History Through Fiction (19 books)

This list highlights historical fiction that goes beyond entertainment to illuminate the past through story. The novels here are rooted in careful research and crafted with the goal of teaching readers about history in an engaging, character-driven way. Whether through footnotes, bibliographies, or simply richly accurate world-building, these books invite readers to immerse themselves in both history and narrative.

History Through Fiction, the independent press that inspired this list, publishes works that combine the strengths of fiction and nonfiction—bringing history to life while also serving as a resource for understanding it. Add your favorite historically grounded novels, vote for the ones that most moved you, and discover stories that both entertain and educate.

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All Votes Add Books To This List

1	The Choir by Carol M. Cram (Goodreads Author) 4.76 avg rating — 17 ratings score: 100, and 1 person 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	The Water Lilies of Mishipeshu by Karla Cruise really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 6 ratings score: 99, and 1 person 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	Resisting Removal: The Sandy Lake Tragedy of 1850 by Colin Mustful (Goodreads Author) 3.69 avg rating — 26 ratings score: 98, and 1 person 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	The Boy With the Jade by Charles Bush 4.56 avg rating — 27 ratings score: 97, and 1 person 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	The Porcelain Menagerie by Jillian Forsberg (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 187 ratings score: 96, and 1 person 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	The Education of Delhomme by Nancy Burkhalter 4.12 avg rating — 67 ratings score: 95, and 1 person 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	My Mother's Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region by Alina Adams 4.19 avg rating — 217 ratings score: 94, and 1 person 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	Go On Pretending by Alina Adams 4.21 avg rating — 34 ratings score: 93, and 1 person 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	The Aziola's Cry: A Novel of the Shelleys by Ezra Harker Shaw (Goodreads Author) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 6 ratings score: 92, and 1 person 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	Notes from a Deserter: A Soldier's Journey Home by C.W. Towarnicki 4.60 avg rating — 42 ratings score: 91, and 1 person 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 Wretched and Undone by J.E. Weiner 4.17 avg rating — 88 ratings score: 90, and 1 person 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	An End of Troubles by Hilary Coyne 4.60 avg rating — 10 ratings score: 89, and 1 person 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	South of Sepharad: The 1492 Jewish Expulsion from Spain by Eric Z. Weintraub (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 103 ratings score: 88, and 1 person 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	The Aziola's Cry by Ezra Harker Shaw (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 48 ratings score: 87, and 1 person 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	Reclaiming Mni Sota: An Alternate History of the U.S. - Dakota War of 1862 by Colin Mustful (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 73 ratings score: 86, and 1 person 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	The Rhino Keeper by Jillian Forsberg (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 738 ratings score: 85, and 1 person 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 King's Anatomist: The Journey of Andreas Vesalius by Ron Blumenfeld (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 115 ratings score: 84, and 1 person 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	A Noble Cunning: The Countess and the Tower by Patricia Bernstein (Goodreads Author) 4.25 avg rating — 153 ratings score: 83, and 1 person 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 Sky Worshipers by F.M. Deemyad (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 102 ratings score: 82, and 1 person 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