Historical fiction has never been more popular, with more people than ever enjoying reading it. Peter writes the kind of novels he likes to read - adventure stories with plenty of historical fact, peopled by believable characters, with a touch of humour and maybe even a little romance! Here are some recommendations, classics and less well known works, for like-minded souls to consider.

 

DEATH TO THE FRENCH by CS Forester (1933)

Known in the USA as "Rifleman Dodd" this exciting story is set during the Peninsular War, as a lone British soldier fights the French with the aid of the local Portuguese peasants. Renowned for his "Hornblower" series of novels set at sea, Forester skilfully catches the drama of the land-based action which has intrigued writers for two hundred years (Bernard Cornwell has acknowledged the influence of this novel on his Sharpe series and even name-checks Dodd!). It adds to the quality of the writing that the story is also told from the point of view of the French.

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MASTER GEORGIE by Beryl Bainbridge (1998)

Nominated five times for the Booker Prize, Bainbridge is rightly admired for her works of psychological fiction but she also wrote excellent historical novels, focusing on topics such as Captain Scott and the Titanic. "Master Georgie" is set during the Crimean War, telling of the experiences of George Hardy, a surgeon and photographer, who goes to war followed by a herd of devoted followers, each of whom tells a part of the story. Excellent on both the exploration of humanity and the grim realities of war, packing a great deal into a slim volume. 

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TIDES OF WAR by Stella Tillyard (2011)

In part set during the Peninsular War, this intriguing novel also focuses on life back in London. The strictly military matters are well dealt with but Tillyard also investigates such aspects as finance, medicine and scientific innovation. As well as the fictional characters we meet real-life figures such as Kitty Wellington and Nathan Rothschild as the story cleverly balances the two storylines.

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THE BLOODING OF JACK ABSOLUTE by CC Humphreys (2006)

From an earlier redcoat era, this is a prequel, but effectively the first of the entertaining Jack Absolute series. There is a lovely stew of espionage, swashbuckling, romance and intrigue. The settings here include London, Bath, Rome and Canada. Interestingly Humphreys involves "Genteman Johnny" Burgoyne, real-life father of Royal Engineer John Fox Burgoyne who features in the Ties of Blood novels.

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THE TIME OF TERROR by Seth Hunter (2008)

This is the first of Hunter's series featuring half-American Royal Navy officer Nathan Peake. As suggested by the title we are in 1793 and our hero becomes involved in the complex and bloody goings-on in Paris and elsewhere. A plot involving forged French banknotes, the Parisian catacombs, London politics, romance and some great sea action rattles along enjoyably. Hunter has a real knack for telling a good tale while bringing to the forefront many of the real-life figures of the time.

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THE SIEGE by Arturo Perez Reverte (2010)

Reverte is a really interesting writer. A former journalist he produces excellent contemporary thrillers (try "The Seville Communion") but he is also a fine hand as a historical novelist. This title is set during the Napoleonic Wars as Cadiz lies under siege by the French. Within the city a serial killer is at work. The plot involes a dashing corsair captain, a beautiful heiress, a dodgy policeman, a French gunner and, er, a taxidermist.

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MASTER & COMMANDER by Patrick O'Brian (1970)

Hard to pick any single title from O'Brian's magnificent series - read them all! This is the first of the Aubrey/Maturin novels and we meet the pair as they themselves have their first encounter at the Governor's House in Port Mahon. It is as satisfying an opening scene as you could wish for and the story then goes from strength to strength. Expect excitement, of course, but also one of the best-explored character relationships in modern literature.

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BLUE WATER by Leonora Nattrass (2022)

Set on a mail packet sailing to Philadelphia in 1795, a treaty is on its way to ensure that America does not side with French against the British. Not everyone aboard wants the mission to succeed. A murder mystery ensues. Really enjoyable, with a good cast list and an interesting plot, full of intrigue and tension.

 

THE CRUEL SEA by Nicholas Monsarrat (1951)

The moving story of the Compass Rose, a Royal Navy corvette serving as a convoy escort during the Battle of the Atlantic during the Second World War. The route from Liverpool to America was Britain's life-line and shepherding the merchant ships was both tedious and horribly dangerous work. As the months and years pass, the raw young officers mature and grow into a formidable team, though the stress takes its toll and eventually the ship is lost. 

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BIRDSONG by Sebastian Faulks (1993)

This is a wonderful book. The action takes place before and during the First World War. Hero Stephen Wraysford is put through the wringer both in his love-life and through his experiences in the trenches. The writing is both gripping and tender. Ties of Blood hero, Royal Engineer Tom Herryck, would recognise the horrors of mining so brilliantly evoked here. Highly recommended.

