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The best books that are about, set in, or written in the Middle Ages time period. (The 5th century to the 15th century)
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4.35 avg rating — 859,237 ratings
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4.14 avg rating — 407,378 ratings
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3.53 avg rating — 242,008 ratings
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4.33 avg rating — 284,726 ratings
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3.50 avg rating — 357,029 ratings
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4.05 avg rating — 45,568 ratings
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4.41 avg rating — 23,076 ratings
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it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 70 ratings
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9

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4.03 avg rating — 213,279 ratings
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10

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4.06 avg rating — 120,961 ratings
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11

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3.89 avg rating — 1,056,941 ratings
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4.27 avg rating — 116,399 ratings
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13

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3.77 avg rating — 81,818 ratings
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14

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3.91 avg rating — 40,109 ratings
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15

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3.77 avg rating — 100,782 ratings
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3.88 avg rating — 44,716 ratings
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17

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4.09 avg rating — 179,758 ratings
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18

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4.30 avg rating — 25,457 ratings
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19

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4.03 avg rating — 67,040 ratings
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4.21 avg rating — 36,968 ratings
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21

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4.03 avg rating — 1,091,385 ratings
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4.26 avg rating — 17,778 ratings
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3.51 avg rating — 19,897 ratings
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24

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3.93 avg rating — 41,362 ratings
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25

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4.40 avg rating — 11,013 ratings
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4.13 avg rating — 215,133 ratings
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27

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4.45 avg rating — 9,942 ratings
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28

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4.02 avg rating — 27,330 ratings
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29

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4.02 avg rating — 225,382 ratings
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30

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3.81 avg rating — 47,561 ratings
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31

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4.18 avg rating — 68,735 ratings
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32

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3.74 avg rating — 43,748 ratings
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33

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3.94 avg rating — 16,904 ratings
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34

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3.87 avg rating — 220,823 ratings
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35

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3.81 avg rating — 26,087 ratings
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36

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4.29 avg rating — 9,631 ratings
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37

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4.32 avg rating — 64,015 ratings
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38

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4.42 avg rating — 63,670 ratings
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39

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4.15 avg rating — 16,311 ratings
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40

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3.91 avg rating — 76,590 ratings
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41

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4.17 avg rating — 32,714 ratings
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42

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3.78 avg rating — 109,715 ratings
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43

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3.96 avg rating — 45,813 ratings
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44

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3.92 avg rating — 8,906 ratings
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45

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3.73 avg rating — 43,813 ratings
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46

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3.71 avg rating — 7,042 ratings
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47

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3.83 avg rating — 13,111 ratings
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48

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3.84 avg rating — 5,016 ratings
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49

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3.82 avg rating — 9,197 ratings
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50

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3.68 avg rating — 5,838 ratings
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51

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3.52 avg rating — 15,427 ratings
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52

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3.89 avg rating — 40,623 ratings
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4.01 avg rating — 1,605 ratings
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54

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4.36 avg rating — 54,364 ratings
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4.39 avg rating — 8,380 ratings
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56

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3.87 avg rating — 17,299 ratings
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4.14 avg rating — 10,054 ratings
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58

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4.02 avg rating — 4,439 ratings
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59

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3.91 avg rating — 60,411 ratings
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60

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4.27 avg rating — 2,492 ratings
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61

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4.55 avg rating — 3,045 ratings
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62

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4.16 avg rating — 34,816 ratings
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63

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3.96 avg rating — 185,253 ratings
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64

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4.07 avg rating — 18,534 ratings
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65

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3.87 avg rating — 5,918 ratings
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66

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4.33 avg rating — 6,637 ratings
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67

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4.05 avg rating — 96,208 ratings
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68

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4.10 avg rating — 75,708 ratings
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69

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3.96 avg rating — 14,006 ratings
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69

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4.12 avg rating — 8,070 ratings
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71

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4.10 avg rating — 2,803 ratings
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72

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3.92 avg rating — 5,655 ratings
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73

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3.83 avg rating — 10,378 ratings
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3.95 avg rating — 9,254 ratings
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75

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4.22 avg rating — 4,298 ratings
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76

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4.33 avg rating — 47,151 ratings
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77

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4.25 avg rating — 58,012 ratings
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78

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3.96 avg rating — 2,748 ratings
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3.83 avg rating — 79,934 ratings
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80

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3.57 avg rating — 8,600 ratings
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81

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 7,149 ratings
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82

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4.07 avg rating — 4,683 ratings
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83

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3.91 avg rating — 244,033 ratings
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4.44 avg rating — 32,680 ratings
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85

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4.07 avg rating — 67,848 ratings
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86

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4.71 avg rating — 65 ratings
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87

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4.80 avg rating — 56 ratings
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88

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4.14 avg rating — 21,539 ratings
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89

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3,406 ratings
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90

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3.72 avg rating — 48,146 ratings
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91

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4.29 avg rating — 3,444 ratings
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92

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3.76 avg rating — 502 ratings
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93

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3.54 avg rating — 428 ratings
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94

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4.26 avg rating — 12,964 ratings
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95

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3.75 avg rating — 7,389 ratings
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96

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4.27 avg rating — 13,797 ratings
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97

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3.40 avg rating — 5,552 ratings
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98

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4.15 avg rating — 1,323 ratings
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99

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3.84 avg rating — 3,982 ratings
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100

