Best Historical Fiction Books: 30 Must-Read Novels

• Feb 06, 2026
• 10 min read

• Tags: Book Writing, Fiction Writing, Writers

Historical fiction is one of those magical genres that lets you step into another time without opening a history textbook. These stories take real historical settings, events, and eras, then breathe life into them through memorable characters, emotions, and conflicts. From medieval England and ancient Rome to World War battlefields and royal courts, historical fiction helps us feel history instead of just reading about it.

The epic family sagas, wartime survival stories, royal intrigue, or forgotten voices from the past, the best historical fiction books do more than entertain. They help us understand how people lived, loved, struggled, and dreamed long before us. 

In this list, you’ll find 30 of the most beloved historical fiction novels that continue to captivate readers across generations!

1. The Pillars of the Earth

By Ken Follett (1989)

The story follows stone masons, monks, nobles, and common villagers whose lives slowly become connected through the dream of building a great church. You see how difficult life was in the 12th century, with famine, violence, and unfair laws. Love, jealousy, greed, and ambition drive the characters’ actions. 

2. Outlander

By Diana Gabaldon (1991)

Outlander blends history, romance, and fantasy. Claire Randall, a nurse from World War II, accidentally travels back in time to 18th-century Scotland. Suddenly, she must live in a violent, unfamiliar world where women have little power and danger is everywhere. Torn between her husband in the future and a growing love in the past, Claire struggles to choose between safety and passion.

3. Wolf Hall

By Hilary Mantel (2009)

This book tells the story of Tudor England from the viewpoint of Thomas Cromwell, a man often portrayed as cruel in history. Here, he is shown as intelligent, practical, and deeply human. Rising from poverty to power, Cromwell learns how dangerous life at King Henry VIII’s court can be. One wrong word can cost a person everything. The novel explores ambition, loyalty, faith, and survival in a world where politics is deadly, and trust is rare.

4. War and Peace

By Leo Tolstoy (1869)

War and Peace is not just about war; it is about life. The novel follows several Russian families during the Napoleonic Wars, showing how war affects soldiers and civilians alike. Alongside battles and history, the book explores love, marriage, family struggles, and personal growth. Tolstoy asks big questions: Do people control their own lives, or does fate decide everything? Through everyday moments and major events, the novel shows how people search for meaning in a changing world.

5. Gone With the Wind

By Margaret Mitchell (1936)

This story centers on Scarlett O’Hara, a strong-willed woman who refuses to give up, no matter how hard life becomes. Set during the American Civil War and its aftermath, the novel shows how war destroys wealth, traditions, and social structures in the South. Scarlett’s journey is about survival, sometimes at the cost of kindness or love.

6. I, Claudius

By Robert Graves (1934)

This book is written as if Emperor Claudius himself is telling his life story. Claudius is seen as weak and foolish by his powerful family, which actually helps him survive in a world full of murder and betrayal. As emperors are poisoned and relatives are killed for power, Claudius quietly watches and learns. The novel exposes how corrupt and dangerous ancient Roman politics were, showing that intelligence and patience can be stronger than brute force.

7. The Scarlet Letter

By Nathaniel Hawthorne (1850)

Set in a strict Puritan society, this novel focuses on Hester Prynne, a woman punished for having a child outside marriage. Forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” as a mark of shame, she faces public judgment every day. Over time, Hester grows stronger and more independent, while others hide their sins in silence.

8. All Quiet on the Western Front

By Erich Maria Remarque (1929)

This powerful novel shows the reality of World War I from a soldier’s point of view. Instead of glory and honor, the story reveals fear, exhaustion, and emotional numbness. Young men are sent to fight and quickly lose their innocence. The book focuses on friendship, survival, and the deep psychological scars left by war. It strongly criticizes war by showing how it destroys bodies, minds, and futures.

9. A Tale of Two Cities

By Charles Dickens (1859)

Set during the French Revolution, this novel contrasts peaceful life in London with violent unrest in Paris. Through characters caught on both sides of the revolution, the story explores injustice, revenge, and sacrifice. Dickens shows how extreme poverty and cruelty can lead to rebellion, but also how love and selflessness can bring redemption.

