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Gripping Novels for Historical Fiction Fans
December 1, 2021 | Blog > News > Gripping Novels for Historical Fiction Fans
From the steps of the Roman Forum to the gutters of Victorian London, via the court of Henry VIII and on to 1960s New York – this selection of the best and newest historical fiction will transport you back in time and envelop you in rich and immersive settings.
Lily
Rose Tremain
In mid-Victorian London, foundling Lily is subject to abuse which leads her to a crime of revenge. Will the policeman who has been quietly watching over her since she was a baby condemn her to death or be the key to her happiness? The viscerally evoked 1860s is the perfect setting to explore basic human instinct and primal motivations.
Sharpe's Assassin
Bernard Cornwell
More of Cornwell’s trademark combination of bloody action, quick-witted dialogue, and nail-biting plotting. Set in the aftermath of the Battle of Waterloo where maverick Sharpe rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, the Duke of Wellington has a new mission for Sharpe, sending him to the tunnels under Paris to hunt down the elusive revolutionary group ‘la Fraternite’, who may or may not actually exist.
In The Shadow Of Queens
Alison Weir
A companion to Weir’s Six Tudor Queens series, this is a collection of thirteen stories focussing on those surrounding Henry VIII’s wives. It’s an entrancing and thoroughly researched ‘behind-the-scenes’ perspective on the Tudor court, from the autopsy of Katherine of Aragon to the mysterious seven years Anne Boleyn spent in Briis-sous-Forges, these stories bring to life the fascinating personalities behind seemingly minor historical characters.
The Swift And The Harrier
Minette Walters
Set during the English Civil War, Dorset physician Jayne Swift chooses to remain neutral and offer her services to both Royalists and Parliamentarians. In contrast, the elusive William Harrier sees the war as a means to an end, a worthwhile price for the greater good. This is an utterly gripping tale with a panoramic scope, encompassing war, adventure, loss and love.
Harlem Shuffle
Colson Whitehead
In a beautifully evoked Harlem of the early 1960s, the divergent strands of Ray’s double life are starting to implode. On the one hand, Ray is a striver, living the American dream from a reasonably priced furniture showroom. On the other, Ray is a small-time player of the under-the-counter, no-questions-asked variety, who’s accidentally wandered too far down the wrong back streets. Hugely entertaining with a strong element of social commentary to chew on.
The Cicero Trilogy
Robert Harris
Harris’ epic magnum opus, now published in a reassuringly weighty single volume, this is surely the definitive historical novel of the Roman republic. An account of the life and times of orator and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero, from his ambitious rise to prominence to his dramatic assassination, which reflects the fate of the Republic itself. Huge characters, extraordinary events, and a complex web of conspiracy and schemes.
The Manningtree Witches
A.K. Blakemore
Award Winning bestseller, now in paperback. In the midst of the English Civil War, Rebecca West, looked down upon by most of the townswomen in puritanical Manningtree, is suspicious of the finely dressed but reticent man who seems so impressive. But soon accusations of witchcraft abound, and Rebecca finds herself ensnared. The first novel by an acclaimed poet, this is beautiful writing about a less-than-beautiful period of history.
