Tag: Anya Seton

My top 10 non-medieval historical fiction books

Jun 13th, 2025
I am a medievalist at heart, but that doesn’t hold me back from enjoying plenty of historical fiction books from other time periods (though I have to admit to being slightly horrified as to what counts as ‘historical’ fiction on some lists – late 20th century, surely not? Yes I know I sound old.)

In fact, a list of non-medieval historical fiction includes some of my best-loved books of all time. If I had to choose a favourite non-medieval time period it would probably be Ancient Rome, and there is a LOT of fiction that takes place during that era – in fact the ancient period around the world offers a great selection. For the record, I will use the relatively strict cut-off for ‘Medieval’ as that I was taught as an undergraduate historian at St Andrews: AD 800 – 1485, very British-centric dates, but then I’m a British medieval historian. There are plenty of arguments against using those dates, but they are all purely academic, and this selection is not.

So, in no particular order:

The Red Tent, Anita Diamant. To call this a comfort book is not really appropriate considering its content, but I have read it multiple times, partly for its beautiful prose and partly for the moving story. A reimagining of the Biblical story of Dinah, daughter of Jacob and Leah, and sister of Joseph, this book dives deep into the complicated relationships between women as it goes through her life. Throughout the tale is the theme of women finding themselves both within and without their families, and how their interpersonal relationships shaped those with men. It is tragic, sometimes funny, and draws you in almost immediately to Dinah’s world.

The Bookseller of Inverness, S.G. Maclean. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this foray into a period of history usually a bit too late for me. A fascinating book, this is something of a love song to Highland culture as it struggled to survive after the disaster of Culloden which is still inflicting scars. A good mystery, and the characters are compelling and vivid. Absolutely a must for Outlander fans who may be looking for a slightly less romanticised version of Scottish history.

The Ghost Ship, Kate Mosse. The third in a series of what is now four books, this one is also my favourite. The story is of a young woman who takes charge of a ship and acts as captain and pirate. The love story is poignant and uncertain to start, but grows to be passionate and heart-warming. It’s impossible not to love a story of a woman succeeding – at least for a time – in a man’s world where, in the 17th century, she did not belong. The whole series is worth a read, detailing the Reydon-Joubert family adventures from Carcassonne to Paris to Amsterdam.

Nefertiti and The Heretic Queen, Michelle Moran. I have been fascinated by Ancient Egypt since studying it in 5th grade, at which point I actually wrote a research paper about Akhenaten, Nefertiti’s catastrophically monotheistic husband. Moran recreates the world of Egypt vividly from the daily life to the complex courtly struggles of queens, wives, priests, advisors and pharaohs. Loosely connected, these two books cover the rise and fall of Akhenaten and Nefertiti, the damage done by their reign, and the resurgence of Egypt under the spectacular leadership of Ramesses the Great. Told – as many of these stories are, I realise – from a female perspective, the time period comes to life through complex relationships.

The Skystone, Jack Whyte. This is the first in a significant series that represents a truly historical version of the Arthurian legend (the Camulod Chronicles). Though Arthuriana is often placed securely in the Middle Ages, this series re-imagines the characters as living at the end of the Roman period in Britain – a time during which the tales of a King Arthur may have their murky roots. True Arthurian fans will need to be patient but will glory in the slow revelation of the pieces of the legend, paired with long expositions on Roman military practices, engineering, ironmongery, and survival tactics. A really fascinating and fantasy-free version of the Arthurian legends we know.

The Altarpiece, Lauren Fogle Boyd. One of the more modern in this list, this book is about the disappearance of the Ghent Altarpiece during World War II, told through the lives of Anke and Erik, two natural enemies of the Third Reich. As with many tales of this period there are horrific events of fascism and cruelty by the Nazis, and a destruction of art and culture that sends shivers down your spine. The author brings to life the passion of those who tried to fight the Nazis and the many ways occupied Europe desperately tried to keep this power from destroying their history. After reading this the first time, I sent a message to the author (who I do know), telling her that this is the movie ‘Monuments Men’ the way it should have been done. Or, really, they should have made this book into a movie instead.

