History 101

    

The historical fiction found on this list is written with such attention to detail that each book serves as a sort of mini-tutorial on the time period represented, giving insight into important events, historical personages, and everyday life. Because of the dearth of romances featuring many of these eras, this list also contains titles of romantic historical fiction. For books about history involving warfare see our War list.

List begun 09/04, updated 04/10

  • Calico Palace (1970) by Gwen Bristow – 1848 California Gold Rush and expansion of San Francisco
  • Constance (1968) by Patricia Clapp – Plimoth Colony
  • Sweet Release (2003) by Pamela Clare – Colonial Virginia
  • Into the Wilderness series (1998-) by Sara Donati – 18th century New York frontier
  • The Cactus and the Crown (1962) by Catherine Gavin – 1860’s Mexico during the European occupation
  • Topaz (1997) by Beverly Jenkins – 1880’s Oklahoma
  • To Have and To Hold (1900) by Mary Johnston – Colonial Virginia
  • Daughter of Fortune (1985) by Carla Kelly – Pueblo Indian Uprising of 1680
  • Centennial (1974) by James Michener – Spans history
  • Hawaii (1959) by James Michener – Spans history
  • Gone with the Wind (1936) by Margaret Mitchell – American Civil War
  • Rainbow (1991) by Patricia Potter – 19th century American South and the Underground Railroad
  • The Williamsburg series (1943-1952) by Elswyth Thane – Revolutionary War to World War II
  • The Polish Wolf (1985) by Janet Edmonds – 1682 Seige of Vienna
  • Castle of Eagles (1974) by Constance Heaven – 1848 Revolutionary Vienna
  • Magic Flutes (1978) by Eva Ibbotson – Post-WWI Vienna
  • Sarum (1987) Edward Rutherford – Stone Age through current
  • Rose of Rapture (1984) by Rebecca Brandewyne – King Richard III
  • The Greatest Knight (2009) by Elizabeth Chadwick – 12th century England and France, King Henry II
  • Lords of the White Castle (2000) by Elizabeth Chadwick – King Henry II through King John
  • The Love Knot (1999) by Elizabeth Chadwick – King Stephen/Empress Maud
  • Stonehenge (2000) by Bernard Cornwell – Pre-historic
  • Belinda (1801) by Maria Edgeworth – 18th century London
  • The Gate of Angels (1990) by Penelope Fitzgerald – Edwardian London
  • Masques of Gold (1988) by Roberta Gellis – King John/Magna Carta
  • The Dragon and the Rose (1977) by Roberta Gellis – 15th century
  • The Roselynde Chronicles (1978-1983) by Roberta Gellis – King Richard through King Henry III
  • The Queen’s Mistake (2009) by Diane Haeger – King Henry VIII
  • Passion’s Reign (1983) by Karen Harper – King Henry VIII
  • The Morland Dynasty series (1980-) by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles – 13th century through the early 20th century
  • An Infamous Army (1963) by Georgette Heyer – 1815 Brussels, Belgium/Battle of Waterloo
  • By Arrangement (2000) by Madeline Hunter – 14th century
  • By Design (2001) by Madeline Hunter – 14th century
  • By Possession (2000) by Madeline Hunter – 14th century
  • Lady of Fire (1987) by Anita Mills – William I through Henry I
  • Here Be Dragons series (1985-1991) by Sharon Kay Penman – King John through Edward I
  • The Rose series (1984-1987) by Mary Pershall – King John through King Henry III
  • The Devlin Diary (2009) by Christi Phillips – 1672 England
  • Sarum (1987) by Edward Rutherfurd – Spans history
  • Heaven’s Fire (1996) by Patricia Ryan – King Richard I (the Lionheart)
  • Tapestry (1993) by Maura Seger – William I (the Conqueror)
  • Katherine (1954) by Anya Seton – 14th century
  • Forever Amber (1944) by Kathleen Windsor – 17th century
  • Night and Day (1919) by Virginia Woolf – Edwardian period

 

