Green Darkness. See my review of Anya Seton’s biography here.
- Wilbur Smith wrote stories set in Africa, many featuring either the Courtney family or the Ballantyne family. These family sagas were thoroughly engaging as was the glimpse into African history and colonialism.
- If I recall correctly, I devoured Herman Wouk‘s WWII novels: The Caine Mutiny, The Winds of War, and Remembrance. His writing is vivid and filled with tension and moral dilemmas.
- Most of James Clavell‘s novels are grand tales set in Asia: Shogun (Japan), Noble House (Hong Kong). King Rat (Japanese POW camp), Tai-Pan (Hong Kong). Whirlwind which is set in 1979 Iran features characters from Noble House.
Now, what does that tell me about my reading preferences? Grand, sweeping stories, foreign lands and times, larger-than-life characters, page-turning pacing plus stories of love, family, and war. And of course, superb writing!
By the way, most of these authors have passed away. I’ll have to return another time with thoughts on more current authors.
Which authors started you on historical fiction?
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M.K. Tod writes historical fiction. Her latest novel THAT WAS THEN is a contemporary thriller. Mary’s other novels, THE ADMIRAL’S WIFE, PARIS IN RUINS, TIME AND REGRET, LIES TOLD IN SILENCE and UNRAVELLED are available from Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Google Play and iTunes. She can be contacted on Facebook or on her website www.mktod.com.
31 Responses
I loved most of these authors, too, although I would add R.F. Delderfield to your list!
A great addition, Elinor.
I’ve read so many of these authors as well. What a great list. I was surprised to see you didn’t include James Michener. Some writers friends and I were talking recently of what authors hooked us on historical fiction, and we all said Michener. Then we all agreed he’d never get published today if he was a debut author because the long, epic novel seems (unfortunately) to be a thing of the past. Like you, I love grand, sweeping stories, but the reading public seems to have such a limited attention spans anymore that publishers rarely take the risk with new writers.
How could I forget James Michener. Novels like Hawaii, The Source, Centennial – such great reads. Some might call them ‘door stoppers’ but I loved them.
I, too, have enjoyed most of the authors on your list.
Irving Stone’s The Agony and the Ecstasy got me started both on historical fiction and my passion for the Italian Renaissance.
Absolutely right on The Agony and the Ecstasy. I wonder whether I would enjoy it as much now? Many thanks.
Those bring back memories! I also loved The Raj Quartet by Paul Scott, which I got into because I adored the TV series, The Jewel in the Crown (which is one of the books in the quartet). There were a couple of others that I read and was intrigued by when I was in my early teens (found them in my parents’ library) but I can’t remember what they were called. One started with a 12-year-old noble girl in medieval times about to be married off to a 14 year old prince. As a 12-year old myself, I kept thinking about what that would be like. And the other was about the doctor who put up with a lot of controversy and abuse because he realized that women were dying needlessly from poor sanitation during childbirth. I wish I could remember the name of it!
I don’t think I’ve read The Raj Quartet. Many thanks for that recommendation, Tema.
All those and also in my Top Ten…Dorothy Dunnett’s King Hereafter.
Dorothy Dunnett – always came up as a favourite author in my reader surveys!
If I were to make a list, almost all your authors would be on it. My Dad started me on historical fiction with Costain and Delderfield and I simply kept going. Shaara’s The Killing Angels was a favourite as were M.M. Kaye’s novels of India. I must confess to not being fond of Wilbur Smith’s subject matter however. Only recently I discovered that Calvell’s Shogun – a huge favourite – was a result of his reading a book called Will Adams, The First Englishman in Japan, written by William Dalton (1861). I am fortunate in having the original in my library, thanks to my late Mum who was gifted it by a friend. I read it many years ago and have it in mind to read again. I have no idea what I would do without books.
Wonderful to hear your thoughts, Helen. Many thanks.
John Jakes. He took me from the boring history class with a list of dates to remember to finding out history was about people, passions, greed, love, etc.
Totally agree with your perspective on history class – and thanks for mentioning John Jakes 🙂 also an author I enjoyed.
I love Jean Auel and Wilbur Smith too. But I was started on historical fiction in my childhood, with local authors, Radu Tudoran, Alexandru Mitru and then Alexandre Dumas, Karl May, Fenimore Cooper, Paul Feval, Walter Scott, Michel Zevaco.
Radu Tudoran has a novel, „Hoist all sails!”, about an expedition to Magellan Strait after Charles Darwins (his ship captain is inspired by the Romanian Iulius Popper who did cartography work in Tierra del Fuego, mapped the border between Chile and Argentina… and died there in controversial conditions. But the captain in the story returns to Romania with his ship). From that novel I love historical fiction, tall ships with sails and sailors stories, and also from that one I wanted to become a writer…
Susan Howatch’s “The Rich are Different” and “Sins of the Father” were a couple of my favorites in my 20s. Valerie Fitzgerald’s Zemindat remains my favorite saga set in India on the eve of the mutiny. I don’t know how many times I’ve read it but I find something new every time
Susan Howatch! Forgot about her, but I read both of those novels and truly enjoyed them. Just looking at her novels now – and I recall Penmarric and Cashelmara as other enjoyable reads. Was it the family saga concept that attracted us? Many thanks, Ann.
Additional authors I thought of have been mentioned except for McKinley Kantor with the likes of Andersonville the Spirit Lake Massacre, Bugle Ann, and others.
Many thanks, Kathy. I’m not aware of McKinley Kantor.
Sarum: The Novel of Englad by Edward Rutherford. One of the best historical novels I’ve ever read!
Hi Georgia .. thanks for stopping by! I’ve read a few of Rutherfurd’s novels and particularly enjoyed his novel Paris. In fact, I had the opportunity of interviewing him in person! If you’re interested, you can find that interview here: https://awriterofhistory.com/2013/05/13/favourite-historical-fiction-author-edward-rutherfurd/
Our family was just talking about these long ago authors that we devoured in the 1970s & how no one mentions them anymore. I grew up reading my parents’ books including Mutiny on the Bounty, The Robe, Ben Hur & Gone With The Wind. I want to revisit them all. Thanks for opening this discussion.
You are so welcome, Sally. I’m planning on another post to feature more recent authors.
I see from your list and the the additional comments and recommendations that I have found my people!
I’m so delighted to hear that, Susan. Please stay in touch!
They may not qualify because they include time travel, but the Outlander novels by Diana Gabaleon are a window into 18th century Scotland, France, the Caribbean, and the American colonies. They are rich in detail and riveting to read.
I too enjoyed the Outlander novels … some refer to her novels as ‘time-slip’ but they are historical fiction as far as I’m concerned 🙂
So many great HF authors!! I’ll be back with more.
I have been enjoying Morgan Llewelyn lately. I read many of her books when I was younger. Her series on the Irish Rebellion which starts with 1916 has been my entertainment while I walk each morning listening to her books on Audible.
Hi Leslie – I haven’t read Morgan Llewelyn. I’ll give it a try!!
You can’t forget Margaret George and Ken Follett!
For sure, Lynn. The ones I listed in this post were from my earlier days reading historical fiction. I’ll have to do another one with more current authors. Love Margaret’s and Ken’s novels!