10 Amazing Historical Fiction Books You Should Read

Annabelle Archer, the protagonist of the novel, is one of the first women to attend the prestigious University of Oxford. She earned her place through hard work, but she has to support the rising suffragette movement in return. Her job is to recruit influential men to support their cause, and that’s how the titular Duke comes into the picture. Bringing Down the Duke is a romance novel, so you know what’s coming.

The story is set at the end of the 19th century, and so, it deals with questions of equality, social order, and class, and at the same time, it’s a romantic tale full of passion. Annabelle and Sebastian are an amazing duo, and the book is a great choice for anyone who loves Victorian England, the world of elite universities, a smart and independent heroine, and a love interest with a multi-layered personality.

For most people, the Outlander series needs no introduction. It’s a wildly popular series and super historical. The story is set in 1945, where Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is reunited with her husband after the war. During a trip to the Scottish Highlands, however, she’s mysteriously transported back in time to 1743, and that’s where the adventures begin.

Like many other novels, Outlander is also a combination of many things. It’s one of the great historical fiction romances, but it is also a time-traveling fantasy, a political drama about the Jacobite Era of Scotland, and overall, a very exciting read that’s loved by many for a good reason.

The Wonder is not an easy read. It’s set not long after the end of the Great Irish Famine and deals with issues like faith and disordered eating. The story follows Lib Wright, an English nurse who travels to an Irish village to investigate the mysterious case of an 11-year-old girl, Anna, who hasn’t eaten for months. Some believe it’s a miracle, but Lib Wright is skeptical and convinced that someone’s been secretly feeding the child. As time passes, the case becomes more and more unsettling.

The phenomenon of “fasting girls” is very much a real thing, and Donoghue’s historical fiction novel raises some interesting questions. The Wonder does a great job of depicting Irish-English relations, so if you’re interested in learning more about that, it’s definitely worth reading.

The story of Maisie Dobbs is closer to the typical mystery/detective story. Set in the earlier years of the 20th century, our protagonist lives through the Great War, and in 1929, she opens her own private investigation business. Soon she gets her first case, involving murder and infidelity, but as the mystery unfolds, we also get a glimpse into Maisie’s complicated past.

The “investigation storyline” itself is exciting, but it’s the character of Maisie and the post-war atmosphere that truly make this book what it is. Maisie Dobbs blends humor and seriousness and has many familiar tropes, but that makes the story all the more lovable. This book is part of a series, so if you like it, there are more books waiting for you!

My Lady Jane is based on 16th-century British history. Well… kind of. The main character is Jane Grey, the often-forgotten successor of Edward VI (son of the infamous Henry VIII), a queen who reigned for a bit more than a week before being executed at the age of 16. That’s not what the story is about, though.

My Lady Jane reimagines the not-so-successful life of Jane, adds a bit of fantasy in the mix, and the end result is a laugh-out-loud, slightly unhinged adventure. My Lady Jane is a lighter read and a lot of fun with twists and turns, conspiracies, backstabbing, and a love interest who is literally a horse.

Jo Kuan is a 17-year-old girl who’s basically invisible during the day. She works as a lady’s maid for the daughter of one of Atlanta’s wealthiest men, and she definitely doesn’t have an easy life.

By night, however, Jo is the author of an increasingly popular newspaper advice column (under the pseudonym Miss Sweetie). Her writing often challenges the norm regarding gender and race, and soon she becomes a target. The struggle to uncover her identity and a mysterious letter set off the events of this truly unique story set in the New South.

It’s always exciting to read about Chinese Americans in YA historical fiction, but most importantly, our badass teenage columnist Miss Sweetie is really the type of character you can root for (and so are the others). The style is a bit more elevated than some other YA books, and overall, it’s a perfect example of how historical fiction can show us lives and cultures from the past that we rarely hear about.

This book is a relatively new release, but it’s just one more reason to read and discuss it with fellow readers while it’s “fresh.” In her new novel, Victoria Christopher Murray tells the story of one of the important figures of the Harlem Renaissance at the beginning of the 20th century.

Jessie Redmon Fauset may be one of the often-forgotten female heroes of her age, but this book definitely succeeds in showing her as an actual person with feelings and desires and a lot of complexities in her life. It also touches on race, social issues, the history of Black America, writing, and, of course, love.

If you’re familiar with British royal affairs and/or Restoration theater, you may have already heard about Nell Gwyn, one of the first female actors of her era and the lover of Charles II. Out of these two quite important aspects of her life, this book focuses on the latter.

The Perfect Royal Mistress is a great example of what historical fiction is . It’s not a biography, nor is it supposed to be one. This is, first and foremost, a romance novel, but we also learn a lot about British history, about Charles II's reign, and about Nell Gwyn herself, who’s a memorable historical figure.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue has a very interesting concept. The titular protagonist makes a Faustian bargain to get out of an arranged marriage, and she can live forever, but in return, nobody will ever remember her. Needless to say, Addie LaRue is desperate to make her mark on the world. We see her live through history, but the twist comes when a man appears in her life.

Addie is not perfect, nor is she a good person, but that’s what makes her a realistic protagonist. The story starts in the 1700s, and she goes through a lot, trying to adapt to her new life. Eventually, we get to the present day, but the historical aspect is quite an important factor throughout the story.