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THE DEVIL'S OWN LUCK by David Donachie (1991)

Introducing the Ludlow brothers (one an ex-Royal Navy captain turned privateer, the other an artist) this Nelson-era tale is part seafaring adventure, part Georgian whodunnit. The novel paints a persuasive picture of life onboard ship, with plenty of wardroom politics. There are several enjoyable novels in this sequence and the prolific Donachie has penned other naval sagas including a series based on Nelson himself.

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MONTENEGRO by Starling Lawrence (1996)

Lots of pre-WW1 politics in this Balkans-set page-turner, but it features romance, adventure and properly complex relationships. Ostensibly an amateur scientist, the gentleman hero is effectively an amateur spy and gets himself into a number of interesting adventures. Hemingway meets Buchan, anyone?

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GOSHAWK SQUADRON by Derek Robinson (1971)

Another novel set in the First World War, this story focuses on the war in the air - fought by the "knights of the sky" as the young pilots were over-romantically known. There is a rich vein of treacle-dark humour as the cynical, 23-year old CO tries to disabuse his junior charges of any notion of finding chivalry or glory in the lethal conflict in the clouds. The action is wonderfully believable and the dialogue is a joy.

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FLASHMAN AT THE CHARGE by George MacDonald Fraser

Not really a fan of borrowing other writers' characters - a rule proved by this wonderful exception. Harry Flashman is a delight: a randy, cowardly opportunist who gets involved in some of the great scrapes of the nineteenth century. Not a character to delight the modern taste for political correctness, the candidly roguish Flashman finds himself unwittingly involved in all manner of adventures. The fiction is great fun but, equally satisfying, MacDonald Fraser's grasp of historical fact is spot on.

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FOUR DAYS IN JUNE by Iain Gale (2006)

Gale has written a number of "redcoat" novels but this is my favourite by far. He tackles the Waterloo story through the experiences of five of the more famous real-life characters who were present at the battle, offering a range of viewpoints on the course of the battles. Including the Prussian experience, it is a worthy attempt at telling something of the whole story rather than the experience of just one army or another.

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RESTORATION by Rose Tremain (1990)

Set at the court of Charles II, this story chronicles the attempts of medical student Robert Merivel to find favour with the monarch.  Rewared by wealth and a knighthood he makes the mistake of falling in love with the king's mistress. He finds he must sink very low before he can hope for restoration of his own. At the same time dark and amusing, this is  enjoyable not least for the portrait of Charles as a complex, tricky individual removed from the usual "Merry Monarch" image.

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THE SIEGE OF KRISHNAPUR by JG Farrell (1973)

That rare breed - a readable Booker Prize winner! Set in a fictitious town (perhaps inspired by Cawnpore and Lucknow) during the Indian Mutiny, the story shows how life changes for the British community as the siege begins to bite. The Europeans are obliged to question their certainties and the results are both amusing and moving. Full of wit, the tale has plenty of solid history and politics, action, romance, sympathetic characters and enjoyable plotting. This is part of a loosely connected imperial trilogy together with "Troubles" and "The Singapore Grip". 

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FAIR STOOD THE WIND FOR FRANCE by HE Bates (1944)

Bates is probably best known for the delightful "Darling Buds of May", but this is a little different.  The story follows the fate of the crew of a Wellington bomber forced to crash-land in France after a raid on enemy territory in Italy. Franklin, the pilot, is injured and is forced to remain, falling in love with the daughter of the farmer who is hiding him. Eventually a plan is formed to try to make the perilous journey through Vichy France to neutral Spain. Excellent detail, finely drawn characters and a nice balance between romance and adventure.

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LONESOME DOVE by Larry McMurtry (1985)

This is a big, wonderful western (made into an excellent tv mini series). Set in the 1880s, the 800 hunded-odd page novel features a cattle drive from the Rio Grande to distant Montana. Along the way we get bandits, gambling, gunfights, hangings, horse-stealing, kidnapping, romance, stampedes - all of this with a huge cast of characters. At the heart of the novel is the relationship of former Texas Rangers Augustus McCrae and Woodrow Call, one an incurable romantic the other a driven pragmatist.

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THE RESCUE MAN by Anthony Quinn (2009)

Moving and beautifully written, this is the story of Tom Baines, working as an architectual historian in Liverpool as the German bombers target the city in 1939. Baines becomes a rescue man, trying to pull wounded and buried people out from wrecked buildings. A second strand to the story involves Baines' interest in the work of a mysterious architect in the city's Victorian heyday. The two weave together satisfyingly against a backdrop of bravery, friendship, passion and betrayal.

