Literary Historical Fiction (1134 books)

Because some of us who love history also love books with actual literary merit. Books should be about events that did not take place or could not have taken place within the writer's lifetime and are (were) 'historical fiction' from the writer's perspective, not just ours.

Pop fiction has its place, certainly, but that place is not this list.

(Also please no self-promotion. Authors adding their own books to Goodreads lists is tacky and sad.)

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All Votes Add Books To This List

1	Wolf Hall (Thomas Cromwell, #1) by Hilary Mantel 3.91 avg rating — 232,770 ratings score: 9,810, and 101 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Sheever's Journal, Diary of a Poison Master by K. Ritz (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 28,193 ratings score: 7,843, and 81 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco 4.14 avg rating — 394,740 ratings score: 7,826, and 80 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 1,967,432 ratings score: 6,193, and 66 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King, #2) by Rachel Gillig (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 484,779 ratings score: 5,959, and 62 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy 4.17 avg rating — 365,062 ratings score: 5,932, and 64 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom (Goodreads Author) 4.21 avg rating — 103,000 ratings score: 5,782, and 60 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter 3.90 avg rating — 12,600 ratings score: 5,703, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Glow (The Plated Prisoner, #4) by Raven Kennedy (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 185,037 ratings score: 5,688, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens 3.88 avg rating — 1,010,931 ratings score: 5,669, and 60 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed (Goodreads Author) 3.83 avg rating — 9,911 ratings score: 5,630, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Bring Up the Bodies (Thomas Cromwell, #2) by Hilary Mantel 4.30 avg rating — 104,728 ratings score: 5,523, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Pompeii by Robert Harris (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 53,511 ratings score: 5,501, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez 4.12 avg rating — 1,101,264 ratings score: 5,430, and 57 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	One Dark Window (The Shepherd King, #1) by Rachel Gillig (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 637,635 ratings score: 5,408, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Victor's Blessing by Barbara Sontheimer (Goodreads Author) 4.34 avg rating — 6,182 ratings score: 5,402, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw (Goodreads Author) 3.54 avg rating — 28,690 ratings score: 5,307, and 55 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Atonement by Ian McEwan (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 562,455 ratings score: 5,269, and 55 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone 4.09 avg rating — 96,621 ratings score: 5,169, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Hild (The Hild Sequence, #1) by Nicola Griffith (Goodreads Author) 3.85 avg rating — 12,806 ratings score: 5,128, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Wicked Saints (Something Dark and Holy, #1) by Emily A. Duncan (Goodreads Author) 3.56 avg rating — 32,915 ratings score: 5,010, and 52 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson 3.83 avg rating — 41,780 ratings score: 4,769, and 50 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Book of Night (Book of Night, #1) by Holly Black (Goodreads Author) 3.54 avg rating — 86,633 ratings score: 4,725, and 49 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 199,032 ratings score: 4,692, and 50 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 358,472 ratings score: 4,520, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	The Painter's Apprentice (Venetian Artisans, #1) by Laura Morelli (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 1,104 ratings score: 4,488, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Lust for Life by Irving Stone 4.28 avg rating — 31,590 ratings score: 4,453, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Spark of the Everflame (Kindred's Curse, #1) by Penn Cole (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 261,588 ratings score: 4,453, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Color Purple by Alice Walker 4.28 avg rating — 750,774 ratings score: 4,382, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The Evening and the Morning (Kingsbridge, #0) by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 133,638 ratings score: 4,331, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 123,956 ratings score: 4,331, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje 3.86 avg rating — 139,122 ratings score: 4,211, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The Winter King (The Warlord Chronicles, #1) by Bernard Cornwell (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 54,880 ratings score: 4,209, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 536,002 ratings score: 4,206, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Romantic by William Boyd 4.15 avg rating — 9,242 ratings score: 4,117, and 43 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Oil and Marble by Stephanie Storey (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 11,585 ratings score: 4,097, and 43 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	The Silence of the Girls (Women of Troy, #1) by Pat Barker 3.89 avg rating — 111,641 ratings score: 4,073, and 43 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Possession by A.S. Byatt 3.90 avg rating — 84,326 ratings score: 3,960, and 42 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 38,066 ratings score: 3,922, and 41 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 47,287 ratings score: 3,852, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	His Forefathers and Mick 2nd Edition by Michael G. Kramer (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 8,565 ratings score: 3,832, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 422,670 ratings score: 3,764, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	The Lost Letters of Aisling by Cynthia Ellingsen (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 23,763 ratings score: 3,744, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Beloved (Beloved Trilogy, #1) by Toni Morrison 3.98 avg rating — 489,279 ratings score: 3,687, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis (Goodreads Author) 4.45 avg rating — 129,926 ratings score: 3,653, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Tai-Pan (Asian Saga, #2) by James Clavell 4.31 avg rating — 58,874 ratings score: 3,651, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Bridgertons, #4) by Julia Quinn (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 424,980 ratings score: 3,584, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	