I'd say I prefer more 'literary' historical fiction but that sounds a bit pretentious so I thought I'd share a list of my favourite historical books and ask for suggestions based on these. I tend to prefer books by women but not exclusively, don't mind the time period but ideally not something WW2. I've read a lot of Kristin Hannah but wouldn't consider any of them on the same level as the books on this list. Would love any suggestions!
The Illumination of Ursula Flight – Anna Marie Crowhurst
Love and Fury – Samantha Silva
Year of Wonders – Geraldine Brooks
North Woods – Daniel Mason
Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch – Rivka Galchen
The Vaster Wilds – Lauren Groff
The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
Fayne – Anne Marie MacDonald
by harrietrosie
4 Comments
The Wolf Hall trilogy, Hilary Mantel. Best historical books ever written, in my opinion. She’s a brilliant writer, a little experimental – but stick with it for a few chapters and all of a sudden you are IN that world. Which is Tudor England.
Also very good but different – the Crimson Petal and the White. Sinister, kinky Victorians.
Try Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. Its about Thomas Cromwell in Tudor England. Not WW2 and def fits that literary style you’re looking for. The writing is really good and its got that same kinda vibe as Year of Wonders. Also check out The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry, its got that weird historical stuff going on like Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch.
You might like “The Pull of the Stars” by Emma Donoghue
I know you said to avoid WW2, but if you’d be willing to try one, “The Little Liar” by Mitch Albom is amazing. I also tend to avoid the time period (just because I read too many books about it) but this one was so beautifully written and really “stands out from the crowd” – I was happy I gave it a chance!
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Pull of Stars by Emma Donoghue
House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See
Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang
Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power
Yonder by Jabari Asim
Love Songs of WEB Du Bois
Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray
First Ladies by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray
Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly
Take My Hand by Dolor Perkins Valdez
Wolf Den by Elodie Harper
Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo Anstine
Dominicana by Angie Cruz
Straw Dogs of the Universe by Ye Chun
In Memoriam by Alice Winn