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PERSUASION by Jane Austen (1818)

Not necessarily an obvious choice for a consumer of adventure fiction, but there is much to love in Austen's last complete novel. Full of the usual wit and sharp observation, the story is very much tied up with the war which had been fought for much of the author's life. Her brothers served in the navy or militia, so she was well aware what went on beyond the drawing room curtains. Sailor's prize money is very much a part of this wonderful Cinderella story!

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VANITY FAIR by William Makepeace Thackeray (1848)

Again a story which has the Napoleonic Wars as its background - one of the classic Waterloo novels! Becky Sharp is among the all-time great female leads (wouldn't dream of calling her a heroine). From disreputable beginnings, Becky wages a brilliant campaign to better herself (generally at the expense of others!). Blessed with beauty, wit and enterprise, but no fortune, her single-minded quest for betterment is engagingly bold for a Regency miss in a novel written in Victorian times. Great fun.

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SEVEN MEN OF GASCONY by RF Delderfield (1949)

This is the Napoleonic Wars told from the point of view of the French - or particularly the soldiers of the title. There are any number of the great names featured, but the essence of the novel is to give a vivid picture of the lives of ordinary men in the Grande Armee as they experience both victory and defeat, from the Peninsula to Waterloo. It is neatly structured and stands up well for the modern reader.

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THE COMPLETE BRIGADIER GERARD by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1894)

Another set of stories from the French perspective - by the author of Sherlock Holmes, no less! In his way, Gerard is just as delightful and memorable a creation as the great detective. There is plenty of good historical background - certainly swashbuckling and romance - but, above all there is a delicious sense of humour. Part Dumas, part Tolstoy, part PG Wodehouse - perhaps the nearest "hero" to Gerard would be Macdonald Fraser's peerless Harry Flashman.

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AN ACT OF COURAGE by Allan Mallinson (2005)

Appearing midway through the series of Matthew Hervey post-Napoleonic cavalry novels, this story is set during the little-known British involvement in the Portuguese civil war of the 1820s, with flashbacks to the hero's youthful involvement in the Peninsular Wars. Mallinson, a former senior army officer, really knows his cavalry business and, if his characters sometimes appear a little stiff, the post-1815 settings are interesting and well-researched, while the insights into regimental life are illuminating.

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AN ICE-CREAM WAR by William Boyd (1982)

Boyd has gone on to specialise in whole life epics such as "Any Human Heart" and "The Romantic", well worth reading. This early novel is set in East Africa during the First World War and brings together a miscellany of characters - ordinary, mundane people - drawn together by the demands of a futile conflict. The individuals are well drawn and the author achieves the clever trick of writing a funny book about a very serious subject (or subjects!).

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THE SPANISH BRIDE by Georgette Heyer (1940)

Heyer was a hugely popular writer of historical romances. This one is set during and after the horrific siege of Badajoz in Spain and focuses on the true story of the dashing rifleman Harry Smith rescuing the beautiful young Spanish girl, Juana. The style might be a bit frothy for some tastes but Heyer's grasp of historical fact is very good, to the extent that this and her Waterloo novel were set texts for the cadets at Sandhurst military academy!

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GOSSIP FROM THE FOREST by Thomas Keneally (1975)

Kenally later won the Booker Prize for "Schindler's Ark" but this fine and unusual novel concerns the 1918 negotiation to bring about an armistice. The war has ground on for four long years, with millions lost and nations brought to their knees, and a group of old men wrangle over the terms of the inevitable German surrender. Set in a railway carriage parked in a forest north of Paris, the negotiators argue and talk on while the guns fire away and men continue to die.

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REGENERATION by Pat Barker (1991)

The first of a trilogy of the same name, the story is based on the real-life events at Craiglockart hospital in Edinburgh where the psychiatrist William Rivers is treating, among others, the poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen. Little was known about shell-shock or its treatment. As well as real-life characters Barker introduces fictional patients, but these are closely based on actual people, often mentioned in Rivers' own notes.

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EMPIRE OF SAND by Robert Ryan (2008)

Another First World War novel, but this one is set not in the trenches but in the deserts of Persia, where one Thomas Edward Lawrence dreams of ousting the Turks and creating a free Arabia. But before he can achieve his ambition of fostering an Arab revolt, he must use all his cunning to deal with a counter-plot by a dastardly German spy...

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ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT by Erich Maria Remarque (1929)

Absolute classic - one of the best novels about the Great War or any other conflict. Written from the German point of view (the ironic title suggests how the soldiers were forgotten at home) the story gives a very believable account of the sufferings of men at war. Significantly the Nazis banned it as "defeatist".

