Literary Historical Fiction

Because some of us who love history also love books with actual literary merit. Books should be about events that did not take place or could not have taken place within the writer's lifetime and are (were) 'historical fiction' from the writer's perspective, not just ours.

Pop fiction has its place, certainly, but that place is not this list.

(Also please no self-promotion. Authors adding their own books to Goodreads lists is tacky and sad.)

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All Votes Add Books To This List

699	House of Names by Colm Tóibín 3.57 avg rating — 9,975 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
699	I Always Loved You: A Story of Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas by Robin Oliveira 3.67 avg rating — 5,655 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
699	The Wind Done Gone by Alice Randall 3.16 avg rating — 2,221 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
699	The Full Cupboard of Life (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #5) by Alexander McCall Smith (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 34,530 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
699	The Hollow of Fear (Lady Sherlock, #3) by Sherry Thomas (Goodreads Author) 4.22 avg rating — 18,897 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
699	The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff 3.94 avg rating — 11,859 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
699	When Christ and His Saints Slept (Plantagenets #1; Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, #1) by Sharon Kay Penman 4.26 avg rating — 17,264 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
708	An Insular Possession by Timothy Mo 3.63 avg rating — 213 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
708	Sylvia's Lovers by Elizabeth Gaskell 3.76 avg rating — 4,591 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
708	Ross Poldark (Poldark, #1) by Winston Graham 4.08 avg rating — 34,881 ratings score: 91, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
708	The Unvanquished: The Corrected Text by William Faulkner 3.77 avg rating — 6,520 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
708	The Ropewalker by Jaan Kross 3.97 avg rating — 276 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
708	Birds of a Feather (Maisie Dobbs, #2) by Jacqueline Winspear (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 50,803 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
708	A Murder Is Announced (Miss Marple, #4) by Agatha Christie 4.01 avg rating — 83,127 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
708	The Silver Branch by Rosemary Sutcliff 3.93 avg rating — 2,953 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
716	The Old American: A Novel (Hardscrabble Books) by Ernest Hebert 4.02 avg rating — 243 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
716	Derby Day by D.J. Taylor 3.30 avg rating — 579 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
716	The Frontier Trilogy: The Englishman's Boy; The Last Crossing; A Good Man by Guy Vanderhaeghe 4.29 avg rating — 14 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
716	John Saturnall's Feast by Lawrence Norfolk 3.55 avg rating — 2,283 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
716	The Spies of Warsaw (Night Soldiers, #10) by Alan Furst 3.90 avg rating — 7,984 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
716	You (You, #1) by Caroline Kepnes (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 285,095 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
716	Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew J. Sullivan (Goodreads Author) 3.80 avg rating — 39,616 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
716	The Historical Nights' Entertainment by Rafael Sabatini 3.84 avg rating — 31 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
724	Freedom & Necessity by Steven Brust (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 1,804 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
724	The Testament of Mary by Colm Tóibín 3.65 avg rating — 18,291 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
724	The Romanov Empress: A Novel of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna by C.W. Gortner (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 8,833 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
724	Babel Tower by A.S. Byatt 3.84 avg rating — 2,840 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
724	Gulf War Journal by Don Lomax 3.42 avg rating — 12 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
724	Warlight by Michael Ondaatje 3.60 avg rating — 46,385 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
724	The Lost Man by Jane Harper (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 108,385 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
724	The Bone Collector (Lincoln Rhyme, #1) by Jeffery Deaver (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 192,799 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
724	Greenmantle (Richard Hannay #2) by John Buchan 3.73 avg rating — 5,140 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
733	Myself as Witness by James Goldman 3.86 avg rating — 100 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
733	A Slant of Light by Jeffrey Lent 3.84 avg rating — 862 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
733	It Was the War of the Trenches by Jacques Tardi 4.23 avg rating — 2,564 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
733	The Madonna of the Mountains by Elise Valmorbida (Goodreads Author) 3.59 avg rating — 1,214 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
733	Smokin' Seventeen (Stephanie Plum, #17) by Janet Evanovich (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 88,684 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
733	The Lying Game by Ruth Ware (Goodreads Author) 3.52 avg rating — 209,420 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
733	Anne of Geierstein, Vol. 45 by Walter Scott 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
740	The Lawless (Kent Family Chronicles, #7) by John Jakes 4.20 avg rating — 4,793 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
740	Eagle Song by James A. Houston really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 26 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
740	The Death of Carthage by Robin Levin 4.31 avg rating — 26 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
740	A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 15,000 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
740	The African Queen by C.S. Forester really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 9,174 ratings score: 87, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
740	In the Warsaw Ghetto by Glenn Haybittle (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 168 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
740	The Stranger Diaries (Harbinder Kaur, #1) by Elly Griffiths (Goodreads Author) 3.87 avg rating — 42,690 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
740	The Last Policeman (The Last Policeman, #1) by Ben H. Winters (Goodreads Author) 3.77 avg rating — 34,959 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
740	Count Robert of Paris: The Works of Sir Walter Scott by Walter Scott 3.28 avg rating — 72 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
