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Historical Fiction Recommendations

M

Mary Mary

New Member
I didn't want to make the title of this thread too long, though I wish I could have made it a little more descriptive...
Anyway, I recently read Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue and Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood and I was wondering if anyone can recommend some books similar to those. I tried reading Donoghue's other book, Life Mask, but somehow it just didn't grab me. I've tried it twice now and just can't get into it at all. Which is really strange because I fell into Slammerkin right away.
I really like historical fiction of this type and it seems like it's fairly hard to find. I sort of prefer books that are about the working class and more normal people. Most historical fiction set in that kind of time period is about Lords and Ladies.
The fact that both of the books I listed are about murderesses is just a coincidence; I didn't know they were until I got into them. So don't feel like you have to recommend a book that is about a female killer or anything. Ha.
Thanks in advance. I wouldn't even ask ordinarily except that it's so hard to find what you're looking for online sometimes.
 
Historical Fiction is one of my favorite book genres. I would like to help, however I've never read those books before. Maybe you could be clearer about the subject of the books and I'll look into what I have on my shelf of recommendations that are similar. :)
 
Just looking around at Amazon, following leads from their 'people who bought Slammerkin also bought this' section, I found Nectar From a Stone by Jane Guill. Or you might like The Illuminator by Brenda Rickman Vantrease. or Leonardo's Swans-Karen Essex, or The Ruby Ring-Diane Heager... the list goes on and on. You also might try Sarah Dunnant too.
 
Sorry. :) I typed that first post really fast. I should have explained more about them.
Both book are about maids in the 18th-19th century. Slammerkin is really about a prostitute turned seamtress, I suppose.
Anyway, I guess if I hadn't been so rushed and sleepy last night I would have said that I am looking for some good historical fiction that takes place sometime in the 17-19th century that isn't too sappy and romantic, the way some "costume dramas" can be.
Thanks for checking Amazon. I looked there before at one time and I didn't see anything, but the things you mentioned were not on there as I recall. Mostly other books by Emma Donoghue were listed and those are hard to find at my bookstore for whatever reason.
How about this, just tell me any historical fiction you guys like that takes place in that time period and I'll look them up and decide if they sound good to me. :)
I just find it so hard to find historical fiction. I know it's out there, but the bookstore doesn't have a section for it, you know, and searching for things online can be a nightmare half the time when you don't have a specific name or author in mind.
Thanks!
 
I've seen both books but haven't read them. I know what they're about more or less, though, so I would recommend The Crimson Petal and the White. I haven't read it, but it seems to be the kind of thing you're looking for.
 
Philippa Gregory is a good writer in this genre. I love the Tudor era so I really enjoyed "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "The Constant Princess", these happen a bit earlier than what you said you like and they are about "nobles" but I know she has other books. Worth a look I guess.
Anya Seton is another historical fiction writer I have read, her "Katherine" is a wonderful book. My mother in law has read many others from her and she loves it.
 
The best historical fiction I've read is The Pillars of The Earth by Ken Follett. It's set in 12th century England, so a fair bit earlier than what you are after; however it is a very good read, and one I always recommend. :)

I have read and enjoyed Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, but I can't really think of books that are similar to that one.
 
I'm reading I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles and it's good. After this one I think I'll get the Phillippa Gregory books about the Boleyns.
 
You might try Queen's Own Fool by Jane Yolen. I loved it, it's about Mary Queen of Scots. Although, it is more like the 16th Century. Also Girl in a Cage by Jane Yolen is good, 1300's. If you like Scottish Historical Fiction. :D

Oh I just remembered another one. I absolutely love this book, The Raging Quiet by Sherryl Jordan.
 
Ronny, you should try reading Slammerkin if you liked The Crimson Petal. They are very similar, but I think that Slammerkin's style is much more refined. It's very good.
Thank you everyone for the suggestions. :) I got some great ideas.
I went to the library yesterday and picked up The Dress Lodger by Sheri Holman. I got it from the suggested reading on Amazon. So far it's very good. Not as good as Slammerkin, but an entertaining read.

Thanks again!
 
You won't be disappointed. A good library should have it. It's Emma Donoghue's most famous book, I think. You'll love it. I think that she portrays things very realistically. She doesn't sugar-coat anything. She makes the prostitutes seem very real. A lot of times in books (even in The Dress Lodger) the author adds in some sort of romanticism to the hookers' dealings. They either fall in love with a customer or something like that and I think that is usually very false. In real life I don't think prostitutes and their customers fall in love very often. Slammerkin is a very gritty and unromantic view of the business and I liked it for that.
It is a sad book, but I think it's the best one of its type. And the fact that it's based on some fact makes it all the better, even though of course Donoghue has made up just about everything except the name of the girl and a couple events. But still, the fact that Mary Saunders was a real person (even if not the person Emma Donoghue has made her) makes the book that much more interesting to me.
I guess that was a long way of saying that I think you'll really love it when you finally read it. :D

Mary, Mary
 
Historical fiction (without relying upon a romantic main theme) is my favorite reading choice and mentioned below is a mix of some of the authors I most enjoy and will continue to re-read. Some authors have included supernatural elements in their stories and not all works by some of the authors are set historically, but I believe all are worth checking out.

Anya Seton
Wilbur Smith
Cecelia Holland
Karleen Koen
Robert R McCammon (Speaks the Nightbird and Queen of Bedlam)
Ken Follett (Pillars of the Earth, of course)
Barbara Erskine (esp. Lady of Hay)
Gwen Bristow (Celia Garth and Jubilee Trail)
Lucia St Clair Robson (esp. Mary's Land)
Gillian Bradshaw
Edward Rutherfurd
Diana Norman
Susanna Kearsley (Mariana)
Judith Merkle Riley
Sharon Kay Penman
Jacqueline Park

Hope you find something among them - :)
 
Lit_driven_girl said:
You might try Queen's Own Fool by Jane Yolen. I loved it, it's about Mary Queen of Scots. Although, it is more like the 16th Century. Also Girl in a Cage by Jane Yolen is good, 1300's. If you like Scottish Historical Fiction. :D

Oh I just remembered another one. I absolutely love this book, The Raging Quiet by Sherryl Jordan.
Click to expand...

I definately second Queen's Own Fool. I rememeber reading it in 5th grade, and asking the librarian if there were any books just like it that she could find.
 
Thanks. I will check that one out.
I read The Dress Lodger last week. It wasn't bad. Wasn't amazing, but wasn't bad. Already most of the details have faded from my memory and I have no interest in ever reading it again, but it was all right if you have nothing else to do. I didn't like the grave-digging doctor part of the story. It seemed almost like the author had two completely different ideas in her head but didn't feel like writing two books, so she just mashed them together any which way.
I got caught up this week reading an Agatha Christie book I discovered around the house, but next week I will probably be back on the historical fiction.
 
I loved Slammerkin, Alias Grace, and Crimson Petal. Two more in that vein are Fingersmith by Sarah Waters and Instance of the Fingerpost by Ian Pears.
 
Things Forgotten by Thomas N Tabback.

A friend of mine (in-the-know) read, and then gave to me a, pre-release copy of this new book. I thought I'd skim thru it, but one chapter hooked me for the next. One of those stories that stays with you. I feel privileged to have found it. Don't know if its out yet, but there is a site: thingsforgottenbookcom. Read about it before you spend money on it, but I recommend it.
 
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