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THE RIDDLE OF THE SANDS by Erskine Childers (1903)

This remains one of the most enjoyable spy stories ever written. It is fascinating that the tale of a German plot to invade England across the North Sea was written so long before the First World War. Childers had sailed the remote waters he described and the book was intended as a warning to the British naval establishment. Ironically the writer was later shot for his devotion to the cause of Irish independence.

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NOW WE SHALL BE ENTIRELY FREE by Andrew Miller (2018)

A new friend! Really good writing. Set in the beloved Peninsular War period, this starts with a broken soldier delivered more dead than alive to his West Country home. Who is he and what terrible thing has he done? Partly recovered he flees the past, going north to the Hebrides. But his history is pursuing him in the form of two men determined to deal with him. Compelling characters and excellent on the period detail and atmosphere.

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THE MATHEMATICS OF LOVE by Emma Darwin (2006)

Another fine, unusual novel with a good helping of Peninsular War and Waterloo interest. Set in two times, 1819 and 1976, a bored teenager interests herself in the early 19th century owner of the house where she is staying - a man who proves to have an interesting history...

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THIS THING OF DARKNESS by Harry Thompson (2005)

Thompson was a gifted comedy writer and producer (Have I Got News for You etc.). This excellent novel, however, is a serious piece of historical fiction chronicling the life of the scientific naval officer Robert Fitzroy - among other things, the captain of HMS Beagle. It is a meaty read - 600 plus pages -  and is by turns funny and solemn. But at its heart is the search for truth by a good man, and the satisfaction and woes that brings him.

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A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens (1859)

Set principally in London and Paris, this was Dickens' most full-on historical novel and he worked hard to get his facts right. The background is the French Revolution and the cast features some typically vividly drawn characters. The action is pacey and the novel contains one of Dickens' great love stories. It also has one of the best-known curtain lines in literature (no spoilers).

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MEMOIRS OF AN INFANTRY OFFICER by Siegfried Sassoon (1930)

One of the great First World War novels by a writer who was also one of the greatest war poets. Featuring George Shearston, Sassoon's alter-ego, the story chronicles the wartime experience of an officer in the trenches, broadly based on the author's real-life adventures. Laced with dark humour, the novel highlights the horror of life at the front, disgust at staff inefficiency and shock at the public's lack of awareness of what was happening in Flanders. Excellent.

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ALL THE PRETTY HORSES by Cormac McCarthy (1992)

The first of his Border Trilogy, this is McCarthy's take on the American West, with three young friends setting off on a quest to find a way of life that no longer exists. This is high quality adventure writing, the prose crisp and beautiful. A classic "journey" novel, the sense of landscape is strong and the idea that knowledge can come at a heavy price is strongly evoked.

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THE KING'S GENERAL by Daphne du Maurier (1946)

This novel is set in Cornwall during the English Civil War, using du Maurier's own home Menabilly (which starred as Manderley in the more famous Rebecca) as its prime location. The historical background was lovingly researched, the plot turning about the real historical figure, Sir Richard Grenville. The evocation of the pressures put on family and friends during a time of national crisis might just ring a bell or two these days in Brexit-obsessed Britain.

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REDCOAT by Bernard Cornwell (1987)

This stand-alone novel of the American War of Independence came out when the successful Sharpe franchise was well underway. Written with Cornwell's customary pace and verve, there is room among the well-described history for plenty of action, both on the battlefield and in the bedroom.

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TAI PAN by James Clavell (1966)

Another story which has more than a few resonances for the contemporary reader. Set in the mid-19th century, the plot concerns a ruthless trader's attempt to turn Hong Kong into the great jewel of Britain's empire, in defiance of the Chinese. The surest way to achieve such an ambition was for lead character, Dirk Struan, to involve himself in the illicit but hugely profitable opium trade.

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ROSS POLDARK by Winston Graham  (1945)

The first in the famous series set in Georgian Cornwall, the characters have become well-known due to two fine television series. But the novels (particularly the earlier ones) stand up well in their own right. Like much quality historical fiction the stories deal with the big events of the day at the same time as shining a light on the lives of interesting, rounded individuals written as fiction. And they make you want to book a fortnight in Mevagissey or Polperro!

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BLOOD'S GAME by Angus Donald  (2017)

The key incident in this splendid romp is the (factual) theft of the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London by Colonel Thomas Blood in 1670, but there is a lot more to it than that. It is excellent on the power struggles at the court of Charles II and is as much about Blood's awkward but talented son, Holcroft, than the great rogue himself. Great fun.