749	The Americans (Kent Family Chronicles, #8) by John Jakes 4.27 avg rating — 5,335 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
749	Fall by Simon. Mawer 4.03 avg rating — 1,628 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
749	Circles in a Forest by Dalene Matthee 4.32 avg rating — 3,062 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
749	The Flowers of Adonis by Rosemary Sutcliff 3.93 avg rating — 169 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
749	Women of the Silk (Women of the Silk #1) by Gail Tsukiyama 3.95 avg rating — 17,009 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
749	The North Water by Ian McGuire (Goodreads Author) 3.98 avg rating — 33,954 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
749	The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, #5) by Patricia Cornwell (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 79,369 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
749	I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 153,426 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
749	North Woods by Daniel Mason (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 96,910 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
758	Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch 3.58 avg rating — 8,030 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
758	The Last King of Lydia by Tim Leach (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 310 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
758	The Book of Lost Saints: A Cuban American Family Saga of Love, Betrayal, and Revolution by Daniel José Older (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 1,194 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
758	The Burning God (The Poppy War, #3) by R.F. Kuang (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 151,274 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
758	Chasing the King of Hearts by Hanna Krall 3.85 avg rating — 780 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
758	Таис Афинская by Ivan Efremov 4.31 avg rating — 1,750 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
764	The Furies (Kent Family Chronicles, #4) by John Jakes 4.15 avg rating — 6,398 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
764	Gods' Man: A Novel in Woodcuts by Lynd Ward 4.19 avg rating — 1,026 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
764	The Dragon Republic (The Poppy War, #2) by R.F. Kuang (Goodreads Author) 4.36 avg rating — 197,247 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
764	They Were Like Family to Me: Stories by Helen Maryles Shankman (Goodreads Author) 4.44 avg rating — 828 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
764	Hallowe'en Party (Hercule Poirot, #41) by Agatha Christie 3.57 avg rating — 98,796 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
764	Origin (Robert Langdon, #5) by Dan Brown (Goodreads Author) 3.90 avg rating — 350,427 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
770	Count Belisarius by Robert Graves 4.02 avg rating — 2,854 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
770	Nefertiti by Michelle Moran 4.09 avg rating — 40,608 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
770	After The Lost War: A Narrative by Andrew Hudgins 4.16 avg rating — 108 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
770	The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1) by R.F. Kuang (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 436,237 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
770	The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett 3.90 avg rating — 37,595 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
775	The Paladin by George Shipway 3.69 avg rating — 312 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
775	Light: Monet at Giverny by Eva Figes 3.79 avg rating — 388 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
775	Inés of My Soul by Isabel Allende (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 32,580 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
775	Goddamn This War! by Jacques Tardi 4.15 avg rating — 845 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
775	The Poppy Wife by Caroline Scott (Goodreads Author) 3.64 avg rating — 4,003 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
775	The Mystery of the Blue Train (Hercule Poirot, #6) by Agatha Christie 3.88 avg rating — 79,610 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
775	All That Remains (Kay Scarpetta, #3) by Patricia Cornwell (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 75,225 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
782	Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson 3.81 avg rating — 37,278 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
782	I, Judas by Taylor Caldwell 3.94 avg rating — 1,274 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
782	The Orenda (Bird Family Trilogy, #3) by Joseph Boyden 4.22 avg rating — 18,928 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
782	Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 43,139 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
782	Fury MAX: My War Gone By by Garth Ennis 4.38 avg rating — 407 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
782	The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel (Goodreads Author) 4.44 avg rating — 274,984 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
782	Pretty Little Liars (Pretty Little Liars, #1) by Sara Shepard (Goodreads Author) 3.84 avg rating — 211,743 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
782	Eleven on Top (Stephanie Plum, #11) by Janet Evanovich (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 115,076 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
790	The Eagle and the Raven: A Novel by Pauline Gedge 4.19 avg rating — 1,814 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
790	The Fall of the Empire (The Rise of the Aztecs, #5) by Zoe Saadia (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 168 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
790	Goat Song by Frank Yerby 3.88 avg rating — 321 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
790	The Unquiet Grave (Ballad #12) by Sharyn McCrumb (Goodreads Author) 3.76 avg rating — 3,075 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
790	Pale Horse, Pale Rider by Katherine Anne Porter 3.96 avg rating — 4,831 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
790	Prime Leaf: A Novel of the Kentucky Tobacco Wars by Jack Wall 3.50 avg rating — 2 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
790	Speaking from Among the Bones (Flavia de Luce, #5) by Alan Bradley (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 39,502 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
790	Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty (Goodreads Author) 3.75 avg rating — 431,510 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
798	The Mirrored World by Debra Dean (Goodreads Author) 3.22 avg rating — 1,385 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
798	The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman (Goodreads Author) 3.83 avg rating — 7,873 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
798	The Divine Husband by Francisco Goldman 3.31 avg rating — 124 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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1,122 books · 1,002 voters · list created April 14th, 2012 by Ashley (votes) .

