Comments on Best Historical Fiction - page 6
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Maybe technically the books referred to as written contemporaneously were not historical fiction at the time. However, to me, given the book itself is historical, written well before our time, and is fiction of that era, then it should be considered historical fiction. JMHO
Liz wrote: "I personally feel that this book should be purged of all fantasy novels. They're not historical fiction, even if they are set in the past. For example none of the Outlander books should be on this ..."Joe wrote: "You should delete All Outlander novels as well for not being historical fiction, either "Fantasy" or "Romance" or I would even classify it under "Erotica"..."
The criteria for this category is "novels that re-create a period or event in history and often use historical figures as some of its characters. To be deemed historical, a novel must have been written at least fifty years after the events described." The Jacobite rebellion in 1745? Bonnie Prince Charlie? The Revolutionary War? George Washington? Benjamin Franklin? The Outlander books may cross genres and therefore be included in many lists, but they are DEFINITELY historical fiction by the category's definition.
There are people here on Goodreads who have absolutely no idea what "historical fiction" even means.
War and Peace is NOT historical fiction. It was contemporary at the time when Tolstoy was writing...
"The Mists of Avalon" is NOT historical fiction. Someone at GoodReads needs to curate and edit some of these things.
how do you find out what number a particular book is at? am looking for A Different Journey - Mary Tudor ?
"A Menina que roubava livros" (Portuguese) is the same as "The book thief".
"Plain Truth" by Jodi Picoult is #284 on the list. It was published in 2000. I don't believe it should be on the list but can't remember what year in which it was set. Please check this out.
I removed some of the books that did not fit the definition (they were contemporary fiction, non-fiction or fantasy fiction). There is still a lot to do, e.g. are plays (e.g. by Shakespeare) allowed here?
To my way of thinking, Historical Fiction means it's historical to me myself.I don't care that Jane Austen was only writing about her own times and so shouldn't count, Jane Austen is historical to me myself, and that makes her books historical to me. (Myself).
One of my own persona favorites is North America's Forgotten Past series by W. Michael Gear & Kathleen O'Neal Gear. Starting with People of the Earth. Not of specific real persons, but of real peoples in a time before Europeans came and took the land away.
I noticed that Number the Stars, Lois Lowry was on the list. I loved that book, but I wish she had written more. Does anyone else love Lois Lowry, but hate her decision to stop writing when she did? I feel that way about everything that she has written that I have read.
Adina wrote: ""A Menina que roubava livros" (Portuguese) is the same as "The book thief"."The "check duplicates" feature no longer works on this list. Please create a thread in Feedback Group asking for it to be fixed, and link to this list.
Claire wrote: "There are two versions of The Book Thief on this list, one in English and the other Portuguese."The "check duplicates" feature no longer works on this list. Please create a thread in Feedback Group asking for it to be fixed, and link to this list.
Lobstergirl wrote: "Please create a thread in Feedback Group asking for it to be fixed, and link to this list. ..."The thread already exists, several of them actually, and I once again left a message in one of them, as the problem of the duplicate check is over a year old by now.... :-(
I've removed The Diary of a Young Girl as it is not fiction...I've also removed The Captain as it was published in 1966 and can therefore not be considered historical fiction.
Lady Chatterley's Lover (#420) is not historical fiction either, as far as I can remember.
I'm giving up, as this list is a lost cause, unfortunately. People seem to have added/voted for books set in the past, no matter whether or not is historical fiction...
The Crystal Cave (Arthurian Saga, #1) by Mary Stewart is pure fiction. Stewart writing does not fit what was/is known about 5th and 6th century Britain, and was never meant to be read that way.Also, take off "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court"
by Mark Twain. I mean, please, not even Samuel Clemens would find its inclusions humorous.
Sorry if it's been mentioned before, but The Book Thief by Markus Zusak appears twice, under 2 different editions.
Courtney wrote: "Is it historical fiction if it was contemporary at the time it was written? Some stuff on this list really confused me."I think it is. Take Pride & Prejudice, for instance. I think it's safe to say that now it's considered as historical fiction, and yet it was set in the same time period of Jane Austen's life, so when it first came out it was probably more contemporary than historical.
On a related note, think of a book you now see as contemporary, written and set in 2016/2017. Fast-forward 200 years, and it won't be contemporary anymore, it will probably be historical. Time is relative. Or rather, notions such as "contemporary" and "historical" are relative to a certain moment/time period.
Raluca wrote: "I think it is. Take Pride & Prejudice, for instance. ..."Not for me, it isn't.... No matter the date a book was first published, the story has to be set long before the date of first publication to make is historical fiction, in my opinion...Not that 'old' books can never be historical fiction: De lotgevallen van Ferdinand Huyck was written in 1840 but is set some 120 years earlier, which definitely makes it historical fiction, for instance. Another 'old' one is Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott for instance. It was first published in 1819 but is set long before the date of first publication. See also earlier comments
To say a book is historical fiction just because it is 'old'? No... Just think about it: A book written in 1900 might be considered old for someone born in the 21th century, but definitely is not old for someone born in the first half of the 20th century.
