Asian history

Asia

Tales told in tents. Barefoot books. Collection of short stories
The Wise fool by Shahruhk Husain. Barefoot books. Short stories about Mulla Nasruddin

China

Adventures of the treasure fleet by Ann Martin Bowler. Story of the 7 naval voyages undertaken by the Chinese fleet between 1405-33.
China’s bravest girl: the legend of Hua Mu Lan by Charlie Chin
Diary of a Princess: a tale from Marco Polo’s travels by Heather Maisner, 2004
Lady of Ch’iao Kuo: Warrior of the South (Royal Diary)
Red butterfly: how a princess smuggled the secret of silk out of China by Deborah Noyes
Terracotta girl: a story of ancient China by Jessica Gunderson.
The Pearl in the grass by John Harris
The willow pattern story by Allan Drummond
Tikki Tikki Tembo retold by Arlene Mosel
Yeh-Shen: a Cinderella story from China by Louie Ai-Ling

India

An Indian adventure (Sparks) Early readers history series
Indian Mutiny: Hanuman Singh, India, 1857-1858 by Pratima Mitchell (2002) (My story)
Jahanara, Princess of Princesses (Royal diary) India 1627
The Elephant’s friend and other tales from Ancient India by Marcia Williams

Japan

Kazunomiya: Prisoner of heaven (Royal diary) Japan 1858
Sam Samurai by Joe Scieszka (Time Warp Trio). Three boys have access to a magic book that can take them through time.
Young Samurai: Way of the warrior by Chris Bradford. Young Samurai series starts in 1611 when Jack Fletcher is shipwrecked off the coast of Japan and becomes apprenticed to a Samurai

Korea

Sondok: Princess of the Moon and Stars (Royal Diaries series) set in Korea in AD595. Follows a yearin the life of 15 year old Sondok who is the heir to the throne as her father has had no sons. Although totally fictitious the author has used the few known details of Sondok’s life to weave a credible tale.

Mongolia

Sorghaghtani of Mongolia. Non-fiction book recounting the life of Genghis Khan’s daughter-in-law who became a ruler during her sons’ childhood and bred three future rulers of the Mongol Empire

Silk Road

Diary of a Princess: a tale from Marco Polo’s travels by Heather Maisner, 2004
Marco Polo! by Joe Scieszka (Time Warp Trio) 2005.  Three boys have access to a magic book that can take them through time.
Stories from the Silk Road (Barefoot Books) Collection of short stories.

Normans

I have covered the period from 1066 to 1450s.

Agincourt: Jenkin Lloyd, France, 1415 by Michael Cox (2003) (My story)
All fall down by Sally Nicholls. Marion Lloyd publr. In 1349 the Black Death is sweeping across Europe. For older readers.
Belle’s song by K M Grant. Chaucer on a pilgrimage
Blaze of Silver by K M Grant. Final part of the Blood-red Horse trilogy.
Blood red horse by K M Grant. Set in the time of Richard I and Saladin following brothers during the Crusade,
Brother William’s Year by Jan Pancheri. Picture book showing a monk’s life in 1383
14th of October by Bryher. About the Battle of Hastings
Bows against the baron by Geoffrey Trease. Novel about Robin Hood
Green Jasper by K M Grant. Sequel to Blood-red horse. It is Spring 1193 and the brothers have now returned home to find their sister has been kidnapped by Prince John’s supporters.
Wulf the Saxon: a story of the Norman conquest by G A Henty
Joan of Arc by Josephine Poole. Picture book for older children showing Joan of Arc’s life. Beautifully illustrated.
Knight’s fee by Rosemary Sutcliff (1960) The hero is a half-Saxon boy brought up by a Norman Knight.
Man with a sword by Henry Treece. Novel about a Jewish doctor
Red Tower of Granada by Geoffrey Trease. Set in Mediaeval England and Spain during the time of Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Shield Ring by Rosemary Sutcliff. Set in the Lake District just after the Norman Conquest.
The Witch’s brat by Rosemary Sutcliff (1970)Set in the 12th c
The Children’s crusade by Henry Treece
With a sword in my hand by Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem & Pat van Beirs. Story of Marguerite of Flanders

Scandinavia

As well as trakhing down historical fiction I am also compiling lists of fiction set in other countries not just by authors of those countries but also by other authors who can make the culture of that country come alive. For no good reason I am starting off with Scandinavia. I have so far failed to find anything Norwegian of Finnish (excepting Tove Jannson) so this page is limited to Denmark and Sweden for the time being.

