Variety of captivating historical fiction books that transport you to different eras of the past
In the realm of literature, historical novels transport readers to different eras, offering a glimpse into the past through the lens of fiction. Here are some captivating historical novels that have recently garnered acclaim.
"The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters takes us to an isolated stately home in England shortly after the Second World War, where strange occurrences unfold.
"The Hunger" by Alma Katsu paints a chilling picture of the infamous Donner party's fate, offering a fresh perspective on their tragic journey.
"The Last of the Wine" by Mary Renault, recommended by Antonia Senior, a journalist and writer who reviews historical fiction for The Times, is a historical novel set in Athens during the 5th century BC.
"Hamnet" by Maggie O'Farrell, named for William Shakespeare's son who died at the age of 11 in Stratford-Upon-Avon, is another compelling historical novel.
"The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead follows a formerly-enslaved woman named Cora as she seeks to evade slave catcher Ridgeway across the antebellum South.
In Nazi Germany, specifically in Berlin, "March Violets" by Philip Kerr unfolds, a novel recommended by Roger Moorhouse, a historian and author specializing in modern German and Central European history.
"Washington Black" by Esi Edugyan is an escapist adventure story set against a backdrop of real history, following the titular character from his childhood on a Barbados plantation.
"Orlando" by Virginia Woolf is a biographical novel about a character named Orlando, who was based on Virginia's lover, Vita Sackville-West, and is set in various time periods, including the 17th and 18th centuries.
"To Calais, In Ordinary Time" by James Meek is set in south-west England in 1348, during the height of the Black Death.
"Swan Song" by Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott delves into the world of writer Truman Capote and his glittering social set in Manhattan's high society scene in the mid-20th century.
"American Tabloid" by James Ellroy is a crime novel set in the underworld of US history in the 1950s and 1960s.
"Sovereign" by CJ Sansom is a historical novel set in the reign of Henry VIII.
"Hurdy Gurdy" by Christopher Wilson follows a 16-year-old novice friar named Brother Diggory during the plague of 1349 in England.
"Pavane" by Keith Roberts is a collection of short stories set in an alternate history where the Spanish Armada had reached England and won the subsequent war.
"The Betrayal" by Helen Dunmore is set in Leningrad during the 1950s and follows a young doctor named Andrei who has to treat the son of a senior secret police officer.
"The Winter King" by Bernard Cornwell is the first in a trilogy that retells the rise and fall of King Arthur through the eyes of the warrior Derfel.
"Imperial Governor" by George Shipway is a historical novel about Boudica's rebellion of AD 60.
"The Dig" by John Preston is a novel about the excavation of the Sutton Hoo ship burial in the summer before the outbreak of the Second World War.
"The Smallest Man" by Frances Quinn is a novel inspired by the true story of court dwarf Jeffrey Hudson and follows his life during the chaotic early 17th century in England.
"Kaputt" by Curzio Malaparte, published in the year 1944, is a novelized version of the author's experiences during the Second World War, recommended by Laurence Rees, a former head of BBC TV history programmes.
Lastly, "Dark Tides" by Philippa Gregory is the second installment in the "Fairmile" series and is set in Restoration London, the early frontiers of New England, and Venice.
These historical novels offer a rich tapestry of stories, transporting readers to different times and places, making for an engaging and educational reading experience.
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