There is something comforting about delving into a bygone era: from an Austen-esque world of petticoats and romance, to walking the halls of a Tudor castle. Personally I am quite partial to escaping to a fictional USA in the dazzling 1920s, and running from gangsters!
Each reader has their own perfect version of escapism and for those of us who love historical fiction the choices are vast.
Take a look at these 8 we have hand picked for you, and if any tickle your fancy you can order them via the links below.
Belgravia by Julian Fellowes
From Julian Fellowes, the creator of the fabulous Downton Abbey, comes this tale of secrets and intrigue of the 1840s…
“Set in the 1840s when the upper echelons of society began to rub shoulders with the emerging industrial nouveau riche, Belgravia is peopled by a rich cast of characters. But the story begins on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. At the Duchess of Richmond’s now legendary ball, one family’s life will change for ever…”
The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley
The author of the stunning debut novel The Watchmaker of Filigree Street comes this magical, historical novel set in the forests of South America…
“Deep in uncharted Peru, the holy town of Bedlam stands at the edge of a forest. The shrine statues move, and anyone who crosses the border dies. But somewhere inside are cinchona trees, whose bark yields quinine: the only known treatment for malaria…”
The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis
Fiona Davis brings us her debut novel: a sumptuous 1950s American tale full of twists and dark secrets…
“When Darby befriends Esme, a Barbizon maid, she’s introduced to an entirely new side of New York City: seedy downtown jazz clubs where the music is as addictive as the heroin that’s used there, the startling sounds of bebop, and even the possibility of romance.”
The Glovemaker’s Daughter by Leah Fleming
Leah Fleming’s novel follows one generation in 1666 and one in 2014… Follow Rachel as she uncovers the tumultuous secrets of her family’s history…
“Named Rejoice (Joy) by her dying father, Joy grows up witness to the persecution of the farming community for following a banned faith. Defying the authority of the local priest, she joins a group of Yorkshire pioneers travelling to the New World to form a colony close to Philadelphia – a passionate, rebellious and courageous woman fighting against the constraints of the time. Will she find peace and love?”
The Last Tudor by Philippa Gregory
Another meticulously researched piece of historical fiction by Philippa Gregory following the Tudor dynasty…
“Seventeen-year-old Jane Grey was queen of England for nine days. Her father and his allies crowned her instead of the dead king’s half-sister Mary Tudor, who quickly mustered an army, claimed her throne, and locked Jane in the Tower of London. When Jane refused to betray her Protestant faith, Mary sent her to the executioner’s block, where Jane transformed her father’s greedy power-grab into tragic martyrdom…”
The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict
In a scientific world dominated by men, one woman found her rightful place there… Marie Benedict introduces us to the world of the first Mrs Albert Einstein.
“Mitza Maric has always been a little different from other girls. Most twenty-year-olds are wives by now, not studying physics at an elite Zurich university with only male students trying to outdo her clever calculations… And then fellow student Albert Einstein takes an interest in her, and the world turns sideways. Theirs becomes a partnership of the mind and of the heart, but there might not be room for more than one genius in a marriage.”
The Paris Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal
Set during World War II, Susan Elia MacNeal brings us a tale of code-breaking and female spies investigating Nazi-occupied France.
“Maggie Hope has come a long way since serving as a typist for Winston Churchill. Now she’s working undercover for the Special Operations Executive in the elegant but eerily silent city of Paris, where SS officers prowl the streets in their Mercedes and the Ritz is draped with swastika banners. Walking among the enemy is tense and terrifying, and even though she’s disguised in chic Chanel, Maggie can’t help longing for home.”
The Rat Catchers’ Olympics by Colin Cotterill
Here is a retro read by novelist Colin Cotterill, set in the 1980s for a modern twist on the historical novel…
“1980: The Democratic People’s Republic of Laos is proud to be competing in its first-ever Olympics. Ex-national coroner of Laos Dr. Siri Paiboun may be retired, but he and his wife, Madame Daeng, would do just about anything to have a chance to visit Moscow, so Siri finagles them the job of medical oversight for the Olympians. As the competition heats up, Siri begins to suspect that one of the athletes is not who he says he is, fearing the man might be an assassin. When another Olympian is accused of murder, Dr. Siri investigates…”
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