Books Similar to Celtic Crusades?

[cpr805]

Can anyone suggest any books similar to Mr. Lawhead's Celtic Crusades series? The series certainly piqued my interest in not only that particular time period, but also in the crusades (can't wait to see Kingdom of Heaven tomorrow!!). I'm guessing that Mr. Lawhead won't be writing anymore books for that series, so is anyone aware of any out there that are of the similar, historical time period that are good? Thanks

[twyrch]

cpr805 said:

Can anyone suggest any books similar to Mr. Lawhead's Celtic Crusades series? The series certainly piqued my interest in not only that particular time period, but also in the crusades (can't wait to see Kingdom of Heaven tomorrow!!). I'm guessing that Mr. Lawhead won't be writing anymore books for that series, so is anyone aware of any out there that are of the similar, historical time period that are good? Thanks

If you enjoyed that series, you would probably enjoy Byzantium, Patrick and his upcoming trilogy about Robin Hood.

Also, the Pendragon Cycle might interest you as well, although it is not Historical Fiction.

I'm not too versed on other authors for that genre, since I mainly stick to Fantasy/Magic, but I'm sure one of the other members could help you.

Welcome to the Forum, BTW. I'm glad to see you posting.

[Gwalchmai]

Theres this series of books I read all about the Welsh and their fight for freedom against the English. I think its a trilogy and its a great read. Its a great read, and really helped me to begin to straighten out that whole british time period thing. Anyways, its by SHARON KAY PENMAN and the books are called Here Be Dragons, Falls the Shadow, and The Reckoning. It ends up being a very depressing story but I learned so much more about English and British History through that than I did in any text book.

I would also suggest any books by Morgan Llywelyn. She generally writes about the Irish and their exploits and its everything from the coming of the Gaels to Ireland to the Easter Rebellion. But I do find most of her books have a sad tragic ending at the end.

[cpr805]

Thank you both for your suggestions. I did get a chance to read Byzantium. Terrific book, even better than the Celtic Crusades, in my opinion

[calixar]

cpr805 said:

Thank you both for your suggestions. I did get a chance to read Byzantium. Terrific book, even better than the Celtic Crusades, in my opinion

Byzantium, IMO, is one the greatest books ever written.

[blixbrunner]

I read this book called 'A Booke of Days'. It is said to be the diary of a French Knight who went on Crusade. It is pretty shocking stuff.

Here is the Editorial Review from Amazon and a link to it.
From Publishers Weekly
This intriguing historical novel is a standout in the genre. Rivele (coauthor of the screenplay for Oliver Stone's Nixon) structures his fiction debut as a journal kept by Roger, Duke of Lunel, an 11th-century French nobleman who joins thousands of knights, soldiers and pilgrims on the First Crusade against Turkish forces occupying the Holy Land. Roger enlists in the pilgrimage to atone for guilt he feels over his illicit courtship of the "dark and handsome" Jehanne, whom he marries after the death of her first husband, Eustace of Valdevert. But he discovers that the price of remission of a sin may be far greater than the sin itself. As a chronicle of war, the journal works effectively, distilling the immense scope of the Crusade through the filter of Roger's perspective as knight and pilgrim. His recounting of battle scenes may not rise to the grandeur of traditional historical epics, but his record is all the more personal and moving since it contains the weary, often disillusioned thoughts of an officer at the end of a long day. The diary also describes the fierce rivalry, even treachery, among military and church leaders, as well as the obstacles of disease, starvation, desertion and alien landscape. Suffering is not the whole story, however, for Roger is a man of contemplation and reflection who continually questions the true motives of the pilgrimage. His European-bred prejudice against the Turks dissolves when he observes them, especially in light of the ever increasing barbarism of his fellow Christians. Then his views of religion, duty and love are altered forever by his relationship with Yasmin, an educated Turkish woman. Roger's honest, tenacious quest for redemption in the midst of the Crusade's inhumanity and ignorance makes this an absorbing and intelligent look at a remote period of history.
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0786703482/002-5189553-1520014?v=glance

[Inkling]

Wow, all those books sound great....I'm going to have to check some of them out- after I make a dent in the pile that's making my bookshelf sag. The only book I've read concerning the crusades(besides Lawhead's trilogy) was the Talisman by Sir Walter Scott. It's been years, but I'm pretty sure that is was good and I'm pretty sure that I enjoyed it....RAH! curses on my memory...

[caitriona]

gwalchmai said:

Theres this series of books I read all about the Welsh and their fight for freedom against the English. I think its a trilogy and its a great read. Its a great read, and really helped me to begin to straighten out that whole british time period thing. Anyways, its by SHARON KAY PENMAN and the books are called Here Be Dragons, Falls the Shadow, and The Reckoning. It ends up being a very depressing story but I learned so much more about English and British History through that than I did in any text book.

I own and have read everything by Ms. Penman and list her writings amongst my favorite. If you are interested in British history at all, her writing can't be beat. Certainly it is fiction, but it's a great place to start. If you are interested in Richard the Lionheart era, then the trilogy listed above is great, but I recommend her mystery books in addition: The Queen's Man, Cruel as the Grave, Dragon's Lair, Prince of Darkness. Her books are jam packed with action. I had a hard time putting any of them down. She's working on finishing up a trilogy about Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II right now. Henry and Eleanor are the parents of Richard the Lionheart and the notorious John. Maybe a good read if in fact the wild speculation about SRL's next book is true!

[peregrine]

James Patterson's The Jester and Bernard Cornwell's Grail trilogy: The Archer's Tale, Vagabond, and Heretic.