Most Brilliant Historical Novels in the past 45 yrs (1120 books)

Listopia > Most Brilliant Historical Novels in the past 45 yrs

Historical fiction doesn't have to be historical romance, does it?

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1	The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1) by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 836,556 ratings score: 22,085, and 224 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
2	The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 2,901,475 ratings score: 17,639, and 180 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
3	Wolf Hall (Thomas Cromwell, #1) by Hilary Mantel 3.91 avg rating — 234,864 ratings score: 15,438, and 159 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
4	The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Goodreads Author) 4.47 avg rating — 3,037,727 ratings score: 11,209, and 116 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
5	Bring Up the Bodies (Thomas Cromwell, #2) by Hilary Mantel 4.30 avg rating — 105,568 ratings score: 10,892, and 113 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
6	World Without End (Kingsbridge, #2) by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 277,866 ratings score: 9,041, and 93 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
7	Outlander (Outlander, #1) by Diana Gabaldon (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 1,160,366 ratings score: 8,731, and 91 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
8	Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 783,944 ratings score: 7,984, and 85 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
9	Lonesome Dove (Lonesome Dove, #1) by Larry McMurtry 4.58 avg rating — 248,557 ratings score: 7,318, and 76 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
10	All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 1,996,845 ratings score: 7,281, and 76 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
11	Atonement by Ian McEwan (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 566,643 ratings score: 6,688, and 70 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
12	Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 1,707,168 ratings score: 6,497, and 68 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
13	The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman 4.41 avg rating — 22,767 ratings score: 6,411, and 67 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
14	Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 176,352 ratings score: 6,301, and 66 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
15	Fall of Giants (The Century Trilogy, #1) by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 349,335 ratings score: 5,434, and 59 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
16	Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden 4.16 avg rating — 2,117,868 ratings score: 5,432, and 59 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
17	The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 1,357,550 ratings score: 4,966, and 53 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
18	The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Stories, #1) by Bernard Cornwell (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 113,181 ratings score: 4,843, and 51 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
19	The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer 4.19 avg rating — 815,923 ratings score: 4,728, and 52 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
20	The Alienist (Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, #1) by Caleb Carr 4.06 avg rating — 182,053 ratings score: 4,644, and 49 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
21	The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 364,894 ratings score: 4,519, and 48 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
22	Here Be Dragons (Welsh Princes, #1) by Sharon Kay Penman 4.30 avg rating — 25,093 ratings score: 4,390, and 46 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
23	The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje 3.86 avg rating — 139,834 ratings score: 4,236, and 46 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
24	Dissolution (Matthew Shardlake, #1) by C.J. Sansom 4.06 avg rating — 62,081 ratings score: 4,010, and 42 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
25	Beloved (Beloved Trilogy, #1) by Toni Morrison 3.98 avg rating — 495,285 ratings score: 3,957, and 43 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
26	Regeneration (Regeneration, #1) by Pat Barker 4.01 avg rating — 33,965 ratings score: 3,735, and 40 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
27	Possession by A.S. Byatt 3.90 avg rating — 84,800 ratings score: 3,730, and 40 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
28	The White Queen (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #2) by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 183,287 ratings score: 3,702, and 40 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
29	Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 157,978 ratings score: 3,624, and 40 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
30	When Christ and His Saints Slept (Plantagenets #1; Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, #1) by Sharon Kay Penman 4.26 avg rating — 17,507 ratings score: 3,582, and 38 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
31	Pompeii by Robert Harris (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 54,140 ratings score: 3,537, and 37 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
32	The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 482,224 ratings score: 3,483, and 38 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
33	The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (Goodreads Author) 4.21 avg rating — 634,255 ratings score: 3,459, and 38 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
