The Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser falls into the category of 'ripping good yarn', while also being quite detailed about the history and context. It spans the mid- to late 19th century.

It is, however, most definitely not politically correct, with the protagonist quite willing to express his prejudices in the first-person narration.

It is actually more balanced than the vast majority of historical fiction, however, particularly the generally odious genre of military historical fiction.

I guess thats why I liked it, it was a historical novel that did not deviate too much from reality.
and ill check that pitt thanks.

Anyone have any suggestions on a book of Norse Mythology?

As for suggestions:
"A Child of Hitler" by Alfons Heck, great eye-opening memoir by a former Hitler Youth member.

"One Day in the Life of Ivan Desonovitch" Historical Fiction but has proven to be true, can't remember author off the top of my head, sorry.

I've got the Penguin Book of North Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland. Superb translation of 32 myths with lots of notes at the back shedding more light on each.

Thanks Shieldwall been looking out for it at the local book store, which has maybe one shelf devoted to history rather unfortunatly.

can't remember author off the top of my head, sorry.

Solzhenitsyn, dammit!

Although I admit I did have to Google for the spelling.

Among the various research readings I've been doing, I've happened upon Harriet Flower's new(ish) book "Roman Republics." In it, she argues that we're wrong to see the Republic as this monolithic political entity that began with the expulsion of the kings and ended with Augustus. Instead, it's better understood as a series of republics, similar to post-Revolutionary France. It's quite compelling and her framework offers a pretty good way to understand the eventual failure of the last Republic, established by Sulla.

It's also short, which is certainly nice to have.

*bump*



I am currently in the middle of two history books: Britain After Rome, by Robin Fleming (2011, Penguin), which basically tells the story of the Anglo-Saxons - and quite well too; and also The Ascent of Money, by Niall Ferguson (2009, Penguin), which is a history of finance... something I am coming gradually to understand. Both are excellent introductions to their subjects, which I highly recommend.

This is not a book but a movie. It is a very good (historical fiction) movie about a general who became a gladiator.

The Gladiator

I thought that a good movie, but about the only historically accurate part of it was that Commodus did indeed follow Marcus Aurelius as emperor, and was deranged.

Gladiators were considered a caste under that of slaves, usually men condemned to the games for various violent infractions. Some were volunteers, to be true, but they sold their ass to the ludus, often to pay their own debts. Few did it for fame. Now, while gladiators were popular anmong the people and looked down upon them as a caste, ex-gladiators were respected and often desired as bodyguards and bouncers. Go figure.

Revitalizing this thread after years of silence!

For strictly history, I'm currently rereading The Seleukid Empire of Antiochus III: 223-187 BC by John D. Grainger. Rereading it to maintain my fascination with the Seleucids as I'm writing the last third of my historical fiction novel about Antiochus VII Sidetes.

For fun, I'm reading Emperor: The Death of Kings by Conn Iggulden. It's the second novel in Iggulden's Emperor series and even though he stretches the story from historical fiction to the very edge of historical fantasy (notably making Gaius Julius Caesar and Marcus Brutus being childhood friends), he's created a masterful tale that has me completely hooked. I'm looking forward to rereading Iggulden's Genghis Khan focused Conqueror series after I finish reading all of the entries in Emperor.

*Brings in a vacuum cleaner to sucks up the 1 meter deep layer of dust covering this thread*

I just started reading, 'Aurelian and Probus: The Soldier Emperors Who Saved Rome' by Ilkka Syvänne. I've had a growing fascination with the Crisis of the Third Century over the years and this book had been sitting in my Kindle library for the past 6+ months before I finally started reading it. It's very informative so far, but the writing will likely be too academic for the casual reader's tastes.