  • The Lymond Chronicles (1961-1975) by Dorothy Dunnett – 16th century Scotland, Russia, Constantinople
  • The Polish Wolf (1985) by Janet Edmonds – 17th century Poland and Austria
  • City of Shadows (2006) by Ariana Franklin – Weimar Republic Germany
  • The Light Bearer (1994) by Donna Gillespie – 1st century Rome and Germania
  • Beauvallet (1929) by Georgette Heyer – 16th century High Seas
  • An Infamous Army (1963) by Georgette Heyer – 1815 Brussels, Belgium/Battle of Waterloo
  • For My Lady’s Heart (1993) by Laura Kinsale – 14th century France and England
  • Shadowheart (2004) by Laura Kinsale – 14th century England and Italy
  • The Horse Goddess (1982) by Morgan Llywelyn – 8th century Europe/Asia
  • The Rosetti Letter (2007) by Christi Phillips – 17th century Venice
  • Armageddon (1964) by Leon Uris – Post-WWII (Soviet blockade of Berlin)
  • Mila 18 (1961) by Leon Uris – WWII Poland
  • QB VII (1970) by Leon Uris – WWII
  • Rashi’s Daughter’s: Book One – Joheved (2002) by Maggie Acton – 1060s France
  • Angelique series (1957 – 1985) by Anne and Serge Golon – 17th century France
  • Courtesan (1993) by Diane Haeger – Reign of King Henry II
  • An Infamous Army (1963) by Georgette Heyer – 1815 Brussels, Belgium/Battle of Waterloo
  • The Oracle Glass (1994) by Judith Merkle Riley – Reign of King Louis XIV
  • The Duke of Shadows (2008) by Meredith Duran – Great Mutiny of 1857
  • Zemindar (1983) by Valerie Fitzgerald – 19th century
  • The Far Pavilions (1978) by M.M. Kaye – 19th century
  • Shadow of the Moon (1979) by M.M. Kaye – 19th century
  • Veils of Silk (1992) by Mary Jo Putney – 18th century
  • Olivia and Jai (1990) by Rebecca Ryman – 19th century

  • Loving (1945) by Henry Green – World War II Irish countryside
  • Druids (1991) by Morgan Llywelyn – Roman invasion of Ireland
  • Lion of Ireland (1980) by Morgan Llywelyn – Reign of Brian Boru
  • Pride of Lions (1992) by Morgan Llywelyn – Succession following Brian Boru
  • Trinity (1976) by Leon Uris – Catholic/Protestant wars
  • King Hereafter (1982) by Dorothy Dunnett – 11th century under Macbeth
  • Outlander series (1991-) by Diana Gabaldon – 1743
  • On a Highland Shore (2006) by Kathleen Givens – 13th century Viking raids
  • A Year and a Day (1968) by Virginia Henley – Time of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce
  • The Wind from Hastings (1979) by Morgan Llywelyn – Edyth (Lady Godiva’s granddaughter) and her marriages to Prince Griffith (Gruffydd) ap Llywelyn and King Harold II (Wales and England)
  • Truly (1996) by Mary Balogh – 1840’s Rebecca Riots
  • Thunder and Roses (1993) by Mary Jo Putney – 1814 mining community
  • The Beacon at Alexandria (1986) by Gillian Bradshaw – 4th century Roman Empire
  • The Falcons at Montabard (2003) by Elizabeth Chadwick – 12th century Jerusalem
  • Marcus Didius Falco series (1999-) by Lindsey Davis – 70-77 A.D. Roman Empire
  • Bold Destiny (1999) by Jane Feather – British retreat from Afghanistan
  • The Conqueror by Judith E. French – Ancient Near East
  • Angelique series (1959-) by Sergeanne Golon – 17th century France, Morocco, America, High Seas, Canada
  • Trade Wind (1963) by M.M. Kaye – 19th century Zanzibar
  • Nicholas and Alexander (1972) by Robert Massie – Russian reign of Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra (non-fiction)
  • Caravans (1963) by James Michener – Post-WWII Afghanistan
  • The Source (1965) by James Michener – Spans history/Middle East
  • Silk and Secrets (1992) by Mary Jo Putney – 19th century Central Asia
  • If I Forget Thee (1983) by Brenda Lesley Segal – 135 A.D. Palestine

This list is currently closed for submissions.