My mind works in a way that isn't critical at times, as it continually makes summaries of what I see, read and hear, and that is what I tend to remember - those summaries. When reading historic fiction, I might remember the details of a fictional account as fact and not be able to separate out the fictional from the true details over time.

The most recent historic fiction that I have enjoyed is Imperium, by Robert Harris, about my avatar Cicero, and I am reading Conspirata now by the same author. I have enjoyed in the past Flashman by George Fraser and The Killer Angels by Michael Saarah. Those are the ones of this genera that come to mind.

I love historical fiction.

My favorite authors are:
-Bernard Cornwell(Sharpe series, Warlord chronicles, Saxon chronicles).
-Jack Whyte (Templar trilogy)
-Coleen Mccullough (Caesar, The first man in Rome).

Cicero, might I recommend some literature to go along with your historical fiction?

My curiosity almost always sends me looking for additional resources after I watch historical fiction.

Usually there are places on the internet that point out all the historical problems, whether they be unlikely scenarios or out of place technology or events.

I love HF too, but not as much as Alternate History.

Anyways, my favorite HF novel is Jeff Shaara's To the Last Man, because as far as I know it is the only World War I novel not completely about those Flying Aces of World War I.

The is only reason why I don't like more Historical Fiction is because I've just started to actively read HF novels, though I'm still stuck in the realm of Alternate History and Star Wars.

I actually don't normally read all that much HF. Strangely enough, I am actually reading two right now. Shogun and The Winds of War.

Just started Shogun, but it seems interesting.

Shogun is one of my all time favorite books, i've read it about 8 or 9 times. Winds of war is a favorite and I love the Sharpe novels by Cornwell.

Two other favoites of mine are by the same author, Jennings. Spangle and Aztec. Spangle is about a circus and starts right at the end of the Civil War and Aztec is a book written with some unique perspective with the central character an Aztec.

After reading Aztec about 30 years ago, I gained the perspective that the Spanish were not heroes and the Aztecs themselves were just ordinary people, not villains or human sacrificng demons.

I haven't dipped too much into Historical Fiction, but one novel I have read was "Black Robe" by Brian Moore.
It is about a jesuit missionary venturing into Huronia in 18th century Canada. Actually a very enjoyable read.

Historical fiction was what got me started into history. Almost all I know of Antony and Cleopatra has come from Colleen McCullough's series on Rome. I haven't done any independent research on that particular topic because it's one of those stories that I enjoy only in the form of fiction. Having said that, it's been a long long time since I read any good HF. Any recommendations? It doesn't matter what the topic is as long as the prose is rich and characterisation impressive.

Rosie, I recommend Spangle by David Jennings. It fulfills all your requirements.