Historical Fiction

[rssllue]

I have never heard of Mosada before. Now you have me interested.

[GKCfan]

I love good historical fiction. I like it to be accurate, but often I realize that I don't know enough about the time period to confirm that it's accurate.

[moderntimes]

No, sorry, I don't. But any historical fiction about that particular era always interests me. I'll check out the Bambola book.

-- 22 Oct 2014, 11:14 --

I have never heard of Mosada before. Now you have me interested.

It's "Masada" and it was the fortress that the Jews build near Jerusalem to withstand the Roman army during the huge uprising in 70ce.

Thousands of Jews took refuge there, and held off the Romans for more than a year. But as was typical for the Roman army then, they slowly built a big ramp outside the rocky, isolated fortress. The ramp took months to construct and of course the defenders killed the army workers but the ramp progressed, and the Romans invaded. They found nearly everyone dead. The defenders had drawn lots, then killed one another (suicide being a sin) and the last few remaining had fallen on their swords. Nobody was left.

This was coupled by the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, so Judaism was essentially wiped out for a long time. And since early Christians were then simply considered members of a Jewish sect, one of the two principal centers for Christianity was also wiped out. This was where Jesus' younger brother James was the leader, and he and his followers were either killed or ran out of town to take cover.

An interesting sidenote to this... for a long time, there were 2 centers for early Christianity, Jerusalem and Corinth (and Athens). James (Jesus' younger brother) was leader for the Jerusalem branch, and Paul & Peter for the other. At that time the biggest dispute among early Christians was whether you had to become a Jew before you became a Christian. Realize that Jesus was a Jew and so were all the leaders after his death. The conservative branch (James in Jerusalem) said yes you had to be a Jew. The more encompassing branch, led by Paul & Peter in Athens & Corinth, said no, you could just go straight to be a Christian and "skip" the Judaism.

Becoming a Jew (and understand that there were only the strict conservative style of Jews at that time) meant a lot of sacrifice. And no, it wasn't the circumcision -- that was a minor thing and in that era, pain and discomfort was prevalent, so the pain of that small event wasn't the holdup. It was that being a Jew meant that you had to wear certain clothes, eat only Kosher foods, live only in certain places, and give up many old friends. If you had a business, often it would be ruined by the restrictions on work and sales and such. So becoming a Jew was a huge sacrifice and few did this conversion.

Counter to this was the fairly easy rule to being a Christian. You only had to be moderate in things like drinking, you had to love your neighbor and do good deeds, and there were no real dietary or lifestyle restrictions at all. You could continue your work as, say, a bricklayer, and no problem. You could keep your old friends, live anywhere, and all you really had to do was to be a nice, peaceful person.

So the debate went on (never vicious, just spiritual) between the conservative branch in Jerusalem and the more liberal branch in Corinth, and after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70, with James murdered (probably), the entire seat of infleuence and power of the early church passed to Corinth and Athens, and Peter & Paul, being very "philosophical" Christians, allowed all sorts of converts. So there were ordinary citizens all across the regions who then became Christians, even many wealthy people, and many Romans (soldiers too). This marked the beginning of the huge growth of the early Christian church. And they weren't persecuted until much later, and by that time, the church's foothold was too strong.

A true historic event.

[doglvr]

If I ever get through this "mountain" of books waiting to be read, I have to read Rebekah's Treasure. I think it's my kind of book.

[Greeneyedphotogirl79]

I just purchased book one of Game of Thrones. I've been told its an excellent series so I'm excited to read it!

[moderntimes]

Understand that "Game of Thrones" is not historical fiction, instead fantasy.

Unless I'm in error, but I do think that the countries and events in these books are "invented" and don't deal with actual existing countries. Correct?

[doglvr]

I just purchased book one of Game of Thrones. I've been told its an excellent series so I'm excited to read it!

I just finished book 1 and it's so intense I'm reading Stephen King before I start book 2. I have the whole series.

FYI this is not historical fiction. It's fantasy, but I love both.

[TrishaAnn92]

I actually had an author friend introduce me to Historical Romance and I absolutely loved it! I will read pretty much anything as long as it has a well written plot and is interesting.

[moderntimes]

Trisha, you might really like the "Pliny" novels by Albert Bell. The latest in the series, #5, is "Eyes of Aurora" and here's the link to my review of the novel:

http://www.overmydeadbody.com/plinyeye.html

[bookowlie]

I am starting to like Historical Fiction more. I read The Postmistress for a book club and enjoyed it a lot more than I expected.

[ESQNYC]

I recently read the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy by Sigrid Undset (set in medieval Norway) and The Free Frenchmen by Piers Paul Read (set during WWII). Both were good.

I will definitely add the KristinLavransdatter trilogy to my list! I love Norway and historical fiction!

-- 18 Dec 2014, 20:24 --

I just finished reading 4 of the 6 books in the Red River Valley Series by Lauraine Snelling. Took place in the 1880's coming over by ship from Norway, and homesteading in the Dakotas; then Dakota Territory in the Red River Valley. I really enjoyed reading them. All of the trials and tribulations they had to go through; and not knowing the English language. Trying to set up farming and bartering for equipment and oxen and horses. The harsh winters and illnesses and trying to keep meager food on the table.

Added to my list!

[hazelk]

I love historical fiction, Rose Tremain is my favorite author.

[Sarita Everson]

I love Historical fiction especially Highlanders. Currently reading Eliza Knight. In the time period with Robert the Bruce and William Wallace and the war with English.

[Alexavier-Taiga]

I really love anything set in the late 19th century (1860-1910) and I think Sherlock Holmes was a big part in creating this fixation. But the sad thing is that, other than Sherlock, I have only ever read two books set in that time, one was set in the Sherlock universe after Holes and Moriarty 'died' at the waterfall, and the other was a non-fiction book about Jack The Ripper.

[Sarita Everson]

I have a lot of historical romance booklists but its fiction not actual history if you are interested love that time period.