28 Fabulous Works of Queer Historical FictionĪlong with this list, that gives you 678 of the best historical fiction books to work through (#sorrynotsorry to your TBR pile).Įach book in the following list notes the setting and time period.50 Must-Read Historical Fiction Picture Books.50 Must-Read Historical Fiction Books For Kids.100 Must-Read Medieval Historical Fiction.Since we also have some fantastic lists on other historical fiction sub-genres, I’ve refrained from including as many historical fiction books on the following topics (though some definitely do appear). Some will have very recognizable historical figures starring as main characters, while others will tell the lesser known stories of people from the past. In the following list, you’ll see books with fantastical elements, mystery, and romance. Some notes on this historical fiction list You can also read a more in-depth discussion of this at the Historical Novel Society. Find more of our favorite historical fiction authors writing today here. The time period of the book and the real historical events that occurred during that time play as crucial of a role in the story as any character or plot twist. Because of this, I believe historical fiction books are also those that simply couldn’t have happened in any other time or place. Genre-bending books, though, have shown how a bit of fantasy or magical realism can enhance our understanding of the past. In addition, historical fiction is usually considered more realistic in nature. While some of it may be remembered from a lived experience, a lot of a historical fiction novel’s conception comes from research. Typically, historical fiction books are written at least 30–50 years after the event or time period has taken place.
Now, who’s ready to travel time and space with me? What is historical fiction?Ī historical fiction definition seems simple enough: it’s fiction that takes place in the past. This list, I believe, gives you the broadest view of our world’s shared past.
We read historical fiction because we want to travel through time and space. Instead of putting together a list of the 223,546 best historical fiction books, I opted instead for adult historical fiction showstoppers that present a wide array of time periods, places, characters, and more. Whittling all historical fiction books into one manageable list is impossible, truly.