r/HistoricalFiction

Hi all, I'm making a reading list for myself about influential American women from every period of American history. They don't have to be the most famous person of the decade, but real people who somehow made a mark on history.

However, I'm having trouble finding novels based on true stories about women of color. For instance, I can find plenty of novels about fictional Japanese American women who were interned during WW2, but not stories about the influential women who fought the internment legally and made history. Same with Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinx Americans. There are a great number of novels about black women who made history, which I have on my list, though feel free to recommend more!

I don't want to read biographies. Memoirs are ok, but I'd really prefer novels about real American women. Could you help me out? Thanks!

Wondering what other people think of Barbarians on Netflix? For me, it's the most historically accurate show or movie depicting that era that I have ever seen. I felt like it's the closest you could get to going back to that era in a time machine and watching things play out.

I’m preferably looking for non American, I already know quite a bit about Mercury, Gemini and NASA in general, so would mainly be looking for a gateway introduction to the European or Soviet space programs, other space programs including NASA are welcome if there’s not much else out there though.

I read Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid a few months ago and enjoyed the mix of relationship / family drama with researchable events of the space shuttle program in the background, so something somewhat grounded like that would be great.

It's an absolutely amazing novel, falling into the genre of historical fiction. Let me tell you, I don't usually read historical fiction or fiction in general; I am more of a person who usually reads philosophical pieces.

Despite establishing that premise, I must state that this novel by Kristin Hannah is nothing short of a masterpiece! The whole narrative is crafted in such a coherent fashion with absolute attention to detail to France during World War II and the lives of the French with special emphasis on the lives of the two protagonists Isabell and Vianne, the story doesn't fall short of developing their characters.

Isabel initially comes off as a person who's rash, bold, reckless, and a bit naive. Yet, her character would never seem to irritate you or make you feel that she could be better, Isabel's character arc is presented in such a way that her immaturity, her recklessness and her will makes her the most loved character of the story. The whole sequence of her joining the resistance, establishing the Nightingale escape route, falling in love with gaëtan, coming close to her estranged father, and her always being in regret about how she endangered Vianne and her daughter are all the elements that have contributed to building the foundation of her character and justifying her as the true Nightingale.

I don't wish to spoil the story much, so I would just recommend this book to everyone who's into reading. It's a beautifully written novel and not a single soul reading it would regret their investment into this novel.

Happy reading!

Hi all!

I’ve been reading my whole life and somehow never dipped into historical fiction until very recently. I read Bernard Cornwell’s _Warlord Chronicles_ last year (which I do understand is more myth than history) and loved them. Have since started the _Saxon Stories_ as well.

This year I started off with the _Masters of Rome_ series by Colleen McCullough. I am up to book 3 now after having absolutely devoured the first two (and rounding out the collection on myself - real shame I can’t find all 7 in a consistent format but alas).

Perhaps the best thing I’ve read so far this year, however, was _The Sunne In Splendour_ by Sharon Kay Penman. I am not familiar with this period of history, nor have I read the Shakespeare play, but still found the book to be quite gripping all the way through. I have ordered two more of her books since finishing a couple of days ago.

Anyway, just thought I’d share a bit about my new favorite book genre (and perhaps take recommendations).

I'll be finishing the Chivalry series (audio) within a day or so. I definitely have not been disappointed. After some hesitation with the narrator change, I definitely have not been disappointed. Just...wow.

I do plan on getting through all of his works eventually, but what is a good next step? I'm game for any of his pen names.

Thanks in advance!

First off I wanna say I really enjoyed the third film. The vibe completely changed with the original score changing to a more serious one and bright colours and pastels changed to ocean blues and whites giving off a more mature vibe. I also appreciated the switch up from the foggy streets of London to the sandy beaches of Malta. However, I have to say I liked the second movies mystery more than the third ones because their was more time to try and figure out the answers myself and I hope to continue that momentum in a possible fourth film.

Setting
The story starts back in the London were Enolas new married life is rooted. Driven by her career, Enola then ventures across the ocean to the jagged peaks and steep valleys of Afghanistan in an expedition with Sherlock to investigate a case.

The Wrath of Adeline (Enola, and Sherlocks Mystery)
In a boat, the Holmes follow the route of the The Wrath of Adeline on their way to Afghanistan and find out it is a British ship transporting stolen gold from Afghanistan and secret military files that hold Watsons past. Moriarty used the name professor Adeline Wrath as the name of Sherlocks kidnapper showing Moriartys scheme was inspired by this specific ship. This ship was the one Tewkesburys Father sank. The Holmes could find information in the ship that uncovers the secrets Tewkesburys father was trying to hide. Enola and Sherlock will follow Moriartys hidden network and face old regiments who would kill to keep their secrets buried.

Tewkesbury, and Watsons mission
Tewkesbury and Watson are tasked with returning the stolen gold back to authorities in Afghanistan. Watson brings military experience and knowledge of the region, while Tewkesbury uses his political negotiation skills. Together they face traps and corrupt officials who want to steal the gold before it reaches the authorities.

