Historical Fiction Genre Help for November

[kio]

Historical Fiction is defined by the dictionary as a genre of literature comprising narratives that take place in the past and are characterized chiefly by an imaginative reconstruction of historical events and personages. Most librarians consider it to be 50 years in the past, but we won't get too technical, if it's around past events or has a historical feel, it probably works.

For our purposes, this can crossover into most genres. Fantasy, science fiction, etc., because they tend to have similar elements. Some popular picks include:

1. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik (Napoleonic War alternate history fantasy with dragons)

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (YA historical novel set during Nazi-Occupied Germany. Was a movie)

3. Any Shakespeare plays

4. Phillipa Gregory novels

5. Most westerns fall in this category (ex. Louis L'amour)

6. Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (set during french revolution. A swashbuckling mystery adventure with a little romance

7. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

8. George Washington's Socks (kids book about a group of kids who travel back in time to the time when George is crossing the Delaware River during the American Revolution)

Some further suggestions can be found on onlinebookclub forums or on goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/historical-fiction

[Ryan]

I'm not sure about any of Shakespeare's plays, but his history plays are certainly good candidates. Pretty good too

[gali]

My pick is the "Orphan Train", which I have read already and loved.

[bookowlie]

Good choice Gali. I read Orphan Train last year and loved it.
Thanks Kio for the Goodreads link for suggestions.

[kio]

Good point @ryanj1, the history plays of Shakespeare then or maybe one like Taming of the Shrew I'll probably do Scarlet Pimpernel or maybe High Divide by Lin Enger

[stoppoppingtheP]

I really enjoy Historical Fiction. Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors of this genre.

[kio]

good pick @stoppoppingtheP I forgot to mention her No problem @bookowlie glad to help

[bookowlie]

Does anyone have any suggestions for Civil War or World War II novels? I've already read The Postmistress a few years ago.

[Ryan]

'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold' by John le Carre for the Cold War?

[Gravy]

I found a site that lists works by era. They had a list from the different wars...

Would you like a link @bookowlie ?

[bookowlie]

That would be great. Thanks!

[gali]

Does anyone have any suggestions for Civil War or World War II novels? I've already read The Postmistress a few years ago.

Have you read: "The Book Thief ", "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society", "The Winds of War""? I have read them and loved them.

"All the Light We Cannot See" is another and on my list.

[bluemel4]

I really enjoyed The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy. It is a World War II story about two orphan jewish kids that get abandoned in a random town and told to hide by their parents. This is an adult book even.

Can we include alternate history in the historical fiction umbrella? Stephan King wrote an excellent novel about what the world would be like if Kennedy was not assassinated. The book is called 11/22/63: A Novel.

Also, how about the Outlander series? It does include time travel, but I think it serves more as historical fiction.

[gali]

I really enjoyed The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy. It is a World War II story about two orphan jewish kids that get abandoned in a random town and told to hide by their parents. This is an adult book even.

Can we include alternate history in the historical fiction umbrella? Stephan King wrote an excellent novel about what the world would be like if Kennedy was not assassinated. The book is called 11/22/63: A Novel.

Also, how about the Outlander series? It does include time travel, but I think it serves more as historical fiction.

I didn't hear about the first book and it sounds good.

I have read 11/22/63 and enjoyed it. I also read the first books of the Outlander series and loved them.

Good choices!

[Gravy]

Here you go, @bookowlie

Historical Novels

I hope it can help some others as well