Historical fiction books are a set of actual events and stories that can take their readers to a time and place in the past. The idea of writing these stories is to take readers out of the events of the author’s lifetime. Historical fiction is a sub-genre or a type of literature that encourages the reader to read more in order to understand history and comprehend the essence of history.
It is interesting to note that there are thousands of books of this genre that are written. However, it is not possible to list them all in a single blog. But, we can share a few popular historical fictional books for adults and kids as well. These books will surely help you to capture the imagination of the reader.
Here in this blog, we will learn about the best historical fictional books of all time.
Values and Importance of Historical Fiction
Books and stories in historical fiction genres can teach us the truth about the past. In many historical stories, the protagonist suffered injustice or was wrongfully persecuted, thus these stories lead the reader to empathy for others. It allows us to explore ancient times from different viewpoints or discover different ways to handle our problems.
Top Historical Fiction Books
1. ‘These Days’ – Written by: Lucy Caldwell
Publication House: Faber & Faber
‘These Days’ is a short historical fictional story of two sisters, Emma and Audrey. This book focuses on the events that occurred in 1941 mostly the bombings that occurred in Belfast. This is such a well-crafted piece of literature, outlining the story of two women, one is engaged to a man and the other is having a secret affair with a woman. However, to add more misery, both the sisters had to live through the terrors of the Belfast blitz, and staying alive in those terrifying conditions was not easy for them.
2. ‘The Annals’ – Written by: Tacitus
Publication House: Oxford University Press
The Annals is a historical book, written by a Roman senator and a very popular historian, Tacitus. It mainly focuses on the events during the 1st century CE. This book offers a critical perspective on the rulers and their actions in the Roman Empire. The Annals provide valuable insight and an engaging mix of politics, society, and the culture of the 1st-century Roman empire.
3. ‘The Guns of August’ – Written by: Barbara W. Tuchman
Publication House: Presidio Press
This is one of the best books on this list and is also a Pulitzer Prize-winning book that revolves around the outbreak of World War I. Its author Tuchman wrote the story in a fantastic way that help readers to examine and explore different dynamics during that time like military, political, or social dynamics. Most events that are included in this book are about the starting and early months of the devastating time of World War I.
4. ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’ – Written by: Anne Frank
This book is about a Jewish girl known as Anne Frank who remained in hiding during the holocaust days in Amsterdam. The plot of this story is based in 1942 which was a terrible time for Holland as it was under the control of Nazis. Anne Frank’s diary and writings were found by her father Otto Frank. There is a tragic feeling as the seven of them, including her, are killed after being captured. Thus, at last, Otto published the diary as a history of Anne Frank’s memoir.
5. ‘The Sun Walks Down’ – Written by: Fiona McFarlane
Publication House: Macmillan Publishers
The Sun Walks Down is a brilliant novel that tells the multi-sided story of a boy, who was lost in colonial Australia in September 1883. The story is about a six-year-old, Denny Wallace, who has gone missing during a dust storm. And, his entire community searched for him. The story is full of opinions, arguments, terrors, and longings. As the title suggests, the sun among those searching for Denny rises and falls each day in which Denny could be found or lost forever. This story can give you thrilling goosebumps.
6. ‘The Electric Hotel’ – Written by Dominic Smith
Publication House: Macmillan Publishers
It is one of the best historical fiction, written by the New York Times-bestselling author Dominic Smith. This story is a portrait of a man, named Claude Ballard, who has been living at the Hollywood Knickerbocker Hotel for more than thirty years. He was a French pioneer who started out as an agent for the Lumière brothers, inventors of cinema. Claude spent his days in search of food and taking photographs of runways. But, when a film history student comes to interview him about ‘The Electric Hotel’, his past comes surging back because it was the masterpiece that bankrupted him and almost ended the career of his muse.
Final Thoughts
Summing up the blog with my final words. The above-mentioned historical fiction books offer valuable insights into different aspects and times of human history. These books help us to enrich our understanding of the past and its relevance to the present. With these books, you can explore many things like ancient civilizations, their personal experiences, etc.