Historical Books
If you enjoy reading books by authors such as Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden, Simon Scarrow, George R R Martin, and David Gemmell, then you will absolutely ...
If you are a fan of Bernard Cornwell, Giles Kristian, David Gemmell, and Simon Scarrow, then you will certainly enjoy this Viking adventure saga filled with ...
If you enjoy the works of Bernard Cornwell, David Gemmell, John Gwynne, and Conn Iggulden, then you will be enthralled by this Viking adventure filled with ...
If you are a fan of Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden, Simon Scarrow, David Gemmell, and Giles Kristian, then you will absolutely enjoy this gripping Viking ...
A new darkness is creeping into Sterling Falls, and I have caught its attention. When a mysterious figure in a mask threatens to destroy us - me, my ...
Nothing went as planned.Kade is caught in a dangerous web of loyalties that none of us saw coming.Reese is eager to make things right, and surprisingly, I am ...
A young artist, Oliver Fischer, crosses paths with Stephen Crane as America’s desire for empire pulls them into conflict. Oliver, a rebellious bohemian ...
During the Civil War, Walt Whitman and Louisa May Alcott came together in Washington to care for the casualties of the conflict. Despite their differences, ...
Ralph Waldo Emerson is facing the challenges of dementia as he grapples with the decision of whether or not to intervene in the unjust arrest of a Black ...
In the sixth book of The American Novels series, we follow the story of Shelby Ross, a merchant who suffered losses during the depression of 1873-79. He is ...
When U.S. Army chaplain Robert Winter first encounters Emily Dickinson, he is captivated by the brilliance of the peculiar girl engrossed in her botany ...
Nathaniel Hawthorne pens a new tale to exact revenge on his ancestor, a notorious judge of the Salem witch trials Best known for his novel The Scarlet ...
In the seventh book of The American Novels series, Ellen Finch, once a stenographer for Henry James, reflects on her time working with Susan B. Anthony and ...
Description
Historical fiction is a genre that sets its stories in the past, often during significant periods of history. In these stories, the time period isn’t just a backdrop but an essential part of the setting and the narrative itself.
Historical fiction may feature fictional characters, well-known historical figures, or a combination of the two. Authors typically pay close attention to details—such as setting, clothing, and dialogue—to ensure the story feels authentic to the time period it portrays.
Sometimes, historical fiction portrays famous events from perspectives not recorded in history, showing historical figures grappling with real events but in ways not captured in historical records. Other times, the historical event or era provides a rich backdrop that shapes the characters’ lives and actions. In some cases, the story remains largely accurate, but names of people or places are changed for narrative reasons.
Because this is fiction, authors have artistic license to creatively present and explore these settings, as long as they remain reasonably faithful to established historical facts. If the story deviates significantly from historical record, it may move into the genre of alternate history, which imagines how things might have been different if a major historical event had played out differently. Similarly, historical fiction should generally follow the rules of physics and realism; stories that include magical or fantastical elements typically fall under the category of historical fantasy or historical romance.