I adore all historical fiction books. As a fully fledged history nerd I feel it is my duty to read as many historical fiction books as possible so I've read a lot of historical fiction. I love exploring the worlds gone by, especially those set in World War Two, and discovering more about how people used to live. This prompt was super hard for me because how can I possibly pick just 10 books from a genre I love?! I tried really hard to pick out some books that you might not have heard, as a well as some popular ones that I'm sure everyone knows (because they're popular for a reason right?)
1- All the Light We Cannot See by Andrew Doerr
This book is beautiful, it is poetry, and if you haven't read it you need to now! It is dual perspective between a blind French girl and a German boy during the Second World War, so you get to see how both sides of the war felt about the other side. It is a little difficult to get into, but once you've read the first 20 pages it flies past so fast!
2- Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
I know this is technically a fantasy book but the whole Infernal Devices series is set in Victorian London so I'm counting it as historical fiction. These books mix the fantastical elements to the historical elements in such an effective manner that I'm finding it hard to believe that these books series aren't actually real life accounts of what happened and Cassie Clare isn't a warlock. The atmosphere of Victorian London adds so much to the story and it deepens the plot in a way that wouldn't have happened if it was set in the present. (As you can see I have a lot of feelings about this book and I'm actually planning on re-reading it
this month. Anyways... I'm going to move on now).
3- The Book Theif by Markus Zuzak
This book devastated me. I read it over two days because it is so addictive and then cried for about 2 hours after reading it. I adore this book so much (it is own of my all-time favourites) and I plan to re-read it again soon. I guessing most people have read this book already but if you haven't a- where have you been? and b- get on it!
4- Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
I think this the oldest historical fiction I have read (and by that I mean set furthest in the past) and I was surprised I loved it so much. I actually watched the film before I read the book because it had never really interested me before. However, the film was incredible and I borrowed the book from the library the very next day. It is quite short but a very intense read so I would highly recommend picking it up. I will say that, unlike most of the other books on this list, if you don't like historical fiction don't bother with this one because it is very heavily linked to the Dutch culture of the time.
5- Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
Another one set far back in the past and another incredible story. It is set in the French courts of the early 1600s and follows an assassin who has been trained by nuns. This book, and the following two in the series, explore so many different elements of this society form the castles to the expectations of women to the warfare of the time. It is nice to see a historical fiction not set during the world wars that so thoroughly explores society as a whole, rather than a small pocket in a certain village.
6- Code Name Verity by Eliabeth Wein
Speaking of World War Two books, here is another one. This book focuses on two women during the war and their incredible mission to help the Allies win the war. One of the women is a spy and the other is her pilot, and the story is based around the spy trying to escape a German prison. It deals with flashbacks and dual perspectives and is generally an all round incredible novel.
7- My name is not Friday by Jon Walter
There are very young adult books that are based around slavery or the American Civil War, but this one is and it is pretty cool. The story follows a young educated boy who has been sold into slavery, despite his status and education. It then follows him as he comes to terms with the fact that he is now a slave, exploring the strict and alien rules that are being imposed on him and how he reacts to the new life he is leads. It is a beautiful yet moving book that appears to capture the essence of the confusion and trauma that came with the slave trade.
8- The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
How could I write this list and not include this book? The most scarring book of my childhood and the one that still makes me cry every time I read it. This book tugs at everyone's heart strings and I think only evil people don't cry at this book (if you want to know someone's true nature make them read this book and then watch their every movement. if they don't cry, ditch them)
9- The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
Has anyone ever read a book set during the Vietnam War? This is the only one I've ever heard and I would be genuinely interested to know if anyone knows of any others. Technically this counts as a historical fiction, despite the fact that the Vietnam War only ended in 1975, and it is a great read. It is kind of similar to All Quiet on the Western Front but focuses on the physical things that the soldiers carried with them. It is semi-autobiographical and incredibly insightful so I would recommend if you like war books that focus on the people not the places.
10- Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
Haha! This counts as historical fiction despite the fact it was written in 1862. I'll be entirely honest, I haven't finished this book yet (I'm about 100 pages in) but I really wanted to include it on this list. The film and BBC adaptation of this novel are both incredible (although the BBC show is a little more accurate) and I've even read it in manga form, so I think I'm qualified enough to say that it is a bloomin' incredible book. I'm not going to push anyone to read it but definitely consume this story somehow because it paints a beautiful picture of the French Revolution that is only slightly Romantic (because all frenchmen are secretly romantics).
What is your favourite genre? Have you read any of the books on this list?
Let me know in the comments below (and leave a link to your TTT)!
And until next time, keep reading!
