Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

Hi! I've been interested lately in reading about Court life outside of the British Isles, France or Spain. I'd really like to find something that focuses on Vienna or Prague but I also loved a book I recently read about the Swedish court. Basically the same time periods from The Plantagenets to the Tudors but in other courts. Any suggestions would be appreciated. :)

I can't say for sure but during that period, weren't those places run by Germanic and Prussian courts? Maybe even Italian (for Vienna)? I'm not that familiar with those places in Renaissance but I reckon the divisions weren't the same as today and shifted with marriages.

It's set in the UK and it's 17thC but one of the Prussian princes showed up in one of our group reads Traitor's Blood

Thinking its the holy roman empire period I think will have a look.

So we're talking Holy Roman Empire then for Vienna/Prague? and Danish come Union of Kalmar for Sweden in that period. That sounds a tough ask :) but a good choice I reckon, as plenty of upheaval in both regions at the time esp with the influence of the papacy I would guess with Holy Roman Empire. Not sure I can pick any out for that period..... so not much help am afraid. but am rooting for yer!

I was looking stuff up as you were typing Mark & Darcy :) I was looking 1350-1550 C

Anything will do. I just finished a book about Rupert II's mad bastard son Don Julius called The Bloodletter's Daughter. The Stockholm Octavo was the Swedish book I was referring to and it's set a little later than I thought - around the time of the French Revolution - so maybe I can extend my time period to later. Basically anything 1350 - 1800 at this point because there doesn't seem to be too much out there. Again..thank you for the help. :D

And yes Andy - Holy Roman Empire, Hapsburg Dynasty, etc.

Glad you broaderned the centuries :)

Actually I saw a film t'other day about Swedish (actaully it was Danish.....) court C1750's, starred Mads...... A Royal affair

Close enough? its a cracking film I can tell you that much.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

this list has a few books in the period and location. Have a look and I hope it helps.

:) The WORST books ever written list...... LOLS, mind I jus came up with the wroung book for the film above.... twas one about George III

Andy wrote: ":) The WORST books ever written list...... LOLS, mind I jus came up with the wroung book for the film above.... twas one about George III"

Lols all well, will stick to fantasy and non fiction.

Apparently its a very popular subject in Germany. Hows your german?

Sie haben zu kommen , um meine Wohnung für einen Schlummertrunk wollen ;)

Lols, beats me, I can say hello thank you and goodbye and directions to the castle in 5 languages.

Well this has been helpful....

Rakóssy (Hungary)
The Sheen on the Silk (Byzantium)
The Belt of Gold (also Byzantium, but earlier)
The Serpent and the Pearl (Italy)
The Birth of Venus (Italy again, but no Borgias)

Those are just a few. If you would consider going as far east as Russia, I have two novels set in the 16th century, and I can recommend others. Meanwhile, I will be thinking about which other books qualify.

Loved The Stockholm Octavo, by the way.

I've been looking and haven't found anything that is specifically in any of those 'courts'. I have books set in the cities/empires but they seem to be all about the common people.

But here are my best suggestions:

The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner. More on the romantic side of the HF genre but a view of the French court circa 1500's

The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan. Again more on the romantic side but with a view of the Mughal Empire circa 1600.

The Fifth Servant by Kenneth Wishnia. This one is definitely about the Jews in Prague but includes a little about Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II in the late 16th century.

The Tournament by Matthew Reilly. 1546 in the Ottoman Empire with Suleiman the Magnificent. More an adventure story but it is mostly set in the Ottoman court.

The Bridal Wreath by Sigrid Undset. Not really any court but they are nobles in Norway 1300's.

Andy wrote: "Sie haben zu kommen , um meine Wohnung für einen Schlummertrunk wollen ;)"

Eine andere Zeit, danke, Andy.

There are also Eva Stachniak's two books about Catherine the Great - and .

The King's Hounds, Kimber? Have you read that one? Or is that the one you mention in your opening post.

Thanks Y'all. I'll definitely be looking into all of these. At this point I'm happy to open up the search parameters more - to Russia..to commonfolk..I just didn't want to be overwhelmed with suggestions. If you've got good ones then go ahead and throw them at me. I'm at a point where I'm just oversaturated with the British Isles and want to take a little break. That and the fact that I'm planning a trip to Vienna and Prague made me want to look in a different direction. Thank you again for your thoughts and keep 'em coming!

Terri wrote: "The King's Hounds, Kimber? Have you read that one? Or is that the one you mention in your opening post."

It wasn't the one I mentioned in the opening post but I have read it and loved it. I'm eagerly awaiting the translation of the rest of Jensen's work into English. Great suggestion!

These would be on the more recommended list then:

Niccolò Rising by Dorothy Dunnett

Death Comes As Epiphany by Sharan Newman

The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz by Michelle Cameron

The Cavalier of the Apocalypse by Susanne Alleyn

and

The Fifth Servant by Kenneth Wishnia is on this recommended list as well as the other list.

I know you're looking moreso for Vienna and Prague but I want to suggest a non-European court setting.
Empress by Shan Sa follows the rise of Empress Wu of the Tang Dynasty in 17th century China. The main focus is the empress but there's a lot of political/court intrigue between the various factions in court.

well done those who found some, was quite a hard ask I thought :)

Not sure if this fits your criteria as unsure of the court content but period & location works?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Kimber mentioned (#8) having read that before.
I had thought about it myself, but it's not really about the court, rather hangers-on ha!

Oh Aye! Good spot Darcy, it is Friday in my defence.... ;D

Haha, not sure how that'd hang in a court of law, but certainly an acceptable defence here.

Loved the Stockholm Octavo! Brilliant book. My TBR is growing by leaps and bounds :D