The Stuart era 1603-1714

Shakespeare

The Fool’s Girl by Celia Rees. Violetta and Feste have come to London to rescue the holy relics taken from the church in Illyria by the evil Malvolio. Their journey has been long and their adventures many, but it is not until they meet the playwright William Shakespeare that they get to tell the entire story from beginning to end.

The Player's Boy by Antonia Forest.Young boy leaves home and ends up in Shakespeare's company

Shakespeare's apprentice by Veronica Bennett. Love story between an actor and the niece of the Earl of Essex

The Boy, the Bear, the Baron, the Bard by Gregory Rogers. Picture book without words. A boy on a trip to the globe goes back in time and meets everyone else in the title.

James I

Curse on the sea by Geoffrey Trease. Based on a true story this is the tale of Rob, a boy actor who visits Scotland during the reign of James I and meets a witch.

Colonising America

Ghost Hawk by Susan Cooper. Bodley Head, 2014. Set at the time the English first arrived in America, told equally from the point of view of the Indians as well as the English. Teenage read                 Mayflower: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple, 1620 by Kathryn Lasky (1996) (My story)

Civil war 1642 - 1649

Alice in love and war by Ann Turnball. Alice falls in love with a soldier and follows the army.

Civil War: Thomas Adamson, England, 1644 by Vince Cross (2002) (My story)

For the King by Ronald Welch. It is 1642 and Neil Carey becomes involved in the Civil War.

Hunt Royal by David Scott Daniell, Puffin, 1962. Looking at the cover I suspect this is the story of Charles II’s escape to France after the battle of Worcester.

Kate Rider by Hester Burton. An English girl tries to cope with the complexities of the Civil War. Ends with the siege of Colchester

Children of the new forest by Frederick Marryat. The orphaned children of a Cavalier have to hide to avoid Cromwell’s men.

Place Mill by Barbara Softly. I can find no details for this book but for some reason I had it listed in my civil war books.

Rider of the white horse by Rosemary Sutcliff . Story of Thomas Fairfax, a parliamentarian.

Simon by Rosemary Sutcliff (1953) Set in the West Country Simon is for parliament, Amias is for the crown. How the war split up friends.

Thomas by Hester Burton. Begins in the civil war and ends with the great plague of 1665.

The Protectorate

The Gypsy Crown by Kate Forsyth. Set during the Protectorate, a family of gypsies are put in jail but two cousins manage to escape and have to rescue their family.

I, Coriander by Sally Gardner (Partly a fantasy but also set at the end of the Protectorship

News from the dead by Mary Hooper. Based on the true story of Anne Green who was hanged for infanticide in 1650. Teenage novel. 

Restoration

Witch Child by Celia Rees. After her grandmother is hanged for witchcraft Mary is taking to the new colonies in America. A teenage read.

The remarkable life and times of Eliza Rose by Mary Hooper. Eliza meets Nell Gwyn and gets involved in court politics

No shame, no fear by Ann Turnball (Quaker trilogy 1). It is 1662 and Will is attracted to the Quakers. There he meets Susanna. Beautifully written with credible characters.

Through the fire by Hester Burton. Story of Quakers and their appalling treatment under the restoration. (Antelope series for readers 6-9)

The Plague and the great Fire of London

A Parcel of patterns by Jill Paton Walsh.  The village of Eyam closes itself off when the plague comes.

The Great Plague: The Diary of Alice Paynton, London, 1665-1666 by Pamela Oldfield (2001) (My story)

Children of Winter by Berlie Doherty. Catherine and her siblings are out for a walk when they take shelter from a sudden storm in a barn but then find themselves in 1665 and the plague is raging. For younger children.

At the sign of the sugared plum by Mary Hooper. Set at the time of the plague

Forged in the fire by Ann Turnball (Quaker trilogy 2). This story covers the plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of London

London’s burning (Sparks). Great fire of London. Story for beginner readers.

Petals in the ashes by Mary Hooper. Sequel to At the sign of the sugared plum.

Late 17th C

Highway Girl An English Girl’s Diary, 1670 by Valerie Wilding (2008) (My story)

Trumpets in the West by Geoffrey Trease. Jack is apprenticed to a musician and is inspired to compose himself after hearing the trumpets on the battlefield of Monmouth. Probably set in the reign of William and Mary.

Seeking Eden by Ann Turnball (Quaker trilogy 3). Will and Susanna are now in Pennsylvania and deals with slavery and the issues of their growing family.

Scotland

Bonnie Dundee by Rosemary Sutcliff . Set in Scotland during the time of the Covenanters (those wanting freedom from English rule).

Dream of danger (Sparks). Massacre at Glencoe in 1692.Story for beginner readers

Stranger in the Glen (Sparks). The story of Rob Roy, a Jacobite supporter. Story for beginner readers

Russian history

I have listed these books in historical order. The ones without much detail where were I could only track down the title.

The Cossacks by B Bartos-Hoppner.1959 (translated from German) Mitya, a 14 year old boy accompanies Yermak Timofeyev on his campaign to claim the land of Siberia for Ivan the Terrible.

Abraham Hannibal and the battle for the throne by Frances Somers Cocks.Sequel to Abraham Hannibal and the raiders of the sand. Abraham arrives at the court of Peter the Great as a slave.

Catherine, the Great Journey (Royal diary) Russia 1743

Masha by Mara Kay. Masha is a dancer in the time of Catherine the Great and becomes a pupil at her school for girls.

The Youngest Lady in waiting by Mara Kay. Sequel to Masha. Masha is now working in Catherine’s court.

Crimea: The Story of Michael Pope, 110th Regiment, 1853-1857 by Bryan Perrett (2004) (My story)

Little Katia by E M Almedingen. Set before the revolution.

Toyon a dog of the North and his native people by Nicholas Kalashnikoff Set in Siberia during Czarist times, deals with the faith and practices of the native people.

Jumper: the life of a Siberian horse by Nicholas Kalashnikoff. A Russian War Horse, this is the story of a horse taken away to fight in the first world war and the Russian revolution.

The defender by Nicholas Kalashnikoff. Set in Siberia and about a man and the herd of wild rams in his care. Great reviews on amazon.

My friend Yakub by Nicholas Kalashnikoff

They that take the sword by Nicholas Kalashnikoff

White nights of St Petersburg by Geoffrey Trease Set during the time of the Russian revolution.

Frossia a novel of Russia by E M Almedingen. Set in post 1917 Ukraine and loosely based on the life of the author.

The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig. A family’s story of their survival of exile to Siberia.

A Desert in Bohemia by Jill Paton Walsh Set in a fictional communist country covering the period 1945-1990

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