Historical Fictionistas discussion

Julian Rathbone's novels are mostly set at pivotal times in our history and by blending fiction with fact he gives an always entertaining view of what might actually have happened at places like Hastings and Waterloo. All is rarely what it seems and who knows perhaps Rathbone has the answers>

I thought his The Last English King extremely interesting historical fiction. For the reasons in my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

But did he write other HF? There's Kings of Albion, called a follow up to the Last English King, but I gather that's a lesser book. He's known for rebellion against genre, but what else has he done, historical, for me to explore?

The trilogy Joseph, A Very English Agent and Birth of a Nation track the life of a lowlife of noble blood (possibly) from the Peninsular War though the post Napoleonic War anarchy to the founding of the United States. They make unusual but interesting reading,

The Mutiny is a slightly disappointing look at the Indian Mutiny.

I found the Kings of Albion hard going but ultimately an interesting read.

I'll pursue those others, then. A gifted writer with intelligent strategies. Glad to see him mentioned in these threads!

I agree whole heartedly, his stories are very well crafted and I love the way they slightly cheekily question the perceived wisdom of history as we are taught it

He is cheeky, isn't he? With history, and with the craft, I'd say.

Julian Rathbone Just thought I'd link to the author.

I am just re-reading Birth of a Nation and then I am going to try some of his even more obscure work.

With his historical novels I love the way his characters move through the great events just occasionally influencing events in small subtle ways.

Three quarters through Birth of a Nation now and not enjoying it as much anymore. The anti-hero is now caught up in the great native American relocation as he struggles to return to England. I just feel that this was a story Rathbone wanted to tell but I am not sure that his use of his central character works very well.