Best Historical Fiction Novels That Will Transport You to Another Time If you're a fan of historical fiction, then you know the joy of being immersed in a different era, exploring the lives and events that have shaped our world. From ancient civilizations to recent historical events, historical fiction offers endless possibilities for storytelling. In this article, we will take a journey through time and recommend some of the best historical fiction novels that will captivate your imagination. 1. "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett: Set in 12th-century England, this epic tale follows the construction of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge. Filled with political intrigue, religious conflict, and the struggle of ordinary people, this novel is a masterpiece of historical fiction. 2. "The Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Tracy Chevalier: Based on the famous painting by Johannes Vermeer, this novel takes place in 17th-century Delft, Netherlands. It tells the story of Griet, a young maid who becomes the subject of Vermeer's masterpiece. Chevalier's vivid descriptions and attention to detail transport readers back to the Golden Age of Dutch art. 3. "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel: Winner of the prestigious Man Booker Prize, this novel follows the rise of Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII. Set in the tumultuous period of the English Reformation, Mantel's masterful storytelling brings to life the political intrigue, power struggles, and volatile relationships of the Tudor court. 4. "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak: Narrated by Death, this hauntingly beautiful novel is set in Nazi Germany during World War II. It follows the story of Liesel Meminger, a young girl who finds solace in books and discovers the power of words. Zusak's unforgettable characters and lyrical prose make this a must-read for any fan of historical fiction. 5. "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco: In 14th-century Italy, a Franciscan friar named William of Baskerville is called upon to solve a series of mysterious deaths in an isolated monastery. Blending historical events, philosophy, and detective fiction, Eco creates a rich and atmospheric world that will keep readers engaged until the very last page. To delve deeper into the world of historical fiction, there are several websites that offer recommendations and reviews. Goodreads, a popular online community for book lovers, has dedicated lists and forums for historical fiction enthusiasts. Historical Novel Society is another valuable resource, providing reviews, interviews, and articles about the genre. In conclusion, historical fiction is a genre that allows us to travel through time and experience different eras firsthand. Whether you're interested in medieval Europe, Renaissance art, or the World Wars, there is a historical fiction novel out there waiting to transport you to another time. So grab a book, settle into a cozy chair, and let the magic of historical storytelling take you on a captivating journey.
Zhu Cilang is more treacherous than a traitor, more vicious than a Tartar, and can deceive people's hearts better than Li Zicheng! - Chongwang Li Zicheng stood on Mount Jiugong, looking southeast, feeling a thousand emotions. This son Cilang is rebellious and unfilial, cunning and cruel. He is like the reincarnation of Cao Cao and the rebirth of Sima. If he becomes the emperor, all the rebels, tartars, treacherous ministers, and wily people in the world will surely miss me! - Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty, standing in front of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, weeping bitterly. I am wrongly accused! I, Hong Chengchou, am truly not a collaborator of the Zhu thief Cilang. I am loyal to the Qing Dynasty! - Hong Chengchou, the Minister of War of the Qing Dynasty, shouted loudly from the execution ground. Father Emperor, do not run away, your filial son is obedient! - These are the heartfelt words of the Ming Crown Prince Zhu Cilang, who had his soul possessed by an honest child from the century, as he chased after Emperor Chongzhen. - Book Club Group:
558.61 Million words | 2022-07-06 00:57Update
Reborn, back to the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, I met Zhu Yuanzhang. Other transmigrators are all cautious, sneaky, afraid of being known by others. But Zhu Yuanzhang is different, he plans to make a big move, directly grabbing onto Zhu Yuanzhang's thigh and saying, "Ancestor, I am your biological twenty-third generation grandson!"
138.26 Million words | 2022-04-17 10:35Update
Li Yunya traveled to the late Ming Dynasty with a space courier email and met the seventeen-year-old Prince Zhu Youjian. From then on, they shouldered the heavy responsibility of helping the handsome emperor save the Ming Dynasty. Together, they conquered the northeast, pacified Mongolia, captured Korea, vanquished Japan, regained Taiwan, and occupied Southeast Asia. They vied with the Dutch and the Japanese Empire in the four oceans! [This story is lighthearted and absolutely not abusive] [The focus of the story is on the protagonist's emotions and plot development, and I have tried my best to adhere to the historical context. I ask the historians for their understanding]
165.98 Million words | 2022-06-08 15:18Update
The history of the late Ming dynasty was tumultuous and complex, written by charismatic individuals. Whether it was rebels like Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong, or those in power like Emperor Chongzhen and Yuan Chonghuan, or even betrayers like Wu Sangui and Geng Jingzhong, each person had their own stories. It is due to these captivating stories that the history of the late Ming dynasty became grand and filled with ups and downs. In order to portray this period of history well, it is important to depict vivid characters. Regardless of their stance, as observers on the edge of the river of history, they are merely a wave in this long river. Viewing the world with objectivity is what we currently need to do, and pursuing an objective perspective on history is also our current pursuit in life. The river of history has flowed to our feet, and we can stand by the river, ready to embrace our own history.