The Message (1880s womens rights movement)
While in Afghanistan Enola joins a local underground network of local Afghan women who are fighting for the historic 1880s marriage and inheritance reforms passed by Emir. Eudorias feminist network is connected globally to the one in Afghanistan. Inspired by battle field legends like Malalai of Maiwand. This partnership delivers a message that mirrors real world struggles of Afghan women today.

The Main Villain
Moriarty returns and wants revenge after surviving her defeat in Malta. After creating another brilliant prison break, she wants to dismantle the Holmes family as payback for ruining her scheme in the third film. Moriarty would target Tewkesbury especially since his family ties to the gold she failed to keep, and would send agents to ransack the wrath of information to blackmail the British government and ruin Sherlocks reputation.

The Climax
Tewkesbury, and Watson, and Enola, and Sherlocks paths collide. The clues Enola and Sherlock found would revel a dangerous ambush against Tewkesbury and Watson to kill them and take the gold. Enola and Sherlock must stage a frantic rescue to save them.

Finally got all the way through the Lymond Chronicles, was a bit of work at times but paid off, what a series!

Looking forward to the Niccolo series, had to take a little break between both.

I’m wondering with how much later in Dorothy Dunnetts career the series is written is it a little more to the point, maybe better pacing?

This sounds like a wild read! I've never heard this story before, so I'm excited to go down that rabbit hole, and the art in this book looks amazing. Military.com ran a great interview with the writer this morning. It sounds like fascinating stuff!

Does anyone else have any American Revolution Historical fiction recommendations? seems like a good weekend for it!

I have been looking for a while with mixed results so I know that there isn't a lot. But here are the criteria I am working with.

Nonnegotiable Points. These are the ones that I have been looking for the most:

1. The FMC is clever, funny, witty, the smartest person in any room she enters, and the clear heroine of the story. She also should be a little bit of a mess in some ways (scatterbrained, a little vain, a little too fond of a good banquet, flirting with every man she sees without actually wanting any of them, terrible people skills, you name it).

2. The MMC is deeply in love with the FMC, and does not ever go through an inadequacy arc where he feels like her intelligence is emasculating. He can occasionally be frustrated with her because oh my god what is she doing NOW, but even that should be rooted in deep affection. I like both brilliant lady x himbo AND brilliant lady x brilliant gentleman pairings pretty equally.

3. Closed door, or at most open door that is not too explicit. I don't mind innuendo or risqué banter as long as it is clever. The Lady Sherlock series features my favorite fictional couple bar none, and Sherry Thomas is the absolute queen of "that implication was hotter than ten pages of explicitness with diagrams" so that is about as far as it still stays fun to read.

4. Strong B plot aside from the romance. The whole thing can't be just about their love story, they have to be doing something. Treasure hunters, paranormal experts, steampunk spies, space explorers, anything. Just so they're actually doing stuff. Even "we have to solve the mystery!" while falling in love is enough.

Now. These are negotiable. I like them but they aren't absolutely necessary:

5. I particularly enjoy anything between the 19th century to the mid-20th century, and especially anything late Victorian or Interwar. I am not as big of a fan of Regency as a whole (mostly just aesthetically) BUT I'll try anything that has great characterization.

6. They're rarer than hen's teeth anywhere but modern contemporary, but plus size leads are always fun.

Series that are already either beloved or on my radar:

Lady Sherlock by Sherry Thomas

Veronica Speedwell by Deanna Raybourne

Amelia Peabody by Elizabeth Peters

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen

Phryne Fisher by Kerry Greenwood

Thank you so much and I hope my preferences, which have baffled web searches for weeks, aren't completely impossible to meet!

Do you prefer the books or the tv series?

Are any writers here a member of the HNS? I just want to know if it's worth the membership if you can't attend all the conferences.

I've read a decent amount of European / U.S-based historical fiction (or loosely based historical fiction) and am looking for recommendations for historical fiction set in other locations. Heavy material is ok. Bonus if it has strong female characters!

I'm about to finish The Island of Sea Women (Lisa See), and this is the first I've learned about the history of Jeju island. This book fascinated me!

Here's a few examples of some others that I've liked:

Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini), In The Midst of Winter (Isabel Allende), Nothing to Envy (Barbara Demick), See You In Heaven (Augustin Nsabimana) *not fiction but still makes my list.

I thought The Women (Kristen Hannah) was good, but a little heavy on the romance for me.

So I was trying to fill out my alignment chart for best books of each genre, and I'm looking for recommendations for historical fictoin romance books. What do you think? I mean their's books where the main plot is romance but it's also historical fiction.

Like the title says, I'm looking for books set in 17th century England. Ideally about ordinary people, but I'll take what I can get.

I’m looking for books with low spice, none of the books sex is happening all the time. Bonus points if it’s a still fiction but about a real person, or based on a real person. I enjoyed The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher, The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe, Carnegie’s Maid by Marie Benedict, and The Social Graces by Renee Rosen, though that didn’t have any main romance plot. (Also posted this in r/suggestmeabook))

Thanks!