10. World Without End

By Ken Follett (2007)

Set in the same town as The Pillars of the Earth, this book jumps forward 200 years to a time of massive change. The Black Death spreads fear and death across England, wiping out families and changing society forever. The story focuses on ordinary people, especially strong women who challenge old traditions and fight for better lives. It shows how science, medicine, and new ideas clash with superstition and rigid religious rules.

11. All the Light We Cannot See

By Anthony Doerr (2014)

This novel follows two young people on opposite sides of World War II: Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, and Werner, a German boy gifted with radio technology. As the war spreads, both are forced into dangerous situations they never chose. The story shows how war steals childhood and forces people to make moral choices too big for their age.

12. Memoirs of a Geisha

By Arthur Golden (1997)

This book tells the life story of Sayuri, a poor girl sold to a geisha house in Japan. She must learn strict rules, beauty, art, and silence to survive in a competitive and unforgiving world. The novel reveals that the geisha life, often misunderstood as glamorous, is actually full of control, rivalry, and sacrifice. As Japan modernizes, Sayuri struggles to hold onto her identity in a society that treats women as possessions.

13. The Nightingale

By Kristin Hannah (2015)

Set in Nazi-occupied France, the story follows two sisters with very different personalities. One resists the war quietly by protecting her family, while the other joins the resistance and risks her life to save others. The novel shows that bravery doesn’t always look the same; sometimes it is loud, and sometimes it is silent. It honors the strength of women whose sacrifices history often forgets.

14. A Gentleman in Moscow

By Amor Towles (2016)

After the Russian Revolution, Count Alexander Rostov loses his freedom and is forced to live inside one hotel for the rest of his life. Although the world outside changes dramatically, he builds a meaningful life through friendships, routines, and kindness. The novel shows that dignity and purpose do not come from power or wealth, but from how a person treats others. It is a calm, hopeful story about resilience and grace.

15. The Book Thief

By Markus Zusak (2005)

Narrated by Death, this novel follows Liesel, a young German girl growing up during World War II. She steals books to comfort herself and others during times of fear and loss. The story shows how words can both destroy and heal. Amid bombings, hunger, and hatred, kindness and storytelling become acts of rebellion and survival.

16. The Things They Carried

By Tim O’Brien (1990)

This book is a mix of fiction and real experience from the Vietnam War. It focuses on what soldiers carry, not just weapons, but fear, guilt, love, and memories. The stories show how war continues long after the fighting ends, living on in the minds of survivors. The book explores how storytelling helps people cope with trauma and keep the truth alive.

17. Beneath a Scarlet Sky

By Mark Sullivan (2017)

Based on real events, this novel follows Pino Lella, an Italian teenager during World War II. He is recruited as a spy and forced to serve a dangerous Nazi general. While surrounded by evil, Pino struggles to keep his morals intact. The story explores courage, love, and the difficult choices ordinary people must make during extraordinary times.

18. The Forest

By Edward Rutherfurd (2000)

This novel traces the lives of families living near England’s New Forest over thousands of years. Each generation experiences historical events that shape its future. The forest itself becomes a symbol of continuity, memory, and survival. The book shows how land, tradition, and history connect people across time.

19. True History of the Kelly Gang

By Peter Carey (2000)

Written as a fictional memoir, this novel tells the story of Ned Kelly, Australia’s most famous outlaw. Raised in poverty and mistreated by authorities, Ned turns to crime as a form of resistance. The raw, emotional writing gives him a human voice rather than a heroic or villainous one. The book explores injustice, identity, and how society creates its own rebels.

20. The Mirror and the Light

By Hilary Mantel (2020)

This final book in the Cromwell trilogy focuses on the fall of Thomas Cromwell, once the most powerful man in England. As enemies close in, Cromwell reflects on his life, choices, and the cost of ambition. The novel shows how quickly power can disappear and how fear rules political systems. It is a quiet, intense exploration of mortality, loyalty, and regret.

21. The Song of Achilles

By Madeline Miller (2011)

This novel retells the Trojan War through the eyes of Patroclus, a gentle and kind boy who grows up beside the great warrior Achilles. Instead of focusing only on battles and glory, the story centers on their deep friendship and love. Achilles is shown not just as a hero, but as a human being with fears and flaws. The book explores destiny, choice, love, and the painful cost of fame and war.

