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Historical Fiction

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Comments

  • #52
    Paddy Samurai
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,014 ✭✭✭Paddy Samurai


    pavb2 wrote: »
    I Claudius is very well written and easy to read Claudius is a reluctant hero and you find yourself rooting for him. I'm currently watching the bbc box set of the series from the seventies.

    I read the book and liked it big time.
    I would be interested in your opinion of the TV series as I saw the tv series a long time back and thought at the time it was pretty good.But I hear it has'nt dated well


  • #53
    pavb2
    Registered Users Posts: 3,025 ✭✭✭pavb2


    Hi PaddyS

    Yes the series is definitely dated in comparison to productions made today but in 1976 this would have been the norm and I daresay you wouldn't have 'Noticed' it.

    I read a review and agree that for the first 2 or 3 episodes you almost have to ignore and see through the dodgy sets if you can do this and concentrate on the plot and acting it is very good.

    It is like a dramatic soap opera with plenty of comedy.

    Some famous stars in the cast Patrick Stewart,Brian blessed,Derek Jacobi and John hurt.

    the book was fine for me but as there were so many characters the series made things a lot clearer as regards to who was who and what they did.


  • #54
    Paddy Samurai
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,014 ✭✭✭Paddy Samurai


    I would love the BBC to produce a new up to date version,as it such a interesting story with great characters.


  • #55
    quickbeam
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 16,287 Mod ✭✭✭✭quickbeam


    I would love HBO to produce a new up to date version, as it such a interesting story with great characters.


  • #56
    Mr.Buzz
    Registered Users Posts: 58 ✭✭Mr.Buzz


    quickbeam wrote: »
    I would love HBO to produce a new up to date version, as it such a interesting story with great characters.

    God, No. Whatever they put their hands on, it turns into a soft-core porn version of what it should be. Leave it with BBC and their pretty amazing mini-series record.


  • #57
    chasmcb
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 278 ✭✭chasmcb


    Mr.Buzz wrote: »
    God, No. Whatever they put their hands on, it turns into a soft-core porn version of what it should be. Leave it with BBC and their pretty amazing mini-series record.

    The BBC version had its ration of folk getting their kit off as I recall. And some of the shenanigans those Roman Emperors got up to would qualify as hard-core porn never mind soft-core!

    But to get back to the thread topic; there are two historical fiction books I saw great reviews of recently and I'm going to order them in my local bookshop next time in town; "Kingmaker; Winter Pilgrims" by Toby Clements is the first of a series of novels set during the Wars of the Roses. Came out in hardback last year and paperback edition is due next month I think. "Neverhome" by Laird Hunt got rave reviews in both The Irish Times & The Guardian over the weekend. It's set during the American Civil War and is about a woman who disguises herself as a man and enlists in the Union army.


  • #58
    TICKLE_ME_ELMO
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,931 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    chasmcb wrote: »
    "Neverhome" by Laird Hunt got rave reviews in both The Irish Times & The Guardian over the weekend. It's set during the American Civil War and is about a woman who disguises herself as a man and enlists in the Union army.

    I heard about this book last year when it was announced that Irish director Lenny Abrahamson was on board to direct the film adaptation. I think it was optioned before it was even released. I assume if the Irish papers are reviewing it now it's due out here now?


  • #59
    chasmcb
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 278 ✭✭chasmcb


    TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »
    I heard about this book last year when it was announced that Irish director Lenny Abrahamson was on board to direct the film adaptation. I think it was optioned before it was even released. I assume if the Irish papers are reviewing it now it's due out here now?

    That's interesting about Lenny Abrhamson being lined up to do the film. Amazon list its publication date as February 5th so I guess it should be available here around then.


  • #60
    TICKLE_ME_ELMO
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,931 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    chasmcb wrote: »
    That's interesting about Lenny Abrhamson being lined up to do the film. Amazon list its publication date as February 5th so I guess it should be available here around then.

    Yeah, I heard that at some point last year but haven't seen or heard anything about it since. Looking forward to reading it either way.


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  • #61
    Paddy Samurai
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,014 ✭✭✭Paddy Samurai


    donglen wrote: »
    One of my all time favourites, there's few books I read more than once but this is one of them.


    Yeah I agree Shogun is one of only three books that I have read multiple times.Although i start out with great intentions to read other books again ,I rarely find the time.


    I also got the TV series box set a few years back and I have watched it on at least 3 occasions.IMO it has dated pretty well for something from the 1980's.


  • #62
    Paddy Samurai
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,014 ✭✭✭Paddy Samurai


    I would also recommend Christian Cameron.I only started reading him recently and like him big time.I have only read two but hope to read a lot more.
    The following two i found to be top notch
    • The Ill-Made Knight (2013)
    • The Long Sword (2014)
    I also picked up a few of this "Tom Swan" series ,which I hope to read soon.


  • #63
    HamsterFace
    Closed Accounts Posts: 832 ✭✭✭HamsterFace


    There is the century trilogy I don't think has been mentioned which, although fairly poorly written, are highly informative and very easy reads which sometimes historical fictions aren't.

    They span the 20th century. The first is quite good and no the first world war. Second on the second would you believe, and the third is on the cold war which I have not yet read.


  • #64
    trashcan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,076 ✭✭✭trashcan


    doyoumrjones wrote: »
    hi

    I am coming to the end of Ben Elton's "Two Brothers" novel which is set in Weimar/Nazi Germany. I absolutely loved the book and am wondering can anyone recommend any other good historical fiction novels?

    Also can anyone recommend any of Elton's other books and are they also historical fiction? Thanks

    Haven't read it, but if that's your bag it sounds very like Winter, by Len Deighton, also the story of two brothers and the rise of Nazi Germany. It's set in Berlin from 1900 to 1945 and is a great read. I'm currently reading "Live by Night" by Denis Lehane, a gangster story set in prohibition era America which is also terrific. Its the second in a loose trilogy, starting with "The Given Day" set during a police strike in Boston in 1919. So far I prefer Live by Night, its a real page turner.


  • #65
    HamsterFace
    Closed Accounts Posts: 832 ✭✭✭HamsterFace


    Can anyone recommend any historical fiction on The Crusades?


  • #66
    GLaDOS
    Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 23,228 Mod ✭✭✭✭GLaDOS


    HamsterFace wrote: »
    Can anyone recommend any historical fiction on The Crusades?
    GLaDOS wrote: »
    Robyn Young's Brethren Trilogy is fantastic, based around the crusades in the 13th century.
    ^^^^ ;)

    Cake, and grief counseling, will be available at the conclusion of the test



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