Raluca wrote: "Sorry if it's been mentioned before, but The Book Thief by Markus Zusak appears twice, under 2 different editions."See earlier comments...
Should a librarian remove the duplicate by hand, the votes for the removed title will be lost, which will not happen with the 'check for duplicates' option. And as said option is no longer working for this list...
I think beyond taking into account if the book is fictional and written as a backward look on history, there has to be an element of historical accuracy.If the author didn't research their subject and does not follow historical events accurately, as teh author could have know at the time of writing, than a book cannot be 'historical fiction'.
I could write a book at the Trojan War, but if I describe in my book how Achilles construct a primitive lathe to fashion a gunpowder cannon that a'farts' out the back of the Trojan Horse - I'm not writing historical fiction. That is an extreme example, but the point is historical accuracy of who was there, when it happened, and how it happened all being historically accurate matters.
That is why "Henry V" by Shakespeare, is not historical fiction. He appears to have made no authoritative attempt to be historically accurate even if he might have had a firm grasp of the history. For him, the play was the thing. Most researchers would argue Shakespeare was speaking about his own age by using the frame of past history.
Lincoln wrote: "I think beyond taking into account if the book is fictional and written as a backward look on history, there has to be an element of historical accuracy...."In case of Truce, the author says "This is first and foremost a historical novel" yet I've read somewhere, I think, that the author does not claim to be historically accurate, just that the book's setting is in the past. And that's just one example. So I guess it partly has to do with genre as well.
I see what you mean though...
Raluca wrote: "Sorry if it's been mentioned before, but The Book Thief by Markus Zusak appears twice, under 2 different editions."Create a thread in the Librarian's Group and the Feedback Group asking for this to be fixed. The CHECK DUPLICATES feature no longer works for many lists.
Tony wrote: "To my way of thinking, Historical Fiction means it's historical to me myself.I don't care that Jane Austen was only writing about her own times and so shouldn't count, Jane Austen is historical to..."
Sure. And I can say that to me myself, a bicycle is a car because it has wheels. Go to Wikipedia or run a Google search for the definition of historical fiction. This is empirical fact, not individual perspective. You may find fiction set in the recent past--but before your own time--fascinating; I certainly have read a lot of very fun, well-written novels set in the 1980s. But they aren't historical fiction, and never will be. A book set in 1980 that is written in 2030 or later will be, but not one that is written now.
Ohhh, so sad. This is a good list, but once again the link to eliminate duplicates is broken. Feels like battering my head against a brick wall; this is the third strong, often-used book list with a broken link that I have encountered this evening. Pah. I'm going to bed. Hopefully someone with more skill at negotiating the librarians' thread will report it and get it fixed.
I am not sure what the definition of historical Fiction is but I am not too concerned. This is a great list for me to find new books.For me, Follett and Rutherford are the giants of Historical fiction. Follett is well represented with his Kingsbridge and Century Trilogy but Rutherfurd not so much. I would add his Russka, London and New York books to the list.
Herman Wouk's Winds of War use to be the go to Historical Fiction on WWII. There was even a mini series on it with Ali McGraw. It didn't make the list. Only one Cornwell book!
Lots of books I am unfamiliar with to take a look at. That is the real benefit to these lists.
P.s. Roma by Saylor should be on the list in my mind.
ROBERT wrote: "I am not sure what the definition of historical Fiction is but I am not too concerned. This is a great list for me to find new books.For me, Follett and Rutherford are the giants of Historical fi..."
If you want a title on the list, you have to add it yourself. Use the tab at the top of the list.
I'm reading War and Peace and I think it's Historical Fiction because it takes place roughly 50 years before the publish date. And it's just incredible and really gets into the heart of what history is and how and why we make sense of it - especially in terms of the 'genius' of folks like Napoleon.
what do you all think?
"The Book Thief" has been listed twice.
Jennifer wrote: ""The Book Thief" has been listed twice."Sorry, but the duplicate check for librarians isn't working.
Please, GR super-librarians, can we get the duplicate thread fixed?
Where are Susan Vreelands' books, all of which are historical, and of great artists, and are fiction. Her writing is amazing - she describes places and people in a way that makes you feel as though you are right there and then. Her descriptions of their processes of painting, what is involved, the colors and why they are chosen, the artists lives and personalities, are all so vivid. Luncheon of the Boating Party, Clara and Mr. Tiffany, so many more.
Michele wrote: "Where are Susan Vreelands' books, all of which are historical, and of great artists, and are fiction. Her writing is amazing - she describes places and people in a way that makes you feel as though..."See message #282.
