Renault is the best - I read all her books while in Greece as a teenager and have reread them as an adult. Just as good! Another excellent one is Laura Jow Rowland who writes a samurai detective series set in feudal Japan. His wife is a key character conducting her own investigations within the confines of her society. Highly recommended.

Speaking of historical fiction on Japan, a writer named Lian Hearn has come to fascinate me in the past couple of years. The name is a pseudonym for an Australian who writes in other genres as well. Have you encountered or heard of the Tales of the Otori series? Hard to know what to call it, though bookstores put it with science fiction. There are 5 books, now, a series of 4, plus a pre-quel. The "world" is a country almost exactly like samurai-era Japan, with the addition of magic powers attributed to the ninja, a persecuted Christian minority, and other fun stuff. The first one that came out was entitled, "Across the Nightingale Floor." Japanese elements are very well done. Lian Hearn seems to know a lot about Japan. She does the contrasting world views of Buddhism, bushido, and Christianity extremely well.

Is Lian related to Lafcadio? If so she is well endowed to write of Japanese lit.

Dear Wmans,

I don't think there's a biological connection, but I believe there is a spiritual/artistic one. I found out that Lian Hearn Is the name Australian writer Gillian Rubenstein chose to use for the "Tales of the Otori" series. Apparently she spent quite a bit of time in Japan and learned a huge amount. I personally believe that she chose the name Hearn partly because of Lafcadio.

What is your relationship to Japan? Have you seen the discussion group on Japan here on TBS? Looking forward to hearing more from you.

My favorite historical fiction writers are Colleen McCullouch and her series on Rome (The First Man in Rome, THe Grass Crown, Cesar's Women, etc) and James Michener's series (Texas, Poland, Alaska, Mexico, etc.).

McCullouch and Michener are certainly high on my list. I am reading anthony and cleopatra now.

I love McCullouch, but I find Michener a bit tedious.