As the UK isn't going to get an edition of The Jewel of Medina any time soon, that book that sparked controversy and attack, all we have to go on is the reviews (BBC Magazine, TIME ). And what do they say? As a piece of literature, it's kind of trashy - it sounds just step away from the historical romance novels that feature cover illustrations of strapping men holding women with ripped bodices in a tight embrace.
It really doesn't bear thinking about - historical romance given a lick of paint and branded as literary historical fiction. Next it'll be Mad Magazine quoted alongside The Economist because they got a different cover artist.
I'm more interested in historical fiction that: a) sticks pretty close to the facts but uses the imagination to flesh out the details; or b) weaves fact and fiction so closely together that it cannot possibly be viewed as an accurate representation of history.
A classic example of a) is The Pure Land by Alan Spence. It's a fantastic book if you want history brought to life in the most lyrical, colourful way possible.
And b)? He may call it science fiction, but Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon and The Baroque Cycle series tick the boxes for me. I was interested in history before, but now I'm really interested in learning more about life in those historical periods, which, unfortunately for me, run from the 17th century to the Second World War - that's a lot of time to make up. An honorable mention must also go to The Law of Dreams by Peter Behrens who, along with Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes (non fiction making an appearance here), has made me really interested in recent Irish history.
What other suggestions do people have for good historical fiction, fiction that accurately brings a past era to (Technicolor) life? I'd really like to add to my collection of To Be Reads that are currently turning into a mountain range on my bedroom floor.
Related links
