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Books of fiction that focus on a specific event, person, or accomplishment (similar to microhistories, except these are fiction rather than non-fiction)
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4.33 avg rating — 189,799 ratings
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4.04 avg rating — 251,942 ratings
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4.35 avg rating — 273,955 ratings
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9

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3.73 avg rating — 16,914 ratings
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10

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3.94 avg rating — 802,177 ratings
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10

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4.16 avg rating — 45,565 ratings
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12

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4.15 avg rating — 82,670 ratings
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13

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3.87 avg rating — 117,192 ratings
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14

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4.01 avg rating — 180,772 ratings
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15

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3.90 avg rating — 57,610 ratings
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16

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4.20 avg rating — 527,362 ratings
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17

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3.75 avg rating — 41,701 ratings
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18

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4.31 avg rating — 222,470 ratings
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19

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3.85 avg rating — 70,635 ratings
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19

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3.95 avg rating — 92,477 ratings
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21

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4.27 avg rating — 93,792 ratings
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22

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3.87 avg rating — 112,055 ratings
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23

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3.85 avg rating — 12,558 ratings
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24

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4.20 avg rating — 144,212 ratings
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25

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4.34 avg rating — 168,106 ratings
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26

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3.92 avg rating — 242,129 ratings
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27

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4.27 avg rating — 117,031 ratings
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28

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4.05 avg rating — 22,645 ratings
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29

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3.78 avg rating — 19,157 ratings
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30

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4.10 avg rating — 10,222 ratings
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31

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3.81 avg rating — 14,115 ratings
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32

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3.87 avg rating — 6,610 ratings
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32

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4.34 avg rating — 194,366 ratings
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34

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3.89 avg rating — 57,603 ratings
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34

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4.35 avg rating — 235,322 ratings
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36

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4.05 avg rating — 13,633 ratings
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37

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3.76 avg rating — 17,721 ratings
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37

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4.39 avg rating — 147 ratings
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39

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3.81 avg rating — 4,730 ratings
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39

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3.94 avg rating — 1,839 ratings
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41

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3.91 avg rating — 140,300 ratings
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42

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4.34 avg rating — 44,607 ratings
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43

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4.15 avg rating — 67,380 ratings
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44

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 57,745 ratings
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45

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4.23 avg rating — 72,635 ratings
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45

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3.52 avg rating — 6,501 ratings
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47

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4.01 avg rating — 225,920 ratings
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48

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3.94 avg rating — 26,867 ratings
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49

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4.14 avg rating — 6,566 ratings
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50

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 17,974 ratings
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51

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4.38 avg rating — 7,309 ratings
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52

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3.93 avg rating — 21,145 ratings
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52

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3.66 avg rating — 14,647 ratings
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52

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4.31 avg rating — 108,473 ratings
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52

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3.62 avg rating — 2,874 ratings
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56

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4.41 avg rating — 49,554 ratings
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57

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4.01 avg rating — 35,081 ratings
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58

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3.83 avg rating — 3,276 ratings
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59

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3.73 avg rating — 19,348 ratings
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60

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4.36 avg rating — 46,009 ratings
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61

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3.83 avg rating — 24,882 ratings
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62

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3.06 avg rating — 2,512 ratings
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63

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4.20 avg rating — 1,626 ratings
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64

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3.79 avg rating — 40,087 ratings
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65

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3.72 avg rating — 17,878 ratings
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65

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3.73 avg rating — 1,181 ratings
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65

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4.45 avg rating — 11 ratings
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68

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3.72 avg rating — 8,533 ratings
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68

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3.73 avg rating — 18,694 ratings
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68

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3.42 avg rating — 560 ratings
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71

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4.27 avg rating — 4,804 ratings
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71

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4.18 avg rating — 5,574 ratings
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71

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3.75 avg rating — 1,816 ratings
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74

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3.94 avg rating — 4,721 ratings
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74

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3.96 avg rating — 39,885 ratings
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74

