CSM

It's one of my personal favorites since I'm a historical fiction buff. Any other series or books stick out in your mind along these same lines?

I'd love to hear some suggestions that go along with this genre.



CSM

Mammal

Yes, I'm addicted. You might try the Alan Lewrie books by Dewey Lambdin. The first is The King's Coat.

Deke Rivers

yep-ive read the whole series but I think I have read my last-the last one(Sharpes Trafalgar) was just terrible IMO-I think the series has ran its course

CSM

Sharpe's Prey is the newest one, just released in the US. Trafalgar was right before that. I did find it a little coincidental that Sharpe just happened to be present at the battle on his way home from India but it still fit in with the storyline well. It also provided much needed background information that many of us were lacking since Cornwell didn't publish his books in historical order. There will be, more than likely, only two more books with Sharpe as the hero so you are close to being correct, the series is winding down.
Cornwell finished another historical work concerning The Hundred Years' War. The Archer's Tale stars Thomas of Hookton, an archer in the service of England who ends up joining the Quest for the Holy Grail. Very entertaining reading. Highly recommended.

CSM

Deke Rivers

I wonder what happened with the Starbuck chroncicles? he stopped that one after a few books and started putting out books on knights!!!!

Mammal

http://www.bernardcornwell.net/

TexasGuy

I'm interested in returning to a good British sea series. I loved Horatio Hornblower as a kid, and I really liked the Bernard Cornwell "Sharpe" series. Does anyone have an opinion on Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey / Maturin series?

Also, assuming I decide to get this, anyone know where I might find a deal on the 20-book hardcover set? List price is $480, but I'd like to find it for

CrazeeDonkee

I really like big, long, historical epic books. My favorite book of all time is Musashi, a Japanese book (translated into English of course). I recently picked up Shogun and read it and it's got me back into wanting to read historical epic-like books again. Anyone have any recommendations?

BTW I recommend everyone read Musashi, it's incredible. Make sure you get the full 1000 page version, I think it's split up into 7 or so books if you get them in paperback.

bkornman

Im not sure how widely available it is, but the Romance of the Three Kingdoms book dealing with the unification of ancient feudal china is another amazing historical read.

Deke Rivers

The SHarpe novels pretty much cover the whole war between France and England

Mammal

I love Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe novels too - try reading them in chronological order, beginning with Sharpe's Tiger.

RevLiver

Would any of Michener's historical novels count? They usually span generations of the same families and same geographic areas. They often start with detailed descriptions of how the land formed the way it did thousands of years ago. Check out Alaska, Texas, Chesapeake, Poland, Mexico and Hawaii.

benedict

Not an area of fiction that I've explored but here is an etailer that seems to specialise: http://bookshop.tallshipsbooks.com

The Antipodean

I've only read the first book "Master & Commander" but I really enjoyed it, keep meaning to check the others out at the library soon. Very precise historial information presented in a way that's not boring.

Mammal

For those who like historical fiction, the latest book is out now - Sharpe's Havoc. I think this is the first one to be published in the US and the UK at the same time.

Deke Rivers

I have given up on the Sharpe series.. I loved the first series then the first prequel was ok ..after that they seem to be too much of the same..I think Cornwell needs to break a little from formula

Mammal

I agree up to a point...the Trafalgar book was a stretch, and the one set in Copenhagen (Prey?) wasn't up to par - but I liked both the India books, Tiger and Fortress. Havoc is back to the Peninsular War so hopefully it'll be a good one. It doesn't matter much to me anyway, I'm hooked.

bulletproof

A friend of mine just started reading one of Cornwell's Sharpe series and recommended them to me. I have always been interested in starting one of Cornwell's books or one of O'Brian's(I was intrigued by a fiction of naval history).

I am interested in starting either O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series or Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series, but I have a few questions.

First, what are the strong points of each series? I've read the excerpts from Master and Commander and from Sharpe's Eagle, and it seems like Cornwell is a little grittier, more visceral- while O'Brian might possibly have a bit better character development. Is this accurate?

Also, I am leaning towards the Sharpe series right now, but that creates a dilemma also. I prefer to read novels in a series in the "proper" order (that which the author intended them to be read) and I'm having trouble figuring out what exactly that is- any suggestions?

Bean-si

As regards the order go to the author's website and click on 'The Sharpe Books' link on the right-hand side.

I can't offer much more than that. I gave up on 'Master and Commander' but 'Sharpe's Tiger' is in a drawer right beside me. Just waiting for that right moment...

Deke Rivers

the Sharpes Book are excellent although I must admit I have stopped reading them since the last couple just because they have become very predictable and follow the same formula from book to book . The originals up through Waterloo are great though

bulletproof

Thanks for the help- I have ordered the first two Sharpe novels from amazon!

karalk

Yes, I realise this is a FIVE YEAR old post, LOL, but I'd like to know more about the Bernard Cornwell "Sharpe" series and the Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey / Maturin series? Maybe I'll get more of a response now?