The 20 Must Read Historical Fiction Books of All Time

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

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. 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 by Anthony Doerr follows two characters during World War II whose lives slowly intersect. Marie-Laure is a blind girl who flees Paris with her father to Saint-Malo as the Nazis invade, carrying a mysterious diamond. At the same time, Werner, a German orphan with a talent for engineering, is recruited by the Nazi regime to track illegal radio signals.

The novel shifts between their perspectives, showing the contrast between Marie-Laure’s resilience and Werner’s growing internal conflict as he begins to question his role in the war. As the story builds, both characters are drawn closer together as the war intensifies.

Their paths finally cross during the bombing of Saint-Malo, bringing the story to an emotional and powerful conclusion. At its core, the novel is about survival, morality, and the small moments of humanity that shine through even in the darkest times.

Beloved  

A powerful novel that everyone should read is Beloved by Toni Morrison. 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.

Beloved by Toni Morrison tells the story of Sethe, a formerly enslaved woman living in Ohio after escaping a plantation in Kentucky. Her home is haunted by the ghost of her dead daughter, and the trauma of her past continues to shape her life. When a mysterious young woman named Beloved appears, Sethe becomes convinced she is the reincarnation of her child.

The novel shifts between past and present, revealing the horrors Sethe endured under slavery and the painful choices she made to protect her children. Morrison explores how deeply trauma lingers, especially when it’s left unspoken and unresolved.

As Beloved’s presence grows more intense, it begins to consume Sethe and those around her. At its core, the novel is about memory, guilt, and the lasting impact of slavery, showing how confronting the past is necessary for healing.

A Gentleman is Moscow

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. Plus, Towles is an amazing writer that will make you forget wherever you are.

Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov was born in Saint Petersberg, Russia on 24 October 1889. His godfather Grand Duke Demidov served in the cavalry and was his father’s comrade. In 1900, both of the Count’s parents died of cholera and his godfather becomes his guardian and prepares him for adversity. 

One lesson his godfather instills in him in him is that “”…adversity presents itself in many forms, and if a man does not master his circumstances, then he is bound to be mastered by them.” The Count and his sibling have to make social visits to nearby estates as it is a requirement.

When the Count is a young man, he is sent out of the country as he was required to because of custom and a scuffle. But when he returns home after the Bolsgevik revolution in 1917, he is arrested. 

The Count is sentenced to house arrest for the rest of his life in his current residence, Hotel Metropol. Life happens around the Count and he makes the most of his situation. Russia goes through a lot of changes and the Count experiences it from the confounds of Hotel Metropol.

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. Her word selection is one of the best and she will evoke emotions in you that you didn’t even know you had!

It is 1939 and World War II is under way and Germany is currently on its way to occupy France. The house of Vianne Muariac is taken up and used as residence by a German office. Vianne’s husband is out to fight and has been captured, leaving Viane and their two-year-old daughter in her care. She has to navigate this new life while protecting those around her at any cost.

Vianne’s younger sister Isabelle is unable to sit back and watch the Germans do whatever they want and actively partakes in the war against Germany. Isabelle’s attitude gets her expelled from school and she leaves Paris and joins the French resistance and does whatever she can to hurt the Germans.

The Nightingale follows two different stories of sisters fighting back against the Germans in their own way. Will they survive the war and at what cost? 

Conclusion

That ends this list of the 20 must read historical fictions books of all time. We inlcuded classics as well as amaizng novels we can’t stop thinking about. No matter what you choose from this list, you will have a great novel to read to keep you company.

What did you think of this list? What books should we include in the next list? Let us know in the comments below. Until next time, happy reading!

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