Historical Fictionistas discussion

I particularly enjoy reading books by Jean Plaidy, her style of writing and use of narrative techniques is what I like the most about her books. In other words, for me, she brings the characters to life and I feel I am actually witnessing the events.
I'd be grateful if anyone can recommend an author whose writing style is similar to hers that writes historical fiction about Ancient Greece. I've already found Mary Renault, but would like to know if there are any other writers who have the gift of captivating the reader in the same way as Plaidy.

Taylor Caldwell wrote a book about Aspasia; it was quite a while ago, though. You might search on Amazon or in the Ancient & Medieval Fiction group for books about the Trojan War. There have been several out in the past few years about that period.

The Song of Achilles, Margaret George's Helen of Troy and Judith Starkston's Hand of Fire all cover the Trojan War beautifully. (Narrators are respectively Patroclus, Helen herself, and Briseis.)

The song of troy by Colleen McCullough

Thank you: Eileen, Kate and Whitely.

I've looked at the books you recommended and they are just what I'm looking for.

As they seem to cover the the Iliad and the Trojan War, do you know of any that tell the story of Odysseus in the Odyssey?

Valerio Massimo manfredi has a 2 part series on Odysseus, I'm not sure what they're like as I haven't read any of his work but I am interested in reading them

I hope I'm not breaking the rules here, but this is a specific request that is exactly relevant to my own writing. I'm very proud of my character development and reviewers have also commented on it. I have written a biographical novel about Leonidas of Sparta in three parts. Check out the Goodreads reviews for:
Leonidas of Sparta: A Boy of the Agoge

Leonidas of Sparta: A Peerless Peer

Leonidas of Sparta: A Heroic King

What exactly is your interest in ancient Greece? Classical Greece? Alexander the Great? The Age of Heroes? The Dark Age?

Anything to do with Greek history.

Pauline wrote: "Anything to do with Greek history."

That's a bit of a tall order. I was hoping to get you to narrow it down. I do have a thread in here called Historical Fiction B.C., which probably needs to be updated a bit, but there are some titles set in ancient Greece that you might like.

There's also by Victor Davis Hanson. Hanson is a military historian, primarily of ancient times, who tried his hand at this novel. This is not an easy read, but covered a period I knew almost nothing about and a great general, Epaminondas, who I had never heard of before. The author used a style of writing that came across as almost Homeric, which not everyone can appreciate. It was an amazing novel.

Thanks Laura,
I'm sorry for being so vague.
I've given it a lot of thought and as I've already ordered a books covering most of the Iliad, I think the best one for me to order next would be one which is about the Odyssey.
So I'd be grateful if you could recommend someone who brings the past to life and writes in a way which captivates you from the very first sentence.

Pauline wrote: "Thanks Laura,
I'm sorry for being so vague.
I've given it a lot of thought and as I've already ordered a books covering most of the Iliad, I think the best one for me to order next would be one wh..."

There's Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad and Lindsay Clarke's The Return from Troy, as well as The Lost Books of The Odyssey.

I've just looked at the reviews on Amazon for: The Return from Troy, which all praise the book and its author.
Unfortunately, Amazon hasn't given the option to read the first few pages so that I can see her style of writing.
As I said in my inital post, I like the narrative style of Jean Plaidy and am looking for something similar.
I'd be grateful to know if anyone has read it and if it is a book that captures your attention right from the very beginning.

Pauline wrote: "I've just looked at the reviews on Amazon for: The Return from Troy, which all praise the book and its author.
Unfortunately, Amazon hasn't given the option to read the first few pages so that I ca..."

I liked the book and it captured my attention from the beginning.

What you're asking for is very subjective. Mr. Clarke tells a very good tale, but unfortunately the book seems to be out of print which means you can only find used copies. But you can always look at the first few pages of The War at Troy, to see if you like his style.

I don't know that you're going to find Jean Plaidy in the Bronze Age.

Here is the link to the topic Historical Fiction B.C. You might be able to find something of interest there, that I haven't mentioned:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thank you Laura.
No of course I know Jean Plaidy didn't write about that era.
What I meant was a similar writing style.
This is an extract from one of her books with her
description of the execution of the young Earl of Warwick:

'At Tower Hill there was another spectacle. The young Earl walked out of the Tower and felt the cool air on his face; the mist was on the river; it was a bleak November day. But it was a great experience to walk out from those grey walls. He wondered what his life would have been like if he had been at liberty those fourteen years he had spent in prison.
But the time had come for him to lay his head on the block.
He did so............ feeling almost indifferent. Why should he regret leaving a life of which he knew so little?
One swift stroke and it was all over'.

Pauline wrote: "Thank you Laura.
No of course I know Jean Plaidy didn't write about that era.
What I meant was a similar writing style.
This is an extract from one of her books with her
description of the executio..."

I didn't mean that she wrote about that era. I mean that you're likely to find a much different style of writing than what you're used to. You might want to try a book like Alcestis by Katherine Beutner, or Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad.

