Philippa Gregory's historical novels place readers directly into past eras, often focusing on the lives of women within royal courts, particularly the Tudors. Her stories explore personal relationships, family conflicts, and the pressures faced by historical figures like Anne Boleyn or Elizabeth Woodville.
Readers looking for more historical fiction centered on women's experiences, court politics, and specific historical periods may find the following authors of interest. Each author brings a unique approach to history, some staying close to records, others exploring personal drama more freely.
Alison Weir is a historian who also writes historical fiction about English royalty. Her background as a historian informs her novels, which often adhere closely to known facts.
"The Lady Elizabeth" portrays Elizabeth I during her difficult youth, before she became queen. The novel shows Elizabeth's life under threat after her mother Anne Boleyn's execution. She must navigate suspicion from figures like her half-sister Queen Mary. Weir uses historical records to shape the narrative, while she imagines Elizabeth's private emotions and reactions to the dangers around her. This offers a look at the early life of a famous monarch, grounded in historical detail.
Elizabeth Chadwick writes historical fiction set primarily in the medieval period. Her research is thorough, and she often focuses on figures from the era.
"The Greatest Knight" tells the story of William Marshal. He began as a younger son with few prospects but became a respected knight and statesman who served multiple English kings. The novel depicts his tournaments, his marriage to a wealthy heiress, and his role in major political events like the Magna Carta. Chadwick balances romance, political maneuvering, and the details of medieval life. She often illuminates the lives of historical figures who are significant but less famous than monarchs.
Hilary Mantel writes historical fiction often set in the Tudor period. Her style is dense and literary, distinct from Gregory's approach.
Her novel "Wolf Hall" examines Thomas Cromwell's rise in Henry VIII's court. The story presents Cromwell, often seen as a harsh political operator, as a man with complex thoughts and motivations. Readers see the Tudor court through his eyes, which offers a perspective different from Gregory's usual focus on royal women. The narrative details Cromwell's careful management of court factions and his relationship with the volatile king. Characters like Anne Boleyn and Thomas More appear within this political landscape. Mantel's work provides a deep examination of power and personality during this time.
Jean Plaidy wrote numerous historical novels covering many European royal families, with a large number focused on English history, especially the Tudors and Stuarts. Her style is direct and plot-focused.
"The Lady in the Tower" concentrates on Anne Boleyn. The story follows her arrival at court, her pursuit by Henry VIII, her time as queen, and her eventual downfall. It presents Anne's ambition, her reformist religious beliefs, and the political enemies she made. Plaidy depicts the sequence of events that led to Anne's trial and execution inside the Tower of London. Her work provides accessible narratives about key royal figures.
Sharon Kay Penman was known for deeply researched historical novels, particularly concerning the Plantagenet kings of England and the Wars of the Roses. Her books are often long and detailed.
"The Sunne in Splendour" offers a sympathetic portrayal of Richard III. The novel challenges the traditional view of him as a villain. It explores his loyalty to his brother Edward IV, his marriage to Anne Neville, and the political turmoil that led to his brief reign and death at Bosworth Field. Penman examines the accusations against him, such as the fate of the Princes in the Tower, and presents alternative interpretations based on her research. The book provides a complex picture of Richard and his era.
Margaret George writes large-scale biographical novels focused on famous historical figures, often women. Her books use a first-person perspective to immerse the reader in the subject's world.
"The Memoirs of Cleopatra" presents the life of the Egyptian queen from her own point of view. Readers experience her political education, her power struggles in Egypt, and her famous relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The narrative depicts the culture of Alexandria and Rome. It aims to show Cleopatra as a ruler and a woman managing immense political and personal challenges. This approach gives a subjective depth to a well-known historical figure.
C.W. Gortner writes historical fiction that often spotlights royal women whose stories may be less familiar or understood. His novels explore court life and political schemes.
"The Last Queen" focuses on Juana of Castile, the daughter of Spain's Ferdinand and Isabella. History remembers her as "Juana the Mad," but the novel provides her perspective. It covers her marriage to Philip the Handsome of Burgundy, her inheritance of the Castilian throne, and the political maneuvering by her father, husband, and son that led to her long confinement. The book aims to give voice to a queen often dismissed by historical accounts.