Denmark

Both of these books are set during in WW2. Look at my Viking post for the only other historical period that counts apparently.
Hitler’s canary by Sandi Tostvig
Number the stars by Lois Lowry.

Sweden

Luckily for Sweden there is one famous children's author. Now can we guess who it is?
Emil and the sneaky rat by Astrid Lindgren. Part of a series about a small boy.
Karlson flies again by Astrid Lindgren
Little O by Edith Unnerstad. Little O is the youngest of a large family.
Lotta says no by Astrid Lindgren
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
The Shipwreck by Jorn Reil. A Viking boy is shipwrecked and rescued by 2 Inuit children
The Spettecake holiday by Edith Unnerstad

Islamic civilisations

Abraham Hannibal and the battle for the throne by Frances Somers Cocks. Set in the early 1700s, an Ethiopian Prince is kidnapped and sold as a slave to the Ottoman court.
Crusade by Elizabeth Laird. Story of two boys during the children’s crusade, one English and the other Muslim.
Seven wise Princesses. Barefoot books. Based on a medieaval Persian poem.
Stories of the Caliphs: the early rulers of Islam by Denys Johnson Davies, 2011. After the death of the Prophet Muhammad, there followed many leaders of the Muslim world who were known as Caliphs. These successors to the Prophet ruled first of all from Medina, then from Damascus and later from Baghdad, over an empire that included a large part of the world. This book includes twenty-seven stories from the lives of those first Caliphs, from the pious Umar ibn al-Khattab to the celebrated Haroun al-Rashid.
The army of lions by Qasim Najar, 1996. A mighty warrior and an evil warlord face off in the fabled lands of North Africa and Southern Spain during the medieval Muslim period.
The stone: a Persian legend of the Magi by Dianne Hofmeyr and Jude Daly, 2005 In the ancient Persian town of Saveh, astronomers discover a star that fills the sky with a fiery light. Intrigued, they search through their scrolls and come across the legend of a remarkable baby. They set off with precious gifts to honour the child, and in return he gives them a small stone.

Also worth looking for a retelling of 1001 and one Arabian nights.

Saxons and Vikings

Slim pickings for the Saxons so hopefully others can fill in more gaps. Luckily I was kindly sent a number of suggestions for the Vikings by the author Ann Turnball. Thanks for those.

Where I have put no details for a book is where I have not been able to dicsover anything other than the title and author.

Saxons

Beowulf by Penelope Hicks (Kingfisher epic series)
Beowulf: dragonslayer by Rosemary Sutcliff
Daughter of fire and ice by Marie-Louise Jensen
Feasting the wolf by Susan Price, 2007
The Children of Stowa by Jean Lloyd. Set in West Stowa a recreated Saxon village

The Mark of the Horse Lord by Rosemary Sutcliff, 1965. Set at the time of the Dalriada, a kingdom in Scotland from late C6th to early C7th
The Namesake: a story of King Alfred by C Walter Hodges

The Shining Company by Rosemary Sutcliff (1990).  Retells the Y Gododdin story (the earliest mention of Arthur's name)

