readers advisory for all discussion

My friend wants some fiction that accurately portrays medieval life. His fiction preferences are usually theology-based, with Updike on top of his favorite writers ever. He said, "Crispin and the Cross of Lead isn't cutting it."

He has not read that or much at all in the way of medieval fiction. He is interested in the era and likes to learn from realistic fiction rather than nonfiction. I'm assuming common people, but I'll ask him. Thanks for your response.

Try:

The Pillars of the Earth

Sharon Kay Penman

The Sheriff of Nottingham

Edith Pargeter

Dorothy Dunnett


The Hangman's Daughter

Thanks so much! I'll pass on the recommendations and maybe check some of them out this summer.

You're correct Elizabeth.

Ellis Peters is Pargeter.

He says he definitely is interested in common people life from the era and he wrote down some of your recommendations. Thanks.

If your friend is still interested, he should check out The Voyage of the Short Serpent by Bernard du Boucheron. A Norwegian Inquisitor is commanded to root out heresy in a godforsaken bit of Greenland (there's your theology angle). It is late late middle ages, probably early modern Europe, but it still fits I think. The Goodreads page for the book says Iceland, but that is bunk from a bad Publisher's Weekly review. It's brief and exciting. Part epistolary novel, part survival narrative. Amazing book.

oh, yeah, i read that too!! (view spoiler)[plus, cannibalism!! (hide spoiler)]

which i don't think is a spoiler because of the cover and i think the back-cover copy, but better safe than (view spoiler)[dinner (hide spoiler)]

Elizabeth wrote: "Doomsday Book..."

this was going to be my suggestion too.

Jesse Bullington writes a weird hybrid of Medieval fiction and fantasy that's not to be missed. His The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart is impeccably researched.

Another that is science fiction, but has the medieval history correct: Eifelheim
Wolf Hall was quite popular recently

I'm not very good with time periods, so I'm not sure Galileo's Daughter would fit perfectly or not. It is historical fiction because half of the correspondence between Galileo and his daughter, a nun, were re-created from the other half of the letters found.

I loved Cadfael the series but haven't read the books. Shame. I feel it and acknowledge it.

Check out Stephen Lawhead's Robin Hood series set in Wales? I am not sure about theology, but Lawhead's last book in the series won a Christy award in 2008...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_...

The Long Ships by Frans Gunnar Bengtsson. Reads a lot like an Icelandic saga, but with a very subtle postmodern sense of humor that makes it a blast to read. There are quite a few theological discussions in the book as the spread of Christianity throughout the Nordic world clashing with the old pagan religion (and Islam, as well) is a major subtext. There's a lot of accurate period detail (circa 1000 AD), and by most accounts it provides an accurate portrayal of the Viking lifestyle and way of thinking. I can't recommend it enough.

I read Legacy by Cayla Kluver and loved it, it is YA but I know there has to be books that are similar out there somewhere. It is a fantasy with kings/queens, war (not heavy on war build up), sweet romance, lots of suspense and mystery, any ideas/recommendations anyone? I hope this is the right place to ask this. Thanks:D

I'm reading The Cloister and the Hearth by Charles Reade right now. So far it is wonderful. Religion plays a big role in it, so it may be right up your friend's alley.

I haven't read it yet (I plan to, though), but Kristin Lavransdatter is very highly regarded.

EDIT: I just noticed that the original poster is a deleted member. Oh, well, recommendations are recommendations.

I have Kristin Lavransdatter, I haven't read it yet. It almost seems to overwhelming, I will have to get to it though sooner or latter. Thanks:)

Yep, 1100+ pages is pretty daunting. Do you have the Penguin edition with the recent translation or one of the older editions? Apparently the recent translation is much better, or at least easier to read.

Daunting yes! I have the Abacus 1995 version, older version. Let me know if you can think of any other books, thanks:)