WW2 has always been my niche for historical fiction, so this pick was a no brainer for me. Written by Mark Sullivan, Beneath A Scarlet Sky tells the story of Pino Lella, an Italian teenager who flees the city during the midst of WW2 to live at a Catholic boys’ school in the Alps. There he becomes part of the secret mission to escort Jews to safety over the Alps and into Switzerland. Unfortunately, Pino is forced to return home to enlist in the German army. Pino quickly becomes the driver for a high ranking German commander, placing him in the perfect position to spy for the resistance.

Under A Scarlet Sky is currently under development for the big screen, but no release date has been set.

Can someone recommend some good books on Canada's history? I'm particularly interested I stories of the Maritimes.

Im addicted to thrifting and finding library books for sale. Anyone else have the same shopping problem?

I posted this in fantasy but I'd also welcome some non fantasy historical fiction recommendations if anyone has any! Basically looking about books on the court life of some royal couple/marriages! Please let me know of any recommendations!!!

Hi everyone,
I've been reading a lot about the social structure and daily life in late Byzantine Macedonia (specifically around the Pangaion and Philippi regions). While we have plenty of sources on imperial politics and aristocratic alliances, I find myself deeply curious about the emotional life and family dynamics of ordinary people during the 13th century.
In an era heavily shaped by superstition, strict religious norms, and local folklore (like traditional herbal healing), how strong were the bonds between grandparents and grandchildren?
For instance, if an elder family member—like a former scribe or an older woman well-versed in traditional herbs—wanted to shield a younger relative from hardship or grief, what did that emotional support look like in a medieval society? Are there any specific primary sources or academic papers that shed light on family intimacy and emotional expression among non-nobles in the late Byzantine period?
I would love to hear your thoughts or any reading recommendations on this topic!

The historical aspect of traditional healing kept me reading. But the chronology of events was out of whack and brought me out of the story. Also the ages of people were inconsistent.

I'm looking for historical fiction in which sapphic relationships between real people (ie people who actually existed) are represented (biofiction - biographical fiction). Preferably from the twenty-first century. They can be people who we would historically associate with queerness (Sappho, Anne Lister) or people we don't (say, a novel about Anne Boleyn having a secret sapphic relationship).

All recommendations are welcome, thank you!

...

I am grateful to all those that gave their opinions, their advice. I heard you, all of you and now have a small Edward Rutherford collection.

The question is, which one is the best to start with?

In order of publication or do you have a different opinion?

My first comment will include this post I mentioned.

Again I thank you, and God bless.

Almost twelve years ago, my dad suggested me a certain author he was reading at the moment and his books were so good that I was reading them on my small phone while I had plenty other physical books available in the multimedia library.

So what I remember is, that some of the stories are linked (same protagonist), the first bunch the events were centered in Latin America in the 1700s I guess or a little later, some books were centered in the United States before the independence. I think the author was french but I'm not 100% sure.

Your help will be very much welcome !

Is there a connection among all James Michener books? I noticed chapter 2 of the Caribbean book has a large connection to the Maya, which is a big part of his Mexico book. And the Mexico book has a connection to the Texas book. I haven't read them all but I am wondering if there is this overarching connection.

Just finished Winter in Madrid by Sansom and it piqued an interest in reading some more fiction set in Europe during the 30s / 40s (so pre, during or aftermath of the war).

I've read some Furst, some Kerr, but not a huge amount otherwise in this sphere.

Any recommendations very welcome!

This one is more a historical fiction with romantic tendencies; it's equal parts story-driven and character-driven. There's a goal to be met, but it can't be met without the characters. The romance is a backseat rider; it's there, but it doesn't really move the story forward. The story is set in Oxford University in 1951, where Ginevra “Gin” Bishop and Sidney Braithwaite are recruited by MI5 after an agent investigating a Soviet spy is poisoned.

Gin is an intelligent, wealthy Oxford student who works for a dying newspaper office. She's determined to prove that she is more than the "socialite" everyone who recognizes her name expects. Sidney comes from a working-class background and comes to Oxford carrying PTSD from being in World War II.

