Best Historical Fiction

The best of historical fiction. Historical fiction are novels that re-create a period or event 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.

flag

All Votes Add Books To This List

101	Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 420,076 ratings score: 17,392, and 195 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
102	The Winter King (The Warlord Chronicles, #1) by Bernard Cornwell (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 53,855 ratings score: 15,457, and 171 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
103	The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers by Margaret George (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 28,740 ratings score: 15,139, and 169 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
104	City of Thieves by David Benioff 4.30 avg rating — 163,210 ratings score: 14,808, and 163 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
105	Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 312,684 ratings score: 14,637, and 168 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
106	The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 21,384 ratings score: 14,357, and 162 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
107	Shanghai Girls (Shanghai Girls, #1) by Lisa See (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 161,327 ratings score: 14,070, and 161 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
108	Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières 4.03 avg rating — 92,004 ratings score: 14,006, and 163 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
109	Doomsday Book (Oxford Time Travel, #1) by Connie Willis 4.03 avg rating — 63,830 ratings score: 13,824, and 150 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
110	Master & Commander (Aubrey & Maturin, #1) by Patrick O'Brian 4.07 avg rating — 62,431 ratings score: 13,789, and 153 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
111	Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (Goodreads Author) 4.51 avg rating — 362,676 ratings score: 13,559, and 147 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
112	The Constant Princess (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #6) by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 166,343 ratings score: 13,502, and 152 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
113	The Valley of Horses (Earth's Children, #2) by Jean M. Auel 4.04 avg rating — 95,055 ratings score: 13,285, and 156 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
114	River God (Ancient Egypt, #1) by Wilbur Smith 4.22 avg rating — 43,213 ratings score: 13,123, and 148 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
115	Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 1,686,016 ratings score: 12,388, and 151 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
116	Trinity by Leon Uris 4.29 avg rating — 25,149 ratings score: 12,381, and 140 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
117	Burr by Gore Vidal 4.09 avg rating — 10,530 ratings score: 12,086, and 134 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
118	Stones from the River (Burgdorf Cycle, #1) by Ursula Hegi 4.09 avg rating — 96,242 ratings score: 12,036, and 135 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
119	Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz 4.01 avg rating — 41,317 ratings score: 11,985, and 136 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
120	The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Goodreads Author) 4.47 avg rating — 2,976,730 ratings score: 11,689, and 139 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
121	The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 87,379 ratings score: 11,657, and 138 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
122	Chesapeake by James A. Michener 4.22 avg rating — 27,002 ratings score: 11,615, and 139 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
123	The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 132,203 ratings score: 11,522, and 135 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
124	Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes 3.70 avg rating — 50,696 ratings score: 11,192, and 129 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
125	Fingersmith by Sarah Waters 4.02 avg rating — 116,200 ratings score: 11,153, and 129 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
126	Mistress of the Art of Death (Mistress of the Art of Death, #1) by Ariana Franklin 3.93 avg rating — 40,674 ratings score: 11,145, and 127 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
127	Bring Up the Bodies (Thomas Cromwell, #2) by Hilary Mantel 4.30 avg rating — 103,254 ratings score: 11,116, and 131 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
128	The White Queen (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #2) by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 181,237 ratings score: 11,080, and 133 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
129	Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 30,607 ratings score: 10,839, and 123 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
130	Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks 4.11 avg rating — 83,018 ratings score: 10,792, and 126 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
131	The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain 3.87 avg rating — 124,407 ratings score: 10,773, and 131 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
132	The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 1,896,589 ratings score: 10,753, and 122 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
133	The Physician (Cole Family Trilogy, #1) by Noah Gordon 4.41 avg rating — 59,184 ratings score: 10,729, and 117 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
