but Forever Amber is fantastic

Couldn't agree more Maria, it's just one of those books that you have to keep reading again and again.

My most favourite book ever though is Katherine by Anya Seton - completely the wrong period in history but if I was offered time travel, that's where I would end up. I would steal John of Gaunt right out from under her nose!

George Macdonald Fraser's The Pyrates was set during the reign of Charles II, and features both the King and Samuel Pepys, but it is of course absolute nonsense from start to finish (and thus one of my favourite books).

Thanks for all that, everyone (and I love nonsense too, and loved Flashman as a teenager)

Emma