The author's writing is easy to read and refreshing in some aspects. The chemistry between the main characters and some of the side characters flows beautifully, and the snark is sharp. Her descriptions of the setting and events are detailed but not so much that it takes a page or 2 to describe a room. Her word choice is also ideal for the setting, not so childish as it feels out of place, but not so academic you don't know what's being said (not "yucky" but also not "organoleptically repugnant").

As is somewhat usual for historical fictions during this era, the FMC is comfortable challenging the rules set in place by society, what women can and can't do, who they can be with, etc. This is where Gin's character growth comes in; she has to figure out how to stand her ground without forcing the patriarchal hand that will throw her to the wolves to save face. This includes integrating into the very high society and the people therein that shed rather avoid. On the other side is Sidney, who appreciates being in the high society seats, but more so in the back. He likes the connections and the comfort since he's from a lower background, but doesn't like the limelight. Their partnership therefore develops both romantically and professionally.

Tropes

opposites attract

forced proximity

academic rivals/partners

espionage

murder mystery

Overall, I loved this story a lot (4.5/5) and feel that Westbury was able to bring a fresh look at the World War 2 London era without repeating the same concepts over and over again.

For those unfamiliar with them Colleen McCullough wrote a series of historical fiction dealing with the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. The series covers from 110 BC to 27 BC and 90% of the major characters are based on real people, with some minor tweaking for narrative purposes. They are very deeply researched (each book has a lengthy appendix at the back explaining Roman terms) . They are also long (1000+ pages each for the first two!), with lots of morally ambiguous characters and interwoven plots. I've often seen them recommended for fans of George R.R. Martin's books!

The books are:

• The First Man in Rome (1990)
• The Grass Crown (1991)
• Fortune's Favourites (1993)
• Caesar's Women (1997)
• Caesar (1998)
• The October Horse (2002)
• Antony and Cleopatra (2007)

The series is obviously going to appeal to people who already have a fondness for Ancient Rome so I had a built in advantage there, though even for me the first time I read the books I wasn't really aware of the time period the first two or three books cover in the era of Marius and Sulla taking place a generation or two before the 'big' Roman names most of us know like Caesar or Cicero (who are the protagonists of the later books.) I do admit sometimes it can be hard to track the politics or even the names as the Romans had a terrible habit of reusing names in the same family but it is very engrossing and you really get into the characters.

Anyway I finished The First Man in Rome a couple of weeks ago and am now a third of way through The Grass Crown and a character has just died and it left me in genuine tears. Not one of the main characters, though she is a viewpoint character and given the length of the novel has strong presence, but the one who I liked the most.

Specifically Livia Drusa one of the most tragic characters I've ever read. Poor woman only had such a short window of happiness . A very lonely childhood, followed by an arranged marriage to a man she detested (who at first was merely dreary but later became truly hateful and abusive), finally finding true love and dying after a difficult childbirth leaving five young children.

I knew it was coming, since not only have I read the book before I know she was a real life person who died young but it still hits me hard. She's such a sympathetic character and her life is so sad.

I guess this was more of an appreciation/discussion thread (go read the series if you never have!) but I needed to emotionally vent a little there too!

I really enjoy historical fiction. Ive wanted to read Norman Mailers novel Ancient Evenings for a little while now but its like 800 pages long and I dont know a lot about Ancient Egyptian history. I like Mailer as a writer and I am curious what story he chose to tell in the novel. Has anyone read it? Is it very well researched? Is it entertaining? Will I learn and appreciate Egypt better having read it?

Has anyone read the Jack Tanner WWI stories by James Holland? Are they any good?

I did enjoy the novel overall, and learning more about this era of English history. The focus on architecture I did not expect going into it, and I found Cat to be a compelling and interesting figure.

I also knew very little about the Restoration Period, and felt like the author did a fantastic job providing the right amount of information and context, and make me curious to research more.

The only aspect I found frustrating was Edwards character. I half expected there to be a more dramatic ending between Cat and him, but I do understand why the author left his ending a bit more open.

Has anybody else read this novel? If so, what did you think, and are there other novels by Andrew Taylor that you would recommend?

one of my favorite video games of all time is the Kingdom Come Deliverance series. I love the romance between Hans and Henry in the second game and I was wondering if anyone had any books similar to that kind of vibe?

Mainly the things I like about it are the gritty realism and epic scope of the games mixed in with the clever dialogue and interesting well rounded characters.