No. 23 Burlington Square by Jenni Keer (Goodreads Author) 4.18 avg rating — 11,868 ratings score: 3,461, and 36 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris by Daisy Wood 4.31 avg rating — 22,456 ratings score: 3,449, and 36 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	The Swallows of Lunetto by Joseph Fasano (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 136 ratings score: 3,399, and 34 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	The Winds of War (The Henry Family, #1) by Herman Wouk 4.38 avg rating — 59,419 ratings score: 3,379, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Battle Cry by Leon Uris 4.17 avg rating — 10,249 ratings score: 3,362, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen (Goodreads Author) 4.25 avg rating — 82,018 ratings score: 3,335, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas 4.10 avg rating — 346,350 ratings score: 3,333, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	The Consequence of Anna by Kate Birkin (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 13,066 ratings score: 3,272, and 34 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer (Goodreads Author) 4.54 avg rating — 270,312 ratings score: 3,181, and 34 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Grace (The Shackleford Sisters #1) by Beverley Watts (Goodreads Author) 3.80 avg rating — 19,036 ratings score: 3,177, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	Thousand Pieces of Gold by Ruthanne Lum McCunn 3.89 avg rating — 2,749 ratings score: 3,136, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	The Dragon Queen (The Dragon #2) by William Andrews 4.26 avg rating — 5,738 ratings score: 3,113, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	The Diamond of London by Andrea Penrose (Goodreads Author) 3.72 avg rating — 1,854 ratings score: 3,098, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	Fingersmith by Sarah Waters 4.02 avg rating — 118,274 ratings score: 3,079, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	The Magic of Ordinary Days by Ann Howard Creel (Goodreads Author) 3.89 avg rating — 11,798 ratings score: 3,005, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier 3.89 avg rating — 249,841 ratings score: 2,989, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	Orlando by Virginia Woolf 3.87 avg rating — 114,644 ratings score: 2,924, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	War and Remembrance (The Henry Family, #2) by Herman Wouk 4.43 avg rating — 39,357 ratings score: 2,914, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1) by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 828,486 ratings score: 2,851, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	The Huntress by Kate Quinn (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 211,139 ratings score: 2,841, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner (Goodreads Author) 4.25 avg rating — 68,931 ratings score: 2,772, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Altar of Resistance (World War Two #2) by Samuel Marquis (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 1,087 ratings score: 2,763, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	The Steel Wave (World War II: 1939-1945, #2) by Jeff Shaara 4.29 avg rating — 8,205 ratings score: 2,746, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 66,674 ratings score: 2,696, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez 3.94 avg rating — 545,848 ratings score: 2,684, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 623,341 ratings score: 2,671, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	Dragon Seed by Pearl S. Buck 4.11 avg rating — 3,609 ratings score: 2,634, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	I, Claudius (Claudius, #1) by Robert Graves 4.24 avg rating — 73,020 ratings score: 2,629, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 19,845 ratings score: 2,607, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	Heat of Paris by Peter Breyer (Goodreads Author) 4.86 avg rating — 79 ratings score: 2,600, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 24,057 ratings score: 2,566, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	Pied Piper by Nevil Shute 4.27 avg rating — 5,263 ratings score: 2,544, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Daughters of the Dragon (The Dragon #1) by William Andrews 4.48 avg rating — 23,884 ratings score: 2,519, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar 4.22 avg rating — 35,806 ratings score: 2,495, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	The Killer Angels (The Civil War Trilogy, #2) by Michael Shaara 4.33 avg rating — 91,764 ratings score: 2,484, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (Goodreads Author) 4.21 avg rating — 631,102 ratings score: 2,422, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Silk Road (Epic Adventure, #1) by Colin Falconer (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 10,965 ratings score: 2,415, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	The Girl from Venice by Martin Cruz Smith 3.43 avg rating — 8,814 ratings score: 2,389, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 156,498 ratings score: 2,300, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	Ivanhoe by Walter Scott 3.77 avg rating — 99,022 ratings score: 2,276, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	The Rising Tide (World War II: 1939-1945, #1) by Jeff Shaara 4.17 avg rating — 9,981 ratings score: 2,254, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 1,970,984 ratings score: 2,144, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber 3.89 avg rating — 45,065 ratings score: 2,072, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	I, Claudius/Claudius the God by Robert Graves 4.45 avg rating — 2,925 ratings score: 1,990, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	The Virgins of Venice by Gina Buonaguro (Goodreads Author) 4.25 avg rating — 5,819 ratings score: 1,944, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco 3.91 avg rating — 74,772 ratings score: 1,906, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel 4.01 avg rating — 11,979 ratings score: 1,881, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Dissolution (Matthew Shardlake, #1) by C.J. Sansom 4.06 avg rating — 61,442 ratings score: 1,853, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	The Ghost Road (Regeneration, #3) by Pat Barker 4.08 avg rating — 18,320 ratings score: 1,784, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Life After Life by Kate Atkinson 3.79 avg rating — 241,078 ratings score: 1,781, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	Restoration by Rose Tremain 3.98 avg rating — 6,803 ratings score: 1,767, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse 4.08 avg rating — 874,084 ratings score: 1,748, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz 4.01 avg rating — 41,958 ratings score: 1,728, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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1,134 books · 1,034 voters · list created April 14th, 2012 by Ashley (votes) .

