One of the most fascinating genres has to be historical fiction. It has tons of amazing novels and the amount of research authors do makes these story feel real. That is why we will be listing the 20 must read historical fiction books of all time. Keep reading to see which books made the list!
Choosing which novel to read from this genre is a tall task. With so many new and old novels to choose from, you can waste hours trying to decide. This list focuses on some of the best historical fiction books that are beloved by millions. You can see the full list below!
The 20 Must Read Historical Fiction Books of All Time
- War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
- Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
- 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
- Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
- The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
- The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
- The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
- Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
- Aztec by Gary Jennings
- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Historical Fiction Books to Read
There are many old and new classics on this list. Novels such as The Book Thief, The Nightingale, War and Peace, and Beloved jump out right away. These authors have kept the genre fresh and showcase the endless potential of historical fiction novels.
We can’t forget the books that have come to define the genre over the decades. Novels such as Gone with the Wind, All the Light We Cannot See, and Outlander are books new readers should read. To understand this genre, reading the best books is a must.
One of my personal favorite books on this list is A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. The setting, attention to detail, and storytelling make this a must read. I know little of Russian history and was fascinated with this world since the first page.
Conclusion
That ends this list of the 20 must read historical fictions books of all time. What books should we include in the next list? Let us know in the comments below!
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult is my all time favorite book covering the Holocaust. I think it should definitely should be on the list!
Don’t overlook The Clan of the Cave Bear series.
Anything written by Edward Rutherford (Sarum,London,The Forest,Paris,….) is a MUST read!
The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray
All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren
Good list but missed All Quiet on the Western Front!! Maybe To Kill a Mockingbird is historical fiction at this point?
Fall of Giants trilogy by Kenneth Follette
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. Definitely a multifaceted history novel.
Any books by James Mitchener. They are amazing novels.
The Winds of War and War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk
Wolf Hall and the two novels that followed by Hilary Mantel, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, I Claudius by Robert Graves, Imperium by Robert Harris, Dogs of War by Robert Stone, Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason, Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway, Atonement by Ian McEwen, Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
Any book by Eugenia Price.
With Fire and Sword is a big gap; Quo Vadis too.
It is past time to remove from the list the sympathetic white nationalist pov of “Gone with the Wind”.
Add “Cry, the Beloved Country” by Alan Paton or “To Kill a Mockingbird”.
The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
I’m amazed the Naploeonic War seafaring books by Patrick O’Brian aren’t on your list. He is widely acknowledged to be the best historical novelist in living memory.
Greenlanders by Jane Smiley
Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati should be included.
City of Thieves
Quo Vadis, kuniczak translation – one of the first global bestsellers of all time, sienkiewicz won the Nobel https://quidlegis.com/quovadis/