Historical Non-Fiction?

Robert241167 · Post by **Robert241167** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 10:04 pm

Hi everyone

I have come to the end of my current bedtime read which was Tyrant by Christian Cameron. Previous reads have been The Eagle series by Simon Scarrow and The Conqueror series by Conn Iggulden, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Can you recommend any other good reads or authors that I can look out for?

Cheers

Rob

DaiSho · Post by **DaiSho** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 3:57 am

Hi Robert,

I've just finished reading "Lion of Macedon" again, which is total fantasy, but it's got some good bits in it. Enough that I would recommend it to any new FoG player interested in building a Hoplite or Alexandrian army.

Ian

Phaze_of_the_Moon · Post by **Phaze_of_the_Moon** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:03 am

They're 20th century but I like Correlli Barnett and Sir Basil Liddell Hart.

philqw78 · Post by **philqw78** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:53 am

Men Against Fire

SLA Marshall

Not battle accounts, but an attempt to find out why people kill people in war, so that we (or at least the US army) could be better at it. Written by a US army officer during WW2 based upon interviews of combat soldiers. Shows just how crazy war is in reality. My favourite non-fiction book.

rbodleyscott · Post by **rbodleyscott** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:48 am

Robert241167 wrote:I have come to the end of my current bedtime read which was Tyrant by Christian Cameron. Previous reads have been The Eagle series by Simon Scarrow and The Conqueror series by Conn Iggulden, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Can you recommend any other good reads or authors that I can look out for?

The above are, I think, historical fiction not historical non-fiction.

My top recommendation would be "Eagle in the Snow" by Wallace Breem. My most favourite ever work of historical fiction.

It covers the events of 406 AD when the Vandals, Alans and Suebians irrevocably broke through the Roman frontier defences by crossing the frozen Rhine.

Robert241167 · Post by **Robert241167** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:29 am

Well just been to Waterstones and couldn't find a couple of your authors.

Did spot Attila by William Napier so picked that up.

Keep the ideas coming.

Rob

Polkovnik · Post by **Polkovnik** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 2:12 pm

Alfred Duggan - various books.

Mary Renault - Alexander the Great trilogy.

Steven Pressfield.

rbodleyscott · Post by **rbodleyscott** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:20 pm

Robert241167 wrote:Well just been to Waterstones and couldn't find a couple of your authors.

Eagle in the Snow may be out of print. However, it is listed on Amazon and well worth a read if you can get it. Or from the public library.

JamesB · Post by **JamesB** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:01 pm

rbodleyscott wrote:
Robert241167 wrote:I have come to the end of my current bedtime read which was Tyrant by Christian Cameron. Previous reads have been The Eagle series by Simon Scarrow and The Conqueror series by Conn Iggulden, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Can you recommend any other good reads or authors that I can look out for?
The above are, I think, historical fiction not historical non-fiction.

My top recommendation would be "Eagle in the Snow" by Wallace Breem. My most favourite ever work of historical fiction.

It covers the events of 406 AD when the Vandals, Alans and Suebians irrevocably broke through the Roman frontier defences by crossing the frozen Rhine.

"Eagle in the Snow" is an excellent choice.

dave_r · Post by **dave_r** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 7:08 am

Well, I have just ordered Eagles in the Snow - £8.95 from Amazon. It had best be good or I will claim one free pint

will05 · Post by **will05** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 8:58 pm

Gates of fire by Stephan Pressfield

A good story and good descriptions of what a hoplite battle may have been like

Hepius · Post by **Hepius** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 3:23 pm

I have come to the end of my current bedtime read which was Tyrant by Christian Cameron. Previous reads have been The Eagle series by Simon Scarrow and The Conqueror series by Conn Iggulden, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Can you recommend any other good reads or authors that I can look out for?

Tyrant-Storm of Arrows (no relation to FoG: Storm of Arrows) just came out about a month or so ago. It is the sequel to Tyrant. I think both were great historical fiction.

Eques · Post by **Eques** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 3:53 pm

I am finding Bernard Cornwell's series of Alfred the Great Novels pretty unputdownable.

Was looking forward to Scarrow but found it a bit disappointing.

Igguldsen I can't read after his butchery of Caesar's life story. Gave up after the prologue when I found he had made Caesar and Brutus the same age and best friends

marioslaz · Post by **marioslaz** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 5:43 pm

I read "I Greci d'Occidente" (Western Greek, but this is a my translation of the title because I didn't find on Amazon's list) of Valerio Massimo Manfredi and I found it genial (it is an essay, not a romance). I never read an historical fiction by him, but a friend of mine said me he has great ideas, but it seems when he reach a point in his novel he got tired and want to end it, sometime very suddenly. I watch also some TV programs where he is the conductor and I like him. What is your impression of Manfredi as author?

paulcummins · Post by **paulcummins** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 7:46 am

Perisan Fire
Rubicon

both by Tom Holland

extremely readable popular history

stenic · Post by **stenic** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 9:17 am

Robert241167 wrote:
Did spot Attila by William Napier so picked that up.

Rob

The first book is ok...ish but the second not that good. Certainly the Genghis series by Conn Ilgguden shine well above Napier's Attila series I feel.

Steve P

mellis1644 · Post by **mellis1644** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:23 pm

paulcummins wrote:Perisan Fire
Rubicon

both by Tom Holland

extremely readable popular history

I'll second these. Ribicon was a great read and I'm looking forward to reading Perisan Fire.

paulcummins · Post by **paulcummins** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:14 am

and ive just noticed a thrid one by Tom Holland - Millenium

Amazon here I come

bobm · Post by **bobm** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:00 am

philqw78 wrote:Men Against Fire

SLA Marshall

Not battle accounts, but an attempt to find out why people kill people in war, so that we (or at least the US army) could be better at it. Written by a US army officer during WW2 based upon interviews of combat soldiers. Shows just how crazy war is in reality. My favourite non-fiction book.

Considered quite controversial these days. Marshall didn't keep good records of his interviews and several who were interviewed indicated they were misquoted...dramatically.
To summarise both sides;
Marshall had an agenda that he made his evidence fit, or
Soldiers didn't like being thrown into a "bad light" after publication and denied everything they'd said to Marshall.

philqw78 · Post by **philqw78** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:07 am

bobm wrote:Considered quite controversial these days. Marshall didn't keep good records of his interviews and several who were interviewed indicated they were misquoted...dramatically.
To summarise both sides;
Marshall had an agenda that he made his evidence fit, or
Soldiers didn't like being thrown into a "bad light" after publication and denied everything they'd said to Marshall.

Some very good anecdotes though. My favourite was about the defensive position in the pacific theatre overlooking a river. Something was seen in the river and 2 of the platoon opened fire. It was then recognised as a log and not enemy swimmers. The remainder of the platoon then opened fire. Very plausible. And shows thankfully that we are not all born killers. (if its true)

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