Back in mid-February we threw a question out to readers on our Facebook page, asking you to recommend some historical fiction and we clearly have a lot of fans of this genre. In total over 450 of you posted replies and collating them there were over 200 books mentioned. As often happens the same authors were mentioned over and over and there are clearly some shining lights in this genre, bringing in lots and lots of suggestions.
I’ve now put all those entries together and counted up all the suggestions to bring you the top 12 books for readers who love historical fiction.
Outlander Series – Diana Gabaldon (29 votes)
This books series seems to cross very many genres, fantasy, action, romance but it also has an historical twist and that’s led to 29 of you voting for it in this poll.
The Pillars of the Earth – Ken Follett (20 votes)
The Pillars of the Earth (US)
The Pillars of the Earth (UK)
Not only did The Pillars of the Earth come second in our poll, but Ken Follett was mentioned over and over with his Century Trilogy also coming further down the list.
Wolf Hall – Hilary Mantel (12 votes)
With Wolf Hall recently hitting our television screens it’s really made an impact. Described as a meticulously researched masterpiece it comes third in our list but author Mantel made the list twice.
Tudor Court Series – Phillipa Gregory (12 votes)
Tudor Court Series (US)
Tudor Court Series (UK)
Phillipa Gregory was one of the most mentioned authors in the entire poll and the Tudor Court series shares third place as the most mentioned. Wideacre and The Other Bolyn Girl also made the list.
The Book Thief – Markus Zusak (9 votes)
The Book Thief (US)
The Book Thief (UK)
The Book Thief is set during WWII in Germany and is hugely popular among our readers, so we’re hardly surprised this modern classic made the list.
The Lymond Chronicles – Dorothy Dunnett (7 votes)
The Game of Kings (book1) (US)
The Game of Kings (book1) (UK)
An oldie but a goodie, lots of you loved the Lymond Chronicles suggesting it as the next book series you should read if you love historical fiction.
Then, with 6 votes each came:
Aubrey Maturin Collection – Patrick O’Brian
Bringing up the Bodies – Hilary Mantel
All Souls Trilogy – Deborah Harkness
Then finishing the list with 5 votes each:
The Other Bolyn Girl – Phillipa Gregory
Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
Wideacre – Phillipa Gregory
The Historian – Elizabeth Kostova
Thanks to everyone who joined in and suggested books and authors, as always you can add your own in the comments.
Another historical fiction book to read is “My Enemy’s Cradle” by Sara Young. I knew nothing about the Nazi’s Lebensborn program until this book. It kept me intrigued from beginning to end.
I read this book several years ago, it was great and finished it in a weekend.
“Shashenka” Simon Sebag Montefiore
Another great one is “Stone’s Fall” by Iain Pears. Romance, plot, history, great character development…it has it all!
Sharon Penman is really good
Yes, Sharon Penman’s books about the Plantagenets are wonderful.
Thankfully someone thought to mention Sharon Penman!
I thought for sure she would be on the list!!!
Don’t forget Anya Seton books and Jude Deveraux’ Montgomery series.
I love Anya Seton!!! I have read all of her books several times. Katherine is the best ever!!!
Loved Anya Seton from the time I was a teenager. She wrote wonderful books!
my favorite is “Year of Wonders” by Geraldine Brooks.
Yes! Me too.
Love Geraldine Brooks – anything and all by her!
Loved it!
OLD FRIENDS by Tracy Kidder
add in C.J. Sansom’s Shardlack series set in 1540’s England
Couldn’t agree more… “Shardlake” series is brilliant!
I’ve always enjoyed Anne Perry’s detective series with Thomas Pitt and William Monk. Great mysteries with obvious detailed research into Victorian times.
I have read both series and waiting for her newer ones. They are all good ,but the Monk ones have been better lately.
Anne Perry and a friend killed the friend’s mother when they were teenagers in New Zealand. Anne Perry is not her birth name. They both received jail time. The friend seems quite repentant, Anne does not. Since finding this out I have never felt the same about her books.
Somehow I missed the chance to throw my 2 cents in… This is my go-to genre, so I have opinions galore! My favorite historical fiction author is Elizabeth Chadwick. As difficult as it is to choose a favorite of her works, it would have to be Lady of the English, about Empress Matilde, daughter of Henry I.
Will you have a category of Christian historical fiction sometime? I have some greats in that, too!
I love Mazo de la Roche! If you have similar authors…
Loved Mazo de la Roche.So glad you mentioned her!
A Rainbow in the Dark By Wade McCoy and Patrick Chalfant.
