Let's go historical
Being a historian, I'm very picky when it comes to historical fictions, either in books or on screen. Usually, when a book is accurate history-wise, it is lacking in terms of literary qualities...and vice-versa. It's difficult to find historical novels that are actually great books so it is not a genre that I read much.
BTW this post was prompted by
selenak 's last entry in which she mentioned an article from The Observer about a top ten historial novels.
So I wondered...what would be my top ten?
Here is the answer:
1- El siglo de las luces by Alejo Carpentier
One of my favourite novels ever. The French Revolution told from the Caribbean point of view. A magnificent novel. Hard to top in the historical novel department. Simply the best!
2-The Time of Our Singing by Richard Powers
Powers' most famous novel, I guess. The 40's, 50's and 60's in USA through a family tale that focuses on love, music, racism and physics! Brilliant and poignant.
3- L'homme qui rit by Victor Hugo
Hugo's best novel in my opinion but probably the least well-known and the most complex.
4- Life and Fate by Vassili Grossman
Grossman's masterpiece. Should be on anyone's to-read list.
5- The name of the rose by Umberto Eco
A franciscan inquisitor, based on Sherlock Holmes and William of Occam, investigates murders in an Italian abbaye. How could I not love it?
6- Mémoires d' Hadrien by Marguerite Yourcenar
The fictional memoirs of Emperor Hadrien. Wonderfully written by the first female author to enter l'Académie Française.
7- La sorcière by Jules Michelet
Okay not quite a novel. Michelet was an historian but this book wasn't an essay on witchcraft; it's a tale that belongs to poetry and philosophy while using fictional tricks. The history of witchcraft has considerably progressed since Michelet's time so at the end of the day it's pure literature.
8. Narcissus and Goldmund by Herman Hesse
I know it's more a bildung novel, but it takes place in the Middle Ages and I like it!
9- Samarcande by Amin Maalouf
When young poet Omar Khayyam fell in love and met Hassan Sabbah before the later founded the Hashshashin sect...a page turner!
10-Fortune de France by Robert Merle
A series that I enjoyed when I was a teenager. Merle wasn't a bad writer and he was very careful about historical documentation. I only read the first 7 volumes though.
BTW this post was prompted by
selenak 's last entry in which she mentioned an article from The Observer about a top ten historial novels.
So I wondered...what would be my top ten?
Here is the answer:
1- El siglo de las luces by Alejo Carpentier
One of my favourite novels ever. The French Revolution told from the Caribbean point of view. A magnificent novel. Hard to top in the historical novel department. Simply the best!
2-The Time of Our Singing by Richard Powers
Powers' most famous novel, I guess. The 40's, 50's and 60's in USA through a family tale that focuses on love, music, racism and physics! Brilliant and poignant.
3- L'homme qui rit by Victor Hugo
Hugo's best novel in my opinion but probably the least well-known and the most complex.
4- Life and Fate by Vassili Grossman
Grossman's masterpiece. Should be on anyone's to-read list.
5- The name of the rose by Umberto Eco
A franciscan inquisitor, based on Sherlock Holmes and William of Occam, investigates murders in an Italian abbaye. How could I not love it?
6- Mémoires d' Hadrien by Marguerite Yourcenar
The fictional memoirs of Emperor Hadrien. Wonderfully written by the first female author to enter l'Académie Française.
7- La sorcière by Jules Michelet
Okay not quite a novel. Michelet was an historian but this book wasn't an essay on witchcraft; it's a tale that belongs to poetry and philosophy while using fictional tricks. The history of witchcraft has considerably progressed since Michelet's time so at the end of the day it's pure literature.
8. Narcissus and Goldmund by Herman Hesse
I know it's more a bildung novel, but it takes place in the Middle Ages and I like it!
9- Samarcande by Amin Maalouf
When young poet Omar Khayyam fell in love and met Hassan Sabbah before the later founded the Hashshashin sect...a page turner!
10-Fortune de France by Robert Merle
A series that I enjoyed when I was a teenager. Merle wasn't a bad writer and he was very careful about historical documentation. I only read the first 7 volumes though.