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The best books that are about, set in, or written in the Middle Ages time period. (The 5th century to the 15th century)
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4.14 avg rating — 407,507 ratings
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3.53 avg rating — 242,042 ratings
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3.51 avg rating — 357,191 ratings
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4.05 avg rating — 45,580 ratings
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4.41 avg rating — 23,083 ratings
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it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 70 ratings
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4.03 avg rating — 213,358 ratings
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10

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4.06 avg rating — 120,983 ratings
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11

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3.89 avg rating — 1,057,290 ratings
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4.27 avg rating — 116,434 ratings
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13

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3.77 avg rating — 81,872 ratings
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14

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3.91 avg rating — 40,115 ratings
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15

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3.77 avg rating — 100,802 ratings
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3.88 avg rating — 44,724 ratings
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4.09 avg rating — 179,856 ratings
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4.30 avg rating — 25,460 ratings
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4.03 avg rating — 67,054 ratings
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4.21 avg rating — 36,978 ratings
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4.03 avg rating — 1,091,792 ratings
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4.26 avg rating — 17,783 ratings
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3.51 avg rating — 19,913 ratings
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3.93 avg rating — 41,362 ratings
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4.40 avg rating — 11,013 ratings
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4.13 avg rating — 215,155 ratings
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4.45 avg rating — 9,944 ratings
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4.02 avg rating — 27,342 ratings
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29

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4.02 avg rating — 225,470 ratings
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30

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3.81 avg rating — 47,571 ratings
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31

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4.18 avg rating — 68,785 ratings
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32

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3.74 avg rating — 43,745 ratings
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3.94 avg rating — 16,905 ratings
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34

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3.87 avg rating — 220,848 ratings
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35

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3.81 avg rating — 26,100 ratings
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36

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4.29 avg rating — 9,633 ratings
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4.32 avg rating — 64,041 ratings
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38

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4.42 avg rating — 63,698 ratings
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39

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4.15 avg rating — 16,315 ratings
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40

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3.91 avg rating — 76,605 ratings
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41

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4.17 avg rating — 32,723 ratings
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42

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3.78 avg rating — 109,734 ratings
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43

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3.96 avg rating — 45,817 ratings
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44

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3.92 avg rating — 8,908 ratings
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3.73 avg rating — 43,816 ratings
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46

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3.71 avg rating — 7,042 ratings
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47

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3.83 avg rating — 13,115 ratings
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48

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3.84 avg rating — 5,015 ratings
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3.82 avg rating — 9,201 ratings
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50

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3.68 avg rating — 5,842 ratings
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51

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3.52 avg rating — 15,435 ratings
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52

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3.89 avg rating — 40,636 ratings
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4.01 avg rating — 1,609 ratings
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4.36 avg rating — 54,386 ratings
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4.39 avg rating — 8,380 ratings
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56

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3.87 avg rating — 17,303 ratings
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4.14 avg rating — 10,055 ratings
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4.02 avg rating — 4,443 ratings
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3.91 avg rating — 60,435 ratings
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60

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4.27 avg rating — 2,493 ratings
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61

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4.55 avg rating — 3,046 ratings
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62

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4.16 avg rating — 34,824 ratings
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63

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3.96 avg rating — 185,281 ratings
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64

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4.07 avg rating — 18,539 ratings
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65

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3.87 avg rating — 5,919 ratings
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66

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4.33 avg rating — 6,639 ratings
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4.05 avg rating — 96,235 ratings
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68

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4.10 avg rating — 75,715 ratings
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69

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3.96 avg rating — 14,007 ratings
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69

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4.12 avg rating — 8,072 ratings
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71

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4.10 avg rating — 2,805 ratings
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72

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3.92 avg rating — 5,655 ratings
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3.83 avg rating — 10,381 ratings
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3.95 avg rating — 9,255 ratings
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4.22 avg rating — 4,298 ratings
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4.33 avg rating — 47,178 ratings
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4.25 avg rating — 58,046 ratings
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3.96 avg rating — 2,748 ratings
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3.83 avg rating — 79,960 ratings
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3.57 avg rating — 8,603 ratings
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81

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 7,149 ratings
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82

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4.07 avg rating — 4,685 ratings
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83

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3.91 avg rating — 244,095 ratings
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4.44 avg rating — 32,696 ratings
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85

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4.07 avg rating — 67,855 ratings
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86

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4.71 avg rating — 66 ratings
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87

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4.80 avg rating — 56 ratings
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88

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4.14 avg rating — 21,545 ratings
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89

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3,408 ratings
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90

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3.72 avg rating — 48,161 ratings
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91

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4.28 avg rating — 3,447 ratings
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92

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3.76 avg rating — 502 ratings
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93

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3.54 avg rating — 428 ratings
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94

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4.26 avg rating — 12,966 ratings
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95

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3.75 avg rating — 7,392 ratings
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96

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4.27 avg rating — 13,814 ratings
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97

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3.40 avg rating — 5,554 ratings
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98

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4.15 avg rating — 1,323 ratings
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99

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3.84 avg rating — 3,982 ratings
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100