134	The Last of the Mohicans (The Leatherstocking Tales, #2) by James Fenimore Cooper 3.70 avg rating — 101,425 ratings score: 10,574, and 129 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
135	Orlando by Virginia Woolf 3.87 avg rating — 111,102 ratings score: 10,492, and 117 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
136	These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 by Nancy E. Turner 4.36 avg rating — 80,839 ratings score: 10,461, and 113 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
137	The Mammoth Hunters (Earth's Children, #3) by Jean M. Auel 3.96 avg rating — 76,854 ratings score: 10,401, and 126 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
138	Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow 3.89 avg rating — 45,866 ratings score: 10,303, and 121 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
139	Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir 3.98 avg rating — 34,783 ratings score: 10,060, and 119 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
140	Falls the Shadow (Welsh Princes, #2) by Sharon Kay Penman 4.40 avg rating — 10,584 ratings score: 10,054, and 118 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
141	Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 103,096 ratings score: 10,039, and 111 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
142	Genghis: Birth of an Empire (Conqueror, #1) by Conn Iggulden 4.39 avg rating — 37,121 ratings score: 9,922, and 111 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
143	Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset 4.31 avg rating — 14,044 ratings score: 9,790, and 112 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
144	The Man in the Iron Mask (Le vicomte de Bragelonne, #4) by Alexandre Dumas 3.99 avg rating — 66,701 ratings score: 9,661, and 119 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
145	The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran (Goodreads Author) 4.21 avg rating — 26,457 ratings score: 9,636, and 108 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
146	An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears 3.94 avg rating — 26,770 ratings score: 9,601, and 107 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
147	The Tea Rose (The Tea Rose, #1) by Jennifer Donnelly (Goodreads Author) 4.22 avg rating — 40,280 ratings score: 9,534, and 106 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
148	Into the Wilderness (Wilderness, #1) by Sara Donati 4.12 avg rating — 43,151 ratings score: 9,119, and 100 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
149	China Blues by Ki Longfellow (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 1,627 ratings score: 9,100, and 96 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
150	Mary Queen of Scotland and The Isles by Margaret George (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 14,894 ratings score: 9,056, and 109 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
151	The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher 4.20 avg rating — 119,026 ratings score: 9,032, and 110 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
152	A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain 3.78 avg rating — 107,111 ratings score: 8,967, and 109 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
153	Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner 4.24 avg rating — 61,506 ratings score: 8,825, and 104 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
154	Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 180,310 ratings score: 8,751, and 95 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
155	Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters 4.05 avg rating — 76,991 ratings score: 8,641, and 97 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
156	Flashman (The Flashman Papers, #1) by George MacDonald Fraser 4.06 avg rating — 15,722 ratings score: 8,640, and 96 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
157	The Persian Boy (Alexander the Great, #2) by Mary Renault 4.18 avg rating — 10,991 ratings score: 8,431, and 100 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
158	Winter of the World (The Century Trilogy #2) by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author) 4.38 avg rating — 174,196 ratings score: 8,396, and 98 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
159	The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux 3.96 avg rating — 269,701 ratings score: 8,286, and 101 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
160	Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 395,146 ratings score: 8,204, and 93 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
161	The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill 4.47 avg rating — 90,575 ratings score: 8,174, and 94 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
162	Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 459,933 ratings score: 8,149, and 97 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
163	The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 79,494 ratings score: 8,113, and 96 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
164	Agincourt by Bernard Cornwell (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 31,482 ratings score: 8,019, and 93 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
165	War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy 4.17 avg rating — 359,189 ratings score: 7,925, and 94 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
166	Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 15,318 ratings score: 7,916, and 85 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
167	Sacajawea by Anna Lee Waldo 4.25 avg rating — 16,333 ratings score: 7,885, and 92 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
168	The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1,075,707 ratings score: 7,787, and 92 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