34	The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom (Goodreads Author) 4.24 avg rating — 304,478 ratings score: 3,308, and 37 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
35	Terra Feliz: Vanity by Ginny Bryce (Goodreads Author) 4.65 avg rating — 71 ratings score: 3,198, and 32 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
36	Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (Goodreads Author) 4.18 avg rating — 496,740 ratings score: 3,169, and 35 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
37	The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell 4.03 avg rating — 67,941 ratings score: 3,083, and 33 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
38	The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (Goodreads Author) 4.65 avg rating — 2,171,594 ratings score: 3,081, and 33 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
39	The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce, #1) by Alan Bradley (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 179,469 ratings score: 3,019, and 33 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
40	The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 239,920 ratings score: 2,981, and 34 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
41	The Lady of the Rivers (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #1) by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 93,969 ratings score: 2,889, and 31 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
42	An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears 3.94 avg rating — 27,259 ratings score: 2,878, and 31 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
43	The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 2,029,740 ratings score: 2,871, and 32 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
44	Dark Fire (Matthew Shardlake, #2) by C.J. Sansom 4.30 avg rating — 32,936 ratings score: 2,848, and 31 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
45	The Reader by Bernhard Schlink 3.79 avg rating — 232,976 ratings score: 2,832, and 32 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
46	The Reckoning (Welsh Princes, #3) by Sharon Kay Penman 4.46 avg rating — 9,767 ratings score: 2,796, and 31 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
47	The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 177,593 ratings score: 2,767, and 31 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
48	The Boleyn Inheritance (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #10) by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 95,619 ratings score: 2,745, and 30 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
49	The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 333,985 ratings score: 2,743, and 30 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
50	The First Man in Rome (Masters of Rome, #1) by Colleen McCullough 4.14 avg rating — 24,512 ratings score: 2,738, and 29 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
51	Life After Life by Kate Atkinson 3.79 avg rating — 242,744 ratings score: 2,714, and 30 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
52	Fingersmith by Sarah Waters 4.02 avg rating — 119,627 ratings score: 2,693, and 31 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
53	Falls the Shadow (Welsh Princes, #2) by Sharon Kay Penman 4.40 avg rating — 10,667 ratings score: 2,633, and 30 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
54	Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 46,440 ratings score: 2,469, and 28 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
55	London by Edward Rutherfurd (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 34,442 ratings score: 2,330, and 27 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
56	Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 74,899 ratings score: 2,257, and 25 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
57	Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 388,816 ratings score: 2,245, and 26 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
58	The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber 3.89 avg rating — 45,233 ratings score: 2,227, and 25 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
59	Sovereign (Matthew Shardlake, #3) by C.J. Sansom 4.26 avg rating — 33,177 ratings score: 2,190, and 24 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
60	Genghis: Birth of an Empire (Conqueror, #1) by Conn Iggulden 4.39 avg rating — 38,086 ratings score: 2,164, and 23 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
61	Company of Liars by Karen Maitland (Goodreads Author) 3.87 avg rating — 16,795 ratings score: 2,129, and 23 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
62	The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver 4.11 avg rating — 797,383 ratings score: 2,120, and 24 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
63	Fatherland by Robert Harris (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 57,156 ratings score: 2,113, and 23 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
64	Caesar's Women (Masters of Rome, #4) by Colleen McCullough 4.29 avg rating — 7,789 ratings score: 2,098, and 22 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
65	Time and Chance (Plantagenets #2; Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine #2) by Sharon Kay Penman 4.29 avg rating — 9,453 ratings score: 2,014, and 23 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
66	Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières 4.03 avg rating — 93,082 ratings score: 1,976, and 22 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
67	Maisie Dobbs (Maisie Dobbs, #1) by Jacqueline Winspear (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 124,037 ratings score: 1,972, and 23 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
68	Heartstone (Matthew Shardlake, #5) by C.J. Sansom 4.36 avg rating — 23,037 ratings score: 1,911, and 22 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
