There are tons of amazing historical fiction novels out there to read. But there are some novel that are must reads. Keep reading to find out the five historical fiction books that you must read once in your life!
Historical fiction novels have many old and new classics and it is a genre that alone can take decades to go through. This list highlights some of the best and our favorite books in the genre. And we hope this list encourages you to seek out even more historical fiction books. You can see the full list below!
Three Historical Fiction Books That You Must Read
- War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
- Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
War and Peace
War and Peace is considered Leo Tolstoy’s magnum opus and a classic. The novel takes place during the Napoleonic era in Russia and focuses on the French invasion of Russia and the aftermath. The story is told through the perspectives of five different Russian aristocratic families and discusses history as well as philosophy.
Gone with the Wind
A popular historical novel that Americans love is Gone with the Wind. The novel focuses on protagonist Scarlett O’Hara and takes place during and after the Civil War. Scarlet falls in love with Rhett Butler as the world around them changes. Margaret Mitchell tells the story of the changes in the South from a changing economy, politics, and ethics.
Beloved
A powerful novel that everyone should read is Beloved. It is a story of a former Kentucky slave that is haunted by her past life. The novel went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It is considered one of the best works of fiction and there is no other novel like it.
The Nightingale
A recent historical fiction novel on this list is The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. The novel follows two sisters in France during World War II and their circumstances and response to the occupation by the Nazis.
This has become one of my favorite books of all time and a book I recommend to everyone who loves a well written novel.
The Book Thief
Another novel that takes place during World War II is The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak. This time, the novel takes place in Germany and tells a beautiful story of the Hans family, their adopted daughter Liesel, and how they fight back against Hitler’s reign in their own way.
Conclusion
That is all for these five historical fiction books that you must read once in your life. How many of these books have you read? What other books should have made the list? Let us know in the comments below!