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!