69	Lionheart (Plantagenets #4; Richard the Lionheart #1) by Sharon Kay Penman 4.11 avg rating — 7,852 ratings score: 1,903, and 21 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
70	Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 141,295 ratings score: 1,896, and 23 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
71	Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks 4.11 avg rating — 84,331 ratings score: 1,874, and 21 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
72	Revelation (Matthew Shardlake #4) by C.J. Sansom 4.37 avg rating — 27,620 ratings score: 1,868, and 21 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
73	The Other Boleyn Girl (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #9) by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 514,934 ratings score: 1,841, and 22 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
74	Caesar (Masters of Rome, #5) by Colleen McCullough 4.40 avg rating — 8,427 ratings score: 1,822, and 20 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
75	An Officer and a Spy by Robert Harris (Goodreads Author) 4.22 avg rating — 33,693 ratings score: 1,788, and 20 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
76	Loving Frank by Nancy Horan 3.77 avg rating — 101,877 ratings score: 1,766, and 20 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
77	Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield (Goodreads Author) 4.40 avg rating — 44,298 ratings score: 1,760, and 19 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
78	Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2) by Diana Gabaldon (Goodreads Author) 4.34 avg rating — 387,251 ratings score: 1,757, and 20 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
79	The Grass Crown (Masters of Rome, #2) by Colleen McCullough 4.34 avg rating — 13,328 ratings score: 1,709, and 19 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
80	The Golem and the Jinni (The Golem and the Jinni, #1) by Helene Wecker (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 131,781 ratings score: 1,665, and 20 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
81	Doc by Mary Doria Russell (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 17,587 ratings score: 1,639, and 18 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
82	The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt 3.69 avg rating — 19,068 ratings score: 1,638, and 19 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
83	Devil's Brood (Plantagenets #3; Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, #3) by Sharon Kay Penman 4.39 avg rating — 8,200 ratings score: 1,612, and 20 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
84	The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer (Goodreads Author) 4.18 avg rating — 54,153 ratings score: 1,595, and 18 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
85	The October Horse (Masters of Rome #6) by Colleen McCullough 4.34 avg rating — 6,618 ratings score: 1,591, and 18 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
86	The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag (Flavia de Luce, #2) by Alan Bradley (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 59,065 ratings score: 1,589, and 18 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
87	Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue (Goodreads Author) 3.76 avg rating — 17,378 ratings score: 1,573, and 18 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
88	True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey 3.83 avg rating — 24,375 ratings score: 1,552, and 18 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
89	A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel 4.01 avg rating — 12,165 ratings score: 1,545, and 17 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
90	The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt 3.85 avg rating — 103,692 ratings score: 1,506, and 18 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
91	The Forest by Edward Rutherfurd (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 10,399 ratings score: 1,497, and 18 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
92	Fortune's Favorites (Masters of Rome, #3) by Colleen McCullough 4.40 avg rating — 8,784 ratings score: 1,479, and 17 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
93	The Silver Pigs (Marcus Didius Falco, #1) by Lindsey Davis 3.89 avg rating — 15,757 ratings score: 1,461, and 18 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
94	Voyager (Outlander, #3) by Diana Gabaldon (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 332,340 ratings score: 1,458, and 17 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
95	Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution by Michelle Moran (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 22,493 ratings score: 1,430, and 16 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
96	Imperium (Cicero, #1) by Robert Harris (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 41,573 ratings score: 1,379, and 16 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
97	The Red Queen (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #3) by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author) 3.83 avg rating — 78,564 ratings score: 1,359, and 16 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
98	Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir 3.98 avg rating — 35,064 ratings score: 1,332, and 16 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
99	Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier (Goodreads Author) 3.90 avg rating — 55,924 ratings score: 1,324, and 16 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
100	Winter in Madrid by C.J. Sansom 3.88 avg rating — 19,479 ratings score: 1,300, and 15 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