It’s set in a rural Oklahoma town during the 1940s. It’s about an African American adolescent and his determination to get by on his own after his family moves away to better themselves. He convinces them to allow him to stay to finish high school because he didn’t want to leave his friends and basketball team. Follow Kirk as he received hate from some and love from others.
My vote goes to Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale. The best book I’ve read in the last three months. It is clear she did a lot of research to weave in the history of France under the Vichy puppet government and with the French resistance movement.
I agree with Jill! THE NIGHTINGALE was a fantastic, hard-to-put-down book that taught the reader much about history of France and their resistance movement. A beautiful story.
“Night” by Edgar Hilsenrath.
Autobiografical Fiction (if such thing exists)
Music & Silence by Rose Tremain is a gem.
My favorite historical fiction book (and my first) is Sarah’s Key. Heartbreaking and eye-opening
This was one of those books that you don’t put down until you finish it.
The Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell, follows Richard Sharpe a British soldier from India through the Napoleonic wars.
The first series I ever read was The Williamsburg Series by Elswyth Thane, it follows 2 families from before the American Revolution through WWll both in the US and Britian.
I also like Cornwell. His series about the Last Kingdom about a Northumbrian Lord raised by a Norse family and his contact with King Alfred of Wessex, is very good.
Also, Lindsey Davis and her Roman Empire detective, Marcus Didius Falco.
I also would endorse Wilbur Smith’s River God series. Excellent.
i like the John Shakespeare mysteries by Rory Clements.
The first book of the series is Martyr. It takes place during the conflict between Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. The war with Soain is looming.
Excellent series!
didnt see Grapes of Wrath on this list…. It’s not ancient history, but almost … 1930’s Oklahoma and California …. Great book!
How about the best (and longest!) series on before WWI, during, after , WWII and after—Upton Sinclair’s Lanny Budd—-“World’ End”. It’s the best ever way to understand the 1900-1950 world.
Two of my favorites are Tulip Fever and Pope Joan.
No Steven Pressfield? For shame….
And no John Jakes? I love the Kent Family Chronicles. I have probably read the series 10 or 12 times. I read the first book “The Bastard” in 1976.
Warlock, Quest, River God and Seventh Scroll by Wilbur Smith….The Arthurian Trilogy (Winter King, Enemy of God and Excalibur) by Bernard Cornwell. Wilbur Smith is very good, and Bernard Cornwell is AMAZING. And I agree, Pillars of the Earth (and World Without End) by Ken Follett were both fantastic books. I’ve read them both more than once.
I second the Wilbur Smith recommendation!
Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Invisible Bridge, Mr. rosenblatt Dreams in English, The House at Riverton
You forgot to mention “14 Days in July “
I was surprised that The Red Tent by Anita Diamant did not make the list. I found it to be a compelling story that even though it based on a story in the Bible, it does not read as a religious work.
I agree, very good book. Liked it much better than The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman, which my book group read.
What about Killer Angels!
Samarkand by Amin Maalouf 🙂
I’ve discovered this page only recently so I’m going a few to add as well: Jennifer Roberson’s ‘Lady of the Forest’ and ‘Lady of Sherwood’ (Robin Hood adaptations concentrating on Marian) and ‘Lady of the Glen’, about the occurrences leading up to the Glen Coe Massacre. Evelyn Anthony’s ‘Clandara’ and ‘The Heiress’ (Jacobite Rising and subsequent French exile). Roberta Gellis’s ‘Knight’s Honour’ and ‘The Sword and the Swan’, set during the 12th century reign of King Stephen. Edward Rutherfurd’s books are great as well; and, and, and..
Cecilia Holland, and she’s particularly enlightening about little known periods — 11th century England, Hungary during Turkish incursions, the Holy Land during the Crusades. She is a good writer, with a fine imagination about how ordinary people would have lived.
New York by Edward Rutherford is my favorite historical fiction book.
Loved New York by Edward Rutherford as well as Sarem & London!
The Winds of War and War and Remembrance (Herman Wouk).
Anything by Anne Easter Smith: A Rose for the Crown, Daughter of York, The King’s Grace, Queen By Right, and Royal Mistress. They’re all set in England during and after the Wars of the Roses.
My favorite author of all time on historical fiction is Francis Parkinson Keyes. She wrote many books, all in exquisite detail of the period in which she was writing. Some of my favorites are “Steamboat Gothic” ” All that Glitters” & “Came a Cavalier .”
the swan trilogy by celeste deblasis. wild swan, swan’s chance and season of swans. begins in england then to Maryland from the 1850’s to 1880s. great reading of history
Where did Ken Follett’s Century Trilogy fall? I love his work 🙂
Anyone have suggestions on historical fiction set during the Civil Was period in USA?
