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The Black Death

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chalkygirl
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Posts: 1
Joined: December 2016

The Black Death

Post by chalkygirl » Wed December 7th, 2016, 10:52 pm

One of my favourite books was 'Year of Wonders' by Geraldine Brooks. I'm a bit worried now that anything in the same genre wont hold a candle to that, you know how it is. But I finally have a few weeks off work and would love some recommendations. Has to be fiction and I tend to prefer female authors and a female protagonist.

Also keen to hear recommendations about medieval England too :)
Thanks in advance.

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MLE (Emily Cotton)
Bibliomaniac
Posts: 3566
Joined: August 2008
Interest in HF: started in childhood with the classics, which, IMHO are HF even if they were contemporary when written.
Favourite HF book: Prince of Foxes, by Samuel Shellabarger
Preferred HF: Currently prefer 1600 and earlier, but I'll read anything that keeps me turning the page.
Location: California Bay Area

Re: The Black Death

Post by MLE (Emily Cotton) » Fri December 9th, 2016, 12:15 am

Medieval England, try anything by Elizabeth Chadwick or Sharon Kay Penman. My favorite of the latter (and many others concur) is the first of her Welsh novels, Here Be Dragons.

Novels covering the black death (the first great plague, which was in 1347-51--Year of Wonders was set during a second occurrence in England, circa 16-early. --I'd have to look up the date.) try the much acclaimed bestseller, Katherine, by Anya Seton. Another universally acclaimed favorite.
Happy reading!

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Lisa
Bibliophile
Posts: 1153
Joined: August 2012
Favourite HF book: Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman
Preferred HF: Any time period/location. Timeslip, usually prefer female POV. Also love Gothic melodrama.
Location: Northeast Scotland

Re: The Black Death

Post by Lisa » Fri December 9th, 2016, 11:12 am

I haven't read Year of Wonders yet so can't compare, but I absolutely second Sharon Kay Penman and Elizabeth Chadwick.

For novels set during the Black Death, off the top of my head, Hugh and Bess by Susan Higginbotham was a good one. But it might be worth reading The Traitor's Daughter by the same author first, as characters and events from that novel are referenced in H&B (although if you know the history, you know what happened).

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Vanessa
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Posts: 4378
Joined: August 2008
Currently reading: The Farm at the Edge of the World by Sarah Vaughan
Interest in HF: The first historical novel I read was Katherine by Anya Seton and this sparked off my interest in this genre.
Favourite HF book: Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell!
Preferred HF: Any
Location: North Yorkshire, UK

Re: The Black Death

Post by Vanessa » Fri December 9th, 2016, 11:41 am

I can recommend Katherine Fremantle and Katherine Clements, as well as those mentioned above. A book i read this year and loved was The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton.

Have you visited Eyam where the Year of Wonders is set? It's very interesting to walk round as there are plaques on the houses where there were plague victims! There'S also a small museum. It's in a lovely part of the UK, too.
currently reading: My Books on Goodreads

Books are mirrors, you only see in them what you already have inside you ~ The Shadow of the Wind

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