Hi all, I just started watching the TV show Shogun and am hooked 20 minutes into the first episode! Prior to 1700 feels like such a different world to me and I’d love to read some novels about any time period up to that year.
Aside from the Shogun novel itself, do you all have any recommendations? All locations are welcome. “Own voices” novels are particularly welcome, i.e. written by an author from the same region/community that is the focus of the novel (but not required).
Thanks in advance!
by tomatocreamsauce
7 Comments
The Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell
A historical retelling of the legends of King Arthur from the perspective of one of his warriors, St. Derfel, First book is The Winter King
The African Samurai about a slave traded from the Portuguese Jesuits to an emperor or such in Japan.
Matrix by Lauren Groff about the medieval nun and prioress Marie de France.
It’s hard to beat Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See (15th century China)
Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross (Middle Ages, Europe)
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (I don’t remember exactly where and when but it’s the story of Dinah from the Bible so it’s a loooong time ago)
Have to mention *The Lymond Chronicles* by Dorothy Dunnett, a 6 book series. A mix of fictional and real people, in the courts of France, Scotland, England, Russia, Malta, Turkey in the 1540s. Villainous heroes, heroic villains, treachery & honor, betrayal & loyalty (sometimes by the same people) knights and commoners, royalty and thieves. The best books I’ve ever read, and I’ve read thousands of books. Have read them probably five times already.
You almost must include _Don Quixote_!