There are a lot of great historical fiction books out there but finding them can be hard. When you do find an amazing book, it is only right to binge read all of the author’s books for any other gems. That is why we decided to list the 25 best historical fiction books of all time. Keep reading to see which books made our list!
You either love historical fiction novels or still haven’t found the one book to convert you into a fan. The good news is there are hundreds if not thousands of amazing books to discover.
We have made that task a little easier by listing a few of them. This list could be a few pages long and we know it still wouldn’t be enough. Historical fiction has most of my favorite novels of any genre and I am always eager to find new ones
This list will barely scratch the surface but it is one that captures what the genre has to offer. These are all fantastic novels that made us fall in love with reading all over again. You can see the full list below!
The 25 Best Historical Fiction Books 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
- Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
- 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
- The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
- Aztec by Gary Jennings
- Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
- Into the Wilderness by Sara Donation
- Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
All the Light We Cannot See
A novel that has gone down as a modern classic has to be All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Few novels have been able move readers like this novel has. And if you had to read one historical fiction novel from the past decade, then this is the one that most readers would recommend.
All the Light We Cannot See is the story about two young adults during World War II. Werneris is a German orphan whose talent for radios leads him joining the Nazi’s. Marie-Laure is a blind French girl who flees Nazi-occupied Paris with her father.
As the war rages on, their paths are destined to cross. Both of them have to make choices that will define not only them but the war that has upended their lives.
Pachinko
A novel that I could not put down was Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. This is one of my favorite novels ever and I don’t think I’ll read a novel as beautifully written as this again. Novels like these are why I love reading.
Pachinko is a historical fiction novel that follows four generations of a Korean family. One decision by Sunja, a pregnant teenager, changes the trajectory of her life and her descendants. This is a beautiful novel that will evoke many emotions and even shed a few tears.
The Book Thief
One of my favorite novels of all time is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It tells a chilling story about a family that hides a Jewish man in Germany during World War II. The writing is incredible but what I love the most is using death as a narrator. If you haven’t read this timeless classic, then you are missing out.
The novel is set in 1939 in Nazi Germany. Liesel Meminger is a foster child that is adopted by Hans and Rosa Hubermann. One day, Hans help hide a Jewish man named Max Vandenburg in the basement of their home. Liesel and Max form a bond as the war goes on.
Once a thriving town, Now Molching is a ghost town. The Hubermann are treated horrible because of Hann’s hatred of the Nazi party. His distaste of the party catches up with the family and they are punished as a result.
Beloved
A powerful novel that everyone should read is Beloved by Toni Morrison. Some works of literature are haunting and yet you can’t put them down.
Beloved 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
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is an amazingly well written novel about two sisters during World War II and the choices they made during the Nazi’s occupation of France.
This novel made me discover Hannah’s amazing writing ability and lots of incredible books. Her writing and the words she uses makes her books feel like love letters to books. I have yet to come across an author that writes as elegantly as her.
I would consider The Nightingale a must read for fans of historical fiction novels as well as World War II novels. And I would recommend people to go further and read all of Hannah’s novels. You might then understand why her latest novel, The Women, was the best selling novel of 2024
A Gentleman in Moscow
When I decided to read A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, I didn’t know I was going to read one of my favorite novels. This was one of the most beautifully written novels I have read and I still can’t stop raving about it. The story follows Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov as he is sentenced to house arrest for the rest.
it is easily one of the best novels written in the 21st century. The Count is one of my favorite literary characters. His wit and personality make this a must read for all fans of historical fiction novels. You would think little would happen when a character is under house arrest but then you’d be very wrong.
Conclusion
That is all for our 25 best historical fiction books of all time list. The list includes classics as well as modern novels that are must reads. What I love about this genre is that you get classic novels every few years from various authors.
This list could have included a hundred novels in my honest opinion. I am hoping that I keep discovering new historical fiction novels and that these authors don’t stop writing anytime soon.
How many of these books have you read or plan to read. What other books should have been included in the list? Let us know in the comments below. Until next time, happy reading!
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The Good Earth by Pearl Buck
The Cape Doctor by E.J. Levy
Jane Austin pride and Prejudice, Emma Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility
I agree, the Good Earth is top notch. I would like to see James Michener’s Poland on the best historical novels list, as well. I’m happy to see I have read 2/3 of the top 20 on the list. I’m grateful to see The Red Tent and Poison wood Bible on there. They are excellent and often overlooked.