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THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS by James Fennimore Cooper (1826)

Written almost two centuries ago , the novel's combination of history, adventure and romance still enchants the modern reader. It is a big story with timeless themes, not least in the description of the experience of the native tribes. The book was an early template for the "journey" novel. Classic storytelling.

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AN EYE OF THE FLEET by Richard Woodman (1981)

This begins the long series of novels in Woodman's Nathaniel Drinkwater series. Hornblower fans, in particular, should enjoy them. In this opening novel he covers the topic of homosexuality in the Nelson-era navy which was pretty brave and unusual in a novel of this time. The plotting is excellent and the sea action convincing and engaging.

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KIDNAPPED by Robert Louis Stevenson (1886)

Much filmed, the story follows largely true events which took place in the aftermath of the 1745 Jacobite rising. It is full of memorable characters and gripping scenes. The central characters David Balfour and Alan Breck Stewart are two of Stevenson's finest. The central theme is the serious question of justice but there is still plenty of time for romance and adventure.

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THEIR FINEST HOUR AND A HALF by Lissa Evans (2010)

Subsequently made into an enjoyable movie, this tells the amusing tale of an under-valued female copywriter moving from writing snappy advertising lines to scripting a movie designed to lift the spirits of ordinary people during Britain's low ebb of 1940. It manages to be moving, annoying and hilarious all at once.

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MEN AT ARMS by Evelyn Waugh (1952)

The first novel in the "Sword of Honour" trilogy, this is one of the great pieces of fiction to emerge from the Second World War. Full of humour, the three books also give a brilliant impression of the realities of war, in all their fatuous glory. Waugh is better known for "Brideshead Revisited" and his superb social comedies, but this is well worth a look for admirers of historical fiction.

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ROSE NICOLSON by Andrew Greig (2021)

Set largely in St Andrews in the late 16th Century, this is a wonderful stew of politics, religion, philosophy and, er. golf - all wrapped up in a great love story. It is beautifully plotted  and moves along at a cracking pace. Really good on the struggle for the Scottish crown. Makes you want to plan a holiday in Fife straight away. Also by Greig is "One Summer", a superb Battle of Britain novel. 

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THE SHOOTING PARTY by Isobel Colegate (1980)

A wonderfully elegiac reflection on country house life just before the First World War (made into an excellent feature film). The story mixes together romance, politics, social differences and the complexities of rural life into a tale involving poaching, animal rights, adultery - and a missing duck! A look at a way of living - both of privilege and hardship - that was about to disappear. There is a great deal crammed into a relatively short novel.

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AN INSULAR POSSESSION by Timothy Mo (1986)

Set in Macao and Canton against the background of the Opium Wars in the mid-19th Century, this is a big story dealing with greed, race, class and corruption. At more than 600 pages it's not for the faint-hearted and does take a while to get going, but it is rewarding if you are interested in this period of British colonial history.

 

DOCTOR SYN by Russell Thorndike (1915)

Filmed at least three times, this is great fun. Written by the actor-brother of Dame Sybil Thorndike, it is a tale of smuggling and piracy, set in Romney Marsh in the days before Trafalgar. The marsh is a place of mystery, plagued by the terrifying demon riders. The authorities attempt to bring the independent-minded locals to heel - with mixed results!

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BIRDCAGE WALK by Helen Dunmore (2017)

Elegantly written, the novel (Dunmore's last one) focuses on the challenges of female life in Georgian Britain. The plot explores private and public violence as change grips Europe in the form of the French Revolution. The story is told through Lizzie, who marries a Bristol property developer. Her husband is unimpressed with her ambition and spirit. As the country spirals towards conflict, so too does the marriage.

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TRUE GRIT by Charles Portis (1968)

Given the Hollywood Treatment a couple of times, this is a good read not just for fans of westerns but for anyone who enjoys historical adventures. When her father is murdered, fourteen year-old Mattie determines to bring his killer to justice. To do this, she enlists Rooster Cogburn - a man she believes to to have true grit. Funny and moving at times, the story rattles along...

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THE WAY OF ALL FLESH by Ambrose Parry (2018)

The first of a series, this is written by husband and wife team Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman. Set in mid-19th century Edinburgh (Burke and Hare territory), this is both a murder mystery and an exploration of the development of medical science, most notably gynaecology. A good story with well-researched history and a clear affection for "Auld Reekie".

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GOLDEN HILL by Francis Spufford (2016)

A charming, mysterious stranger from England arrives in New York in the year 1746. He is apparently wealthy - but can he be trusted? Lots of well-drawn characters, cleverly plotted, it will delight anyone who enjoys Henry Fielding. A lovely portrait of the great city in its infancy.

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