Tags: fiction, historical-fiction, literary-fiction, literature

202 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (1034)

Ashley 4002 books
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Susanna - Censored by GoodReads 3386 books
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Mark 125 books
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Elisabeth 272 books
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Chris 314 books
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Comments Showing 1-50 of 71 (71 new)

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message 1: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Apr 14, 2012 10:56AM

But is The Count of Monte Cristo historical fiction? Wasn't he writing it about France's own very recent past?

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message 2: by Ashley (new)

Apr 14, 2012 11:06AM

Ooh, good point. This is part of the reason I started this list. There are so many varying definitions of "historical fiction" and I was curious about how other people see it.

How much time has to pass before we consider fiction to be historical? The book was finished in 1844, but covers the years 1815-1838. Conundrum!

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message 3: by Jane (new)

Jun 23, 2012 07:41AM

I like this list.

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message 4: by Ashley (new)

Jun 23, 2012 07:56AM

Awesome! Feel free to add to it :)

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message 5: by Jemidar (new)

Jun 23, 2012 08:45AM

Brideshead Revisited isn't historical fiction either.

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message 6: by Ashley (new)

Jun 23, 2012 08:49AM

It's another where there is room for debate, because of Charles Ryder's reflecting back on the war. I decided to err on the side of more quality books on this list than less when nominating that one.

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message 7: by Masha (new)

Jul 20, 2012 01:30AM

I think part of the definition should include 'events in the book did not take place or could not have taken place within the writer's lifetime'. It has to be 'historical fiction' from the writer's perspective not just ours.

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message 8: by Jemidar (new)

Jul 22, 2012 11:06PM

Masha wrote: "I think part of the definition should include 'events in the book did not take place or could not have taken place within the writer's lifetime'. It has to be 'historical fiction' from the writer'..."

I agree.

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message 9: by Ashley (new)

Jul 25, 2012 01:18PM

I think that's a totally fair rule, and more articulately put than I could have said myself.

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message 10: by Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship (new)

Feb 16, 2013 11:28PM

Deleted Pillars of the Earth for being exactly the kind of book the "literary merit" qualifier is meant to exclude. There are some others on here that look suspect as well, but none quite so obviously.

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message 11: by Ashley (new)

Jun 11, 2013 02:51PM

Deleting a handful of nonfiction that someone added.

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message 12: by Ashley (new)

Jun 11, 2013 03:22PM

Also deleting four books for being self-promoting. Because nothing says "literary merit" like adding your self-published works to people's listopia lists.

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message 13: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jun 12, 2013 10:12AM

How is The Prince of Tides historical fiction?

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message 14: by Ashley (new)

Jun 12, 2013 10:59AM

Good catch. If you see anything out of place and you have librarian status feel free to delete, just make sure to comment so we know.