22. The Other Boleyn Girl

By Philippa Gregory (2001)

Told from Mary Boleyn’s perspective, this novel takes readers inside the dangerous world of King Henry VIII’s court. Mary and her sister Anne are pushed by their family to win the king’s favor, turning love into a political weapon. The story shows how women were used as tools for power and survival. It explores jealousy, ambition, betrayal, and the high price of being close to the throne.

23. The Night Watch

By Sarah Waters (2006)

Set in London during and after World War II, this novel tells its story in reverse order, slowly revealing secrets from the past. The characters carry emotional wounds caused by war, loss, and broken relationships. As time moves backward, readers learn how love, fear, and difficult choices shaped each person’s life. The book explores identity, loneliness, and how trauma changes people long after war ends.

24. The Help

By Kathryn Stockett (2009)

This novel is set in the American South during the 1960s, a time of deep racial inequality. It follows Black maids who care for white families and a young white woman who decides to write their stories. Through their voices, the book exposes everyday racism, fear, and injustice. It also highlights courage, friendship, and the slow beginnings of social change.

25. Shōgun

By James Clavell (1975)

When an English sailor is shipwrecked in feudal Japan, he enters a world ruled by strict honor codes and powerful warlords. As he learns the language and customs, he becomes involved in dangerous political struggles. The novel explores cultural misunderstanding, loyalty, power, and respect. It shows how survival sometimes requires letting go of old beliefs.

26. The Red Tent

By Anita Diamant (1997)

This novel retells a biblical story through the voices of women, focusing on Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. It brings attention to women’s lives, traditions, and relationships that are often ignored in history. The “red tent” becomes a symbol of female bonding, wisdom, and strength. The story celebrates motherhood, sisterhood, and resilience.

27. The Paris Wife

By Paula McLain (2011)

This book imagines the early marriage of Ernest Hemingway through the eyes of his first wife, Hadley Richardson. Set in 1920s Paris, it shows the excitement of young love mixed with growing ambition and jealousy. As Hemingway’s fame rises, their relationship begins to strain. The novel explores love, sacrifice, and what it means to support someone else’s dream.

28. The Last Kingdom

By Bernard Cornwell (2004)

Set in 9th-century England, this novel follows Uhtred, a Saxon boy raised by Vikings after his family is killed. Torn between two cultures, he struggles to decide where his loyalty lies. The story is filled with battles, politics, and shifting alliances. At its heart, the novel is about identity, belonging, and the formation of England.

29. The Night Tiger

By Yangsze Choo (2019)

Set in 1930s colonial Malaysia, this novel combines mystery, folklore, and history. The story follows several characters connected by a missing finger and ancient death rituals. As secrets are uncovered, the book explores superstition, colonial tension, and personal identity. It highlights the clash between tradition and modern life.

30. The Tattooist of Auschwitz

By Heather Morris (2018)

Based on a true story, this novel follows Lale Sokolov, a Jewish prisoner forced to tattoo identification numbers on fellow inmates at Auschwitz. While surrounded by horror, Lale finds love and a reason to survive. The book shows how hope and humanity can exist even in the darkest places. It is a story about endurance, love, and remembering history.

The beauty of historical fiction lies in its power to connect the past with the present. These books remind us that even though times change, human emotions, love, fear, ambition, courage, and hope remain timeless. Whether you’re new to the genre or a lifelong fan, the novels on this list offer unforgettable journeys through history, told through rich storytelling and unforgettable characters.

If reading these stories has inspired you to write your own historical fiction or any book at all, getting published doesn’t have to be overwhelming. PaperTrue’s self-publishing services can help authors turn manuscripts into professionally edited, formatted, and beautifully designed books ready for the world. From editing and proofreading to book formatting and publishing support, PaperTrue makes the self-publishing journey smooth and stress-free.

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Tanvi

With a foundation in Life Sciences, Tanvi enjoys curating technical writing tips tailored for ESL students. When she's not translating complex concepts into bite-sized nuggets, she can be found playing with dogs or painting landscapes.