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Post by jubilee on Oct 28, 2005 13:38:25 GMT -5
After attempting to read, once again, a book that claimed to be historical fiction, I figured I'd see if there were any books out there that really were good pieces of Historical Fiction.
The book that I threw away into the trash last night after about 100 pages or so was The Illuminator. It's nothing more than the OC taking place in Medieval England. Really. I thought for a while I could stomach it as a comedy piece but it really just got to the point where some of the historical information was so far off base that I simply couldn't put up with such nonsense anymore. (A big, major, historical error besides the social etiquette of the time, was the fact that anyone of Jewish Heritage was forced out of England in 1290. There wasn't anyone of Jewish backgroun in England until 350 years later when the ban was lifted. Yet, in the book, which is supposed to take place in 1372, one of the characters married a Jew. Huh?) I know, lil things like historical facts bother me.
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Post by julia on Nov 1, 2005 18:47:27 GMT -5
Perhaps it should have been marked as 'fantasy'? I've started reading a lot of historical fiction, although my knowledge of history is only what I remember from the public school system. Therefore the idiosyncracies don't tend to bother me because I don't know they're there. Hand me something scientifically incorrect, though, and my socks come off!
Recent reading for me: Phillipa Gregory's The Virgin's Lover (just started). Next on list: Margaret George's "Mary, Queen of Scots" Yes, you can blame my recent fascination with all things Tudor on my RenFest fetish... Reviews of the above are welcome
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Post by jubilee on Nov 1, 2005 19:22:26 GMT -5
As far as The Virgin's Lover goes, or really, and of Phillipa Gregory's books, run. Put the book down and run away.
This is from one of Amazon's reviews on the book, and I think it puts it very polietly:
Historically speaking it's difficult to put twists and turns on events that truly happened. The creativity then come from the concept of "what if..." and I feel that this is where Ms. Gregory started her plotting. This is a fantistical love triangle that truly existed. Robert Dudley was the Queens favorite and this is historically understood. Perhaps this is why this story fell flat. No matter how hard you try...you just can't re-write history. Ms. Gregory though does an amazing job of bringing to life, the court, the time period, and her characters Robert and Elizabeth. The reader will truly feel the angst of this love triangle. Come to this read with an open mind and the reader should do just fine. Forget what you were taught and just enjoy this work of fiction as it stands.
basically, if you are looking for a book of romance, this is fine. If you are looking for something that has a shred of historical basis, then don't bother with any of her books. They are all....poorly researched?
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Dash Rippington
Ren Geek
Entertainer: Fight School
Sugillatios Consanescebitis! (The Bruises Will Heal!)
Posts: 68
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Post by Dash Rippington on Nov 1, 2005 20:39:41 GMT -5
OK... I have a recommendation for a book!!!
By the Sword : A History of Gladiators, Musketeers, Samurai, Swashbucklers, and Olympic Champions by Richard Cohen
This book is well written and extremely informative. And although it is packed with wonderful information from cover to cover... it does not read like stereo instructions.
In fact, from reading this book I was forced to change one of my lines in our First show. For four years, I touted, "One of the first things that Elizabeth did when she was corronated Queen of England was to outlaw any swords from entering the city gates of London if they were over 4 feet in length." After reading this book, I discovered that it was in fact in her 13th year as queen, the swords banned were any over 3 foot and a nails length... and she also at that same time outlawed the collar ruff from being worn if it were overly wide. Basically she was tired of constantly having to change her fashions as the people changed their tastes in them (about the ruff) and was truly concerned for the welfare of the citizens with all of the extremely long swords being worn.
This book has amazing photos included and actually shows the results of a sabre duel shortly after it's conclusion with the winner standing triumphant and the loser missing his head. (although the head is visibly on the ground beside him.)
I HIGHLY recommend this book if you have ANY questions about the origins of fighting and the major players involved.
I know I know... Dash did nothing more than endorse a fighting book... but really... what else would you expect?
Casey
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Post by Tatu "Sandman" Ni'all on Nov 2, 2005 10:06:15 GMT -5
OK... I have a recommendation for a book!!! By the Sword : A History of Gladiators, Musketeers, Samurai, Swashbucklers, and Olympic Champions by Richard Cohen I know this is a bit off topic but I as wondering if you ever watched the show Conquest? It was on the History Channel and starred Peter Woodward and explored various forms of competition throughout the ages, reenacting historic fights with the help of a stunt team. Episodes have focused on topics ranging from gladiator matches to 17th-century dueling to modern air combat. Ever see it?
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Dash Rippington
Ren Geek
Entertainer: Fight School
Sugillatios Consanescebitis! (The Bruises Will Heal!)
Posts: 68
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Post by Dash Rippington on Nov 2, 2005 12:13:02 GMT -5
yes I have seen quite a few of them. I also have about 10 of them on VHS. It was a very cool series that I enjoyed watching.
Casey
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Post by chelle on Nov 3, 2005 9:52:56 GMT -5
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Post by Amras on Nov 3, 2005 11:14:03 GMT -5
"Conquest" is indeed an outstanding series...we watch a LOT of History Channel and DSC at our house...
Oh, if you ever see the series that DSC did a few years ago called "Top Secret", watch for me in it. It was a 3-part series that covered New Scotland Yard, The Massad and NSA. I'm in the background of a few scenes in the last one mentioned...
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Post by Sir Black Fox on Nov 3, 2005 11:15:17 GMT -5
I've just started reading Kepler's Witch, the story of Johannes Kepler, an early astronomer who discovered "cosmic order" amid the Reformation of the church. . . and the heresy trial of his mother as a witch.
Kepler was a Protestant Galileo and has been a neglected hero of how science relates to faith.
I picked up the $25 hardbound book for only $9 at The Abby Scriptorium at PARF. It's where Cyn and I pick up most of our 12th-16th Century reading material. They have used and new books there, all in that age range of subject matter and cover nobles, Celts, witches, period cooking and traditional literature from Ulyses to Shakespeare and more.
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Post by SirBrain on Nov 3, 2005 19:08:21 GMT -5
A good book covering the history of England that I read a few years back is This Sceptred Isle. The BBC made into a documentry. I think it may have aired on PBS but I'n not sure. It's based on Churchhill's A History of the English-Speaking Peoples In fact it's author, Christopher Lee, was the editor of the last version of Churchhill's book. It covers the history of England from 55BC to 1901, but doesn't read like a boring history book. I especially like the chapter the corresponded to the time period of the American Revolution. It was interesting reading about the British perspectives on the events that lead up to the revolution.
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Post by Fyreblaste on Jan 11, 2008 15:31:54 GMT -5
Im currently reading 'A World Lit Only By Fire:the Medieval Mind and the Renaissance by William Manchester, very interesting reading
For Fiction I am reading the Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George, Just started it really so too early to comment on it, but it is kind of fun to read it from Henry's PoV
Im also re-reading Katherine Kurtz's Deryni series, not historical fiction but a good medieval fantasy series.
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Post by Fyreblaste on May 7, 2008 17:12:23 GMT -5
I recently bought 3 books: Atlas of the Medieval World by Rosamond McKitterick ( a wee bit more expensive than I like for a book)
Knight:Noble Warrior of Endland 1200-1600 by Christopher Gravett
In the Wake of the Plague :The Black Death & the World it Made by Norman F Cantor
all are very good but I like Knight the Best
a 4th book I ordered from Amazon today-The Teutonic Knights 1190-1561, not as much written about them as the Templars or Hospitalars, except thier repute as a bunch of bad tempered Germans, too bad they didn't have Wolgemut,and a tankard full of ale curtosy of MDRF, to get them in a good mood !
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