Tags: fiction, historical-fiction, literary-fiction, literature

201 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (1002)

Ashley 4002 books
132 friends

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads 3384 books
853 friends

Catelyn 643 books
32 friends

Mark 125 books
196 friends

Elisabeth 272 books
305 friends

Chris 314 books
0 friends

Megan 42 books
72 friends

Devin 705 books
164 friends

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Comments Showing 1-50 of 71 (71 new)

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message 1: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Apr 14, 2012 10:56AM

But is The Count of Monte Cristo historical fiction? Wasn't he writing it about France's own very recent past?

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message 2: by Ashley (new)

Apr 14, 2012 11:06AM

Ooh, good point. This is part of the reason I started this list. There are so many varying definitions of "historical fiction" and I was curious about how other people see it.

How much time has to pass before we consider fiction to be historical? The book was finished in 1844, but covers the years 1815-1838. Conundrum!

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message 3: by Jane (new)

Jun 23, 2012 07:41AM

I like this list.

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message 4: by Ashley (new)

Jun 23, 2012 07:56AM

Awesome! Feel free to add to it :)

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message 5: by Jemidar (new)

Jun 23, 2012 08:45AM

Brideshead Revisited isn't historical fiction either.

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message 6: by Ashley (new)

Jun 23, 2012 08:49AM

It's another where there is room for debate, because of Charles Ryder's reflecting back on the war. I decided to err on the side of more quality books on this list than less when nominating that one.

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message 7: by Masha (new)

Jul 20, 2012 01:30AM

I think part of the definition should include 'events in the book did not take place or could not have taken place within the writer's lifetime'. It has to be 'historical fiction' from the writer's perspective not just ours.

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message 8: by Jemidar (new)

Jul 22, 2012 11:06PM

Masha wrote: "I think part of the definition should include 'events in the book did not take place or could not have taken place within the writer's lifetime'. It has to be 'historical fiction' from the writer'..."

I agree.

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message 9: by Ashley (new)

Jul 25, 2012 01:18PM

I think that's a totally fair rule, and more articulately put than I could have said myself.

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message 10: by Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship (new)

Feb 16, 2013 11:28PM

Deleted Pillars of the Earth for being exactly the kind of book the "literary merit" qualifier is meant to exclude. There are some others on here that look suspect as well, but none quite so obviously.

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message 11: by Ashley (new)

Jun 11, 2013 02:51PM

Deleting a handful of nonfiction that someone added.

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message 12: by Ashley (new)

Jun 11, 2013 03:22PM

Also deleting four books for being self-promoting. Because nothing says "literary merit" like adding your self-published works to people's listopia lists.

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message 13: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jun 12, 2013 10:12AM

How is The Prince of Tides historical fiction?

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message 14: by Ashley (new)

Jun 12, 2013 10:59AM

Good catch. If you see anything out of place and you have librarian status feel free to delete, just make sure to comment so we know.

