Historical novel needed

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Numdydar

I love this forum and you guys [:D]

warspite1

Shucks - I love you too Numdydar

[:)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

As recommended I read Harris' Enigma and while I was at it read Officer and a Spy. Neither was as good as Fatherland. Enigma was ok, while Officer and Spy was quite good. I see that many of Harris' books have been made into movies or mini-series. Specifically I wonder if anybody has watched Bletchley Park or Archangel?

For novels I will try that Downey chap next.

warspite1

Never seen Archangel - in fact I didn't even realise they had made it into a film. The rating isn't great in IMDB (so maybe it went straight to DVD) but the book is worth a read.

[KMCCARTHY]

Battle Cry by Leon Uris (fiction)
http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Cry-Leon-Uris/dp/006075186X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421880788&sr=8-2&keywords=battle+cry&pebp=1421880757233&peasin=006075186X

From Here to Eternity by James Jones (fiction)
http://www.amazon.com/Here-Eternity-Restored-World-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B004UNGYK8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1421881187&sr=1-1&keywords=from+here+to+eternity&pebp=1421881197887&peasin=B004UNGYK8

Destroyermen series by taylor Anderson (scifi)
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_12?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=destroyermen+series+by+taylor+anderson&rh=n%3A133140011%2Ck%3Adestroyermen+series+by+taylor+anderson

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour by James D. Hornfischer (non Fiction)
http://www.amazon.com/Last-Stand-Tin-Sailors-Extraordinary-ebook/dp/B001L83PM0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1421881373&sr=1-1&keywords=tin+can+sailors&pebp=1421881374993&peasin=B001L83PM0

Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II by Vicki Croke (non Fiction)

http://www.amazon.com/Elephant-Company-Inspiring-Unlikely-Animals/dp/1400069335/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421880837&sr=1-1&keywords=elephant+company&pebp=1421880803509&peasin=1400069335

[pontiouspilot]

good list....I have read most of Mccarthy's suggestions over the years but will look for the last one.

[pontiouspilot]

I ordered the movie/series off Amazon so I will report back....it stars Daniel Craig so I thought I would take a chance.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

I ordered the movie/series off Amazon so I will report back....it stars Daniel Craig so I thought I would take a chance.

warspite1

Thank-you.

[desicat]

This is the 2nd historical book request thread that doesn't mention Shares Rifles - how is that possible? Around 20 books in the series and almost all of them are based upon historical actions.

[pontiouspilot]

Downey book 1 done. It is a good read. Thanks to all here who recommended. Very similar style and era to Furst. I'm not sure you could pick which author was which out of a line-up! 1 down and half a dozen to go.

[pontiouspilot]

As promised I hereby report back on movie Archangel (Harris' book). It stars Daniel Craig. It is fairly faithful to the book and generally fairly well done. The most interesting aspect is its commentary on the Russian psyche...in particular their love for the strongman. It is frankly more interesting given the events of the last several years than even when the book and movie were done.

[ndworl]

I agree Sharpe should get a run. Just finished the series over my summer holidays, after a gap of about 5 years and enjoyed it immensely. (It goes pretty fast if you skim through the formulaic battle scenes - which are not the strength of the series.) For me, Flashman sets the benchmark for historical perspective combined with humour. I love the last glimpse of Flashman in the novel "Mr American", as an irascible 90 year old, abusing his cab driver as he tries to negotiate the throngs around Buckingham Palace at the outbreak of WWI, giving the main character a lesson in diplomacy and realpolitik and then demanding he be admitted to the palace to use the toilets. Priceless.

[blueatoll]

I loved all the Alan Furst novels except the last two. I thought those were retilling overused soil.

These two books are non-fiction but are written as travelogues rather than dry facts. I found both books to be entirely engaging and made me look at the time periods discussed in a completely different light. You almost feel you are there.

Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England
Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabethan England

[Jellicoe]

Everyone loves Flashy (and rightly so) from dear old George Macdonald Fraser but fewer have read than ought to be the case his semi autobiographical 'McAuslan' series about the dirtiest soldier in the Britsh army. Set just after WWII loosely based on the authors time in the Gordon Highlanders. Well worth a read.

Also recently reread and had forgotten how fabulous it was 'Rules of the Game' by Andrew Gordon. A study of command and control and signalling at Jutland that manages to take in a history of signalling, free masonry and royal influence in the late Victorian navy as well as a biography of Evan Thomas, a rehabilitation of Tryon and a slating of Beatty. Worth it for the caption under a picture of Beatty 'something of the Bounder about him'

[KMCCARTHY]

I hadn't thought about Flashman for 25 years. I know what I'm giving myself for Christmas.

Thanks.

[KMCCARTHY]

You'll like Elephant Co. if you like animals and obscure history.

[pontiouspilot]

Well, I have finished Downing's novels. I didn't read the sci-fi nor the 22 days to a Cleaner Colon. The recommendation was appreciated. I am now thinking about Micheal Dobbs books. I see Warspite suggested one of his. Does anybody else have any comments on his stuff. He is evidently the original author of House of Cards.

[RogerJNeilson]

Dobbs is good, just bear in mind two things. Its very rooted in British politics so you may be on a learning curve - it was not written for an international audience. He is a very strong supporter of one particular party over here so the novels may have a slant to them.

Glad you enjoyed the 'Station' novels

Roger

[warspite1]

Not sure what relevance the political comment has on his historical novels. I have only read Churchill's Triumph (and which I thoroughly recommend) which is set around the Yalta Conference in 1945 and was just that, a novel set against an historical event. I do not think admiration for Winston is set aside for Conservatives only - wasn't it Mo Mowlam (Labour MP) that put Sir Winston forward for the "Greatest Briton" a few years back?

[RogerJNeilson]

Not grinding any axes, merely adding a touch of context for anyone not from the UK.

Roger

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Roger Neilson 3

Not grinding any axes, merely adding a touch of context for anyone not from the UK.

Roger

warspite1

Sure, and I was just confirming that there is no political bias in Churchill's Triumph. Can't speak for the author's political works (e.g. House of Cards) - as I have never read them - but then the OP is only after historical novels.

[rustysi]

Sure, and I was just confirming that there is no political bias in Churchill's Triumph. Can't speak for the author's political works (e.g. House of Cards) - as I have never read them - but then the OP is only after historical novels.

Didn't Churchhill say something along the lines of, 'People will know the history, for I shall write it'. Anyway I've read his six volume history, didn't think it too biased. Then again I admired Churchill, even with his flaws.