Historical Fictionistas discussion

Hello all! It's that time again.... This time around, we're looking for books set in medieval times... The era, not the dinner theater. :P

So, we're looking for 5th to 15th century, thereabouts.

Nominations will go until until the 5th, and then we'll vote. Remember: ONE nomination per person and please LINK to title and author using the add book/author link above the comment box. No link, no nomination.

Please also refrain from discussing the books or nominations in this thread - unless it pertains to the validity of the nomination (for instance if someone nominates a book that's set in the wrong time period). I want to keep it tidy in here if we can. ;)

My nomination is for The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell, set in the 9th century.

Lords of the White Castle by Elizabeth Chadwick. 12th century.

The Owl Killers by Karen Maitland

I was going to say The Last Kingdom too, but Becky beat me too it. lol

La Catedral del Mar by Ildefonso Falcones set in 14th century Spain.

Hehehehe sorry I somehow picked the Spanish version....there is an English version.
Cathedral of the Sea....ok now I think I got it....sorry!

hahaha. You had me going there.
I was like 'what the heck?'. :) A book in spanish?

So sorry....I tried to pick the one with the pretty cover and somehow ended up with the Spanish version. Anyway it does sound like a good book and those that speak or read Spanish can do so with this book....voila!

Lol :D

I suggest Knight Errant by R. Garcia y Robertson.

The setting is majority 1460 but starts in present time. I hope this qualifies.

I'll nominate World Without End by Ken Follett since I'm starting it in Sept. anyway!

by Ken Follet

jennbunny wrote: "La Catedral del Mar by Ildefonso Falcones set in 14th century Spain.

Hehehehe sorry I somehow picked the Spanish version....there is an English version.
[book:Cathedral..."

The Cathedral of the Sea is a fabulous book.

Glad to hear that....it looked quite good

The Brothers of Gwynedd: The Legend of the First True Prince of Wales by Edith Pargeter

Death Of Kings by Bernard Cornwell

I am finishing up with World Without End and it is great. If you read and loved Pillars, you will love this one, too. JenC, you have a good one ahead of you with this one.

The Walking Drum by Louis L'Amour

I would nominate The Spanish Ballad of Lion Feuchtwanger.
It's a bit heavy, being an old-fashion writing, but the insights into the Middle Ages are great and the story itself is not bad.

It's not the top of my favorites, but it's a very nice, refreshing kind of a novel.

LemonLinda wrote: "I am finishing up with World Without End and it is great. If you read and loved Pillars, you will love this one, too. JenC, you have a good one ahead of you with this one."

Good to hear!! I got it off the shelf last night and heaved it onto the dining room table so I could psych myself up for it's humongous girth! And look at the cover to prep for the mini challenge.

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory. My motives are purely selfish. I've had it for a while and want to read it..haha.

Elizabeth Chadwick writes excellent medieval fiction. How about Lady of the English?

Make sure you link to title AND author in your nomination post. I will not be including anything on the poll that isn't properly linked.

Also, Lee, your nomination is listed as the 6th book in the Saxon Stories series, which isn't out until the end of September, and we haven't read any of the previous books yet. Please choose another book for your nomination.

Thanks Becky, sorry I wasn't aware of the rules and cheekily suggested something I'm very much looking forward to reading in October anyway!

I love medieval times! Both the era and dinner theater.
I wanted to nominate Wildwing by Emily Whitman, but I think it involves time travel so it's not all medieval.
So I'm going to nominate Twilight of Avalon by Anna Elliott. (It's been on my to-read list forever.)

Lee wrote: "Thanks Becky, sorry I wasn't aware of the rules and cheekily suggested something I'm very much looking forward to reading in October anyway!"

No problem. I know you made Terri's day by mentioning it, at least! ;)

*gives a yip and cartwheels through the thread*

Can't wait to read it!!!!!

I just preordered the large paperback. {:D

I haven't seen Terri that happy since I offered to be her love slave for a nomination vote.

(Which happened to be a Cornwell, I think. Hmmm...pattern)

No..it was not Cornwell...The Historian. hehe
But they were happy days, my friend. ;D *ahhh..memories*

I wanted to suggest Kalangitan by A.F. Eleazar. Set in Manila during 1450 A.D., the plot revolves around a princess named Dayang Kalangitan who will become Queen Regnant of the Namayan, Teunduk, and Bitukang Manok kingdoms. But it looks like it isn't published in English.. *sad*

*goes back to looking..*

Ok here
In a Dark Wood Wandering: A Novel of the Middle Ages by Hella S. Haasse
or
Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine

Not sure would be of more interest to people
(and I'll take one off before the 5th.. don't worry Becky!)

The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell

Here be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman

How about something set in 11th century England AND the Middle East?

The Physician by Noah Gordon

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

I have been wanting to read Sherwood by Parke Godwin

The White Queenby Philippa Gregory

The Fool's Tale: A Novel by Nicole Galland.

I would join in with quite a few of these nominations. Can't wait to see which wins!

Looks like some great suggestions, I would second anything by Chadwick, Penman or The Last Kingdom! Cannot wait to vote--so many good picks suggested it will be hard to know what support!

Gaeta, You need to choose ONE nomination please.

Heather, Pillars was read but not World Without End. It looks as though a few would like to read this including myself.

Rebecca wrote: "Heather Pillars but not World WithoutnEnd. Looks as though a few would like to read this including myself."

World Without End has been nominated by JenC. Jayme nominated Pillars, which we've read already.

It's Not Rocket Science by Clive Whichelow

Chris wrote: "It's Not Rocket Science by Clive Whichelow"

As interesting as this looks... tis not quite the time period we're looking for. LOL

Lisa wrote: "Here be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman"

I just love this book (and the whole trilogy). It is remarkable how she makes what was unfamiliar history so accessible!

I'll nominate Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross. I've wanted to read it for a long time, and it comes at the period in question from a different angle than many other beloved Medieval books. (I'm always looking for something "different" in my reading, it seems.)

OK... here's the nomination list so far...

The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
Lords of the White Castle by Elizabeth Chadwick
The Owl Killers by Karen Maitland
Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones
Knight Errant by R. Garcia y Robertson
World Without End by Ken Follett
The Brothers of Gwynedd: The Legend of the First True Prince of Wales by Edith Pargeter
The Spanish Ballad of Lion Feuchtwanger
The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory
Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick
Twilight of Avalon by Anna Elliott
The Shield of Three Lions by Pamela Kaufman
Here be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman
The Physician by Noah Gordon
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
Sherwood by Parke Godwin
The White Queenby Philippa Gregory
The Fool's Tale: A Novel by Nicole Galland
When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman
Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross

Kiri - you'll be added when you decide which one you're going with... ;)

Lee - feel free to repost if you have another nomination in mind.

Barbara - title and author must be linked to be included.

Barbara (the one who nominated The Pale Horseman) - please choose another nomination as we haven't yet read The Last Kingdom, so no sequels allowed yet. Sorry for not catching that earlier.

Oh my, so many excellent choices! It's going to be hard to decide when it comes time to vote! I've already added a few to my TBR list.

Do you all think we should end the nominations early? I know I gave until the 5th, but we have a LOT of choices, I'm thinking that we should close it and maybe even do a run-off poll. Like whichever the top two are from these options are then given a second poll to determine which we'll read.

What do you all think?