Historical Fiction Books > T Historical Fiction Books

Grab a blanket and a warm drink.The cold is catching

Advantages: Gripping, spine- tingling book
Disadvantages: A little slow at the beginning and some violence.

. The Terror Dan Simmons I don't know about you but I do like reading fiction that combines a little bit of history in it. So it is with this book 'The Terror' by Dan Simmons. This novel is a fictional account of Sir John Franklin's expedition of discovery to the North Pacific in search of the elusive Northwest Passage. The HMS Terror and HMS Erebus had been to both poles in arduous missions where their reinforced hulls made them ...
...came home alive. In the 19th century, this outcome was shocking and several attempts at rescues were attempted, and even to the present day expeditions are still being sent out to try to find the wrecks of the ships or any new clues to what happened. The book is in part like a log or diary, part story - through the story Simmons gives a dramatic picture of a freezing, white land that is as dangerous and ruthless as it is beautiful At 784 pages long, ...

oldchem 09.09.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Terror - Dan Simmons

Flirtations and Philanthrophy

Advantages: Great characters, good story, plenty of interest, well-written
Disadvantages: Regency slang might be daunting to some

...Waldo is 'The Nonesuch' of the title of this book, an intelligent and athletic man in his mid-thirties in Regency England. The novel opens with various of his relatives bemoaning the fact that Waldo has inherited Broom House in Yorkshire from the recently deceased Joseph Calver. Not that they particularly wanted it for themselves, since it's reputed to be in a poor state of repair, but they resent the fact that Waldo is a philanthropist, and is planning ...
...in motion some refurbishments. The neighbourhood doesn't know quite what to expect of two wealthy and titled gentlemen appearing in their midst, but are soon pleasantly surprised to find them friendly, and happy to attend dinners and dances. We quickly meet their richest neighbours: Mrs Underhill, her two children and her excessively beautiful neice Tiffany. Tiffany, who is only 17, is an heiress and has been considerably spoiled all her life; she ...

Kukana 29.04.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Nonesuch - Georgette Heyer

The birth of Venus

Advantages: an easy read
Disadvantages: The ending was an anti-climax

...to read it. I found the beginning slow and was warned of this so I persisted. Although the novel was charming due to its Florentine setting, I felt that the conclusion to the mystery set up at the beginning of the novel was an anti-climax. At times I found myself looking at the page numbers and wishing that I was further along. However I would say that maybe my lack of historical knowledge ruined my enjoyment of this novel as at times it seemed imperative ...

books1987 13.08.2008 · Read full review
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Review of The Birth of Venus - Sarah Dunant

Taming the Tides of War

Advantages: Trademark unique narration, "Accurate Fiction"
Disadvantages: A little erratic pacing, Not the author's best

...man's life reflected these, ever-changing, tides of war. Relentless on the battlefield and cunning in politics, Alcibiades' combination of qualities made him that era's most instrumental individual. Through the eyes of two almost ordinary men, Steven Pressfield shows us how close genius is to insanity and true heroism to despiteful treason, as we see Alcibiades coldly changing sides throughout the Peloponnesian War. ***The Author*** Although there ...
...enjoyable books, only a margin of them has a truly unique writing style, utilizing different techniques and methods. Steven Pressfield is one of those select few and his approach is truly refreshing and educative. His epic recounts of monumental battles are always the center of all praise, his depictions often compared to those of Homer. He recreates the ancient world with historic fact and selective use of native vocabulary, spicing it up with ...

Magrippinho 02.12.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Tides of War - Steven Pressfield

Boleyns Everywhere

Advantages: good read
Disadvantages: addictive!

Buying The Book I bought ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ at the same time as ‘The Boleyn Inheritance’, I got them from a book magazine that had them on offer. You can generally find them for between £4 and £7 each depending on where you look. Amazon for example has the same copy of the book as I have for £4.99 new, which in my opinion is a reasonable price for this particular book. The Book The Other Boleyn Girl is one in a series of books about ...
...the life of Mary Boleyn. Mary is Anne Boleyns younger sister, not much is known about her as the focus was always more on Anne than Mary. This book portrays Anne differently to how some other books portray her, she is shown through the eyes of a loving sister rather than the King or another onlooker. There are many twists and turns in the book, and parts where it is impossible to put down. Even though everyone knows how the book ends before even ...

buggsy2008 18.05.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory