| Irish Marine | 17 May 2019 5:39 a.m. PST |
There seems to be a historical period about everything just wondering if there is for this period. |
| Marshal Saxe | 17 May 2019 5:55 a.m. PST |
The Steel Bonnets by George MacDonald Fraser is the history you want. His short novella, The Candlemas Road is not only a good read, but will give you plenty of scenario Ideas. |
| 22ndFoot | 17 May 2019 6:01 a.m. PST |
Not quite in Fraser's league but very good are the Sir Robert Carey Mysteries by P F Chisholm. The stories are well researched and readable, set in the last years of Elizabeth's reign, and great fun. The author deserves to be better known than she is especially when you consider some of historical fiction dross out there. They start with this one: link |
 Whirlwind  | 17 May 2019 6:18 a.m. PST |
Sure: Candlemass Road as mentioned above, and this: link |
| colgar6 | 17 May 2019 7:16 a.m. PST |
If you ever get a chance to see the play or hear it on audio then "Armstrong's Last Goodnight" is set in this era and geographical region. Mind you, this drama is written in vernacular Scots [which is similar to English, but not by any means identical] and therefore may not be as accessible as everyone would like. |
| BillyNM | 17 May 2019 7:18 a.m. PST |
The Candlemass Road is one of my favourites pieces of fiction – it makes the violence seem as squalid as I'm sure it was if you experienced it. I wish I had an audiobook of it. |
| willthepiper | 17 May 2019 9:31 a.m. PST |
Another vote for GMF. The Steel Bonnets reads like fiction, with amazing, outrageous characters that could stand with any of GRR Martin's GoT crowd. If you can stomach poetry, Sir Walter Scott wrote a few ballads on various Border Reivers, such as Kinmont Willie:
link
(scroll about halfway down to find the start of the ballad) |
| kiltboy | 17 May 2019 9:46 a.m. PST |
PF Chisholm has a bunch with the main character being the deputy Warden in Carlisle, they're sometimes referred to as the Sir Robert Carey series. |
| mad monkey 1 | 17 May 2019 10:57 a.m. PST |
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| rmaker | 17 May 2019 2:00 p.m. PST |
For laughs, The Reavers by George MacDonald Fraser – aka Candlemass Road as seen through the eyes of Hollywood. |
| Huscarle | 18 May 2019 10:51 a.m. PST |
I think the 1st of the excellent Lymond series by Dorothy Dunnett includes some Border reiving action, although the whole 6-book series is historical fiction of the highest quality & well worth reading.
link |
| Au pas de Charge | 18 May 2019 1:30 p.m. PST |
Does anyone know if these guys basically only fought mounted? Or did they fight both mounted and dismounted? |
| willthepiper | 18 May 2019 3:10 p.m. PST |
By preference they were light cavalry, and conducted their raids on horseback. By necessity, of course, they would fight on foot or mounted in accordance with the situation. |