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1,120 books · 1,150 voters · list created October 19th, 2012 by Trina (votes) .

Tags: historical-fiction, historical-novels

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People Who Voted On This List (1150)

Trina 2268 books
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Rebecca 6640 books
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message 1: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 19, 2012 10:00AM

Didn't Lonesome Dove first come out in 1985?

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message 2: by Trina (new)

Oct 19, 2012 01:26PM

Susanna wrote: "Didn't Lonesome Dove first come out in 1985?"

Oops, I probably read the pbk. after it came out... I should've made that in the last 25 yrs! Good catch, Susanna:-)

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message 3: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 20, 2012 10:37AM

You want me to change the title to "25 years"?

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message 4: by Trina (new)

Oct 21, 2012 04:39PM

Done.

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message 5: by Susan (new)

Oct 24, 2012 08:39AM

May I suggest changing the title to Most Brilliant Since 1985? Because otherwise Lonesome Dove still doesn't qualify (it came out 27 years ago - lol).

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message 6: by Trina (new)

Oct 24, 2012 09:21AM

I know, you can tell numbers aren't my thing. There's just something nice in the phrasing of "in the past xx years". I'll change it again to be more accurate. Thanks!

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message 7: by Bettie (new)

Mar 05, 2013 09:26AM

The Frank McCourt entries are non-fiction (page 2, #194)
:O)

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message 8: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (last edited Mar 05, 2013 09:46AM) (new)

Mar 05, 2013 09:40AM

John Adams (#137) is non-fiction as well. Ron Kovak's Born on the Fourth of July (#176) is both older than 30 and a memoir. Savage Beauty (#180) is a biography. The Greatest Generation (#185) is history.

You want me to remove the non-fiction, Trina?

ETA: Also, Dorothy Dunnett is a lot older than 30 years ago. (Her Game of Kings, at #155, was first published in 1961.)

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message 9: by Trina (new)

Mar 19, 2013 05:46AM

Susanna wrote: "John Adams (#137) is non-fiction as well. Ron Kovak's Born on the Fourth of July (#176) is both older than 30 and a memoir. Savage Beauty (#180) is a biography. The Greatest Generation (#185) is..."

Sure, Susanna, go ahead and remove the misfits. I didn't know you (we) could do that. I also didn't realize Game of Kings came out in the 1960s (must've read a later edition when it was re-issued in pbk here)... my bad. Thanks for letting me know:-) It's still one of my favorite historical fiction reads.

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message 10: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Mar 19, 2013 11:58AM

GR librarians can prune lists; not sure exactly what editing ability list starters who are not already librarians have.

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message 11: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (last edited Mar 19, 2013 12:40PM) (new)

Mar 19, 2013 11:59AM

Removed:

To Kill a Mockingbird (published 1960)
Angela's Ashes (non-fiction)
John Adams (non-fiction)
'Tis (non-fiction)
The Game of Kings (published 1961)
Born on the Fourth of July (non-fiction)
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay (non-fiction)
The Greatest Generation (non-fiction)
Address Unknown (published 1939)
A Town Like Alice (published 1950)
Wedlock: The True Story of the Disastrous Marriage and Remarkable Divorce of Mary Eleanor Bowles, Countess of Strathmore (non-fiction)
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight (non-fiction)
I Married the Klondike (non-fiction and published 1961)

What about Going After Cacciato (#180, published 1978), which I left? Too early?

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message 12: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (last edited Mar 19, 2013 12:42PM) (new)

Mar 19, 2013 12:00PM

I see our current #1 (ETA: 2) has only 9 ratings, but 33 voters.

Do the authors really think they are fooling anyone?

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message 13: by Trina (new)

Mar 22, 2013 11:26AM

Susanna wrote: "Removed:

To Kill a Mockingbird (published 1960)
Angela's Ashes (non-fiction)
John Adams (non-fiction)
'Tis (non-fiction)
The Game of Kings (published 1961)
Born on the Fourth of July (non-fiction)..."

Thanks, Susanna. I don't think of Going After Cacciato as historical fiction. It was written shortly after the Vietnam War about that war.

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message 14: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Mar 22, 2013 01:47PM

You want me to remove it?

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message 15: by Trina (new)

Mar 24, 2013 05:44PM

Yup. It's contemporary, not historical fiction, right?

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

Mar 24, 2013 06:36PM

Alrighty, I shall remove it.

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message 17: by Melanie (new)

Jan 30, 2014 02:06PM

Too many of these aren't even historical fiction - but are memoirs - Under the Tuscan Sun & Eat, Pray, Love....

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message 18: by Trina (new)

Feb 09, 2014 09:50AM

I agree, Melanie. May be time to weed out the imposters...

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message 19: by Meri (new)

Feb 09, 2015 08:43PM

#109, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is contemporary fiction, she was writing about her own time, it's only historical to us. Definitely older than 30 years by a long way!

Love the list though!

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message 20: by Trina (new)

Feb 10, 2015 08:47AM

Meri, I agree. Not sure how these titles keep creeping onto this list! Amy Tan's Joy Luck Club isn't 'historical fiction', either, since it takes place around the time it was written (1989) despite the characters' dipping into their pasts to relate how they came to the United States...

Susanna, maybe you can prune the list again? I'll try to form a list of misfits:)

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message 21: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Feb 10, 2015 10:01AM

Make a list and I'll do my best.

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message 22: by Trina (new)

Feb 10, 2015 10:35AM

Yikes, Susanna, I'm amazed how long this list has gotten (638 books?)! Would it help to add dates to the header? For instance, the cut-off for 30 yrs. is now 1985, but it was 1982 in 2012 when I made this list. We've also adjusted the time frame to "the past 30 years" from the original "20 years". Should we edit the header to include something like "Most Brilliant Historical Novels in the past 30 years (1985-2015)"? And then adjust it each year? Too much effort? Maybe easier than removing all these wanna-be's, though...