Anya Seton wrote classic historical novels, often blending romance with historical settings and real figures. Her work remains popular for its storytelling.
"Katherine" tells the true story of Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt in 14th-century England. Katherine was initially the governess to Gaunt's children, then became his mistress for many years, and eventually his wife. Their relationship caused scandal, but their children, the Beauforts, were ancestors of the Tudor dynasty. The novel portrays their enduring connection against the backdrop of the royal court, the Black Death, and social upheaval. Seton details the historical period and the central romance.
Sarah Dunant writes historical fiction primarily set in Renaissance Italy. Her novels explore women's lives within that period, often touching upon art, religion, and politics.
"The Birth of Venus" is set in 15th-century Florence. The protagonist, Alessandra Cecchi, is a young noblewoman interested in painting. She secretly pursues her art studies while Florence experiences political and religious turmoil under the influence of the preacher Savonarola. The story shows the constraints on women's ambitions and Alessandra's navigation of marriage, art, and the dangerous climate of the city. It provides a window into Renaissance society from a female perspective.
Tracy Borman, like Alison Weir, is a historian who also writes fiction, focusing on the Tudor and Stuart periods. Her novels incorporate historical details from her research.
"The King's Witch" takes place during the reign of James I. The central character, Frances Gorges, is skilled in healing and serves at court. She becomes entangled in political plots, including the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, and faces accusations of witchcraft. The novel uses the historical setting of the Jacobean court, full of suspicion and intrigue, to create a story of danger and survival. Borman uses historical events and atmosphere in her plot.
Elizabeth Fremantle writes historical fiction focused on the Tudor period, often exploring the lives of women near the center of power, but not always the main queen.
"Queen's Gambit" centers on Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's sixth wife. The novel portrays her intelligence and her careful navigation of the dangerous Tudor court during Henry's last years. It highlights her reformist religious beliefs, which put her at risk, and her relationships with her stepchildren, including the future Elizabeth I. Fremantle explores Katherine's survival skills and her influence in a precarious position.
Anne O'Brien specializes in historical fiction about women in medieval and Plantagenet England. Her stories often involve romance, political conflict, and significant female figures from history.
"The Forbidden Queen" tells the story of Katherine de Valois, the French princess who married Henry V of England. After Henry's early death, the young widow entered into a secret relationship with Owen Tudor, a Welsh courtier. This relationship founded the Tudor dynasty. The novel explores Katherine's life, the challenges she faced as a dowager queen, and her controversial choices. O'Brien focuses on the personal and political aspects of women's lives in this period.
Bernard Cornwell is known for historical adventure novels, often with a focus on military history and male protagonists. His style is action-oriented. This differs from Gregory's focus but appeals to readers interested in historical settings with more emphasis on conflict.
"The Last Kingdom" begins his Saxon Stories series. It introduces Uhtred, an English nobleman raised by Danes in 9th-century England during the Viking invasions. The story follows his divided loyalties and exploits as a warrior during the time King Alfred the Great fought to save his kingdom. The book features detailed battle scenes and depictions of Saxon and Viking cultures. It presents a different facet of English history compared to Gregory's court dramas.
Conn Iggulden writes historical fiction series, often chronicling the lives of major historical figures or key historical periods, frequently with a focus on military and political themes. His settings include Ancient Rome and Mongol history.
"The Gates of Rome" is the first book in his Emperor series about Julius Caesar. It follows Caesar's youth, his friendship with Marcus Brutus, and their training and early experiences in Roman society and politics. The narrative depicts the rivalries and dangers of Republican Rome. Like Cornwell, Iggulden's focus on male leads and military/political struggles differs from Gregory's typical subjects, but offers immersive historical settings.
Ken Follett writes extensively researched historical novels, often featuring large casts of characters and spanning significant periods. While some books have different settings, his Kingsbridge series provides a link.
"The Pillars of the Earth," the first in the Kingsbridge series, is set in 12th-century England. It revolves around the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge. The story follows various characters—monks, builders, nobles, and commoners—whose lives intersect over decades. It includes political intrigue, ambition, romance, and depicts the social structure of medieval England. While broader in scope than many Gregory novels, it shares the medieval English setting and explores power dynamics and personal struggles within a historical context.