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4.02 avg rating — 3,044 ratings
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1,317 books · 1,929 voters · list created July 16th, 2008 by Steven Harbin (votes) .
643 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Steven 4522 books
2489 friends
Laura 13106 books
321 friends
Dave 867 books
65 friends
Gina 2 books
0 friends
Roberta 1611 books
154 friends
Susanna - Censored by GoodReads 3388 books
849 friends
Wealhtheow 4761 books
686 friends
Karen 2695 books
114 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-20 of 20 (20 new)

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message 1: by Brett (new)

Brett Sorge If you are talking about middle ages historical fiction how come Bernard Cornwall is not one of the mentioned books/author??? He is definitely the champ of writing on this period!


message 2: by IWB (new)

IWB The list is ABOUT the Middle Ages (i.e., secondary sources), not books FROM the middle-Ages (i.e., primary sources). Thus, the Mabinogion, Bede, Beowulf,Boccaccio, Chaucer, Marie de France, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight ought not to be on the list.


message 3: by Steven (new)

Steven Harbin Brett,
Which particular titles of Bernard Cornwell 's would you suggest? I've never read any of his works, but I've had friends suggest him.
Also, you know you can add books to the list and vote for them, right?



message 4: by Steven (new)

Steven Harbin IW,
I'm of a like mind, I only voted (initially) for secondary works and historical novels but I could see a case for including works from the MA as well...but you're correct than in that case the list title probably should be slightly changed...


message 5: by Brett (last edited Dec 11, 2009 02:39PM) (new)

Brett brett,
I couldn't agree more! I clicked on this list expecting to see loads of bernard cornwell! He is really an awesome writer. I really think his books define the genre.

Steve,

I would suggest Vagabond, The Archer's Tale, and Heretic. I believe these three books comprise The Grail Quest series?? They are so amazing! Well, I am being a bit partial with these suggestions; they are the only Cornwell I've read. I'm sure there are other great titles as well..

...o yea and IWB...you're a dipshit. This is a list ok, "books that are about, set in, or written in the Middle Ages," therefore the list should include books FROM the Middle Ages..moron..






Susanna - Censored by GoodReads It's easy enough to add books to the list - the form is over at the right-hand side of the page ("find/add books to list")


message 7: by Chipchick (new)

Chipchick I loved the Grail Series by Cornwell. As well as Azincourt.


Barbara Gem(ini) "The Marlowe Conspiracy" is set in 16th century - it's hardly middle ages.


message 9: by AndrewJL (new)

AndrewJL Foucault's Pendulum seems like a stretch to me. The novel is set in the 20th century, and though the characters spend a lot of time discussing the Templars, the book is still not medieval.


message 10: by Michael (new)

Michael "Agricola and the Germania" by Tacitus should be deleted as it was written in the 1st century CE, and "A Canticle for Leibowitz" is set in the future after a nuclear war, so again not really MA and should be deleted from the list.


message 11: by Beatriz (new)

Beatriz Lara silva Andrew wrote: "Foucault's Pendulum seems like a stretch to me. The novel is set in the 20th century, and though the characters spend a lot of time discussing the Templars, the book is still not medieval."


message 12: by Beatriz (new)

Beatriz Lara silva I agree insted the name of the rose should be right in the middle age


message 13: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Aug 30, 2015 08:11AM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) The term 'Middle Ages' is only used for a Western European phenomena, as far as I know. Yet there are books on this list which are not set in during the Middle Ages of Western Europe, like The Tale of Genji (#149), for instance. A great book, but I very much doubt whether it should be on this list? Same goes for The Pillow Book (#297).

Andrew wrote: "Foucault's Pendulum seems like a stretch to me. The novel is set in the 20th century, and though the characters spend a lot of time discussing the Templars, the book is still not medieval."
I've read the book and agree, which is why I haven't voted for it.
Beatriz wrote: "I agree insted the name of the rose should be right in the middle age". The Name of the Rose (#484) is indeed set in the Middle Ages.

IWB wrote: "The list is ABOUT the Middle Ages (i.e., secondary sources), not books FROM the middle-Ages (i.e., primary sources).
Seems the description of the Listopia has been adapted since your comment, as it now also includes "written in the Middle Ages time period" (which is why I voted for some written during that period).


Elyse of South Jersey I removed A Canticle for Leibowitz. It is a post apocalyptic science fiction book. Its plot involves a time way in the future that includes monasteries similar to those from the actual Middle Ages. I can understand where some readers might think this book should be included because of this.


message 15: by Kathy KS (new)

Kathy KS Ken Follett's Fall of Giants doesn't seem to fit this list. (#301 today)


message 16: by Kathy KS (new)

Kathy KS #509, How to Beg for Cigarettes. It doesn't appear to fit this topic, but maybe I'm missing something here...


Susanna - Censored by GoodReads I'd say both should be removed from this list.


message 18: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Apr 17, 2019 11:23PM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) I don't think Wolf Hall (#109) should be here, and neither should Bring Up the Bodies (#173), its sequel, as they are not set in the Middle Ages (5th to 15th century). Nor should L'Œuvre au noir (#400) as it is set in the 16th century.

Does The Last Battle (#597) count?

It is too long ago since I've read it but I seem to remember Foucault's Pendulum (#38) was set outside the Middle Ages as well. But like I said, it's too long ago to be sure (see also my earlier message).


message 19: by Zak (new)

Zak The Return of Martin Guerre should not be on here, as it is Early Modern history.


message 20: by Daniel (new)

Daniel Fogliarine Thank you very much for creating this list!


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