I have been enjoying Helen of Sparta ! Loving the author's style, and I love having a different take on Helen than we usually see in fiction.

I almost forgot this one. It's short, but when I downloaded it from Tor, it was free. Deeply haunting and beautiful: A Memory of Wind, by Rachel Swirsky. Iphigenia's story.

C.P. wrote: "I almost forgot this one. It's short, but when I downloaded it from Tor, it was free. Deeply haunting and beautiful: A Memory of Wind, by Rachel Swirsky. Iphigenia's..."

OH!!! I've been hoping somebody would do Iphegenia's story. Hooray! I'm going to read it. Thanks!

Libbie Hawker wrote: "C.P. wrote: "I almost forgot this one. It's short, but when I downloaded it from Tor, it was free. Deeply haunting and beautiful: A Memory of Wind, by Rachel Swirsky..."

There's also The Songs of the Kings by Barry Unsworth.

I'd like to thank all of you for your help.
Helena are your books originally in Greek translated into English?
I'll look them up anyway as the titles are interesting.
I'd love to learn Greek history in the enjoyable way I have learned about British history.
I know that I've been reading historical fiction, but the facts of who did what where and when are correct.
I always check them after finishing a book.

Pauline wrote: "I'd like to thank all of you for your help.
Helena are your books originally in Greek translated into English?
I'll look them up anyway as the titles are interesting.
I'd love to learn Greek histor..."

I've written some books set in the period, too. Helen's Daughter, The Young Lion, and Knossos.

Whitley wrote: "The song of troy by Colleen McCullough"

I agree. The Song of Troy written amazingly well, with such life-like characters and many interesting, refreshing interpretations of those previously-done-to-death events :)

Libbie Hawker wrote: "I have been enjoying Helen of Sparta ! Loving the author's style, and I love having a different take on Helen than we usually see in fiction."

This one sounds fascinating. Thanks :)

C.P. wrote: "I almost forgot this one. It's short, but when I downloaded it from Tor, it was free. Deeply haunting and beautiful: A Memory of Wind, by Rachel Swirsky. Iphigenia's..."
I think Iphigenia's story is fascinating. I've thought of a prequel sort of book to Hand of Fire with Achilles and Iphigenia. With Agamemnon as villain again. He makes such a great villain, although given how much I dislike him, I'll have to work to build a three dimensional man if I ever get to this project. I'll have to think of something likeable. I gave him a good battle scene in Hand of Fire, but I'm thinking that might have been one of the parts I cut. I seem to end up with manuscripts that need a diet at the end before being sent out into the world :) So many books to write and so little time :) And it's even worse when one considers the piles of books to read!

This is one of my favorites, Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae

Judith wrote: "C.P. wrote: "I almost forgot this one. It's short, but when I downloaded it from Tor, it was free. Deeply haunting and beautiful: A Memory of Wind, by Rachel Swirsky..."

Hope you do, Judith! I would read it!

This one isn't written in Jean Plaidy's style, but if you enjoy fiction with a lot of action and adventure then you might enjoy Sons of Zeus by Noble Smith, which is the first of a trilogy. I listened to the audio version, and loved it.

The four by Jon Edward Martin-- my favorite being In Kithairon's Shadow: A Novel of Ancient Greece and the Persian War

C.P. wrote: "Judith wrote: "C.P. wrote: "I almost forgot this one. It's short, but when I downloaded it from Tor, it was free. Deeply haunting and beautiful: A Memory of Wind, by [author:Rachel S..."

Well there's one reader :) Thanks for the vote of confidence.

I'm coming to the end of Song of Achilles and would just like to say how much I've enjoyed reading it. I really like the style of writing used by Madeline Miller. What's more, I'm so pleased I joined Goodreads and have recommended it to many other avid readers too.
I'll work me way through all of your recommendations and would like to thank you all again.

I also just finished Helen of Sparta and enjoyed it. Amalia definitely has a fresh take on the Helen story.

I've finished reading: Song of Achilles and even though it was criticised because of the love affair between Achilles and Patroclus, it gave me an idea as to the contents of The Iliad.
I'll make a list of ALL the books which have been recommended in this thread and make them part of my summer reads collection.
Thank you very much for your help.

Thanks, Pauline! Hope you enjoy: Leonidas of Sparta: A Boy of the Agoge
Leonidas of Sparta: A Peerless Peer
and Leonidas of Sparta: A Heroic King

I know this thread isn't active anymore, but I have to post this!!! :)

I recommend the Troy trilogy by David Gemmell very highly. This series is one my all time favorites.

Lord of the Silver Bow
Shield of Thunder
Fall of Kings

Jyothsna wrote: "I know this thread isn't active anymore, but I have to post this!!! :)

I recommend the Troy trilogy by David Gemmell very highly. This series is one my all time favorites.

[book:L..."

Agreed! I love this series!

Jackie wrote: "Jyothsna wrote: "I know this thread isn't active anymore, but I have to post this!!! :)

I recommend the Troy trilogy by David Gemmell very highly. This series is one my all time fav..."

Thank you very much.