What are some historical fiction/non-fiction books would you highly recommend to read?
Charles Palliser — The QuincunxJames Michener — Centennial, Hawaii, The Source, PolandEdward Rutherfurd - Sarum, Russka, London, The ForestLeon Uris — Exodus, Mila 18, Armageddon, Topaz, QBVII, TrinityIrving Stone — Lust for Life, The Agony & The EcstacyMary Stewart — her novels about King Arthur and Merlin are not exactly historical fiction since they concern legendary characters, but her depiction of the life and times of that era are wonderful: Britain after the Romans were gone, only a vague memory, but before the first incursions of the Germanic tribes we know as Angles and Saxons.Jean Auel — The first Clan of the Cave Bear novel - the rest are trash.Robert Graves — I, Claudius and Claudius the GodSharon Kay Penman — She has a ton of great books. I think my favorites are When Christ And His Saints Slept and The Sunne In SplendorWilla Cather — My AntoniaMorgan Llywelyn — many fun books: Bard, Red Branch, Finn Mac CoolJean Rhys — The Wide Sargasso SeaAlexandre Dumas — Queen MargotMargaret George — The Autobiography of Henry VIIIHilary Mantel’s books about CromwellCharles Dickens - A Tale of Two CitiesKen Follett — Pillars of the EarthCaleb Carr — The AlienistPat Barker — the Regeneration trilogyA.S. Byatt — PossessionUmberto Eco - The Name of the RoseJohn Fowles — The French Lieutenant’s Woman, A MaggotLeo Tolstoy — War and PeaceHella Haase — In A Dark Wood WanderingEllis Peters — the Cadfael booksPaul Scott — the Raj QuartetToni Morrison — BelovedJohn Galsworthy — The Forsyte Saga
What are some great books on Native American history?
The definitive work I would recommend that shows the spirit of Native Americans, as well as the defeat they suffered, is the classic, "Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee". From Amazon, (I will leave the URL to connect t it,) it tells the story of the plight of Native Americans, and their struggles more eloquently than any text on the issue I have read. It is all fact, not fiction, and of course, opinions will be beckoned by any reader. It is not apologist, it is a story, and if there was one book to read to summarize the destruction of Native American Tribes and their territories, this is the seminal creed. IMO. AMAZON: "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, is Dee Brown's classic, eloquent, meticulously documented account of the systematic destruction of the American Indian culture during the second half of the nineteenth century. A national bestseller in hardcover for more than a year after its initial publication, it has sold over four million copies in multiple editions and has been translated into seventeen languages.Using council records, autobiographies, and firsthand descriptions, Brown allows great chiefs and warriors of the Dakota, Ute, Sioux, Cheyenne, and other tribes to tell us in their own words of the series of battles, massacres, and broken treaties that finally left them and their people demoralized and decimated. A unique and disturbing narrative told with force and clarity, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee changed forever our vision of how the West was won, and lost. It tells a story that should not be forgotten, and so must be retold from time to time." To purchase, follow this link, to those that dare to read it, it is heartbreaking: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West: Dee Brown, Hampton Sides: http://www.amazon.com/Bury-My-He...
Colonial Literature: Short stories?
Do you mean relating to America in colonial times? If so you could read Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne, which has to do with New England during the 1600s. The story is one of the conflict between good and evil in human nature (and more). This site has information: http://www.articlemyriad.com/summary_goo... You can read the story: http://www.online-literature.com/hawthor... Another short story you could read is Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving. This story is set during the time period when America was still British colonies, then Rip sleeps for 20 years and wakes up after the American Revolution. You can read the story: http://www.online-literature.com/irving/... Unless you include something like the non-fiction Common Sense by Tom Paine, which had a big influence on the American Revolution, I'm not sure what other piece of literature you might want to use. Perhaps you'd want to read the short book called Squanto, Friend Of The Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulla or Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (one about the original pilgrims and the other about what lead up to the American Revolution and about the war itself). Another short story you might want to check out is The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving http://www.online-literature.com/irving/2846/ which would be a story set during colonial times in upstate New York. I hope that helps a bit.
Who are some good Christian fiction writers similar to Francine Rivers?
I want to get my mom a Christian fiction book for mothers day. Her favorite author is Francine Rivers, but she's read everything by her already. Who are some good authors similar to Francine Rivers that my Mom might like? Thanks! (:
I need a book to read that takes place in America between 1607 and 1877.?
There are several so-called "Indian Captivity Narratives" that fit the bill. There was a whole genre of early American literature devoted to the stories of English settlers - men and women - who were taken captive and held by Native Americans. Many of these were published at the time, in the 1600s-1800s and give a sometimes graphic account of their experiences. Here's a link to a wikipedia article about these published narratives: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captivity_n... Toward the bottom of the article, there is a list of books. I've read the ones by Mary Rowlandson and Rachel Plummer. (The book about Mary Draper- Ingles written by her son, John Ingles, in 1824 was the basis of a 1995 TV movie called "Follow The River".) (Other narratives in the list include people who were taken by tribes in Africa, Brazil and elsewhere, but most involve American settlers, soldiers or sailors.)
What are some well-written, lighter, entertaining/amusing novels that will teach me about history/another culture?
You didn't mention where you are from even though you wanted to know about "other cultures". You must be American then. :) So, here you go:1. The-White-Tiger- (Aravinda Adiga)- This will give you a lot of insight on social discrimination and general corruption in the Indian subcontinent. Even though it dwells on pretty serious and frustrating issue, the book actually is wildly humorous and full of twisted optimism. Probably the most lightly written 'heavy book' that went on to win the Man Booker Prize, this is a must read. (One thing you absolutely do not do is you DO NOT listen to the audio-book. I don't know whose idea it was, but the audio-book is read back in a fake and forced Indian accent that makes it almost a torture to bear through).2. The Kite Runner (10th Anniversary): Khaled Hosseini: 9781594631931: Amazon.com: Books - The Novel is set with the backdrop of the fall of Afghani regime and the eventual rise of the Taliban. It explores the dramatic changes that the society went through as a whole and how eventually religious extremism dimmed out a vibrant culture to replace it with fear and mental slavery. Emotionally charged and lightly written.3. The Hungry Tides (Amitav Ghosh) - This may not be the lightest of reads but it is definitely not too heavy and you don't necessarily have to be a literature fan to enjoy this. One of the most underrated post-colonial works, this book is an anthropological gem - and no wonder either; the author is one of the leading anthropologists in the world. The book is set in the Sundarbans and goes back and forth in history exploring nature at its harshest and man's evolution through it. It shows the raw, untamed and hostile beauty of mother nature and how that shapes and forms the humanity that lives around it. Also, the book is as good as its cover is nice. Anymore detail will be too much detail - just read it!http://www.amazon.com/Hungry-Tid...Happy reading! :)
17th century vocabulary anyone?
I'm writing a book, part of which takes place in the 1680's and would like to include authentic vocabulary. Most online searches are rather pathetic. Do you know any suggestions for a good place to look or reference? This will be in English, there are lots of French references, but neither I or the characters use French.