I've finished my bio of Francis Drake, but I can't start the bio of Louis XIV I've got cos it is packed.

I'm currently on Candide but that will be over in a flash.

I always like Eco. Just re-read Baudolino and giggled a lot

I've already got this one, Becki

Have you read In the Garden of Beasts, Ana?

Switch continents and read a Nobel prize winner - Gabriel Garcia Marquez's News of a Kidnapping. Excellent

Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick - The story of the sacrifices of the early English settlers.

Not an easy but a worthwhile read bye Daniel Boorstin

The Coming of the War, 1914 by Bernadotte E. Schmitt - Schmitt puts together the miasma of why WWI in readable fashion.

David McCullough is one helluva wrter. ...

The Bible

I am reading The Fall of Anne Boleyn. Its written like an historical diary. Its interesting.

non of these sounds particularly jolly. I' generally like some fancy frocks, intrigue and derring-do rather than muddy peasants and death.

Oh you want historical fiction?

fancy frocks, intrigue and derring do - "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" - loads of fun.

factual stuff is usally more exciting and dramatic than made up stories. Plus it counts as educational!

it's summer - go crazy

So historical, fictional, upbeat, and non-fantastical? No fancy frocks, but you might like The Inner Circle

Or at any rate, it's the only book I have that fits the rest of the bill.

and the winner was [after predictably ignoring all your advice] ...

Memoirs of the Comtesse Du Barry with Minute Details of Her Entire Career as Favorite of Louis XV

Thank you for allowing us to feel useful anyway. Let us know how it is.

Lotusceriano: Have you read Bring Up the Bodies the second in the planned Wolf Hall trilogy?

I would like to point out that my suggestion has neither muddy peasants nor death and has LOTS of political intrigue and a few fancy frocks.

that was directed at my hist teacher friend whose reccomendation sounds like the diaries of Baldrick Alanna

Well, the Memoirs of the Comtesse Du Barry does sound interesting.

If you're not sick of the Tudors I would recommend Jane Boleyn The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochford