tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post2622497112995309673..comments2023-02-22T02:46:25.086-08:00Comments on Jessica Hart: Historical novels, and what they can do for youUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-75616012212063935732012-07-24T10:46:21.548-07:002012-07-24T10:46:21.548-07:00Thanks for the great recommendations! I love histo...Thanks for the great recommendations! I love historical fiction and I’m currently reading “Turkoise” by Joan M. Sargent. If you go to her website, http://jmsargent.com/, you can find out more about her and the book. It’s truly captivating, and I highly recommend it! I’ve been searching for another book for when I’m finished with this one and you've provided a great list to pick from! Thanks again!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02992198357694967310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-49142832873056668692012-07-23T13:28:38.068-07:002012-07-23T13:28:38.068-07:00I have pre-ordered the paperback, Victoria! Look...I have pre-ordered the paperback, Victoria! Looking forward to reading it. And belated congratulations!Jessica Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08665523780886208301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-13227317772697215872012-07-23T03:02:29.906-07:002012-07-23T03:02:29.906-07:00Can I plug my own The Bone Thief, set in the year ...Can I plug my own The Bone Thief, set in the year 900, (and reviewed here http://www.globalcool.org/lifestyle/book-review-the-bone-thief-by-vm-whitworth)? Available now in hardback and e-book, and it's coming out in paperback mid-August.<br />Victoria Whitworth<br />(You knew me at the CMS as Victoria Thompson)VMWhitworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17265239648908084184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-62456337892324007752012-07-23T02:15:51.287-07:002012-07-23T02:15:51.287-07:00Context is everything, Anne - we knew what you mea...Context is everything, Anne - we knew what you meant!Jessica Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08665523780886208301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-6504173528802002032012-07-22T16:48:33.817-07:002012-07-22T16:48:33.817-07:00LOL I just noticed "the romances coming to Br...LOL I just noticed "the romances coming to Britain" - um, that would be Romans.Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564152027118499399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-3308386051000003792012-07-21T00:53:21.101-07:002012-07-21T00:53:21.101-07:00I know what you mean about going on forever, Anne,...I know what you mean about going on forever, Anne, but it's always so interesting to hear what other people read and will defend 'buckle and thong', as one of Georgette Heyer's heroes said (Black Sheep?) I started early with historical novels too. My favourite was The Woolpack, by Cynthia Harnett and at primary school my teacher used to read Theras the Athenian Boy, which I loved.Jessica Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08665523780886208301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-91727948892775861082012-07-21T00:44:56.237-07:002012-07-21T00:44:56.237-07:00Oh, yes! How could I not have mentioned Katherine?...Oh, yes! How could I not have mentioned Katherine? John of Gaunt ... the ultimate alpha hero.<br /><br />I admired Wolf Hall as beautifully written, but I spent a lot of time trying to work out who 'he' was. Also am sick of Henry VIII. He was a monstrous bully AND he had piggy eyes. I don't like him at all. Can't understand why he is constantly glamourised. <br /><br />As for Cadfael ... I read one. Will say no more!Jessica Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08665523780886208301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-38443064228701158802012-07-20T15:55:27.133-07:002012-07-20T15:55:27.133-07:00Like Tora, I started out young with historical nov...Like Tora, I started out young with historical novels and though I loved Rosemary Sutcliff, Henry Treece was my blow-me-away author — books written for children with nothing childlike in them. Marvellous stories. I still regularly chill audiences of adult writers with a passage from The Green Man. As you would gather from the title, Treece wrote about the early Britons.<br /><br />I think that's why, unlike so many of my school friends (and some contemporaries even now) I never thought of history as "stuffy" -- to me it was always full of ripping good yarns.<br /><br />I moved on from him to Georgette Heyer, who is still my favorite comfort read. And I remember reading the Sunne in Spendour, too, and I love Lindsay Davis's Falco, and Ellis Peters Cadfael, who I first read in London, and her other books she wrote as Edith Pargeter, and I loved Pauline Gedge's The Eagle and the Raven — also about the romances coming to Britain, and I have read all of Cornwell's Sharpe books and most of his other historicals and then there's the beautifully creepy Fingersmith by Sarah Waters and ... well, I'll stop here because I could go on forever.Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564152027118499399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-3776157978412103722012-07-20T14:48:56.656-07:002012-07-20T14:48:56.656-07:00Anya Seton's marvellous Katherine. Hilary Mant...Anya Seton's marvellous Katherine. Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall. And on a less serious note, Brother Cadfael.Roshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669423378438380019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-32047669533005801732012-07-20T00:11:25.438-07:002012-07-20T00:11:25.438-07:00It's amazing how many great books there are ou...It's amazing how many great books there are out there that I've never heard of. I'm off to look up Sword at Sunset! <br /><br />Juliet Marillier is also wonderful on the Celtic period. They're fantasy novels as there's always an element of magic, but it doesn't spoil the historical feel for me. Daughter of the Forest is the first and still my favourite.Jessica Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08665523780886208301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-78633490858008418512012-07-19T10:36:01.609-07:002012-07-19T10:36:01.609-07:00I love Historical novels, and the earlier the era ...I love Historical novels, and the earlier the era the better. I started out when I was a child with Rosemary Sutcliffe and went from there. I still think her (adult) novel Sword at Sunset is the best Arthurian novel I've read. I haven't read The Road to Avalon though, so I'll look out for that. As for faction or fiction, I don't really mind. What matters to me is whether the author manages to bring the past to life.<br /><br />I'm a sucker for time slips, too, so I'm really looking forward to Time's Echo :)Tora Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17403662795482388158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-28417364828405554842012-07-19T04:45:15.584-07:002012-07-19T04:45:15.584-07:00I love Lindsey Davis's Falco novels too, Kate,...I love Lindsey Davis's Falco novels too, Kate, although confess I eventually ran out of interest in the series. The Silver Pigs is still my favourite. Haven't tried Susanna Gregory, but should as her book Murder in the Minster is York's Big Read this year. Am not, on the whole, a fan of historical crime, although have really enjoyed Ariana Franklin (Mistress of the Art of Death and The Death Maze).<br /><br />Re facts, have had to add an author's note to Time's Echo about liberties taken with them, so be warned!Jessica Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08665523780886208301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513769632913968502.post-80621953483406139272012-07-19T03:52:41.559-07:002012-07-19T03:52:41.559-07:00I loved the Penman novel, too, Jessica - not read ...I loved the Penman novel, too, Jessica - not read the Wolf, but will add that to my list :) I prefer straight fiction to faction (with the exception of Elizabeth Chadwick - loved, loved, LOVED The Winter Mantle, but also she gets the details right, and as it's partly set in my home city I'm a bit nitpicky about that - she passes with flying colours). I like historical crime, particularly Lindsey Davis and Susanna Gregory. I also enjoy time slips (and I am SO looking forward to Time's Echo, because (a) I like your writing style and (b) I know you're going to have your facts right!). <br /><br />Have to admit to being a ruins fiend. Luckily my lot are very indulgent and don't mind being dragged off to see them, as long as there are steps and a spectacular view :)Kate Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07367918727779245526noreply@blogger.com