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message 15: by Toni (new)

Jul 04, 2013 12:28PM

/*/I've landed in Heaven! All these books at my fingertips and I'm afraid I won't live long enough To read all those I still want to read

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message 16: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jul 04, 2013 03:53PM

Removed, for not being historical fiction:

The Prince of Tides

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message 17: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jul 04, 2013 03:55PM

I'm going to suggest that Anne of Green Gables should also go. It was set at pretty much the time it was written (1908).

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message 18: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 04, 2013 03:59PM

How is To Kill a Mockingbird historical fiction?

And it's been a long time since I read it...but does The Good Earth qualify? It has actual historical figures or historical events in it?

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message 19: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 04, 2013 04:02PM

Beloved? Can something be magical realism and also historical fiction? I think it needs to be one or the other, and if it has ghosts, it's not historical.

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message 20: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 04, 2013 04:03PM

Susanna wrote: "I'm going to suggest that Anne of Green Gables should also go. It was set at pretty much the time it was written (1908)."

That one caught my eye too. Zap it!

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message 21: by Jemidar (last edited Jul 04, 2013 04:09PM) (new)

Jul 04, 2013 04:07PM

The No.1 book looks awfully suspicious to me. Is there ny way to verify if it's Listopia stacking or not? I somehow don't think a book no one has heard of that has 12 ratings and 28 votes would outbid Hilary Mantel or Umberto Eco. I'm also not sure it qualifies as HF.

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message 22: by Rebecca (new)

Jul 04, 2013 04:36PM

Jemidar, I don't think it does either. It's just been published as well, which is a glaring error in my eyes. I also wouldn't call it literary fiction, since it is pretty much a collection of short fiction in fantasy.

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message 23: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 04, 2013 04:50PM

I deleted it. In addition to (most likely) being spam, it wasn't historical fiction. It was fantasy involving characters from literature.

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message 24: by Jemidar (new)

Jul 04, 2013 04:52PM

Thanks!

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message 25: by Ashley (new)

Jul 05, 2013 11:11AM

Re: Beloved - Magical Realism =/= Fantasy. I say it stands.

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message 26: by Ashley (new)

Jul 05, 2013 11:18AM

And I am gonna remove The Sacred Band as it appears to be a clear case of historically-influenced fantasy as opposed to simply fiction set in an historical period with some small fantastical elements.

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message 27: by Jane (new)

Jul 05, 2013 03:21PM

Ashley wrote: "And I am gonna remove The Sacred Band as it appears to be a clear case of historically-influenced fantasy as opposed to simply fiction set in an historical period with some small fantastical elements."

This discussion is very relevant to my current thoughts. I'm reading a novel billed as "literary Gothic" set in Victorian London. The dates/facts are WILDLY, um, stretched "for the purposes of the novel." There are heavy supernatural/fantasy elements.

Does it, I wonder, qualify in any way as HF? And Ashley, if I review this book can I quote what you said above? Can I attribute the quote?

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message 28: by Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship (new)

Jul 05, 2013 09:47PM

Do keep in mind that unless a book is blatantly mischaracterized (nonfiction) or outside the explicit parameters of the list (set during the author's lifetime), GR wants librarians to err on the side of not removing books from lists. Beloved and The Good Earth are considered historical fiction by a lot of people, evidenced by the fact that it's the second "genre" listed for each of them (after "classics"). I imagine those people would argue, as I would, that HF need not include historical figures or well-known events, and that there's no reason it can't contain supernatural elements. (Anyway, the ghost in Beloved is there to make thematic points about slavery and its effect on her mother, not just to make the book a ghost story.) So best to leave those on.

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message 29: by Grack21 (new)

Jul 05, 2013 10:30PM

Oh thank God, no one has nominated Outlander for once. I could cry with joy.

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message 30: by Grack21 (new)

Jul 06, 2013 09:07PM

Should War and Peace be on here? I thought that was set during the authors lifetime, or very close to.

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message 31: by Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship (new)

Jul 06, 2013 09:33PM

No, War and Peace is set between 1805 and 1812, and Tolstoy was born in 1828.

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message 32: by Grack21 (new)

Jul 06, 2013 09:35PM

Ah, see, that just shows I need to read War and Peace

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message 33: by Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship (new)

Jul 06, 2013 09:37PM

It's not nearly as scary as it looks!

