Historical Fictionistas discussion

Being Canadian I am always on the lookout for some good Canadian HF. Anyone got any good recommendations?
I've read
Bride of New France by Suzanne Desrochers
The Birth House by Ami McKay
Perdita by Hilary Scharper

The Hippopotamus Marsh by Pauline Gedge
English Passengers by Matthew Kneale

Oh, wait. Are you asking for books set in Canada, or by Canadians? Or both?

Actually set in Canada. But I didn't know Pauline Gedge was Canadian.

When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
The Summer Before the Storm and/ Elusive Dawn and/ Under the Moon by Gabriele Wills
Alligator and/ February by Lisa Moore

Will need to give this a think.

The only one I can think of off the top of my head is The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill set in multiple locations, including Nova Scotia (I was at uni with a young woman from Shelburne and she was proud of the mention in this book of the first ever race riot being held in her hometown).

The Bird Artist, The Deptford Trilogy: Fifth Business, The Manticore, and World of Wonders and The Tricking of Freya (also in Iceland though) are three that I liked. Particularly the first by Norman set in Nova Scotia. Also the first of the trilogy entitled "The Fifth Business". I have reviews if you are interested.....

I do also recommend "The Book of Negroes", which Darcy named.

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood Margaret Atwood is fantastic historical fiction and a really good mystery. I loved The Piano Man's Daughter by Timothy Findley, not least because it takes place in a neighbourhood in Toronto I lived in for several years.

Since it's Canadian historical fiction, may I add my own book? It's my first published novel that will be out in a couple of weeks. It's a quick read about a Klondike prostitute. Doll of Dawson

One of my favorites is Deafening - about a young woman growing up deaf in Canada during the early part of the 20th Century. Also covers WWI. Beautifully written.

I also enjoyed the historical mystery series by Maureen Jennings - Except the Dying is the first about a policeman in late Victorian era Toronto.

Thank you for your wonderful recommendations. My tbr is growing again.

I second the Maureen Jennings books. I am reading Timothy Findley's The Wars and it is quite good. I also enjoyed Barbara Fradkin's Inspector Green series as they take place in Ottawa (but they aren't HF).

My next up for Canadian reads are the Barthomew Bandy books by Donald Jack starting with Three Cheers for Me: The Journals of Bartholomew Bandy, R.F.C. (1962 version).

The Colony of Unrequited Dreams and The Custodian of Paradise by Wayne Johnston The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson I'm sure I will think of some more to add later.

Colony of Unrequited Dreams - I must add that to my list to read. And that reminds me, an excellent series about the settlement of Newfoundland is the Random Passage series by Bernice Morgan. (This was also made into a TV mini-series, which was what brought me to the books.)

Cathy wrote: "Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood Margaret Atwood is fantastic historical fiction and a really good mystery. I loved The Piano Man's Daughter by Timothy Findley, not least because it takes place in a ..."

I recommend Moonlit Days and Nights by D. H. Tool. It's a hilarious romp through 1890's toronto with a rakish fellow determined to bluff his way into the good life. Here's a link to the Amazon page: I'm not sure if this is the way links are usually offered... http://www.amazon.com/Moonlit-Days-an...

Guy Vanderhaeghe has written a really good trilogy set in the Wild West era. They kind of straddle the border between Montana, Alberta and Saskatchewan, as the settlers and natives sort of freely wandered back and forth across the border at that time, and are thus American and Canadian HF.

The Whiteoaks of Jalna series by Mazo de la Roche. The first one begins in Ireland, but the family soon moves to Ontario, and most of the books take place there (19th century).

Christine wrote: "I recommend Moonlit Days and Nights by D. H. Tool. It's a hilarious romp through 1890's toronto with a rakish fellow determined to bluff his way into the good life. Here's a link to the Amazon page: I'm not sure if this is the way links are usually offered... http://www.amazon.com/Moonlit-Days-an"

That sounds like a fun suggestion! Thanks! This is a great list. I was able to get it on the Kobo site for $3 with a coupon code.

I really enjoyed Sense of Touch which begins with the Halifax Explosion of 1917. It leans toward the romance side, but it's sweet.

C.P. wrote: "The Whiteoaks of Jalna series by Mazo de la Roche. The first one begins in Ireland, but the family soon moves to Ontario, and most of the books take place there (19th century)."

Oh: I second, third and fourth that recommendation! they're wonderful, and somehow essentially Canadian. The Williamsberg series came up in the thread about covers and gender: I love both sets of books, and have had fun drawing parallels and differences between them. The Jalna books make landscape into a character, and capture the colonial feel of Canada in the late 19th and early 20th centuries really well.

I read Burden of Desire many years ago about the 1917 munitions ship explosion in Halifax. Really good book. And I've been a Geek Fan of Robert MacNeil for quite a while.

I also second the Whiteoaks of Jalna series. I'd add two books about New France,Black Robe and Jeanne, fille du Roy/The King's Daughter. Another one set in Quebec,Maria Chapdelaine and Master and maid: The Charles Massey murder about a murder in early 20th century Toronto, involving a member of the Massey family.

I read Obasan for a college class. It's about Japanese immigrants in Canada around WWII. It doesn't have great ratings on here, but I liked it!

I'd forgotten that I have this book The Deserter by Paul Almond

Three Day Road is very good. I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. I also really enjoyed Gabrielle Roy's books, although they are not really historical fiction, but rather Canadian classics. The Tin Flute is my favorite.

I've just come across this author, who writes about New France. I haven't read her yet, but I wouldn't mind hearing from someone who has.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

There's also the classicKamouraska which I should've remembered sooner.

Re Kamouraska--It sounds like it's similar to The Awakeningby Kate Chopin. Is it?

Shomeret wrote: "Re Kamouraska--It sounds like it's similar to The Awakeningby Kate Chopin. Is it?"

I haven't read the awakening, so I can't say.

I really enjoyed the Birth House. I'm reading Emily of New Moon at the moment, which is an interesting book if not also quite naive in tone. It's not 'historical fiction' but it sure is historical :)

Margaret wrote: "I also second the Whiteoaks of Jalna series. I'd add two books about New France,Black Robe and Jeanne, fille du Roy/The King's Daughter. Another one set in Quebec,[book..."

King's daughter sounds very interesting. I'm hoping to learn more about that large chunk in my heritage - starting with fiction could be fun. Thanks!

Margaret wrote: "Being Canadian I am always on the lookout for some good Canadian HF. Anyone got any good recommendations?
I've read
Bride of New France by Suzanne Desrochers
[book..."

One of my all time favorite books is [book:Fall on Your Knees|5174]. It takes place in Nova Scotia starting around the turn of the last century.

I've just started the Rebellion Mystery series by Don Gutteridge - the first book is called Turncoat. It takes place in Upper Canada in 1836.

Away by Jane Urquhart is partly set in Ottawa during the assassination of D'Arcy Mcgee.

River Thieves: A Novel by Michael Crummey is set in 19th century Newfoundland, before the Beothuk were completely extint.

The Underling is set in Ottawa in the 1930s