QE2

I recently posted a blog about trying to review a Historical Fiction Novel for each English Monarch, in order of the most recent.  

So the starting point is our current Queen, Elizabeth II, and as our longest serving Monarch there is a long period of time from which to draw a decent historical Novel.  However, it’s also a recent period of time and so the History is much more recent.  Since 1952 a lot has happened but are there many historical fiction novels set in that period.

Her reign included the Cold war, the death of Diana, an Anus Horribilis, the decline of the British empire, and the growth of the commonwealth. It outlasted many governments and prime ministers including Thatcher, Blair, Eden, Heath and McMillan. There were several crisis’ including Suez, Northern Ireland, The Falklands, Iraq, and the miners’ strike.  One would think that with so much history it would be easy to find a novel set in that context but in essence the issue is that it’s all too soon. In 100 years which of these events will be the most memorable who knows, but Britain’s role in the Cold war seems certain to remain. Now let me see if I can find a Major English character linked to the cold war, someone who fought the Russians throughout, perhaps  a Secret Agent…

The Names Bond…

Immediately as soon as you reach Bond as you have to rule out all the original books, all of the Fleming novels were contempory fiction written about current events, so we have to look at his successors, but again most bring the bond character forward retaining its contempory nature, but there are 3 notable exceptions Devil May Care, SOLO and Trigger Mortis. Devil May care was a great read, but it was a while ago, and I've already reviewed it. I’ve not read SOLO, so this just leaves us with Trigger Mortis, which coincidentally I am currently reading.  So conveniently I’ll start there Next week.

Watch this space!

Hopfully…