17th century Historical Fiction

[Revenant J J]

So I have a great interest in Europe and the Ottoman Empire during the 17th century and was wondering if the community could recommend me some titles?

My preferred timeline is the mid to late 1620s but I'm also interested in later periods as well such as the 1660s and 70s.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[AnyaKimlin]

It probably isn't what you are after as it is set in 1612 but Mist Over Pendle by Robert Neill is my favourite story. It is based on the biggest witch trials in the UK.

The actual history is a bit wonky but his descriptions of settings, celebrations, clothing, homes etc are superb and colourful. The characters all existed in Pendle at the time.

 

[Revenant J J]

It probably isn't what you are after as it is set in 1612 but Mist Over Pendle by Robert Neill is my favourite story. It is based on the biggest witch trials in the UK.

Early 17th century England is fine.

It's late 16th century England that I can't take much more of. To date I have read four trilogies (one of them Historical fantasy) set in Elizabeths late reign and have been researching the last twenty-three years of the Elizabethan era for 8 years now.

The actual history is a bit wonky but his descriptions of settings, celebrations, clothing, homes etc are superb and colourful. The characters all existed in Pendle at the time.

Are the descriptions authentic though? these things I'm very found of especially the clothing!

 

[AnyaKimlin]

Oh yes his settings, descriptions of buying from the peddler etc are wonderful and very accurate. The characters are warm and have the right mix between feeling seventeenth century and being relateable.

The characters really existed and the conditions they lived in are accurate enough. Where he has played with the history is by making the justice the hero and the woman who's lands he gained by having her convicted is portrayed as the archvillain. It also deals with a smaller group than was arrested and charged. The others are alluded.

I advise trying to get a secondhand copy. The modern addition has tried to get rid of his adverb addiction and some other things that are a product of the 1950s when he wrote. Somehow it isn't as warm and colourful.

 

[Revenant J J]

Oh yes his settings, descriptions of buying from the peddler etc are wonderful and very accurate. The characters are warm and have the right mix between feeling seventeenth century and being relateable.

The characters really existed and the conditions they lived in are accurate enough. Where he has played with the history is by making the justice the hero and the woman who's lands he gained by having her convicted is portrayed as the archvillain. It also deals with a smaller group than was arrested and charged. The others are alluded.

Sounds promising!

I advise trying to get a secondhand copy. The modern addition has tried to get rid of his adverb addiction and some other things that are a product of the 1950s when he wrote. Somehow it isn't as warm and colourful.

Thanks for the heads up, I will do my best to track down one of his original copies then.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Early 17th century England is fine.

It's late 16th century England that I can't take much more of. To date I have read four trilogies (one of them Historical fantasy) set in Elizabeths late reign and have been researching the last twenty-three years of the Elizabethan era for 8 years now.

I was tempted to suggest a look at Anne Lyle's Alchemist of Souls, which is set in an alternative Elizabethan england, where she married and had children. However, the royal house isn't a focus, and it's a decent read as an historical fantasy. Not sure how it would be judged by historical fiction standards.

 

[Revenant J J]

I was tempted to suggest a look at Anne Lyle's Alchemist of Souls, which is set in an alternative Elizabethan england, where she married and had children. However, the royal house isn't a focus, and it's a decent read as an historical fantasy. Not sure how it would be judged by historical fiction standards.

I actually own it (surprise, surprise) but have it on hold until I can revive my interest in the period again. It does sound promising though!

As for authenticity, I have spoken to Anne a few times on twitter and have followed her blog, she knows her stuff from what I can tell.

She even paid a nice little tribute to Vincentio Saviolo, which was most welcome considering not many people know of him. That and I happen to belong to the only dedicated club in England and possibly the world who train under his treaty.

 

[Montero]

Rosemary Sutcliff - Rider on the White Horse. Novelisation of the Civil War period of the life of the wife of Sir Thomas Fairfax, Parliamentarian general, both he and his wife are in the book, but it is primarily his wife who is followed. Out of print, available second hand occasionally, well worth reading.

Dorothy Dunnett Lymond series - Elizabethan period but set in Scotland, around a Scottish character. Who travels to Russia and around the Mediterranean in later books - in the Ottoman Empire.

Period details ring true to my level of knowledge, which is 17th century re-enactment and some reading of English history of the period.

 

[Revenant J J]

Rosemary Sutcliff - Rider on the White Horse. Novelisation of the Civil War period of the life of the wife of Sir Thomas Fairfax, Parliamentarian general, both he and his wife are in the book, but it is primarily his wife who is followed. Out of print, available second hand occasionally, well worth reading.

If it's Rosemary Sutcliff I imagine so, thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Dorothy Dunnett Lymond series - Elizabethan period but set in Scotland, around a Scottish character. Who travels to Russia and around the Mediterranean in later books - in the Ottoman Empire.

Period details ring true to my level of knowledge, which is 17th century re-enactment and some reading of English history of the period.

I think I stumbled across this one a while back but didn't know the books explored such a wide range of scenery.

What's your thoughts on the series?

 

[Abernovo]

For 1660s, have you tried An Instance of the Fingerpost, by Iain Pears? I know it's a bit of a love/hate book, depending upon who you ask, but I thought it was okay. Not brilliant, but okay. It goes into the religious intolerance of the age and the paranoia that went with it.

For the Ottoman angle, it's a little before your desired time period (in the late 1590s), but there is My Name is Red, by Orhan Pamuk. Apart from being a good storyteller, he's a native Istanbulite. Perhaps background reading, if nothing else.

 

[Revenant J J]

For 1660s, have you tried An Instance of the Fingerpost, by Iain Pears? I know it's a bit of a love/hate book, depending upon who you ask, but I thought it was okay. Not brilliant, but okay. It goes into the religious intolerance of the age and the paranoia that went with it.

Ah yes I believe my mum owns this, synopsis sounds promising. So why the disparity in views?

For the Ottoman angle, it's a little before your desired time period (in the late 1590s), but there is My Name is Red, by Orhan Pamuk. Apart from being a good storyteller, he's a native Istanbulite. Perhaps background reading, if nothing else.

Actually the end of the 16th century is a interesting period in Ottoman history so I'm really pleased you brought this to my attention.

 

[Abernovo]

Ah yes I believe my mum owns this, synopsis sounds promising. So why the disparity in views?

Part of the problem is that it was one of those books that was lauded by the newspapers and, I think, got onto Richard & Judy's book club (if you know who they are). But the ending isn't perfect and the writing style is not to everyone's taste. All that aside, as I said earlier, I thought it was an okay book - solid enough, just not amazing. An airport read, but I don't want War and Peace all the time.

No problem about the Pamuk novel. I found it easy to get into.

 

[Revenant J J]

Part of the problem is that it was one of those books that was lauded by the newspapers and, I think, got onto Richard & Judy's book club (if you know who they are). But the ending isn't perfect and the writing style is not to everyone's taste. All that aside, as I said earlier, I thought it was an okay book - solid enough, just not amazing. An airport read, but I don't want War and Peace all the time.

Ah understood and yes I do know of Richard and Judy, unfortunately!

No problem about the Pamuk novel. I found it easy to get into.

After reading the first two paragraphs of the novels outline on wiki I have to say I'm quite excited about this one.

 

[Montero]

I think I stumbled across this one a while back but didn't know the books explored such a wide range of scenery.

What's your thoughts on the series?

Its one I have read and re-read and listened to as Audio book while decorating a house. Lymond is a bit of an extreme character - in that he is very good at a lot of things, but there are people like that for real. He doesn't always get it right so is not insufferably brilliant. He has a nasty tongue on him at times and takes an imaginative approach to getting out of trouble.
Good range of interesting characters and it is easy to follow - as in you don't get lost in the plot threads and who is who.
Vivid details - including clothing. (Certainly remember a particular glove being described, some of Lymond's costume at different times. Major characters are certainly dressed in full, can't remember for minor characters.)

 

[Steve S]

You might like the books of John Whitburn, for example 'The Royal Changling', which is set in an alternative Restoration England.

 

[Revenant J J]

You might like the books of John Whitburn, for example 'The Royal Changling', which is set in an alternative Restoration England.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention, I have just read the synopsis and I have to say I'm intrigued by this one!

 

[Montero]

JJ - have you tried Lymond? Just wondered how you got on.