The Hearth and Eagle, Anya Seton. This book means a great deal to me simply for taking place in my home town. It is very much a love story to Marblehead, describing in detail its evolution from a fishing village to the wealth-infused sailing Mecca that it is today, covering several centuries within. The story follows a young woman as she experiences love, tragedy, and the growth that comes with maturity and experience. Not necessarily a new story in terms of originality, Hesper’s tale shows that the true love of her life is her home. In the end, she recognises the importance and value of coming home.

The King’s General, Daphne Du Maurier. Like many of Daphne Du Maurier’s works, this book is a mixture of mystery, tragedy, and romance. It takes place before, after and during the English Civil War, a period about which I know very little. The story is based around Honor Harris, an aristocratic young woman who falls in love and looks likely to have a golden life, until a tragic accident changes her. Also a tale of war, the book embraces the tragedy and futility of warfare and its impact on the civilian population. As ever, Du Maurier includes a subtly revealed mystery amongst characters that are inherently flawed.

The Historian, Elizabeth Kostova. While some have described this book as gothic – which I suppose makes sense considering its subject – I prefer to think of it as academic. It is a well-researched mystery with a gothic undertone, that describes in loving detail the world of academia before computers, and those who love books and dusty libraries. The story is told across the 20th century through three connected storylines but so well-written that you are never confused as to who is the narrator. From Oxford to Istanbul to Provence, the characters follow the lore of Vlad Ţepeş and find themselves caught up in unexpected ways.

The Century Trilogy, Ken Follett. As I have written before, Ken Follett is the master of multiple storylines that weave in and out of one another, sometimes barely touching and sometimes deeply embedding themselves in one another. In these books, he tells the complex story of several families over the background of the tumultuous 20th century, starting with the First World War and ending, in coda, with the inauguration of Barack Obama. The characters and situations are moving, tragic, funny, and real, as Follett places his characters at some of the most important moments of recent history such as the Christmas truce of 1914, the burning of the Reichstag, Pearl Harbor, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and so much more, which we see humanised through their eyes.

Many of these tales are, perhaps unsurprisingly, focusing on women in history, often battling to maintain their place in a world where their gender is one of their biggest barriers to success. As a student of history, particularly of a period where women are frequently overshadowed by the men in their lives, I always enjoy finding those female stories, and discovering how successful many women could be in asserting themselves in difficult places.

Honorable mention must go to the following books and authors:
1. Anya Seton and almost all of her other books. Mistletoe and Sword in particular focuses on the time of the Iceni rebellion. with Boudicca one of the characters.
2. Colleen McCullough’s epic series on Ancient Rome starting with the first Triumvirate and taking us through the life of Julius Caesar and those around him. The books are hefty but the characters very real and well-researched. I also have to mention The Song of Troy, McCullough’s reimagining of the Trojan war.
3. Anita Diamant, The Last Days of Dogtown. This book takes place in a small village in Cape Ann, north of Boston. A series of interwoven vignettes, each with characters that draw you in.
4. Alice Hoffman, The Dovekeepers. A fascinating story of women living inside Masada during the Roman assault in AD 72.
5. Patricia Clapp, Constance: a Story of Early Plymouth. A young adult novel covering the story of one of the passengers on the Mayflower, Constance Hopkins. I read this book so many times as a teen that I had it almost memorized and found it a fascinating tale particularly of the first year of the Pilgrims in New Plymouth – doubtless due to several school trips to Plimoth Plantation.
Getting away from the Middle Ages when reading fiction can actually be more relaxing for me, as I find it much easier to turn off the historian brain that critiques the accuracy, or authenticity. But then I find it important to remember that one can enjoy fiction (or indeed other media, TV and movies) from a historical perspective as long as one is not then accepting fiction as fact. Have many authors done extensive historical research? Yes of course. Are they then using creative license to tweak history into what works for their story? Also, of course. I love historical fiction, knowing that it is just that: fiction.

Lecture complete.
My top 10 books of 2024

Jan 2nd, 2025

This year started strong with the reading, but as it crept on and work got in the way, I found it increasingly more challenging to make the time to read. And yes, of course, if it is important enough you make time, but this year was a lot.