*WAR not was, sorry
I loved the book, I am Mary Sutter by Robin Olivera; about a young woman who is a midwife and wants to find a doctor who will train her to be one too. What happens is a great read! Have you read Cold Mountain?
Cameron Judd has a trilogy from the Civil War that takes place in western NC and eastern TN. Love it, one of the best I’ve read. The 1st of the set is The Shadow Warriors.
Widow of the South by Robert Hicks – my favorite. It’s based on a true story.
I knew nothing about the Leningrad blockade which lasted two and a half years during the 2nd World War until I read ‘The Siege’ by Helen Dunmore…a harrowing read! Neither had I read much about the Spanish Civil war until I read ‘Winter in Madrid’ by C. J. Sansom . Am now reading ‘Guernica’ by Dave Boling.
The Spanish Bite saga and other books by Don Coldsmith are great historical fiction reading.
Lindsay Davis’ books about Ancient Rome belongs on the list too.
love all the books ,just not enough time to read them all!!!! reading Africa laughter by Drois Lessing now.
not sure if this fits the list, but I enjoy William Martins stories, Back Bay, Cape Cod, The lost Constitution. need to read his latest, the Lincoln Letter
Has anyone ever read The Gaslight Mysteries by Victoria Thompson? I loved those.
Edward Rutherfords books are the best historical fiction I have read. There are so many of them….London, Princes of Ireland, Rebels of Ireland, The Forrest, Sarum, Russka, New York. Paris and a few more that I have not accessed yet.
I wish you would make a small printable list on the article when you do these “best of” lists. They are so helpful. I would save time from writing them down. Thank you for the list.
Jack Whyte’s series “A Dream of Eagles” is a must on any historical fiction list imo! Six absolutely riveting books about Camelot/Arthur/Merlin and Roman occupied Britain.
I can’t believe that Sharon Kay Penman’s work isn’t on this list. Check her out if you want to read well-written, meticulously researched novels of the medieval era. I have read all of her books and am anxiously awaiting her next.
Conn Iggulden’s Emperor series on Julius Caesar. He has two other series too, Conqueror (Genghis Khan) and War of the Roses.
Sandra Gulland’s “The Josephine B” trilogy is amazing. You will finish one and go directly to the next. Amazingly written. I’m shocked that you don’t hear of her. I recommend these books continually.
Rosemary Sutcliffe set in Roman and Celtic Britain. Written for kids but I still love them
“The Eight” by Katherine Neville followed by its sequel “The Fire”. “The magic circle” is also in thos category. Love them all! ❤
No-one’s mentioned Norah Lofts who wrote many excellent books or Colleen McCllough’s Masters of Rome series.
I cannot believe All The Light We Cannot See is not on this list!! Good grief! It is great historical fiction and so well written it is unbelievable! Also a Pulitzer Prize winner!
Yes, amazing and intricate story. Loved it!
I love Simon Scarrow and his Cato and Macro series, Emporer at the Gates of Rome etc . Also Valerio Massimo Manfredi is excellent. Ariana Franklin and Pat Barker. I could go on and on !!
What about Pat Barker’s Regeneration series, set during WW1? Enjoyed those too, esp. The first.
Bryce Courtenay, The Power of One, and all his other books about South Africa and Australia. When I read those books , Dickens and
Swift made much more sense to me. The stories in these books are also riveting. I always feel bad when one of his books end, I just
want to stay with the characters.
Just finished reading Shadow of a Century by Jean Grainger. I really enjoyed it!
YOU LEFT OUT A FEW NAMES/AUTHORS: SHARAN NEWMAN, ELIZABETH CHADWICK, SHARON KAY PENMAN, TO NAME A FEW
I absolutely LOVE Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series! I recommend her all the time. Her books are so well written and all her characters, including the supporting characters, are well developed, intriguing and just down right fabulous! The first book in the series has a lot of introductory backstory in the first quarter of the book but after that, it is very easy to get lost in the series. Each time I re-read the series, it is like I am meeting up with old friends! Ken Follet’s books are also among the best I have ever read. His story telling is masterful, his characters and plot lines well developed and I fell in love with both of his series! Phillipa Gregory is another fantastic writer and I loved her books set in Tudor England. However, I felt differently regarding the Wide Acre trilogy. While the writing was on par with all of her other books, there was an element to the plot line that I, personally, found rather disturbing. I won’t spoil it for anyone, but I will say that having read the Wide Acre series once, I won’t read it again. Of course, others may not find they feel the same as I do, and that is fine. It was just not in line with my particular taste.