290.87 Million words | 2022-12-20 12:36Update
In the fourth year of Jianwen, after the Jingnan Rebellion, the stubborn Fang Xiaoru was ordered by the Yongle Emperor to be executed along with his entire clan. Jiang Xinghuo, a member of the tenth clan, chose to lie down and await death, entering a state of indifference in the prison. His greatest pleasure each day was chatting with the increasing number of inmates. 'Yao Guangxiao, the black-robed prime minister? His mediocre skills in slaughtering dragons mean nothing. Does he understand the periodic law of dynasties?' A bald inmate said, crushing his prayer beads. 'Zheng He's seven voyages to the west? It's a pity he didn't complete the circumnavigation and open the Chinese age of exploration.' A beardless inmate pondered as he looked at a newly-made globe. 'Emperor Yongle Zhu Di? Good martial skills, but weak in governance. Land reform, introduction of sweet potatoes, industrial revolution... isn't that something extraordinary for an emperor throughout history?' A middle-aged inmate suddenly stood up. 'Mr. Jiang, please become the Imperial Tutor!' 'Another mad conversation with an inmate? Don't joke, I'm waiting to die.' 'But I am Zhu Di, the emperor himself!'
165.98 Million words | 2023-06-29 01:43Update
In a turbulent world, an orphan was confronted with a massacre upon their first encounter. Hoping to grow up quietly and reunite with their family if fortunate, they find themselves entangled in a martial arts conflict. With the intention of learning swordsmanship from them and becoming a great hero, little did they know they were already entwined in a grand conspiracy. Their friends sacrifice for it, their loved one wanders because of it, and their family remains separated because of it, all orchestrated by the ones they once considered their own. They say the Liang Family Army is the most evil in the world, yet a man surnamed Liang has spent forty years in search of a woman. They say Da Yu is the best country in the world, yet its people cruelly harm their own kind. They say people in chaotic times are unworthy of happiness, yet the man and woman smile when they meet death. 'Qiao Meng, amidst this chaos, who else should we trust?'
44.91 Million words | 2020-11-26 02:43Update
Reborn, she remained the legitimate eldest daughter of the aristocracy. However, in this life, she has experienced bloodshed and assassination, and she no longer fears the dark secrets of the mansion. Those who deceive, humiliate, and belittle me shall receive tenfold, hundredfold retribution! With each step, blood will be spilled, but fortunately, there is profound kinship. Moreover, how did cooperating in murder lead to the marriage bed? Hands off, you golden ringed rat, bite him! (I guarantee one update, and every five votes will result in an additional update. Please use pink votes to support me!)
136.65 Million words | 2020-08-17 10:18Update
In the late period of the Three Kingdoms, hidden clouds loomed under the unified dawn. The power of Cao Wei was being gradually sidelined, and everyone could guess the ambitions of the Sima clan, but who could guess the trends of the world?
191.73 Million words | 2021-07-10 01:16Update
Arriving in ancient times, I was bestowed with a pair of cunning parents and a pair of devious brothers. My days were blissfully content. I thought I would follow the steps of an ancient girl's life and find an economically suitable man. But then, I became disfigured. Oh heavens, I truly cannot marry now. Is it my fate to be a leftover woman for two lifetimes? I thought I would spend my whole life like this until I met him. What? He wants to be my husband! No, this man is too treacherous. What? It's not up to me? You, you, you, you actually plotted against me? And I have been manipulated my whole life. I had no extraordinary beauty, no business talent, and certainly no ambitions or schemes. This is just the story of an ordinary modern woman's joys and sorrows in ancient times. Please, dear readers, listen as I tell my tale.
