50 Historical Fiction Books You Need Now

Touching and deeply endearing, this is a portrait of history through the players inhabiting it told with astounding technical deftness. It’s no wonder it won the Pulitzer Prize.

Beautifully imagined and capturing an entire era of history, The Luminaries is bold, clever, tense and full of so many masterfully rendered story elements to ensure the pages keep turning. From the surface entertainment to the meaningful depths, this is a tale that will stick with you.

Ghost Bride is a stunning cross-genre historical exploration of period colonialism, a murder mystery, a speculative jaunt through life and death and all woven with gorgeous Chinese folklore.

Anita Diamant pulls Dinah from the Bible and puts readers into her head as she explores the historical turmoil of women in ancient times. This is a rich and unique lens into a time not often given space on the page, least of all at this high quality.

A truly unique experience, Trust builds a propulsive plot out of four unique components — one novel-within-the-novel, one unfinished manuscript, one memoir, and one short diary. Written in gorgeous prose, it’s a read unlike any other.

As literary as it is mysterious and fantastical, Doerr masterfully blends history and fiction in this epic tale of strangers whose paths spin closer and intertwine during WWII.

With a new introduction from Viet Thanh Nguyen (A Man of Two Faces), The Lover is brought to new life along with its universality and its timelessness. This is a flawlessly told story with layers seamlessly packed together, making it a modern classic of literary excellence.

The time-traveling romance that has won over a generation of readers, Outlander begins here. It’s the love triangle that rises above all other love triangles, not just in passion but in the amount of years between them.

This is the story of one young boy on a grand adventure and the impossible friendship that comes of it. A riveting journey wrapped in themes of freedom, race and camaraderie, Washington Black challenges you to rethink history from a new perspective.

Gorgeously atmospheric and strikingly real, Manhattan Beach embodies the period it’s set in, populating the stage with remarkably human characters driving a compulsive plot. It’s everything a story needs to be unforgettable.

Inspired by her grandfather’s life, this Pulitzer Prize winner immerses us in the tumultuous world of a Chippewa reservation in the mid-fifties as compelling characters fight for their home and humanity.

The standout novel of the 90s, Cold Mountain broke all kinds of records, and for good cause. It’s the profoundly moving story of a soldier returning home to his love after the Civil War. A simple premise with deep emotional resonance that elevates it into the upper echelon of literature.

A remarkable 19th-century adventure story that evokes similarities to classic authors both in the scope of the adventure and in the depth of character. This novel is a snapshot of the Indian diaspora populated by real-world settings

A deceptively slim novel of passion and faith, creativity and power, set in 12th-century France, Matrix is both massive in scope and exacting in focus. Told in a bold feminist lens with vibrant prose, this is a story that will pass all too quickly but leave a lasting impression nonetheless.

Set in 18th century Ghana at the heart of the slave trade, this is the story of two sisters facing much different fates. It’s an unflinching narrative of the lasting effects of slavery, and it’s a modern classic you don’t want to miss.

A sweeping journey that will captivate you from the very first page, The Nightingale is a tale of love and loss, set against the backdrop of World War II. Hannah reframes the experience of war from the words of women, and we meet characters inherently good and some shockingly evil: “In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.”

This stunning novel, based on actual historical events, will leave readers breathless with its gorgeous prose and unforgettable characters. Harding brings Apple Island to life with his lush descriptions. It is a place, and a story that will live on in readers’ minds for years to come.

Based on historical Viking characters, this is a revival of heroic sagas, of ancient magic and of a time long since passed. Grappling with questions of what constitutes a hero, this may take place a century ago, but it still successfully converses with modern themes.

With beautiful restraint, Ishiguro examines class, identity and unexpected freedom through the eyes of a devoted butler as he reminisces about 30 years of English history through the lens of his own.

With gorgeous, flowing prose, Kawabata tells the story of an elderly businessman presented with mounting frustrations from both family and his own memory. Grappling with themes of aging from multiple lenses, this is a quiet, poetic story with much to say.

There are plenty Dracula retellings to choose from, but none do better than The Historian. Bouncing between history, romance, thrills and mythology, it is both refreshingly new and comfortingly familiar. This is vampire literature done right, and it will delight fans of the genre new and old.

Uniquely told and riddled with biting historical observation, The Flamethrowers tells the story of 1970s New York City on multiple levels. Cinematically told with bouncing prose, it’s at times funny, provocative and moving, but at all times compulsive.

A stunning multigenerational story of a family and the walls that divide them — time, distance, ideology, and death. Incorporating both the joys and pains of life, this is a sibling story rich in universalities and told with such sweeping prose that, even without the impactful story of family, it’s a pleasure to read for the writing alone.

An enthralling multi-generational story of love and ambition, Pachinko was a classic the moment it was published. It’s the tale of a woman in the early 1900s claiming her place in a world so reluctant to give it. This deeply moving, intriguingly complex narrative will be discussed for decades to come.

Watch the events of Henry VIII’s life unfold through the eyes of his sometimes-confidant, sometimes-adversary Thomas Cromwell in this sweeping historical epic.

Pulitzer Prize finalist Daniel Mason takes readers on a journey through American history via the inhabitants of a single plot of New England land. This is ultimately a story of how we are all connected, through our environment and our history, and is one that should not be missed.

