Historical Lit...

[aeslis]

I really go for fiction set in older societies, which is the main reason I go for fantasy, since they're often written in medieval times. But I've always been aching for fiction set in some of the other cultures and societies, as well, particularly Egypt, Greece, Rome, Constantinople, and Japan. When I go poking through Amazon, 90% of the books I find look more like history lessons than character-driven stories, even when they're novels. (Also, if it's got a lot of political focus, I tune out.)

I've also tried to find books set in harems, but they seem to be few an far between. Really? I mean, really? It seems like such a ripe topic.

Any ideas, guys? ♥

Comments

[damned_colonial]

Are you familiar with Rosemary Sutcliff's novels set in Roman Britain? "The Eagle of the Ninth" is the best known, but there are two others: "The Lantern Bearers" and "The Silver Branch".

I suspect you'll find Mary Renault too much like a history lesson, but they are classics for a reason. I see from your profile that you're into the hawt gay men, so you might appreciate the fact that they tend to focus on male/male relationships. (ETA: "The Persian Boy" also has some harem type stuff, IIRC -- the main character is a eunuch.)

If you're interested in non-fantasy medieval, I really like Sharan Newman's Catherine le Vendeur mysteries, set in 12th century France. They have a long arc through the whole series, and it all circles around this one woman and her family. The same author also did a Guinevere-centric series based on Arthurian legend (but quite historical for Arthurian, if you know what I mean) that I quite enjoyed.

(If you like mysteries, there are a LOT of good classical/medieval historical mysteries out there.)

And randomly, looking at my shelves, Michael Chabon's "Gentlemen of the Road" is good fun -- it's hard to categorise but it's kind of swashbuckling and fluffy but also very historically interesting. It's about Jews in 10th century in what is now Turkey/Azerbaijan/that sort of area.

[holyschist]

I heartily second Rosemary Sutcliff, although my favorite of her books is actually The Shining Company, which is set a bit later and is based on Y Gododdin.

I loved Renault's The King Must Die and The Bull From the Sea when I was a kid, but I was a weird nerdy child who tried to teach herself to read hieroglyphics (not quite grasping that I would also need to understand ancient Egyptian). So I have no idea whether they'd be too history lesson-y as an adult.

[shiny_crystal]

*jumps in randomly* Concerning Mary Renault, I've recently read Fire From Heaven and must admit I was very bored (I thought there was too much history just being told instead of shown). However, I've heard much praise about The Persian Boy, so I suppose I should still give that one a try?

[aeslis]

Those all sound like wonderful recommendations! I'll be honest and say I don't know if I like mysteries, but I very well might. Modern-day mysteries don't sound so interesting to me, but a different setting very well might change my mind. It's always worth trying anyway, isn't it?

I'll definitely look into this stuff, though! Thanks!

[damned_colonial]

Some very easy-to-find medieval mysteries, which most people seem to enjoy, are the Brother Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters. They're set in England during the civil war between Stephen and Maud, around 1120 IIRC, and the main character/detective is a monk in an abbey near Shrewsbury near the Welsh border. Any library should have them, and you don't need to read them in any particular order I don't think. (The Catherine le Vendeur ones reward reading in order, though -- the long character arcs are much stronger.)