I also found that most of my books were big and heavy, meaning it was often not possible to take them with me on my travels (I am not a Kindle person, I like the physical book – I am a medieval historian after all). Stubbornness prevailed though and as I adjusted to my new lifestyle, time for books returned. I wasn’t able to tackle some of the more serious tomes I had in the pile this year, but they are not forgotten!

1. Never, Ken Follett.
The premise of this book is a modern scenario in which the world is on the brink of nuclear war, and there are elements that are frighteningly real. Follett is a master of telling a tale across multiple interwoven storylines, and this book follows that pattern.

I read Never over the winter break and found it to be fascinating and quite eerie. It’s not one of Follett’s best in terms of writing quality, as it seems evident that his editor is just letting him do what he wants. One or two of the storylines don’t seem to really matter as much as others but they are all compelling and intriguing. Certainly I was on the edge of my seat by the end, trying to work out if the world could be saved.

2. Elske, Cynthia Voigt.
The fourth in the loosely-connected Kingdom series that started with Jackaroo (see last year’s reading list), Elske is a really interesting tale that is clearly designed for young adults and yet covers some violently mature topics. Elsie is an independent young woman who escaped a potentially violent end and finds herself frequently standing out from society by her unique nature of self-assurance and self-preservation. I’ve written more about Elske and the Kingdom series before.

3. The Daughter of Time, Josephine Tey.
I was not really sure what to expect from this book but had been told at times that I should read it. What I found was a really fascinating and quite speedy read that is not medieval in timing but is all about the Middle Ages. The main character is an injured policeman of Scotland Yard, who in his convalescence stumbles across the story of Richard III and the fate of the Princes in the Tower. He is immediately intrigued, and through his exploration of the subject, the historical facts behind the case are slowly revealed. I found this story not only fascinating for its quite anti-establishment assertion of Richard’s innocence but also for the way in which it embodies good historical practice. It could in fact be used as a first-year historian’s guide to how to examine a story – look at the sources, assess those sources, discover their bias and their purpose, and determine their relevancy and potential accuracy. Fascinating both as a mystery and an example of how examination of history should be attempted.

4. Eve, Cat Bohannon.
A fascinating read that to some extent many if not all women should read. Strike that, all people. Bohannon answered a lot of questions I have always had about why childbirth is so dangerous – seemingly a biological nonsense – and more. The sections about giving money to women are fascinating, and the matriarchal vs patriarchal societies amongst animals.

The writing style is a bit odd at times, as Bohannan seems to make an effort to shock or surprise, though possibly in an effort to familiarise or normalise certain ideas or terms.

Overall though a phenomenal read, that demonstrates above all why women and men should be studied separately in medicine and science.

5. When Christ and His Saints Slept, Sharon Penman.
The civil war between Stephen and Matilda in the 12th century is far less well known than the much later English Civil War, but was no less destructive. Penman starts off with the history-altering wreck of the White Ship in 1120 and carries on through the many battles and tide changes of the war, before resolution in the accession of Henry II.

This is my comfort read, and holds a special place in my life as the book that introduced me to Sharon Penman, an author who would quickly become one of my favourites – as I have written. I also consider this book to be the pinnacle of her writing style: well researched, enthralling, and able to create sympathy for both sides of a brutal war. Even the heroes and heroines are flawed, make decisions you wish you could yell at them for, and often pay the price. Most significantly, this book introduces the characters of Henry FitzEmpress and Eleanor of Aquitaine, about whom so many of Penman’s books are written. For anyone tempted to take Penman’s books into their library, this is a good place to start.

6. Stay With Me, Ayobami Adebayo.
Beautifully written and heartbreaking, this book is a testament to a mother’s love, its power and depth. It is fascinating how well she can move back and forth between viewpoints, and yet there is never any questions as to who she is writing in that particular section, her style is so clear.

The book also demonstrates how key communication and trust can be in a marriage or relationship, and the destruction that can rain down when they are missing.

I read this book as part of a concerted effort to read more black authors, and would highly recommend, though it may be triggering to some in its discussions of the struggles around conception.