169	A Voice in the Wind (Mark of the Lion, #1) by Francine Rivers (Goodreads Author) 4.57 avg rating — 105,311 ratings score: 7,762, and 83 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
170	Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan (Goodreads Author) 4.43 avg rating — 377,659 ratings score: 7,748, and 83 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
171	The Girl from the Train by Irma Joubert 4.14 avg rating — 14,565 ratings score: 7,646, and 78 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
172	Lords of the North (The Saxon Stories, #3) by Bernard Cornwell (Goodreads Author) 4.36 avg rating — 51,873 ratings score: 7,636, and 90 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
173	The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (Goodreads Author) 3.71 avg rating — 47,086 ratings score: 7,611, and 88 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
174	The King Must Die (Theseus, #1) by Mary Renault 3.97 avg rating — 10,188 ratings score: 7,606, and 91 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
175	The Egyptian by Mika Waltari 4.22 avg rating — 27,257 ratings score: 7,575, and 86 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
176	King Rat (Asian Saga, #4) by James Clavell 4.20 avg rating — 43,704 ratings score: 7,410, and 91 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
177	Sheever's Journal, Diary of a Poison Master by K. Ritz (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 27,825 ratings score: 7,374, and 76 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
178	Follow the River by James Alexander Thom 4.23 avg rating — 23,013 ratings score: 7,371, and 82 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
179	The Grass Crown (Masters of Rome, #2) by Colleen McCullough 4.33 avg rating — 13,101 ratings score: 7,211, and 85 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
180	Peony in Love by Lisa See (Goodreads Author) 3.64 avg rating — 50,160 ratings score: 7,180, and 84 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
181	Raintree County by Ross Lockridge Jr. 3.99 avg rating — 1,096 ratings score: 7,131, and 77 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
182	The Archer's Tale (The Grail Quest, #1) by Bernard Cornwell (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 33,219 ratings score: 7,103, and 84 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
183	The Traitor's Emblem by Juan Gómez-Jurado (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 4,169 ratings score: 7,046, and 71 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
184	The Pale Horseman (The Saxon Stories, #2) by Bernard Cornwell (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 60,571 ratings score: 7,023, and 87 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
185	The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir 3.99 avg rating — 28,449 ratings score: 6,969, and 87 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
186	The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 161,907 ratings score: 6,952, and 84 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
187	The Josephine Bonaparte Collection: The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B., Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe, and the Last Great Dance on Earth by Sandra Gulland (Goodreads Author) 4.47 avg rating — 3,899 ratings score: 6,802, and 73 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
188	The Winter Sea (Slains, #1) by Susanna Kearsley (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 69,207 ratings score: 6,646, and 78 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
189	Excalibur (The Warlord Chronicles, #3) by Bernard Cornwell (Goodreads Author) 4.44 avg rating — 30,438 ratings score: 6,616, and 77 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
190	The Winter Rose (The Tea Rose, #2) by Jennifer Donnelly (Goodreads Author) 4.34 avg rating — 24,718 ratings score: 6,482, and 71 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
191	Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (Goodreads Author) 4.37 avg rating — 270,535 ratings score: 6,466, and 73 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
192	In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant 3.80 avg rating — 25,852 ratings score: 6,463, and 81 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
193	A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 644,389 ratings score: 6,447, and 75 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
194	The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 329,242 ratings score: 6,400, and 78 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
195	The House at Riverton by Kate Morton (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 124,096 ratings score: 6,396, and 80 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
196	Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody #1) by Elizabeth Peters really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 78,138 ratings score: 6,249, and 77 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
197	The Little House Collection (Little House, #1-9) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.36 avg rating — 156,604 ratings score: 6,237, and 73 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
198	The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 1,341,770 ratings score: 6,236, and 83 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
199	The Virgin's Lover (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #14) by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 56,989 ratings score: 6,182, and 77 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
200	Mistress of Rome (The Empress of Rome, #1) by Kate Quinn (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 29,798 ratings score: 6,173, and 72 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

← Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 72 73 Next →

7,260 books · 25,406 voters · list created June 12th, 2008 by MBP (votes) .

Tags: best, fiction, historical, historical-fiction

3511 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (25406)

MBP 7547 books
158 friends

Marie 2536 books
177 friends

Nancy 5362 books
932 friends

Cynthia 32682 books
236 friends

Trina 1486 books
56 friends

Jen H 2203 books
78 friends

Ashley 1555 books
42 friends

Dave 693 books
0 friends

More voters…

Post a comment »
Comments Showing 1-50 of 334 (334 new)

date

newest »

message 1: by Celeste (new)

Aug 21, 2008 01:09PM

The classic historical fiction novel. Couldn't put it down!

reply | flag

message 2: by Evelyn (new)

Sep 28, 2008 07:40PM

The best. Couldn't stop until I had read the entire series.

reply | flag

message 3: by Charlotte (last edited Nov 11, 2008 07:43AM) (new)

Nov 11, 2008 07:41AM

The Whiskey Rebels (by David Liss) should be on the list. Though I must say the list itself is sketchy. Just because a book takes place in some moment of time past does not make it historical fiction. The Kite Runner? What is that doing on here?

reply | flag

message 4: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Nov 17, 2008 08:54PM

Good point, Charlotte.

For example, I love Pride and Prejudice, but I didn't vote for it, as it is not a historical novel - Jane Austen was writing about her own time.

reply | flag

message 5: by Paulie (new)

Nov 21, 2008 12:33AM

reply | flag

message 6: by Lindsey (new)

Nov 21, 2008 12:16PM

Flags of Our Fathers. Definately not fiction.

reply | flag

message 7: by [deleted user] (new)

Nov 21, 2008 01:07PM

Where are the Norah Lofts books? She writes great historical fiction.

reply | flag

message 8: by Jen (last edited Nov 29, 2008 07:56AM) (new)

Nov 29, 2008 07:55AM

I don't think people are understanding what historical fiction is. If a book was written in the 1800's and it is based in that time frame, then would you consider it historical fiction? I would not. Historical fiction takes historical events (or figures)and creates fictionalized stories either centering on them or surronding them.

reply | flag

message 9: by Coalbanks (new)

Dec 03, 2008 05:48PM

Agreed. Historical fiction refers to a time not your own featuring people, events & movements of the time & place re-created in a fictional story of your making. A generation before is time enough, IMHO.

reply | flag

message 10: by Caleb (new)

Jan 01, 2009 10:38AM

Win Blevins's STONE SONG dserves to be recognized as a great book

reply | flag

message 11: by Patrick (new)

Jan 11, 2009 08:56AM

I am ashamed that I even have read historical fiction.

reply | flag

message 12: by Lola (new)

Jan 13, 2009 04:37PM

I came here to vote after finding so many brilliant works of art on The Worst Book list. And here I find so many books that are in no way "historical." As already said, many of the above books (and many I love) were written in and of their times. So I could not vote for them. I read all genres (pretty much) but what to me is the best of that genre, so I am in no way embarrassed to read this one.

reply | flag

message 13: by Stephanie (new)

Jan 17, 2009 08:14PM

Middlesex? Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell? Like Water for Chocolate? Who made this list? Oh well, I enjoyed perusing it and found many new books to add to my "to-read" list.

reply | flag

message 14: by Travis (new)

Feb 02, 2009 07:05PM

It was made by the people, or at least the people here on this site who bothered to take the time to contribute. Obviously a massing of individual minds isn't going to match your personal tastes. These lists would be boring and hardly worth looking at if they did.

reply | flag

message 15: by Sparky (new)

Feb 20, 2009 03:16PM

Rusty wrote: "I am ashamed that I even have read historical fiction. "Why? Have you read any Shakespeare? Or perhaps Homer?

reply | flag

message 16: by Myra (last edited Feb 27, 2009 01:13PM) (new)

Feb 27, 2009 01:12PM

I (and my husband) read, or actually listened to audio recordings, of all the Sharp series, and just loved them. Cornwell is the only author who ever made me "see" a battle.

reply | flag

message 17: by CMT-Michigan (new)

Mar 05, 2009 10:02AM

"Night" is NOT historical fiction. It's not even fiction ... it's the true story of Elie Wiesel's experiences during the Holocaust. So historical non-fiction would be a better category for it, evne though it doesn't technically exist. Please remove it from this list- I LOVE that book, but it doesn't fall in this category.

reply | flag

message 18: by Nona (new)

Mar 14, 2009 06:37AM

well I saw several historical fiction books I've read and though not my favorite I understand why they are on the list and I see a few I plan on reading shortly, I think it's great that someone compiled this list.

reply | flag

message 19: by Manuel (new)

Mar 14, 2009 04:33PM

I really like the concept of the book cementary and given the responasbily to keep the books safe..

reply | flag

message 20: by Stephanie (new)

Mar 16, 2009 10:59AM

Manuel wrote: "I really like the concept of the book cementary and given the responasbily to keep the books safe.."

Are you talking about the Cemetary of Books in the "Shadow of the the Wind"?

reply | flag

message 21: by Bettie (last edited Apr 08, 2009 02:39AM) (new)

Apr 07, 2009 12:25PM

Lordy Lordy but this list is well out of kilter.

ETA I am talking about the objective scoring, not the subjective comments. *waves white flag at Alice, who thought I was dissing a viewpoint* lol

reply | flag

message 22: by Shannon (new)

Apr 07, 2009 12:52PM

And here I find so many books that are in no way "historical."

Lola, I noticed that too. Despite the clear definition/description of "historical fiction" at the top there, I'm seeing all kinds of odd books here - Alexandre Dumas, for example, while one of my favourites, was writing not all that long after the Napoleonic War.

Books written during or shortly after the period in which they were set, but 50 years before our own, are generally termed "classics", not historical fiction.

I don't know how these lists work - is there a way of editing it?

reply | flag

message 23: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Apr 07, 2009 01:53PM

Well, some of Dumas is historical fiction - like The Three Musketeers - but a lot of it isn't. The Count of Monte Cristo, for example.

Shannon - I think only the creator of the list can edit it (excluding changing one's own votes, of course).

reply | flag

message 24: by Maria (last edited Apr 07, 2009 11:37PM) (new)

Apr 07, 2009 11:33PM

Any librarian can edit the list in order to remove books. However, GoodReads is REALLY strict about only removing books that without a doubt don't fit the category, as they don't want people to just remove books they don't like.