A brilliant work that mixes the historical with the fictional, this is James McBride at his perpetual best. It’s the story of a young slave swept up on the perilous journey of a lifetime and it reads well for adults and young readers alike. 

The quintessential Western novel, Lonesome Dove is the story of two Texas Rangers on their last hurrah. Their picturesque ride gives readers a full spectrum of character qualities and emotions. You’ll run the gamut from laughing to crying as these Rangers face the untamed American West.

All you need to know is who wrote it. The indelible Toni Morrison never disappoints, and in what is considered her greatest work, Beloved takes us back to the devastation brought on by slavery and the fractures that it caused. Underneath it all, the chorus of community brings a tune that sings of hope for the future.

Gorgeous prose woven into the breakneck pace of a page-turning thriller. Set in Los Angelos among Vietnamese refugees after the fall of Saigon, this is a story steeped in stakes and begging to be read. Don’t miss it.

A meditation on the inspiration borne of tragedy and the story of the indomitable woman behind an iconic visionary. Gorgeous writing, a magnificent plot and the exquisite exploration of love and loss make this a can’t-miss novel from the talented, praise-worthy voice of O’Farrell. Without giving too much away, this is a book that must be savored.

Ken Follett crafts an immersive historical drama centered around the construction of a medieval cathedral. With vivid prose and memorable characters, Follett creates a world for readers to get lost in with this seldom explored part of history.

Written with a profound voice that is practically dripping with poetic force, The English Patient is the story of a British soldier living in Canada after WWII, seemingly unaware of who he is. It’s a treatise against war, highlighting the rippling fractures that come from it, and delivering a quiet and moving narrative with a human heart.

With the help of a fantastic lead character, The Essex Serpent is brilliant historical fiction with mystery, myth and monsters working together to create a compelling narrative. Set in a time when religion, science and magic were actively at odds, this novel embodies that battle and does so with remarkable efficacy.

The book that launched one of the greatest literary voices of our time, this is the tale of a fully-realized character whose life is tied to the fate of his country. Perfectly balanced with history, myth and the elements of storytelling, this is an unforgettable read of immense impact.

George Saunders is something of a national treasure, and with this book that walks through genre borders with ease, he tells a devastating story of humanity’s deepest regrets and happiest triumphs. It’s massive in scope, yet exacting in focus and it is a masterclass in narrative voice.

An effective reimagining of King Lear set in the American Midwest, A Thousand Acres is the story of one daughter cut out of her family’s will and the spiral that follows. Built around a singular family, this is the story of connections and divides and resonates with profoundly American themes.

Emotionally resonant and ripe with themes of the immigrant experience and what it means to be American, Brooklyn is a light read that’s nonetheless impactful in its lasting message.

Good luck putting this novel down. Equal parts heart and wit, this historical fiction will endear you to the characters, transport you to the scenes, and leave you pondering your own purpose and the people in your life in all the best ways.

From the masterful mind of Luis Alberto Urrea comes the novelized story of Urrea’s great aunt, pitting the magic of folklore against the harsh realities of poverty and war. Despite the looming darkness, this is a tale of hope, faith

A gorgeous historical fiction combining the investigative suspense of Louise Penny and the compelling historical backdrop of Outlander. This is the story of a woman ahead of her time and the impact she makes on a world that isn’t ready for her.

Verghese’s first novel since 2008’s bestselling Cutting for Stone is a gorgeous epic about a family in South India where at least one member of each generation dies by drowning. Spanning three generations, Covenant of Water is a beautiful tribute to the sacrifices previous generations make for the sake of those who come after them.  If you’d like to hear the story straight from the author, check out the audiobook or listen to our Poured Over Podcast episode with Abraham Verghese.

No novel is more iconic than The Color Purple, and this exclusive edition in celebration of its 40th anniversary is stunning. Revisit the often tragic, always uplifting story of Celie and Nettie, separated sisters who carry on through letters. It delivers on so many emotional levels and is required reading for anyone.

Jesmyn Ward is always brilliant, and this is no exception. Equally devastating and uplifting, this is the story of both slavery and Black American reclamation of the South. Told with gorgeous, lyrical prose, it will satiate any literary appetite.

A twisting historical narrative that brings back memories of Dickens and Bronte, this is a masterfully plotted mystery dripping in unrelenting suspense. It’s bold, beguiling and delightfully brisque.

Colson Whitehead’s follow-up novel to Underground Railroad won the Pullitzer Prize, and for good reason. This tale of racism and repression is steeped in truths and centers on an actual school guilty of horrible abuses. But underneath the devastation is hope, and a reminder that there is goodness even in the worst of times.

The story of two brilliantly crafted siblings that are as human as characters can be. With unmatched prose and a plot that deepens our understanding of the past and present, this is the story of the American West from a different and necessary perspective.

A story of love, power and politics, Harlem Rhapsody is a gripping account of an unsung hero. Victoria Christopher Murray blends fact and fiction to reintroduce readers to a legendary woman in literature.

A love story, a coming-of-age tale and a war novel wrapped in one, the incomparable Isabel Allende returns with a sweeping story that reintroduces us to the Del Valle family who we met in The House of the Spirits.

Love and war, births and deaths, coming together and falling apart — this intimate portrait of small-town, midcentury America is a must-read. The writing is both straightforward and poetic, and the story is compelling, cathartic and expertly crafted.