I’ve always thought The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett was the most riveting series I’ve ever read. Also, The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead is not historical fiction…alternate history perhaps?
Hi I think the list should include Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher stowe, for a couple of reasons. The first is that it is a great book about a very important subject and one of the best arguments against Slavery at the time. Secondly, I have read multiple books on the civil war and this book is mentioned in most of them. Thanks Kevin Kenney
The Bible. How could The Bible be left off a list of best historical fiction?
You’re an a$$
Typical
Brilliant. I place it top of the list!
I love the historical fiction series’ by Eugenia Price. 3-4 books per series. Also the Civil War historical fiction by Michael Phillips & his series known as The Secret of the Rose.
You left out a tremendous amount: Sartre, Kafka, Solzhenitsyn, Ralph Ellison. More to follow.
The last of the Mohicans!
The Bible isn’t fiction.
Yes it is!
If there was 1 God He would communicate to everybody equally, so everyone could understand, so we all wouldn’t fight and kill over it. So no religion represents a true God. Sorry 😔
Gibran Kahlil Gibran book “The Prophet”, the second most read book worldwide after the Bible…
Rose Code is a wonderful book
The Bible is required reading for everyone. However, the Bible is not fiction.
Because it’s not fiction
Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel
People of The Book by Geraldine Brooks
The Civil War by Shelby Foote
James Michener!! The Covenent, Centennial, Chesapeake.
Any of the Saxon Tale by Bernard cornwell
Sacawagea
NEW YORK by Edward Rutherfurd.
The Grapes of Wrath
The entire 21 volume Aubury/Maturin series by Patrick O’Brien. An account of the British Navy during the Napoleonic wars but also an exploration of every aspect of what it is to be human.
Can’t believe you overlooked “The Killer Angels” by Michael Shaara
Life and fate, Vasily Grossman. The reluctant fundamentalist, Mohsin Hamid.
“Andersonville”-McKinley Kantor
“A Land Remembered ” by Patrick Smith
The Sharpe series, by Bernard Cornwell
The Hornblower series, by C.S. Forester
The Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara
Gates of Fire, by Steven Pressfield
Excellent! All should have been on there.
Nobody among your readers appears to have read The Tontine. by Thomas B. Costain. lt starts on the day the battle of Waterloo was fought. It should have been included in this list.
Winds of war and war and remembrance. Herman Wouk
YES!!
“The Red Horse” by Eugenio Corti
All of Dorothy Dunnett, all of Zoe Oldenburg, The Cloister and the Hearth, Lonesome Dove, Kristin Lavransdatter, Sacred Hunger, Jubilee, many books by Mary Renault, I Claudius, The March….so many. .
The Killer Angels, by Micael Shaara
Sinhue the Egyptian by Mika Walti
Any book by Leon Uris, and any book by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee should be a must read for every American.
The Earth’s Children series by Jean M. Auel is not on the list. I’ve been reading and rereading this series since the mid 80’s and I never tire of it. It is an epic historical read.
Morgan’s Run. Colleen McCullough
A saga that will captivate you
Into the Wilderness was written by Sara Donati – not Sara Donation. Please don’t rely on spellcheck.
It’s a sin that Blood Meridian is not on this list.
The Williamsburg series by Elswyth Thane. Follows a family from the American revolutionary war to World Wars.
John Jakes, Alan Eckert
Katherine by Anya Seton
Gore Vidal’s Empire series should be on everyone’s historical fiction list . . . every novel.
M. M. Kaye wrote a wonderful trilogy about India under the waning years of the British Empire’s hegemony. I no longer have copies, nor do I remember the titles except The Far Pavilions. I re-read the series many times over the years and it never failed to entrance me.
Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese
The Pillars of the Earth was phenomenal! But, the best I’ve read is “Ima Aphrodite Thorne”
Morgan’s Run..Colleen McCullough
A Town Like Alice..Nevil Shute.
Shogun by James Clavell, anything by James Michner
Bard. Morgan Lewellyn
Lion of Ireland. Morgan Lewellyn
Thanks agree on many and will check out others
Han suyin . Till morning comes and love is a many splendid thing and many more….