I've removed "Anne of Green Gables" and "The Little House" collection. While both great books/series, they were written close to the time they took place and therefore don't fit the definition of historical fiction. There are a LOT of others I'm unsure about though.

reply | flag

message 25: by Shannon (new)

Apr 08, 2009 05:26AM

Count of Monte Cristo was the one I was thinking of, Susanna, and his book on Napoleon. I actually forgot about the Musketeers!!

Since anyone can add a book to a list, it stands to reason it could be removed as well. I don't see that function but I'm seeing far fewer non-historical books here than yesterday. Some are more science fiction than historical fiction, not that you can't straddle genres, but a lot of these are giving me a double-take. I personally don't want to change anything, unless it was glaringly obvious.

reply | flag

message 26: by Maria (new)

Apr 08, 2009 11:41PM

Shannon, at the very top of the list, immediately following the list description, there is a small (edit) link - very non-descript, very easy to miss.

This link allows you to delete books one at a time.

reply | flag

message 27: by Shannon (new)

Apr 10, 2009 08:39AM

I did see that, but I thought it was just for the intro description. Makes sense though!

reply | flag

message 28: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Apr 10, 2009 09:35AM

All Quiet on the Western Front is historical fiction? It was written in the 20s, about the teens. Great book, but I wouldn't vote for it here.

reply | flag

message 29: by Bee-Man (new)

May 08, 2009 04:54PM

The Last Shogun The Life of Tokugawa Yoshinobu by Ryotaro Shiba

reply | flag

message 30: by Catherine (new)

May 27, 2009 07:51AM

What exactly is a "historical fiction" book? I thought all those books Courtney put down were historical and so I voted for the one I liked best. I don't really have a big vocabulary, so I am not sure what most of you guys were saying. =/

reply | flag

message 31: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

May 27, 2009 11:20AM

A work of historical fiction is a novel that is set in the past, Catherine.

reply | flag

message 32: by Catherine (new)

May 27, 2009 01:39PM

Thank you for the comment I guess. =D

reply | flag

message 33: by Lindsey (new)

Jun 18, 2009 01:51PM

I didn't read through everyone's comments, so I'm not sure if this was mentioned already, but Elie Wiesel's "Night" is not historical FICTION. In fact, it was based on his own experiences in the Holocaust. It is a very touching, beautifully written book for anyone else who likes WWII non-fiction.

reply | flag

message 34: by Bill (new)

Jul 18, 2009 02:09PM

Most all of these are NOT historical fiction, IMO. Historical fiction novels are fictional accounts about real people in historical situations. Most mentioned here are simply period pieces.

Examples of historical fiction include Mary Renault's The Persian Boy about Alexander the Great's chamberlain and catamite Bagoas; Family Favorites by Alfred Duggan, a fictional biography of Elagabalus; I, Claudius by Robert Graves about the 1st 5 Caesar's and Julian]by Gore Vidal about Julian II, a 4th century CE Roman emperor...

Some like The Mists of Avalon mentioned above and many other modern Arthurian tales are mythic fiction, not historical fiction.

reply | flag

message 35: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jul 18, 2009 03:28PM

Definitions vary; they clearly have here.

reply | flag

message 36: by Deirdre (new)

Jul 19, 2009 08:11PM

Susanna wrote: "A work of historical fiction is a novel that is set in the past."

Not just our past but the past of the author too. Many of the examples in the list are simply books that are not contemporary to us and are, by no stretch of the imagination 'historical fiction.' The works of Jane Austen, for instance, are not historical fiction because she was writing about her own times. For a work to be historical it has to be set by the author in a time that precedes their own. It is arguable too that a book set in the author's imagined future does not belong in this category, like 1984. Such works are wholly imagined and not related to an historical reality.

reply | flag

message 37: by Kelly (last edited Jul 27, 2009 07:03PM) (new)

Jul 27, 2009 07:02PM

As so do I Susanna, but maybe the author of this here list put Pride and Prejudice in because it is history to us now. I think that is something authors of the past and future sometimes forget funnily enough, unless you mock whole nations, the works you create will be around for a very long time.
Susanna wrote: "Good point, Charlotte.