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4.02 avg rating — 3,044 ratings
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1,317 books · 1,929 voters · list created July 16th, 2008 by Steven Harbin (votes) .
643 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Steven 4522 books
2489 friends
Laura 13106 books
321 friends
Dave 867 books
65 friends
Gina 2 books
0 friends
Roberta 1611 books
154 friends
Susanna - Censored by GoodReads 3388 books
848 friends
Wealhtheow 4761 books
686 friends
Karen 2695 books
114 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-20 of 20 (20 new)

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message 1: by Brett (new)

Brett Sorge If you are talking about middle ages historical fiction how come Bernard Cornwall is not one of the mentioned books/author??? He is definitely the champ of writing on this period!


message 2: by IWB (new)

IWB The list is ABOUT the Middle Ages (i.e., secondary sources), not books FROM the middle-Ages (i.e., primary sources). Thus, the Mabinogion, Bede, Beowulf,Boccaccio, Chaucer, Marie de France, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight ought not to be on the list.


message 3: by Steven (new)

Steven Harbin Brett,
Which particular titles of Bernard Cornwell 's would you suggest? I've never read any of his works, but I've had friends suggest him.
Also, you know you can add books to the list and vote for them, right?



message 4: by Steven (new)

Steven Harbin IW,
I'm of a like mind, I only voted (initially) for secondary works and historical novels but I could see a case for including works from the MA as well...but you're correct than in that case the list title probably should be slightly changed...


message 5: by Brett (last edited Dec 11, 2009 02:39PM) (new)

Brett brett,
I couldn't agree more! I clicked on this list expecting to see loads of bernard cornwell! He is really an awesome writer. I really think his books define the genre.

Steve,

I would suggest Vagabond, The Archer's Tale, and Heretic. I believe these three books comprise The Grail Quest series?? They are so amazing! Well, I am being a bit partial with these suggestions; they are the only Cornwell I've read. I'm sure there are other great titles as well..

...o yea and IWB...you're a dipshit. This is a list ok, "books that are about, set in, or written in the Middle Ages," therefore the list should include books FROM the Middle Ages..moron..






Susanna - Censored by GoodReads It's easy enough to add books to the list - the form is over at the right-hand side of the page ("find/add books to list")


message 7: by Chipchick (new)

Chipchick I loved the Grail Series by Cornwell. As well as Azincourt.


Barbara Gem(ini) "The Marlowe Conspiracy" is set in 16th century - it's hardly middle ages.


message 9: by AndrewJL (new)

AndrewJL Foucault's Pendulum seems like a stretch to me. The novel is set in the 20th century, and though the characters spend a lot of time discussing the Templars, the book is still not medieval.


message 10: by Michael (new)

Michael "Agricola and the Germania" by Tacitus should be deleted as it was written in the 1st century CE, and "A Canticle for Leibowitz" is set in the future after a nuclear war, so again not really MA and should be deleted from the list.


message 11: by Beatriz (new)

Beatriz Lara silva Andrew wrote: "Foucault's Pendulum seems like a stretch to me. The novel is set in the 20th century, and though the characters spend a lot of time discussing the Templars, the book is still not medieval."


message 12: by Beatriz (new)

Beatriz Lara silva I agree insted the name of the rose should be right in the middle age


message 13: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Aug 30, 2015 08:11AM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) The term 'Middle Ages' is only used for a Western European phenomena, as far as I know. Yet there are books on this list which are not set in during the Middle Ages of Western Europe, like The Tale of Genji (#149), for instance. A great book, but I very much doubt whether it should be on this list? Same goes for The Pillow Book (#297).

Andrew wrote: "Foucault's Pendulum seems like a stretch to me. The novel is set in the 20th century, and though the characters spend a lot of time discussing the Templars, the book is still not medieval."
I've read the book and agree, which is why I haven't voted for it.
Beatriz wrote: "I agree insted the name of the rose should be right in the middle age". The Name of the Rose (#484) is indeed set in the Middle Ages.

IWB wrote: "The list is ABOUT the Middle Ages (i.e., secondary sources), not books FROM the middle-Ages (i.e., primary sources).
Seems the description of the Listopia has been adapted since your comment, as it now also includes "written in the Middle Ages time period" (which is why I voted for some written during that period).


Elyse of South Jersey I removed A Canticle for Leibowitz. It is a post apocalyptic science fiction book. Its plot involves a time way in the future that includes monasteries similar to those from the actual Middle Ages. I can understand where some readers might think this book should be included because of this.


message 15: by Kathy KS (new)

Kathy KS Ken Follett's Fall of Giants doesn't seem to fit this list. (#301 today)


message 16: by Kathy KS (new)

Kathy KS #509, How to Beg for Cigarettes. It doesn't appear to fit this topic, but maybe I'm missing something here...


Susanna - Censored by GoodReads I'd say both should be removed from this list.


message 18: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Apr 17, 2019 11:23PM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) I don't think Wolf Hall (#109) should be here, and neither should Bring Up the Bodies (#173), its sequel, as they are not set in the Middle Ages (5th to 15th century). Nor should L'Œuvre au noir (#400) as it is set in the 16th century.

Does The Last Battle (#597) count?

It is too long ago since I've read it but I seem to remember Foucault's Pendulum (#38) was set outside the Middle Ages as well. But like I said, it's too long ago to be sure (see also my earlier message).


message 19: by Zak (new)

Zak The Return of Martin Guerre should not be on here, as it is Early Modern history.


message 20: by Daniel (new)

Daniel Fogliarine Thank you very much for creating this list!


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