Inspired by this post on 'big history'.
The discussion about big history, and 'why its bad' (yes, I know, I'm making the same broad brush assumption that replies to that post warn against) got me thinking that often what I want isn't an in-depth study of a time and place, but something that conjures up a 'spirit of place' (thank you Durrell). Something that, whilst obviously taking some artistic license for the sake of the story, still manages to create a feel for a place isn't at odds with what historians understand to be accurate.
So go on then, who would you rate as being good at this, from a professional historians point of view?
I mean, I'm a big fan of both Bernard Cornwell (Sharpe and others) and Patrick O'Brian (Aubrey / Maturin) and from what I understand they both base what they write in the best historical understanding available to them at the time. I've also heard several authors here wax lyrical about Ken Follet (Pillars of the Earth et. al.).
So which fictional authors / books get your seal of approval as being a. as historically accurate as is reasonable for the grounds of narrative and b. creating a sense of a time that 'rings true' (in as much as one ever can)?
To both ask a follow up question as well as giving an author suggestion. I've read a number of Guy Gavriel Kay books and been absolutely blown away by his world building. Most of his books are set in a slightly modified world where there is some supernatural elements of folk lore that is true, and names are changed. But each is at in an analogous place to a time and place in the real world.
So my question is are, there any historians who have read his books set in your period of specialty, who could tell me how historically accurate he actually is?