Best history books?
 

What do you recommend for history and historical fiction authors or books, if you read 'em?

Which way do you lean politically? ;)

not interested in anything modern enough to matter

1421: The Year China Discovered America
by Gavin Menzies was interesting.

The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes was pretty interesting (colonization of Australia.)

Neal Stephenson did a wonderful historical fiction series called The Baroque Cycle. It's definitely fiction but there are accurate settings and timelines running in the background.

Read Bernard Cornwell's historical fiction. So far I like his Arthur books best.

One of my favorites! So well written!

In terms of straight history, Cnut, England's Viking King, is excellent. Can't recall the author.

Any book by Michael Woods. In particular 'In Search of Domesday' and 'In Search of the Dark Ages'.

"Team Of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin. About Lincoln and the rivals for the Whitehouse and how they came to work with him.

Bernard Cornwell writes a lot of excellent historical fiction. I've read his medieval stories--one about a quest for the Holy Grail in 1300ish England and France, and the other his version of King Arthur. (Just saw Griff recommended these, as well. Heed our advice. :)

Dorothy Dunnett has written a few good series which mostly take place in Scotland in the 1500s.

As far as nonfiction goes, Bernard Lewis has written a lot about the Middle East. His books are well written and lucidly realized.

Alan Watts is one authority on Zen Buddhism and his books are also excellent.

SECONDED.....I like it that Lancelot was an asshole.

you really cant go wrong with him... the Red coat seires, the 100 yrs war stuff, and the Sharpe books.....
he's goooood.

I'm a fan of the Politically Incorrect Guides ... I have their American History, Islam and the Crusades, and Feminism.

I'm looking forward to receiving PIG to The South and The Constitution.

The Tragedy of American Diplomacy by William Appleman Williams

Heh, I could write those.

Racing the Enemy: Stalin, Truman, and the Surrender of Japan by Tsuyoshi Hasegawa

It talks about the ending of the Pacific Theatre from the US, Russian, and Japanese points of view. Very interesting.