Viking raiders (Sparks) A beginner reader series

Wulf the Saxon: a story of the Norman conquest by G A Henty

Vikings

Beowulf: dragonslayer by Rosemary Sutcliff
Blood Feud by Rosemary Sutcliff(1976) An English slave is freed after saving his owner's life but then the two men have to travel to Constantinople.
Daughter of fire and ice by Marie-Louise Jensen
Erik’s new home (Sparks)
Feasting the wolf by Susan Price, 2007
Horned helmet by Henry Treece An Icelandic boy is adopted by a Viking and grows up on a Viking boat.
Hounds of the King by Henry Treece Last of the Vikings by Henry Treece
On the wasteland by Ruth M Arthur A girl travels back in time to become part of a Viking settlement in East Anglia. Very atmospheric
Shield Ring by Rosemary Sutcliff Set in the Lake District just after the Norman conquest, this book tells of the struggle of a Viking band to keep the Lake District free
Sigrun’s secret by Marie-Louise Jensen
Sword song by Rosemary Sutcliff Bjarni, a Viking swordsman, journeys to Scotland and there fights the clan chielfs
Swords from the North by Henry Treece
The Queen’s brooch by Henry Treece
The sage of Erik the Viking by Terry Jones Erik sets in sail of the land where the sun goes a t night. A thrilling adventure.
The Shipwreck by Jorn Reil Barefoot books, 2011. Leiv is shipwqrecked on his way to Greenland and ends up rescued by Inuit siblings.
The Viking saga by Henry Treece: Viking’s dawn; Road to Miklagard; Viking’s sunset
Viking Blood: A Viking Warrior, 1006 AD by Andrew Donkin, 2008 (My story)
Viking girl by Pauline Chandler
Viking It and Liking It by Joe Scieszka 2002 (Time Warp Trio) Part of a comic series about three boys who travel in time.
Viking Raiders by Anne Civardi (Usborne Time Travellers series) Not a quite a novel but uses a cartoon style

Celts

Asterix and Obelix by Goscinny and Uderzo. OK so this is a bit silly but it is fun and it can point up some of the major differences.
Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff Although this story is told from the point of view of a Roman it is precisely located in England and Scotland and does show the original cultre when Marcus heads North.

Goumbi by Gemma Sales A picture book set somewhere in Europe and it doesn't include the Romans.
Hengest’s tale by Jill Paton Walsh I have not read this so I am not sure what it is about. Can anyone enlighten me?
High deeds of Finn MacCool by Rosemary Sutcliff Set in Ireland this is a retelling of an Irish classic.
Hound of Ulster by Malachy Doyle A beginner reader that tells the story of Cuchalainn, an Irish hero.
Legions of the eagle by Henry Treece
Song for a dark Queen by Rosemary Sutcliff A story about Boadicca
The Sailor who captured the sea: a story of the book of Kells by Deborah Nourse Lattimore

Romans

Sparks is a series of historical novels designed for Primary Age children.

A Circlet of Oak Leaves (1968) and Eagle's Egg by Rosemary Sutcliff 1981, In Eagles honour Set in the C2nd
A runaway donkey (Sparks)
Between the forest and the hills by Ann Lawrence. The Romans have left Britain but one group is left behind.
Boudicca strikes back (Sparks).
Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemay Sutcliff 1954. A Roman soldier is injured and has to make a new life for himself in Britain.
Eagle’s honour by Rosemary Sutcliff
Frontier Wolf by Rosemary Sutcliff 1980. Set in Roman Britain
Lantern Bearers by Rosemay Sutcliff 1959
Legions of the eagle by Henry Treece
Outcast by Rosemary Sutcliff 1955.
Pompeii: The Diary of Claudia, Pompeii, AD 78 by Sue Reid 2008 (My story)
Roman Invasion: A British Boy, AD 84 by Jim Eldridge 2008 (My story)
Roman mysteries series by Caroline Lawrence. Set from AD79 the adventures of 4 children in and around the port of Ostia. Realistic depiction of the children's lives includes slavery and the violence of their society but in an unfrightening way. The first book is The Thieves of Ostia.
Roman Tales by Terry Deary Simple but fun stories for beginner readers
See You Later, Gladiator by Joe Scieszka 2000 (The Time Warp Trio). Three boys have access to a magic book that can take them through time.
The Capricorn bracelet by Rosemary Sutcliff 1973
The Eagles have flown by Henry Treece
The Great necklace hunt (Sparks)
The Guard dog geese (Sparks)
The Lost legionary (Sparks)
The Roman Twins by Roy Gerrard. Rhyming picture book about twin slaves who run away with a horse
The Silver Branch by Rosemay Sutcliff 1957
The Wadjet Eye by Jill Rubalcala

As well as books there is at least one board game with a Roman theme.
Albion is set in Britain at the time of the invasion. You are part of the Roman Army and trying to set up more settlements than your oppenents. It takes about an hour to play and is designed for 2-4 players. A good strategic game.