Must-Read Historical Fiction Novels You Need to Explore

Introduction

Historical fiction is a blooming genre which blends history with rich storytelling. Set against the backdrop of important historical events, this genre is loved for its ability to place every reader in the mind of characters who very well could have existed a long time ago. By understanding different time periods, we are better able to acknowledge how our world came to be.

This is a list of 4 books that I have come to love from this genre.

1. 'Last Night at the Telegraph Club' by Malinda Lo

What it is about:

• LGBTQ+ representation in 1950s America

• Asian-American experience - a mix between both worlds

• Set in San Francisco’s Chinatown, explores identity, community, and societal challenges.

• Themes of belonging and courage amidst fear and prejudice.

Read it if you love stories about:

• Mid-20th-century social history and queer narratives.

• Intersections between ethnic and social identity.

  
  

2. Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

What it is about:

• Historical medicine in China and one woman's fight to become a female physician.

• Immersive portrayal of 15th-century China.

• Women’s restrictive roles in Ming Dynasty society and the fight to overcome prejudice.

Read it if you love stories about:

• Historical women’s perspectives and ancient medical practices.

• A real woman's feminist story from centuries ago.

  
  

3. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

What it is about:

• The creation of the Oxford English Dictionary.

• The collection of women’s words excluded from the official dictionary.

• A woman's fight to have different words remembered in writing other than those valued by men.

• Exploration of language, power, and memory during the early 20th century.

Read it if you love stories about:

• Feminism and the fight to change society through language.

• Made up characters in a deeply historical scenario.

4. A Universe of Sufficient Size by Frederick Lenz

What it is about:

• A families hunt for the truth scattered over generations of stories.

• The fight for survival and love against the backdrop of World War II.

• The Hungarian experience of the Holocaust.

• Second generation migrants understanding their parents' plights.

Read this if you love stories about:

• Unconventional historical storytelling with unfolding secrets.

• Survival, love and family drawn out over decades.

  
  

Conclusion

Historical fiction has a diverse range of time periods in which stories have unfolded. But seated at the heart of all historical fiction is a seed of truth which blossoms and blooms as modern authors breathe new life and perspectives into the past.

If you have read any of these books, let us know in the comments below. What other historical fiction books is worth the read?