There's a lot of stuff that shouldn't be on this list. The Ugly Stepsister is a fantasy book, not historical.
See all these commenters discussing what is and isn't historical fiction, but "The Lies of Locke Lamora", while a great book that I HIGHLY recommend, is a straight up fantasy novel!!! Seriously how'd that get here?
First: Goodreads staff, thank you thank you thank you for fixing the duplicates link! Christmas was nice, but this might be better; I got something I really wanted, and I didn't have to cook, spend money, or wash dishes. I take back every impatient word I ever typed about you. Second: so, readers, you want a title removed? There are two ways to do this. The first is to go to the Goodreads Librarians thread and apply to be a GR librarian; if you do this, you can edit these lists. I became a GR (volunteer) librarian for this purpose exactly.
The second way to get books that are not historical fiction (meaning written at least 50 years after the time period of the novel, and of course, fictional) removed is to list them here by title and page number. As you can see, this is a very long list, and only volunteers will service it. I will look it over, but I won't comb the list as completely as is probably needed, so your help will speed things up.
Meanwhile, the system has found and eliminated 6 duplicates.
Removed for genre issues:
From #165, A Thousand Splendid Suns
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
From p.3, Divine Secrets of the Yaya Sisterhood:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
From #347 Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
One Thousand White Women is a STELLAR book, but it's magical realism or alternate history or something. A Native chief asked for 1,000 white women to intermarry and help their people, that's true. But Congress said no. This is based on the premise of what would happen if they said yes.
I'm a Goodreads librarian, and I became obsessed with this list today. I have tried to go through and remove the most egregious mistakes . . . though I use the term "mistake" loosely. I am pretty sure that some self-published authors tried to promote their books by putting them on this list. There were a number of finance books, poetry books, and yoga guides by the same authors. I started at the end of the list, and worked my way up from page 62 to page 52 today. I took off the nonfiction, including several memoirs, and also the fantasy books that are set in fantasy worlds. I have nothing but love for Katherine Kurtz's Deryni novels, but Gwynedd is loosely based on 14th century England, it ISN'T 14th century England! :)
Jessica wrote: "I'm a Goodreads librarian, and I became obsessed with this list today. I have tried to go through and remove the most egregious mistakes . . . though I use the term "mistake" loosely. I am pretty s..."Hooray! Thanks.
Donna wrote: "First: Goodreads staff, thank you thank you thank you for fixing the duplicates link! ..."It sure makes life a lot easier :-) as 14 duplicates were removed today by the system.
Booklovinglady wrote: "Donna wrote: "First: Goodreads staff, thank you thank you thank you for fixing the duplicates link! ..."It sure makes life a lot easier :-) as 14 duplicates were removed today by the system."
The duplicate link is working now? My goodness. This calls for cake!
Courtney wrote: "Is it historical fiction if it was contemporary at the time it was written? Some stuff on this list really confused me."No, it isn't! Jane Austen was writing NOVELS, as was Louisa May Alcott. There's a vast misunderstanding of what constitutes historical fiction going on here. Just became Chaim Potok wrote The Chosen in the 1970's doesn't make it "historical!"
Jessica wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Is it historical fiction if it was contemporary at the time it was written? Some stuff on this list really confused me."No, it isn't! Jane Austen was writing NOVELS, as was Louis..."
The rule is 50 years. If I am trying to write historical fiction and publish it this year, then I must use a setting of 1969 or earlier. Of course, there are the gray areas such as stories that alternate points of view between the present and the past, but a significant part of what occurs must take place 50+ years prior to the date of publication.
Likewise, those seeking to write a history book must write about events 50 years earlier or more. If I want to write about the Obama administration, or even the Bush administration, I can do that, but I cannot call it history unless I want to wait a very long time to publish it.
Donna wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Is it historical fiction if it was contemporary at the time it was written? Some stuff on this list really confused me."No, it isn't! Jane Austen was writing NOVE..."
There's so many memoirs on here, too! And, weirdly, Keto Diet books! Something very odd is happening . . . :)
Jessica wrote: "Donna wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Is it historical fiction if it was contemporary at the time it was written? Some stuff on this list really confused me."No, it isn't! Jane Austen wa..."
Huh...the first 3 pages look pretty clean, and I can't go through all 61 pages, but if you will tell me the book#s or even the page#s and specific titles of nonfiction (or fiction that isn't historical) here, I will be happy to nip in there and pull them down. I see some fictionalized memoirs, which are at the heart of a great deal of historical fiction, but I'm not seeing the nonfiction...farther back maybe? Diet books sure as heck have no place here.
Removed for not being historical (50 yrs):
The Reader #92
To Kill a Mockingbird #96
The Help #103
The Kitchen God's Wife #128
Midnight's Children #146
The Awakening #156
11/22/63 #188
Removed for not being fiction:
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China #107