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message 15: by Toni (new)

Jul 04, 2013 12:28PM

/*/I've landed in Heaven! All these books at my fingertips and I'm afraid I won't live long enough To read all those I still want to read

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message 16: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jul 04, 2013 03:53PM

Removed, for not being historical fiction:

The Prince of Tides

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message 17: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jul 04, 2013 03:55PM

I'm going to suggest that Anne of Green Gables should also go. It was set at pretty much the time it was written (1908).

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message 18: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 04, 2013 03:59PM

How is To Kill a Mockingbird historical fiction?

And it's been a long time since I read it...but does The Good Earth qualify? It has actual historical figures or historical events in it?

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message 19: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 04, 2013 04:02PM

Beloved? Can something be magical realism and also historical fiction? I think it needs to be one or the other, and if it has ghosts, it's not historical.

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message 20: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 04, 2013 04:03PM

Susanna wrote: "I'm going to suggest that Anne of Green Gables should also go. It was set at pretty much the time it was written (1908)."

That one caught my eye too. Zap it!

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message 21: by Jemidar (last edited Jul 04, 2013 04:09PM) (new)

Jul 04, 2013 04:07PM

The No.1 book looks awfully suspicious to me. Is there ny way to verify if it's Listopia stacking or not? I somehow don't think a book no one has heard of that has 12 ratings and 28 votes would outbid Hilary Mantel or Umberto Eco. I'm also not sure it qualifies as HF.

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message 22: by Rebecca (new)

Jul 04, 2013 04:36PM

Jemidar, I don't think it does either. It's just been published as well, which is a glaring error in my eyes. I also wouldn't call it literary fiction, since it is pretty much a collection of short fiction in fantasy.

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message 23: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 04, 2013 04:50PM

I deleted it. In addition to (most likely) being spam, it wasn't historical fiction. It was fantasy involving characters from literature.

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message 24: by Jemidar (new)

Jul 04, 2013 04:52PM

Thanks!

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message 25: by Ashley (new)

Jul 05, 2013 11:11AM

Re: Beloved - Magical Realism =/= Fantasy. I say it stands.

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message 26: by Ashley (new)

Jul 05, 2013 11:18AM

And I am gonna remove The Sacred Band as it appears to be a clear case of historically-influenced fantasy as opposed to simply fiction set in an historical period with some small fantastical elements.

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message 27: by Jane (new)

Jul 05, 2013 03:21PM

Ashley wrote: "And I am gonna remove The Sacred Band as it appears to be a clear case of historically-influenced fantasy as opposed to simply fiction set in an historical period with some small fantastical elements."

This discussion is very relevant to my current thoughts. I'm reading a novel billed as "literary Gothic" set in Victorian London. The dates/facts are WILDLY, um, stretched "for the purposes of the novel." There are heavy supernatural/fantasy elements.

Does it, I wonder, qualify in any way as HF? And Ashley, if I review this book can I quote what you said above? Can I attribute the quote?

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message 28: by Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship (new)

Jul 05, 2013 09:47PM

Do keep in mind that unless a book is blatantly mischaracterized (nonfiction) or outside the explicit parameters of the list (set during the author's lifetime), GR wants librarians to err on the side of not removing books from lists. Beloved and The Good Earth are considered historical fiction by a lot of people, evidenced by the fact that it's the second "genre" listed for each of them (after "classics"). I imagine those people would argue, as I would, that HF need not include historical figures or well-known events, and that there's no reason it can't contain supernatural elements. (Anyway, the ghost in Beloved is there to make thematic points about slavery and its effect on her mother, not just to make the book a ghost story.) So best to leave those on.

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message 29: by Grack21 (new)

Jul 05, 2013 10:30PM

Oh thank God, no one has nominated Outlander for once. I could cry with joy.

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message 30: by Grack21 (new)

Jul 06, 2013 09:07PM

Should War and Peace be on here? I thought that was set during the authors lifetime, or very close to.

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message 31: by Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship (new)

Jul 06, 2013 09:33PM

No, War and Peace is set between 1805 and 1812, and Tolstoy was born in 1828.

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message 32: by Grack21 (new)

Jul 06, 2013 09:35PM

Ah, see, that just shows I need to read War and Peace

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message 33: by Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship (new)

Jul 06, 2013 09:37PM

It's not nearly as scary as it looks!

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message 34: by Grack21 (new)

Jul 06, 2013 09:39PM

Oh I read the unabridged Le Mort D'Arthur cover to cover. Not much scares me after that. :P

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message 35: by Ashley (new)

Jul 12, 2013 12:33PM

Removing a handful of "historical fantasy" that snuck on the list. I'm also wondering at those German titles that were added. I don't want to be xenophobic or anything, but I also can't tell if they fit on the list and a lot of them seem not to have been translated into English so it's not like I can find those version and add them to the list instead. I'd like someone else's input before I delete.