For now, here are the culprits - see if you agree, and, if so, please delete (they're only from #1 to #281; I'll do a second list for you to delete later):

#19 Joy Luck Club (it isn't 'historical' fiction since it takes place around the time it was written (1989))
#38 Outlander (it's 'fantasy' despite great historical detail)
#110 Pride and Prejudice (it is 'contemporary' fiction since she was writing about her own time)
#128 The Secret Keeper (it appears to be 'contemporary' fiction that reminisces about a past incident)
#129 Voyager (see #38 above)
#135 Aztec (pub. 1980, so too old for this list, alas)
#146 Penmaric (pub. 1971)
#154 Dragonfly in Amber (see #38 above)
#158 From Hell (it was a comic book...)
#162 Drums of Autumn (see #38 above)
#165 The Name of the Rose (pub. 1980)
#167 The Cater St. Hangman (pub. 1979)
#204 The Crossing (pub. 1951)
#228 The Crocodile on the Sandbank (pub. 1975)
#229 The Kitchen God's Wife (see #19 above)
#238 The Clan of the Cave Bear (pub. 1980)
#247 Empire of the Sun (pub. 1984)
#251 White Oleander (pub. 1999, but is it 'historical'? seems like 'contemporary fiction to me...)
#258 Far Pavillions (pub. 1978)
#263 Follow the River (pub. 1981)
#278 Cryptomicon (same issue w/ Amy Tan's books, set in present (1990s) but makes use of past ancestry)
#280 Game of Kings (pub. 1961)
#281 The Firebird (same issue w/ Diana Gabaldon's books, 'fantasy' fiction that follows character into the past)

Note: I actually think the Outlander series is brilliant, so it qualifies in that way...

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message 23: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (last edited Feb 10, 2015 01:33PM) (new)

Feb 10, 2015 01:31PM

Have deleted those with "too old" publication dates, or with then-contemporary settings.

Left Outlander series for now. Also possibly a few I just couldn't find.

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message 24: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Feb 10, 2015 01:32PM

Might be easiest to reword the title "since 1985"?

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message 25: by MomToKippy (last edited Jan 06, 2016 12:49PM) (new)

Jan 05, 2016 07:24AM

I noticed that too Ms M! Kearsley, Morton, Gabaldon? The listmaker could perhaps define the qualifications a bit more. Fun list though and actually a lot of really good stuff too.

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message 26: by Tessa (new)

Jan 05, 2016 02:53PM

Oops--I forgot about the 30 years! Some of my postings are too old...

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message 27: by MomToKippy (new)

Jan 06, 2016 12:51PM

I deleted Les Miserables. Much too old!

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message 28: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Mar 01, 2017 11:13PM) (new)

Mar 01, 2017 10:59PM

The Book of Ebenezer Le Page (#346) isn't one of the "Most Brilliant Historical Novels in the past 30 yrs"... (It was first published in 1981, so close but not quite).

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message 29: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Mar 01, 2017 11:08PM) (new)

Mar 01, 2017 11:03PM

MomToKippy wrote: "I deleted Les Miserables. Much too old!"

I've deleted The Mystery of a Hansom Cab for the same reason.

I've also removed The Lost Steps, as it was first published in 1953.

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message 30: by Fiona (last edited Feb 25, 2021 01:46AM) (new)

Feb 25, 2021 01:44AM

#108 "I Claudius" was published in 1934
#119 "Katherine" was published in 1954
#362 "Forever Amber" was published in 1944

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message 31: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

Feb 25, 2021 03:26AM

Fiona wrote: "#108 "I Claudius" was published in 1934
#119 "Katherine" was published in 1954
#362 "Forever Amber" was published in 1944"

Removed.

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message 32: by Kat (new)

Aug 22, 2021 09:21AM

For those of you who tend this list, THANK YOU for your time! The comments here are useful too. I never thought about contemporary fiction vs. historical fiction.

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message 33: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

Aug 22, 2021 09:45AM

@Trina
You might want to put a year in this list, as "in the past 45 yrs" changes each and every year...

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message 34: by Elyse (new)

Feb 16, 2022 09:26PM