6 March 2008
History Reads That I Love
Posted by Alison under: Books; History .
I won’t put in a top ten, or anything like that here. I simply love to read history, and here are some that I recommend. Like everything else I like, it is an eclectic collection being added to all the time.
- George III by Christopher Hibbert - Very engrossing bio of a misunderstood King. (I’d read anything by Hibbert.)
- Con Men and Cutpurses by Lucy Moore - If you like to read about the seamier side of life, this is for you. Highwaymen anyone?
- Britain’s Royal Families by Alison Weir - I haven’t read everything she’s done, but I love genealogy and the history of the royal family, so this is essential reading.
- Bess of Hardwick by Mary S. Lovell - I love Bess, she’s far more interesting than any other aristocrat I’ve ever read about before.
- Queen Victoria’s Gene by Potts & Potts - I love books about genetic diseases (yes I know, weird) and this is about Haemophilia in the royal family.
- High Society in the Regency Period 1788-1830 by Venetia Murray - Totally fabulous. If you love reading about the Regency period, this book is definitely for you.
- Royal Tombs of Medieval England by Mark Duffy - Love this. Complete with illustrations of when some of the tombs were opened!
- Kings, Queens, Bones and Bastards by David Hilliam - The first and best in my opinion. Everything you wanted or didn’t want to know about the Kings and Queens of England.
- Monarchs, Murders and Mistresses by David Hilliam - Continues from the above.
- Purple Secret by John C.G Roehl, Martin Warren and David Hunt - Love it, love it, love it! More royal genetic diseases, namely Porphyria. Challenge what you think you know about the madness of George III.
I’m always reading and finding more, so this list will grow. These are just the keepers that I love. What historical books do you love? I’m always on the look out for more!
Update: more coming in!
- Charles II by Antonia Fraser. Love Charles, love Antonia. Read any of her books and not be disappointed.
- The Victorians (illustrated edition) by A.N. Wilson. This is just a brilliant all-rounder. Drool at your leisure.
- One Hundred Years of Fashion by Hart and North. I love the Victoria and Albert Museum, London’s fashion collection. Take a close look here.
9 Comments so far...
jams o donnell Says:
6 March 2008 at 9:16 pm.
Some good reading there Alison. I would add Beevor’s Stalingrad, CV Wedgwood’s Civil war trilogy, a selection of Chritopher Hills, Antonia Fraser’s bigraphy of Oliver Cromwell. I would also recommend a book called the Stolen Village by Des Ekin an account of a Barbary pirate raid in the Irish village of Baltimore in 1631. And loads more! I read fiction and history and little else.
Margaret Says:
7 March 2008 at 12:04 am.
Thanks for the lovely list! Some I’m familiar with, but there are many that I will have to check out!
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Mrs. Mecomber Says:
7 March 2008 at 4:06 am.
Ooo a Victoria fan! I’ve read numerous biographies of Victoria and Elizabeth. Can’t remember all their names, but they were all so good! I also enjoyed “Ben Hur,” John Wesley sermons, John Locke books. I prefer non-fiction– I used to have some beautiful old encyclopedias on The Victorian Lady (from the 1870s) but they burned in a house fire.
It’s so nice to see others who enjoy historical works!
chuck Says:
7 March 2008 at 4:30 am.
All I know is I nominated you. So come on over and see Meme Catchup (Hold the Mayo). We’ll hang for a bit. Then you must go home, ’cause I need to rest. *huggies*
Diane Scott Says:
8 March 2008 at 1:08 am.
My confession is I’m a historical novel reader, could never get into nonfiction much - perhaps my life is too real lol. However, I will take you up on some of your suggestions on my next trip to the library. Also I absolutely love the picture on the top of your blog - oh to have a spot like that in this world! (Dropped our card, hope to see you some time.)
Alison Says:
8 March 2008 at 9:04 pm.
I can’t believe I forgot Antonia Fraser she is one of my favourites too! Like the sound of the Barbary pirate one Jams. What a shame you lost those encyclopaedias…I’m coming over Rhonda! You don’t need to confess about historical novels here Diane, I love them too. Will have to post about some of the really good ones soon. Shall pop over and see you as soon as…
By the way, I’ve realised I’ve missed some, so I’ll be updating this list for a while yet!
Sue Says:
9 March 2008 at 12:21 am.
I highly recommend Alison Weir’s book on Queen Isabella! I am also a fan of Antonia 
Elinor Vickers Says:
18 March 2008 at 3:42 pm.
My top reads….I’m a Victorian nut mostly and have a sneaky interest in the seamier side of things….also into women in history
The Victorian Underworld by Donald Thomas (unsavoury lot, mostly)
London the Biography by Peter Ackroyd (Genius work)
Among the Bohemians by Virginia Nicholson (Artistic and different lives 1900-1939)
The Victorian House by Judith Flanders (reveals the secret life of the Victorians)
Daughters of Britannia by Katie Hickman (Diplomatic wives and their adventures)
Courtesans by Katie Hickman (Famous and infamous, total excess)
The Science of Sherlock Holmes by EJ Wagner (Early forensic history)
The Glass of Fashion by Cecil Beaton (Fashion and personalities 1900-1960, pure glamour)
Pic books and fiction would need another list….
My main vices….historical and vintage fashion pic books…country house pic books….historical crime novels….