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message 36: by Ashley (new)

Jul 12, 2013 12:38PM

Maybe we should make a rule that you limit this to the English-language versions? And if there isn't one don't add it?

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message 37: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jul 12, 2013 08:17PM

Anne of Green Gables is not historical fiction.

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message 38: by Ashley (new)

Jul 13, 2013 06:16AM

Deleted! Thanks for the heads up.

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message 39: by Ashley (new)

Jul 13, 2013 06:17AM

Jane wrote: "Ashley wrote: "And I am gonna remove The Sacred Band as it appears to be a clear case of historically-influenced fantasy as opposed to simply fiction set in an historical period with some small fan..."

Have at it!

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message 40: by Ashley (last edited Jul 17, 2013 01:41PM) (new)

Jul 17, 2013 01:36PM

Removed "Senyoria" as I can't find an English translation for it; deleted all other non-English titles and replaced them on the list with their English versions.

Also removing "High Hearts" for not being literary.

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message 41: by Ashley (new)

Aug 03, 2013 09:37AM

Removing an assortment of Sarah Dunant and Tracy Chevalier novels that were added. Those authors are both closer to Phillipa Gregory than Gore Vidal, and definitely not "literary".

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message 42: by Toni (new)

Aug 03, 2013 11:40AM

aww I love Sarah Dunant

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message 43: by Ashley (new)

Aug 03, 2013 11:54AM

I've read her, she's fine, but does she belong on a list with Jose Saramago and William Faulkner?

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message 44: by Toni (new)

Aug 03, 2013 12:20PM

well I'm Not sure that Faulkner is more interesting to some people.Just because others are in awe of some of the dead authors doesn't make them easier to understand,This is where authors such as Phillipa Gregory& Sarah Dunant come into play-My Grandmother once told me that people and places may Change -human nature remains the same-What I'm saying is that intellect is in the knowledge of the individual

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message 45: by Jemidar (new)

Aug 03, 2013 12:33PM

That all may well be true but it's not the point of this particular list. The list creator intended it for books with literary merit (as opposed to genre writers) which doesn't necessarily mean their authors are dead or their writing is hard to understand. Personally, I'm not a great fan of Faulkner but I appreciate this list all the same.

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message 46: by Ashley (new)

Aug 03, 2013 12:38PM

Jemidar wrote: "That all may well be true but it's not the point of this particular list. The list creator intended it for books with literary merit (as opposed to genre writers) which doesn't necessarily mean th..."

Thank you. I was looking for a concise way to say what you just did.

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message 47: by Toni (last edited Aug 03, 2013 01:54PM) (new)

Aug 03, 2013 01:51PM

The list really doesn't matter to those of us who read for relaxation, for information,for the sheer pleasure of it Maybe for those who read only if they HAVE to for school, college or How to books. I understand what you meant Ashley This moment is now history as I write it Does that make it any less valid?

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message 48: by Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship (new)

Aug 03, 2013 02:57PM

That's simply not the case. Relaxation, information and enjoyment are exactly why I read, and I prefer high-quality books and don't enjoy bad writing. People who only read books assigned to them in school wouldn't be looking at this list at all, just reading what's assigned. Now, Faulkner's very dense for my personal tastes and I haven't really been able to get anything out of his works outside of a classroom environment, but there's certainly a happy medium between his books and the likes of Sarah Dunant's or Ken Follett's.

(There are some other books on here I'd question. Sarah's Key? Memoirs of a Geisha? Does Michener or Clavell really qualify as literary? But overall it's a pretty decent list.)

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message 49: by Jemidar (last edited Aug 03, 2013 03:07PM) (new)

Aug 03, 2013 03:03PM

Toni wrote: "The list really doesn't matter to those of us who read for relaxation, for information,for the sheer pleasure of it Maybe for those who read only if they HAVE to for school, college or How to books..."

If this list doesn't matter to you or suit your tastes then find a list that does or start your own for the types of books you like. We all like different books for different reasons which is why these lists exist--they help us find the sort of books we want to read.

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message 50: by Toni (new)

Aug 03, 2013 03:15PM

Good For YOU,! Now you GET MY point!

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