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message 34: by Grack21 (new)

Jul 06, 2013 09:39PM

Oh I read the unabridged Le Mort D'Arthur cover to cover. Not much scares me after that. :P

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message 35: by Ashley (new)

Jul 12, 2013 12:33PM

Removing a handful of "historical fantasy" that snuck on the list. I'm also wondering at those German titles that were added. I don't want to be xenophobic or anything, but I also can't tell if they fit on the list and a lot of them seem not to have been translated into English so it's not like I can find those version and add them to the list instead. I'd like someone else's input before I delete.

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message 36: by Ashley (new)

Jul 12, 2013 12:38PM

Maybe we should make a rule that you limit this to the English-language versions? And if there isn't one don't add it?

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message 37: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jul 12, 2013 08:17PM

Anne of Green Gables is not historical fiction.

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message 38: by Ashley (new)

Jul 13, 2013 06:16AM

Deleted! Thanks for the heads up.

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message 39: by Ashley (new)

Jul 13, 2013 06:17AM

Jane wrote: "Ashley wrote: "And I am gonna remove The Sacred Band as it appears to be a clear case of historically-influenced fantasy as opposed to simply fiction set in an historical period with some small fan..."

Have at it!

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message 40: by Ashley (last edited Jul 17, 2013 01:41PM) (new)

Jul 17, 2013 01:36PM

Removed "Senyoria" as I can't find an English translation for it; deleted all other non-English titles and replaced them on the list with their English versions.

Also removing "High Hearts" for not being literary.

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message 41: by Ashley (new)

Aug 03, 2013 09:37AM

Removing an assortment of Sarah Dunant and Tracy Chevalier novels that were added. Those authors are both closer to Phillipa Gregory than Gore Vidal, and definitely not "literary".

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message 42: by Toni (new)

Aug 03, 2013 11:40AM

aww I love Sarah Dunant

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message 43: by Ashley (new)

Aug 03, 2013 11:54AM

I've read her, she's fine, but does she belong on a list with Jose Saramago and William Faulkner?

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message 44: by Toni (new)

Aug 03, 2013 12:20PM

well I'm Not sure that Faulkner is more interesting to some people.Just because others are in awe of some of the dead authors doesn't make them easier to understand,This is where authors such as Phillipa Gregory& Sarah Dunant come into play-My Grandmother once told me that people and places may Change -human nature remains the same-What I'm saying is that intellect is in the knowledge of the individual

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message 45: by Jemidar (new)

Aug 03, 2013 12:33PM

That all may well be true but it's not the point of this particular list. The list creator intended it for books with literary merit (as opposed to genre writers) which doesn't necessarily mean their authors are dead or their writing is hard to understand. Personally, I'm not a great fan of Faulkner but I appreciate this list all the same.

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message 46: by Ashley (new)

Aug 03, 2013 12:38PM

Jemidar wrote: "That all may well be true but it's not the point of this particular list. The list creator intended it for books with literary merit (as opposed to genre writers) which doesn't necessarily mean th..."

Thank you. I was looking for a concise way to say what you just did.

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message 47: by Toni (last edited Aug 03, 2013 01:54PM) (new)

Aug 03, 2013 01:51PM

The list really doesn't matter to those of us who read for relaxation, for information,for the sheer pleasure of it Maybe for those who read only if they HAVE to for school, college or How to books. I understand what you meant Ashley This moment is now history as I write it Does that make it any less valid?

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message 48: by Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship (new)

Aug 03, 2013 02:57PM

That's simply not the case. Relaxation, information and enjoyment are exactly why I read, and I prefer high-quality books and don't enjoy bad writing. People who only read books assigned to them in school wouldn't be looking at this list at all, just reading what's assigned. Now, Faulkner's very dense for my personal tastes and I haven't really been able to get anything out of his works outside of a classroom environment, but there's certainly a happy medium between his books and the likes of Sarah Dunant's or Ken Follett's.

(There are some other books on here I'd question. Sarah's Key? Memoirs of a Geisha? Does Michener or Clavell really qualify as literary? But overall it's a pretty decent list.)

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message 49: by Jemidar (last edited Aug 03, 2013 03:07PM) (new)

Aug 03, 2013 03:03PM

Toni wrote: "The list really doesn't matter to those of us who read for relaxation, for information,for the sheer pleasure of it Maybe for those who read only if they HAVE to for school, college or How to books..."

If this list doesn't matter to you or suit your tastes then find a list that does or start your own for the types of books you like. We all like different books for different reasons which is why these lists exist--they help us find the sort of books we want to read.

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message 50: by Toni (new)

Aug 03, 2013 03:15PM

Good For YOU,! Now you GET MY point!

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