For example, I love Pride and Prejudice, but I didn't vote for it, as it is not a historical novel - Jane Austen was writing about her own time."

reply | flag

message 38: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Aug 13, 2009 10:42AM

Antonia Fraser's The Wives of Henry VIII isn't even fiction! It's straight biography, and a very good one.

reply | flag

message 39: by Bettie (new)

Aug 13, 2009 10:56AM

I look to historical fiction to take the facts (Henry VIII had 8 wives, most of whom died) and put real faces and real people behind those facts, explain how a real person could do the things they did or make the decisions they made

Which historical fiction book is this an outline of please?

reply | flag

message 40: by Jan C (new)

Aug 15, 2009 06:56AM

The Devil in the White City is NOT historical fiction. Eric Larson writes NON-FICTION!

And some of these others I question whether they are "historical fiction" - they take place at a certain time in history and they are fiction. But that doesn't make them "historical fiction."

Maybe I just take my historical fiction too literally.

reply | flag

message 41: by Bettie (new)

Aug 15, 2009 08:31AM

Jan wrote: "The Devil in the White City is NOT historical fiction. Eric Larson writes NON-FICTION!

And some of these others I question whether they are "historical fiction" - they take place at a certain ti..."

Well, Larson does write fiction as well...

:O)

... but I get your point on this particular work - 300+ readers have it on the fiction shelf. I bet he's nearly as mad about it all as you are.

reply | flag

message 42: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Aug 15, 2009 09:38AM

I guess it's sort of a compliment, as people "who don't read non-fiction" always want "non-fiction that reads like fiction."

reply | flag

message 43: by Jan C (new)

Aug 16, 2009 10:50AM

To the best of my knowledge (and Wikipedia's as well) Erik Larson does not write fiction.

He has worked for newspapers, he has taught non-fiction writing and, as far as I can tell, as only written non-fiction.

People may well read him as though he is fiction. Many think that non-fiction is dry and dull. I know many though Seabiscuit by Hillenbrand was fiction. But maybe these books can help bring people into the light. (jk)

reply | flag

message 44: by Bettie (new)

Aug 16, 2009 11:23AM

Jan wrote: "To the best of my knowledge (and Wikipedia's as well) Erik Larson does not write fiction.

He has worked for newspapers, he has taught non-fiction writing and, as far as I can tell, as only writ..."

Jan , is his profile on GR wrong? It states that he writes mysteries and thrillers as well but I cannot see any publications along those lines.

reply | flag

message 45: by Colonel Charles Dahnmon (new)

Sep 09, 2009 09:29AM

Colonel Charles Dahnmon Whitt has a new (Historic-Fiction) out. It is a 580 page hardback relating to the years from 1836 to 1900. It is based on an appalachian and his family as they live in the 1800's in Virginia and Kentucky. It also covers his service as a Confederate in Company H, of the 29th. Virginia Infantry. It is a day to day history where the folks come to life and keep you wondering, What's next? "Legacy, The Days of David Crockett Whitt" is the name of this narrative. Get it at dahnmonwhittfamily.com

reply | flag

message 46: by Thom (new)

Oct 12, 2009 06:48AM

WILL SOMEONE WITH SMARTS AND SKILLS PLEASE PLEASE PRUNE THIS LIST DOWN TO HISTORICAL FICTION. Without limitation, no definition. As Alan Turing famously said, Information is Entropy (Boundless information eventually becomes no information at all).

Sadly, we must either cut The Crucible and Inherit the Wind......or let in ALL of Shakespeare's history plays.

reply | flag

message 47: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (last edited Oct 12, 2009 11:12AM) (new)

Oct 12, 2009 10:52AM

Animal Farm is historical fiction?

I cleaned out a lot of the non-fiction.

reply | flag

message 48: by Travis (new)

Oct 18, 2009 04:35PM

Stephanie wrote: "Middlesex? Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell? Like Water for Chocolate? Who made this list? Oh well, I enjoyed perusing it and found many new books to add to my "to-read" list. "

Jonathan Strange and Mr.Norrell is historical fiction. The fictional elements including the historical use of magic in Britain, and the use of magic at that time in Britain. But the rest of the book is historical in setting and events, including the Napoleonic Wars. Remember, these aren't history books, but works of fiction that use history as a basis.

reply | flag

message 49: by Courtney (new)

Nov 28, 2009 03:49PM

Is it historical fiction if it was contemporary at the time it was written? Some stuff on this list really confused me.

reply | flag

message 50: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Nov 29, 2009 09:37AM

To my mind - if it was contemporary at the time it was written, it is not historical fiction.

reply | flag

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 next »