Historical books are always a pleasant read especially when the author does a lot of research on the time period. Some of my favorite novels fall under this genre and I am always looking for new books that are amazing to read. That is why we decided to list the 20 best historical novels of all time. Keep reading to see which novels made our list!
Choosing only 20 historical novels was not easy. Some classics had to be left off but the list came out well. There are too many great novels and a bunch of lists could be made without any complaints from me. You can see the full list below!
The 20 Best Historical Fiction Novels of All Time
- The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
- The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
- The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
- Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
- The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
- A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
- Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
- Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
- The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
- War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
- The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
- Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
- Aztec by Gary Jennings
New and Old Classics
There are a bunch of new and old classics on the list. Some of the new ones are The Book Thief, The Nightingale, A Gentleman in Moscow, and The Underground Railroad. I believe the genre is in good hands as many new authors have made a name for themselves.
But we cannot forget the older classics and the authors that made the genre what it is. Classics such as Gone with the Wind, War and Peace, and A Tale of Two Cities. Whether you like modern novels or classics, there are a lot of options ot choose from.
Conclusion
That is all for our list of the 20 best historical fictions novels of all time. What books should have made the list? Let us know in the comments below!
No mention of all the great historical fiction by Gore Vidal. What a shame
These are not the “best” historical fiction novels . . . just your favorites. Or some generalized list. There is no such thing as “best” in arts and entertainment.
Devil in the White City
One of my all time favorites
Sunne in Splendour
Mutiny on The Bounty. The Bounty trilogy by Nordhoff and Hall
No mention of Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan? One of the best books I’ve ever read. Should have been included.
The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett.
To leave the Lymond Chronicles or the Niccolo series off the list means that the greatest historical fiction writer, Dame Dorothy Dunnett is not recognized. Only the Patrick O’Brien novels are their equivalent.
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah was also excellent
Ben-Hur
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
A little known novel entitled, Powers of Fate by Mono V. D’Angelo is a sweeping saga of war and love, set in the period between 1935 and 1945.
Powers of fate by Mono V. D’Angelo is a sweeping WWII saga that carries the reader across four continents to an improbable love affair.
Sophie’s Choice — one of the best
Mistress of the Revolution was amazing!
Kristin Lavransdatter
Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett, Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
Katherine by Anya Seton
Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor
The Prophet by Gibran Kahlil Gibran…
Burr and Lincoln by Gore Vidal. Head and shoulders above this list. Winds of War by Herman Woulk?
How can you leave out “To Kill A Mockingbird”?
The North and South Trilogy by John Jakes? Herman Woulk’s The Winds of War and War and Remembrance? Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove series?
Wolf Hall Trilogy -Hilary Mantel
The Kite Runner and And the Mountains Echoed
The Killer Angel’s by Michael Shaara should definitely be on this list.
Patrick O’Brian… all of his novels