If you like your historical fiction with a bit more history, then Bernard Cornwell just bight be who you are looking for. This series follows Richard Sharpe, a Sgt in the British infantry in India 1799 to where he managed to save the life of Arthur Wellesley, who rewards him with the dubious honor of making him an officer. Of course there is nothing the Army hate more than an enlisted man who makes the jump to officer. Sharpe eventually goes on to join the Green Jackets, a specialist regiment or skirmisher using the new rifles instead of the traditional muskets.
Sharpe's career follows closely that of the mans life he saved, the future Duke of Wellington. After a few adventures in India, Sharpe heads to Europe and the fight with Napoleon, managing to be in almost every major battle in the war (Including one naval battle). Cornwell's well researched descriptions of the fights along with the addendum at the back of each novel describing the differences between the fictional account and the historical records make the series an educational as well as enjoyable way to spend a few hours time.
Though not written entirely in chronological order, each book includes the date of the events described so it is fairly easy to get the whole take in the right order reading it. Though Cornwell still occasionally inserts a new one in between the existing stories, but that he maintains the continuity very well.
Sharpe's Tiger- Seringapatam, 1799
Sharpe's Triumph - Assaye, September 1803
Sharpe's Fortress - Siege of Gawilghur, December 1803
Sharpe's Trafalgar - Trafalgar, October 21, 1805
Sharpe's Prey - Copenhagen, 1807
Sharpe's Rifles - Galicia, January 1809
Sharpe's Havoc - Portugal, Spring 1809
Sharpe's Eagle - Talavera , July 1809
Sharpe's Gold" - Almeida, August 1810
Sharpe's Escape - Portugal, September 1810
Sharpe's Fury - Barrosa, March 1811
Sharpe's Battle - Fuentes de Oņoro, May 1811
Sharpe's Company - Badajoz, January to April 1812
Sharpe's Sword - Salamanca Campaign, June and July 1812
Sharpe's Skirmish - Tormes, August 1812
Sharpe's Enemy - Portugal, Christmas 1812
Sharpe's Honour - Vitoria, February to June 1813
Sharpe's Regiment - Invasion of France, June to November 1813
Sharpe's Siege - Winter Campaign, 1814
Sharpe's Revenge - Toulouse 1814
Sharpe's Waterloo - Waterloo 15 June to 18 June 1815
Sharpe's Devil - Chile, 1820-21
If you've seen the BBC Series, there are few differences between the books and the episodes, but they translate pretty well.
Berg's trilogy
Transformation
Revelation
Restoration
Follows the story of two men who should be enemies but become uneasy allies, Alexander, a royal prince, born to rule the greatest empire and Seyonne, a former protector of his people and warrior against evil, now a slave of the lowest order.
In the first installment, Transformation, we are introduced to these two men at the extream ends of the society and see how much they still have in common. As their lives become ever more deeply entwined they learn how much not only their own survival but that of their people depend on their both becoming something more than they have been.
If Berg had left the story there, it would have been enough on its own to mark Berg as a worth while teller of fantasy. Unfortunately she wrote two more books to create th seemingly required trilogy for publication that so dominates todays fantasy market. Revelation and Restoration do little to further the characters growth or give the reader anything more than a few more details of the world which she has created.
As one of the key forces behind American Independence, John Adams' life is well worth studying to understand the shape of American government and politics. Always outspoken and often controversial, the story of Adams is the in many ways the story of the early Untied States. McCullough's account of this Founding Father shows us both the brilliant mind and devotion to the cause of liberty as well as the flawed man behind the legend and the sacrifices made by Mr. Adams and his family in his single minded pursuit of his dream.
McCullough's examination of Adams portrays a man of outstanding integrity and devotion to his ideals often comparing him with Jefferson and Franklin, with whom his life was inextricably entwined. In all cases, Adams outshines them all. Even in his latter years as the Second President of the United States where his more irascible nature and his desire to see the better side of men led to many of his detractors calling him insane or worse. McCullough tries to get to the core of the man and show us his love of country and his wife Abigale, without whom John Adams wouldn't have been half the man he was.
How the British Navy Shaped the Modern World
Ranging from the late 1500's up to the Falklands War, Arthur Herman tells the story of the Royal Navy from its humble leggings as corsairs and privateers to greatest sea power in the world and its subsequent decline to the point where Argentina felt safe enough to challenge it to battle.
What could be a dry account of facts and figures is transformed into captivating tale of men, ships and politics of one of the most pivotal times in western history. Herman explores not just the captains and admirals that history so often gives all the credit to, but those who worked behind the scenes to support the men who defended Britain's Wooden Walls.
For anyone interested in this era, I highly recommend this book.
the Life and Legend of Horatio Nelson
Many times while reading this biography I had the distinct feeling that the author, Terry Colman, did not much care for the man he was writing about. Though this makes reading this work somewhat less pleasurable, it still appears well researched and the analysis of the tactics and the man himself quite interesting.
This account of the life of Nelson paints the famous hero as a spoiled, petty and egocentric man who though some good luck, an uncanny knack for spotting an enemies weakness, shear force of will and the boldness to go against orders to exploit every opportunity handed to him made Nelson one of great naval commanders of his time and inspired his men to great loyalty in his men. Though at the same time equally inspired enemies in the Royal Navy.
Instead of the usual litany of battles fought and tactical analysis of the great general, this biography (as the sub title suggests) delves more into the personal side of the Duke of Wellington. What drove Arthur Wellesley, 3rd of 5 living sons of Garret Wesley, the 1st Earl of Mornington, to the rank o Field Marshal, Prime Minister, Duke and more titles and honors than can be easily listed here.
Hbbert examines the people behind the man, his wife, mistress, family, friends, political allies and enemies and how these helped form the lack luster school boy into one of the hero of the British Empire. With many referecnes to the personal papers and letters of the Wellington estate, Hibbert paints the portrait of a man of both quite ordinary and extraordinary abilities and dreams but over and an incredible sense of duty.
If you're looking for some insights into story behind the man who defeated Napoleon, you would do well to read Wellington A Personal History.