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3.79 avg rating — 5,003 ratings
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74

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3.62 avg rating — 134 ratings
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74

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3.90 avg rating — 5,560 ratings
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79

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3.93 avg rating — 8,928 ratings
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79

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3.95 avg rating — 1,141 ratings
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81

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3.93 avg rating — 11,079 ratings
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81

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3.37 avg rating — 6,933 ratings
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83

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3.77 avg rating — 1,344 ratings
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83

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3.82 avg rating — 24,419 ratings
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83

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4.18 avg rating — 503,629 ratings
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86

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4.04 avg rating — 4,500 ratings
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87

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3.51 avg rating — 641 ratings
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87

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3.92 avg rating — 16,211 ratings
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89

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4.01 avg rating — 5,683 ratings
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90

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3.94 avg rating — 5,710 ratings
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91

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4.23 avg rating — 35,280 ratings
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92

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4.29 avg rating — 2,038 ratings
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93

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4.06 avg rating — 1,966 ratings
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93

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3.94 avg rating — 7,642 ratings
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95

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 45,815 ratings
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96

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3.63 avg rating — 1,471 ratings
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97

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3.99 avg rating — 4,819 ratings
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98

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3.60 avg rating — 7,236 ratings
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99

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3.91 avg rating — 3,815 ratings
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100

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4.42 avg rating — 19,744 ratings
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136 books · 19 voters · list created August 20th, 2025 by Joy D (votes) .
6 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Joy D 8077 books
802 friends
Andrea 1969 books
37 friends
Kathy 4972 books
394 friends
Deborah 10044 books
1322 friends
Charlsa 5712 books
201 friends
Fiona 1734 books
266 friends
Pearl 1824 books
1 friend
NancyJ 13651 books
232 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-5 of 5 (5 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Fiona (new)

Fiona Hurley I love Mantel and Cornwell, but I'm not sure how their books are "micro".


message 2: by Joy D (last edited Aug 21, 2025 12:51PM) (new)

Joy D Fiona wrote: "I love Mantel and Cornwell, but I'm not sure how their books are "micro"."
Thanks for the feedback.

Wolf Hall covers the period 1500 to 1535 in the court of Henry VIII and focused on the rise of Thomas Cromwell.

Bring Up the Bodies covers September 1535 to May 1536.

The Mirror & the Light runs from May 1536 to July 1540.

In the grand scheme of "English history," I think these are rather narrow.

I think the issue is how to define "microhistory" - not sure there is an agreed upon definition. Feel free to add books you feel are more representative.


message 3: by NancyJ (last edited Aug 21, 2025 03:17PM) (new)

NancyJ I like this list Joy. I think it might be hard for us to be certain about which books fit, but I trust your judgment. If my first reaction when reading a book description is “that might be too narrow,” I’ll know it’s a candidate. Lol

A couple definitions I found :
Microhistory examines a specific subject or event to gain insight into larger, broader historical processes and events.”

In the Time of the Butterflies is a perfect example of a book that dues that.

“Microhistory is a historical approach that uses detailed, in-depth analysis of small-scale events, individuals, or groups to understand larger, broader historical phenomena or to challenge dominant narratives.”


message 4: by Joy D (new)

Joy D Thanks, Nancy. I just wanted to give us a start. I am happy to adjust the list as needed.


message 5: by Fiona (last edited Aug 22, 2025 01:24AM) (new)

Fiona Hurley Joy D wrote: "Fiona wrote: "I love Mantel and Cornwell, but I'm not sure how their books are "micro"."
Thanks for the feedback.

Wolf Hall covers the period 1500 to 1535 in the court of Henry VIII and focused o..."


Thanks for responding, Joy. That makes sense. I suppose I'd assumed that anything with very famous historical characters like Henry VIII or Alfred the Great wouldn't be "microhistory", but I guess if the story is just about a small period of their lives, that counts.

Nice idea for a list, BTW.


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