The Josephine books by Sandra Gulland are pretty outstanding (First book in the series). It's a three part series about Josephine Bonaparte and it's just ... engrossing. I'm nearing the end of the 2nd book and I was up until about midnight last night because I *had* to know what was happening next. Rose/Josephine kicks Anne Boleyn's headless ass. Not only is she a smart, capable woman in her own right but the author does a great job of making her a human as well, not a Mary Sue or a "Avast! Thou! Heaving Bosoms!" historical trope character.
The books have everything: sex, violence, romance, intrigue, espionage, weird old timey remedies for infertility (blood letting and enemas. Lots of them). Like you, I'm really Tudored out, but the Bonaparte stuff is shaping up like the Tudors on steroids. The first book took awhile to get it's feet, but they're smart and sexy and fast paced. I lurve them.
The only thing I've been reading lately is WWII accounts written by the guys featured in Band of Brothers. Half the guys represented in the show wrote their own books, so there's a lot to read. I think it's pretty neat to really get to know the situation by reading about it from several different POVs.
In between those books I've been reading a textbook about the Holocaust. Yeah, OCD.
There's a similar history of Salt called ... Salt. There's also a history of gin which I can't actually remember the title of, something about madness. Both are pretty interesting. If you want a light easy read Sex with Kings and Sex with the Queen are pretty page-turning.
For good readable history books have you read any of the Thomas Cahill books? He has one on jews, the irish, greeks etc they are pretty interesting. Also If you want slice of life in medieval rennasance/medieval europe look for books by Joseph Gies and Frances Gies.
I can't remember the name of the Gin book but I recently read Imbibe: by David Wondrich Which is a great history of Cocktails.
I have a copy of Drink: A Cultural History of Alcohol by Iain Gately on my self but I haven't gotten to it yet I also want to read A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
History and Booze, That's me!
Any particular time period or place that is of interest to you?
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The Josephine books by Sandra Gulland are pretty outstanding (First book in the series). It's a three part series about Josephine Bonaparte and it's just ... engrossing. I'm nearing the end of the 2nd book and I was up until about midnight last night because I *had* to know what was happening next. Rose/Josephine kicks Anne Boleyn's headless ass. Not only is she a smart, capable woman in her own right but the author does a great job of making her a human as well, not a Mary Sue or a "Avast! Thou! Heaving Bosoms!" historical trope character.
The books have everything: sex, violence, romance, intrigue, espionage, weird old timey remedies for infertility (blood letting and enemas. Lots of them). Like you, I'm really Tudored out, but the Bonaparte stuff is shaping up like the Tudors on steroids. The first book took awhile to get it's feet, but they're smart and sexy and fast paced. I lurve them.
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In between those books I've been reading a textbook about the Holocaust. Yeah, OCD.
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I can't remember the name of the Gin book but I recently read Imbibe: by David Wondrich Which is a great history of Cocktails.
I have a copy of Drink: A Cultural History of Alcohol by Iain Gately on my self but I haven't gotten to it yet I also want to read A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
History and Booze, That's me!
Any particular time period or place that is of interest to you?
Reply
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