7. Hearth and Eagle, Anya Seton
I have loved Anya Seton ever since reading Katherine and falling in love with her style. This book is even more special as it is based in my home town and is very much a love story to Marblehead, describing in detail its evolution from a fishing village to the wealth-infused sailing mecca it is today. The story follows a young woman as she experiences love, tragedy, and the growth that comes with maturity and experience. Not necessarily a new story in terms of originality, Hesper’s tale means more to me as it takes place in Marblehead where the true love of her life is her house. In the end, she recognises the importance and value of coming home.

8. Ghost Ship and The Burning Chambers, Kate Mosse.

I’m classifying this as one as really these are two books of a series, the second of which I have started but not yet managed to finish.

Mosse is an author I can go back and forth over, but I really enjoyed The Ghost Ship and it made me want to go back and read the whole series about these women. I loved the historical take on what is often considered the more modern concept of gender fluidity, and her take on love crossing boundaries. The main character, Louise, felt very real and authentic, struggling against the gender norms of her time; there are so many powerful women in this story.

I am not sure that the publisher’s official synopsis pays enough credit to the first 200 or so pages of the book, about women finding their way in a world not meant for them to succeed on their own – but I look forward to reading more.

9. The Paleontologist, Luke Dumas
Whatever I expected this book to be about, it really was not. The writing starts of a bit clunky, I’d say, but eventually settles into a better rhythm. The story is a satisfying if a bit weird mystery, and Dumas seems to be uncertain at times if he is writing a fantasy or a mystery – the main character’s descent into madness is quite abrupt. An interesting attempt to explore the morality behind the practice of palaeontology and what the field owes to its subjects.

10. Hood, Stephen Lawhead.
I have always half intended to do a bit of work on the story of Robin Hood, but it is such a massive topic it can be intimidating. This book is one of many attempting to re-imagine the story, this time moving the tale from the standard Midlands Nottingham to medieval Wales. It’s an interesting take, though slow in places and at times a bit distracting – as any reimagining of a well-known story can be – as you try to work out which characters are which from the classic tale.

I did find it a powerful view into early medieval Wales and its fight to remain independent, a fight that would continue for 100s of years; certainly placing a young outlaw in this world makes as much sense as the time of Prince John.

I am not sure if I will read the rest of the trilogy at this point, but if so will most definitely report.

Honourable mention for this year goes to:

The first three books of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. The fact that I have watched the TV show has made it harder to read the later books, as I can see why large portions were shortened or cut out. The books contain a lot more detail and their pace is much slower, but the story is of course richer for that detail. There are times when I quite actively dislike Claire, and like on screen the story can be brutal. I may try to skip ahead a few books so that I can read the story before watching the final season.

The Goodwife of Bath, by Karen Brooks, which I have almost finished and am thoroughly enjoying. I look forward to writing about it.

The Mistletoe and Sword, by Anya Seton – I tried to re-read as much Seton as I could this year after really enjoying a few of her books, and this one has always been quite low on my list. It includes a relatively standard view of the Roman occupation of Britain – Romans are brutal and lack appreciation for the locals, a good parallel to most of the history of the British empire – and of the Druids as mysterious and maligned. Takes place against the background of Boudicca’s revolt.

And finally, a sneak peak into next year – here is the pile of books I received for Christmas/birthday gifts! It is a bit less intense than last year’s collection, yet equally appreciated!

(I have started reading The 1619 Project and am fascinated – I cannot wait to dive back in after the holidays)

Happy reading!
My top 10 books of 2023

Jan 1st, 2024

In no particular order, here are some of the books I have read and enjoyed this past year. There are many more I haven’t included, such as a few cheesy romance books I binge-read in early spring.

1. The Bookseller of Inverness, S.G. MacLean.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this foray into a period of history usually a touch too late for me. A fascinating book that is like a love song to Highland culture as it began to fade after Culloden. A solid mystery and compelling, with very vivid, real characters.

2. Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood.
Very different from A Handmaid’s Tale and yet similar in the way it explores the darker sides of humanity and civilization. It starts a touch slowly but quickly picks up pace with a mixture of mystery – what has happened to the world we know and how has this man survived? – and fascination as the horror of what humankind is capable of is revealed.

