looking for novels from obscure periods

Kveto from Prague · Post by **Kveto from Prague** » Fri September 26th, 2008, 10:00 pm

im new here. iwas wondering if anyone can recommend some novels set in relatively obscure periods/places. basically no roman empire, no vikings,no midevil england, etc. im interested in:

the crusades (crusaders states especially)

the migration of nations (4th to 7th century, Vandals, visigoths, etc.)

pornocracy Rome (10th century rome, between the fall of the empire and renassainse)

Byzantium (and ive read Lawheads byzantium)

Midevil Sicily

16-17th century Sweden

Hussite wars

etc.

and im not a huge fan of historical mysteries. i like very authentic stuff (with research)

any help advice would be greatly appreciated.

regards,
keny from prague

donroc · Post by **donroc** » Fri September 26th, 2008, 10:03 pm

Welcome Keny.

For Byzantium, I can recommend The Bearkeeper's Daughter by Gillian Bradshaw

It is the story of Theodosia's rise.

Kveto from Prague · Post by **Kveto from Prague** » Fri September 26th, 2008, 10:24 pm

thnx, donroc. i shall keep an eye out for it definitly.

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Fri September 26th, 2008, 10:35 pm

I love your term "pornocracy Rome" - LOL! There's a "Byzantium and Constantinople" section on the "Medieval" page at my Historical Novels website that lists Bradshaw's The Bearkeeper's Daughter and a bunch of other novels set in the Eastern Roman Empire.

Bradshaw writes a lot of "off-the-beaten-path" historical novels. Her most recent, The Sun's Bride, is about the maritime republic of Rhodes in the third century B.C. I've reviewed it at http://www.HistoricalNovels.info/Suns-Bride.html.

Leyland · Post by **Leyland** » Fri September 26th, 2008, 10:38 pm

For Crusaders and Frankish rulers in Outremer, you may want to look up information on Cecelia Holland's Jerusalem. She is a talented writer and researches her settings very well. She also wrote one of my favorite novels, Great Maria, set in Medieval Sicily.

Kveto from Prague · Post by **Kveto from Prague** » Fri September 26th, 2008, 10:57 pm

[quote=""Margaret""]I love your term "pornocracy Rome" - LOL! There's a "Byzantium and Constantinople" section on the "Medieval" page at my Historical Novels website that lists Bradshaw's The Bearkeeper's Daughter and a bunch of other novels set in the Eastern Roman Empire.

Bradshaw writes a lot of "off-the-beaten-path" historical novels. Her most recent, The Sun's Bride, is about the maritime republic of Rhodes in the third century B.C. I've reviewed it at http://www.HistoricalNovels.info/Suns-Bride.html.[/quote]

thanks, id love to take credit for "pornocracy" but i didnt come up with it. I read a non-fiction called "the bad popes" and it uses this term for the clan warfare amonst papal families in 10th century rome. a woman, mariozia, i believe who had several of her lovers made popes, and even put her illegitimate son on the papal throne. in fact, i cant believe a talented writer hasnt gone for that period. it had all of the sex, scandal and decadence any reader could want. if i had any talent whatsoever id try but i dont

third century Rhodes! im so interested in that. thanks.

Kveto from Prague · Post by **Kveto from Prague** » Fri September 26th, 2008, 11:10 pm

[quote=""Leyland""]For Crusaders and Frankish rulers in Outremer, you may want to look up information on Cecelia Holland's Jerusalem. She is a talented writer and researches her settings very well. She also wrote one of my favorite novels, Great Maria, set in Medieval Sicily.[/quote]

Thanks for the advice. Ive read Hollands Jerusalum and really didnt like it at all. I felt she missed the period completely, and her novel was way too "modern" for my tastes, but thats only my opinion. im a tough grader when it comes to the crusades as ive devoured every bit of non-fiction available on them.

a really brilliant take on the whole of the crusades is Evan Conell"s "Deus lo Volt!" possibly the best fiction on the crusades ever. it feels so authentic at times i wondered if it was a historical document. he really did his research. but i cant imagine anyone liking it aside from myself. the style is so authentic that its a difficult read but every bit in there is historical fact as far as i can tell. he really "got it right" unlike "jerusalum" which didnt feel authentic at all to me. His level of research was astounding. even the title is Latin with a french influence as would have been used at the time. im sure many like hollands jerusalum, just not my cup of tea.

thanks for the response

regards

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Sat September 27th, 2008, 4:09 am

>the crusades (crusaders states especially),
the migration of nations (4th to 7th century, Vandals, visigoths, etc.)
Byzantium (and ive read Lawheads byzantium)

Oh a man after my own heart; I love all of those subjects but so rarely find something good. So I am also eager for any suggestions as well!

I would suggest Judith Tarr's Queen of Swords about the crusades. I tried to read Volt and couldn't get into it. I may have to try again.

annis · Post by **annis** » Sat September 27th, 2008, 8:19 am

I enjoyed Graham Shelby's novels about the Crusades
1. The Knights of Dark Renown
2. The Kings of Vain Intent
He wrote another stand-alone novel with a Crusades setting called
"The Edge of the Blade"

A more modern series which appealed to me (and also fits into the Byzantium category) is Tom Harper's "Demetrios Askiades" trilogy, which starts in Byzantium and follows the path of the First Crusade from there to Jerusalem.
1. The Mosaic of Shadows
2. Knights of the Cross
3. Siege of Heaven

Michael Eisner's "Crusader" is another one worth trying.

Kveto from Prague · Post by **Kveto from Prague** » Sat September 27th, 2008, 9:01 am

[quote=""Ash""]>the crusades (crusaders states especially),
the migration of nations (4th to 7th century, Vandals, visigoths, etc.)
Byzantium (and ive read Lawheads byzantium)

Oh a man after my own heart; I love all of those subjects but so rarely find something good. So I am also eager for any suggestions as well!

I would suggest Judith Tarr's Queen of Swords about the crusades. I tried to read Volt and couldn't get into it. I may have to try again.[/quote]

thnx. Ill look into the queen of swords.

i really understand why "Volt" is hard to get into as its not really a story until you get to the authours personal narrative of the 6th and 7th crusades with king Louis. i only loved it because its basically a historical tome of crusade anecdotes rewriten in the guise of fiction. the best way to read it is after reading a historical account of the crusades (id recommend zoe oldeberg, steven howerth, or riely-smith). then you are always saying "i remember that" as you read "volt". but like i said, i think i might be the only reader who enjoyed it.

Robert Howards stuff on the crusades is surprisingly good and well researched. i cant stand conan but when howard does away with the magic and fantasy he can create some very morose crusader tales compiled in "lord of Samarcand". the best one is "lion of tiberius" a spot on story about Zhengi, one of Saladins predesessors in the war against the crusader states. he really captures the "feel" of east meets west.

good reading to you