Tag Archives: historical fiction

The Lion at Sea

Posted on May 30, 2020 by smellincoffee

The Lion at Sea © 1977  Max Hennessy/John Harris 368 pages The atmosphere was electric and exultant. They were sailing into history at thirty knots. But what history? Defeat or victory? Kelly McGuire never consciously intended to follow his old … Continue reading →

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The Mustering of the Hawks

Posted on May 21, 2020 by smellincoffee

The Mustering of the Hawks © 1972 John Harris/Max Hennessy 272 pagws “When you consider that practically every aviator in the world’s been mustered together in France in a strip of territory some three hundred miles long by ten miles … Continue reading →

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British Historical Fiction

Posted on April 29, 2020 by smellincoffee

This is an index post of historical fiction set in Britain that I originally published in November 2016. I’ve just updated to keep it current. The order of books is roughly chronological. Ancient and Legendary BritainStonehenge, Bernard CornwellThe Winter King: … Continue reading →

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Cruel as the Grave

Posted on April 28, 2020 by smellincoffee

Cruel as the Grave: A Medieval Mystery © 1998 Sharon Kay Penman 274 pages Justin de Quincy has a problem. Several problems, actually.   Chiefly, there’s the fact that his king is presumed captured overseas, and possibly dead, while the king’s … Continue reading →

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The Bright Blue Sky

Posted on April 27, 2020 by smellincoffee

© 1983 Max Hennessy 250 pages High above was a layer of stratus, ice-white so that the sky seemed full of light, and Dicken knew against it they were silhouetted perfectly, a wonderful target for the ground gunners. Dicken Quinney … Continue reading →

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Bonaparte’s Sons

Posted on April 6, 2020 by smellincoffee

Bonaparte’s Sons © 1998 Richard Howard 400 pages This is the second (of three) posts published during Read of England which have nothing to do with England. I’m trying to get them out of the way before the English stuff … Continue reading →

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The True Soldier

Posted on March 26, 2020 by smellincoffee

The True Soldier © 2014 Paul Fraser Collard 496 pages Jack Lark hadn’t intended to get involved in a civil war. He’d come to America bearing the letters from a friend who had fallen in combat, a man whose side … Continue reading →

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Prague Fatale

Posted on February 20, 2020 by smellincoffee

Prague Fatale © 2011 Phillip Kerr 432 pages Bernie Gunther is a man contemplating suicide.  Once, in the Weimar years, he was a happily married policeman. But his wife died,  he fell into the bottle, and not long after that Germany itself … Continue reading →

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Of love languages, cunning critters, epic battles, and cows

Posted on January 27, 2020 by smellincoffee

Time for some mini-reviews! Read but not reviewed in the last week or so have been: The Heart of the 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? Frans de Waal Shiloh: A … Continue reading →

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Sword of Kings

Posted on November 29, 2019 by smellincoffee

Sword of Kings © 2019 Bernard Cornwell 334 pages “Tighten the sail!” I shouted. The trap was sprung, and now the snake would discover how the wolf and the eagle fought.  p. 19 Uhtred of Bebbanburg has been fighting all … Continue reading →

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