3. The Last Days of Dogtown, Anita Diamant.
The Red Tent is one of my favourite books, and my second foray into Diamant’s writing was not a disappointment. Part of the draw was its setting, not far from where I grew up in New England. Rather than a dramatic tale, this book is a series of poignant vignettes of lives that slowly weave together. Diamant’s writing is a pleasure to read and it is impossible not to care about her characters as they come together on the page.

4. The Lost Apothecary, Sarah Penner.
This book was recommended to me by a friend who said they thought of me immediately upon reading; indeed I found Penner’s debut novel to be worthy of its awards. I love a good mystery and one that takes place in parallel time periods is even better!

5. Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret, Judy Blume.
My inspiration for re-reading this book came both from the knowledge that a film was being made about it – and one of the actresses went to my high school – and from physically finding the book when cleaning out my mum’s basement. It was a fast read but reminded me why it remains so compelling – even in a very different time period, the characters, situations and emotions remain relevant and moving.

6. A Single Man, Christopher Isherwood.
This book was selected by my work book club and I read it relatively quickly, trying to recall if I had seen the movie that came out several years ago. I was not sure what to expect but I found it to be moving and stunningly written – one of the most poignant and real depictions of grief and love that I have ever read.

7. Strongbow, Morgan Llywelyn.
There was a time in my early teens when I did my best to read as many of Llywelyn’s books as I could, at least those based in the Middle Ages and earlier. As a medievalist, I found this easy read to be very enjoyable. It starkly lays out the shocking differences between the Normans and those they often conquered, and how that clash and mesh of societies could be challenging in many ways.

8. Avalon, Anya Seton.
When I first became interested in the Middle Ages, it was recommended by a family friend that I read Anya Seton and I quickly became a fan. She has an effortless way of combining a powerful story and characters with historical accuracy or at least authenticity. Avalon is not, as one might think, an Arthurian story but instead takes place in 10th century England and follows two main characters: Rumon, a young French nobleman who joins the royal court and begins an affair with the Queen; and Merewyn, a Cornish girl who is captured by Vikings and taken first to Iceland and eventually to Greenland. It is a fascinating take on the many changes in society at the time, and the varying cultures of Anglo-Saxon Britain vs. the still-pagan Scandinavian Vikings. I enjoyed it much more than I expected upon a re-read.

9. House of Earth and Blood, Sarah J. Maas.
I am very much not a fantasy person; this may sound odd coming from a medievalist, but I have always preferred stories in a more ‘real’ world, and with less of a fantasy element. This book is the exception – there are angels, demons, faeries, werewolves and more, yet they are less key to the story than the relationships and political dramas. Furthermore, the story takes place in a more or less modern world, and the main character is far from flawless (except perhaps in her sex appeal). Rather she is inherently flawed – stubborn, impulsive, at at the start of the story, frivolous. As the book goes on you learn more and more of her backstory and I became fully invested in her character as well as the agony and mystery of what happened to her best friend. And of course the slow burn of the main romantic relationship. I also read the sequel, House of Sky and Breath, and while I certainly enjoyed it, I felt it very much had a ‘middle book of a trilogy’ vibe in that so many things go wrong for the characters. Still, the continued unfolding of both mystery and love story make me excited for the third book, out in 2024.

10. The Sun is Also a Star, Nicola Yoon.
I devoured this book in three days at the start of the year before going back to work. It was a lovely sweet romantic story but not sappy in the way a more trashy adult romance might be. Instead the two teenage main characters are believable, dry and witty, and both the author and characters are warring with the ideas of romantic fate vs. scientific practicality. In the end, fate wins out but in a very practical way. Highly recommended, just a good story. And also now a film, though I have not managed to see it yet.

My Amazon wish-list was well attended to by family for Christmas this year, so I have a high pile of new books to read, and I am also excited to retrieve from my mother’s house and read more Anya Seton, who I re-discovered this year. I am sure a post reviewing more of her works is due in the near future – her epic romance Katherine in particular. Airport travel necessitated picking up Ken Follett’s recent thriller, Never, which so far I am finding an easy, pleasant read, with enough mystery and intrigue to keep one pushing through the massive tome of 800+ pages.

Happy reading all!