79.58 Million words | 2020-07-31 20:36Update
If life were not limited to one existence, I would certainly reign over the myriad realms. In the tenth year of the Hongwu reign, Zhu Yuanzhang traveled to the year 1622 using a life simulator, arriving in the late Ming Dynasty. As he opened the history books and saw Zhu Di usurping the throne, he couldn't help but furrow his brow. Seeing the Great Ming War God sacrificing a million soldiers in battle, his expression turned somewhat dark. And when he learned that peasant uprisings were rampant during the reign of Chongzhen, with the Great Ming Empire on the verge of collapse, he could no longer sit idly by. All you unworthy descendants, get out of my way! What "Later Jin," what "King of Yan," Zhu Yuanzhang will make you all understand what
62.42 Million words | 2021-10-12 11:54Update
Zhao Lie helplessly traversed to the late Ming Dynasty and found himself in the body of a second-generation official. It was the Tianqi period, a time of internal troubles and external threats, with the Great Ming Dynasty on the verge of collapse. For the sake of himself and his family, Zhao Lie had no choice but to navigate through various challenges, engaging in expeditions and battles that shaped the history of the Great Ming Dynasty, Korea, and
201.08 Million words | 2023-04-25 00:39Update
Cheng Jiaoniang's foolish illness has healed, but she still feels like she is and is not Cheng Jiaoniang. Strange memories have arisen in her mind. As the abandoned daughter of the Cheng family, she has to return to the Cheng family. However, she has come to regain her memories, not to be bullied and looked down upon. ************************* Cover, produced by Mushuiyou~
219.45 Million words | 2023-05-20 03:35Update
People are often oblivious to the many individuals who guard what is so crucial to them, only realizing its significance when it is lost. Shen Muqing's future is thus concealed within the invisible threads of destiny and the fated individuals no one can see.
96.57 Million words | 2022-02-10 07:31Update
Reborn in the Great Xia Empire, Sheng Siyan may appear harmless like a little white rabbit, delicate and easy to manipulate. Little do people know, she is actually a cunning and clever little fox who never loses. When it comes to choosing a spouse, the little fox naturally has a discerning eye. And so, Sheng Siyan realizes that she has been fortunate enough to pick a husband who brings his own invincibility halo to the table... O(∩_∩)O Haha, life is now enjoyable. Husband, you go engage in battles, I'll enjoy the blessings and comforts! Husband: =_= Isn't engaging in battles a woman's battlefield, my lady? You're being unfair... ——*——*——*——*—— A certain author has completed a trilogy of ancient-style novels: "Coldness of Smoke and Water," "The Rules of Reborn Space," "Walking Hand in Hand with You." There is also a completed fantasy martial arts and mystery novel "Replenishing the Sky Chronicle." And lastly, a completed lengthy historical romance novel "The Handbook for the Original Consort." Quality assured, feel free to jump into any of these stories. O(∩_∩)O
245.30 Million words | 2022-01-24 06:29Update
Fifteen years ago, the Ye family suffered an accidental death, leaving the mother and child deceased, and their eldest daughter shocked into madness. Fifteen years later, Ye Nianchen, who had been seeking treatment outside, suddenly recovered and returned to the capital. With careful planning, the long-kept truth gradually emerged. Ye Nianchen's only intention was to live well and witness the magnificent unfolding of the delayed karmic retribution, fifteen years in the making!
88.87 Million words | 2021-01-29 14:24Update
Since more than two thousand years ago, after the unification of China by Qin Shihuang, the country has experienced cycles of division and reunification, peace and chaos. Through many dynasties, it was not until six hundred years ago that the Mongols rose to power from the north. The Mongols relied on their formidable military strength to invade China, using their steel swords to conquer the people, plunder the nation's wealth, and enslave the labor force. They indiscriminately slaughtered and indulged in greed, acting lawlessly. This regime built upon violence and slavery is like a thatched hut constructed on volcanic rock. Eventually, the scorching lava will erupt and devour everything. In the early fourteenth century, as history's pages continued
70.15 Million words | 2023-05-03 18:46Update
Luo Zhao crossed over and became the younger brother of King Wu of Zhou, Ji Fa. He was entrusted with the regency and from the end of the Shang Dynasty to the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty, he established his own family. Throughout the rotations of dynasties, the lineage has been passed down continuously. "The Luo family has lasted until today, spanning more than 2,300 years. Starting from the regency of the founding ancestor, Su Wang Zhao, there were nine regents who all returned the governance to the king."
189.06 Million words | 2023-04-15 12:39Update
Historical version: When the Ming Dynasty lost its deer, the whole world pursued it. Modern version: At the end of the Ming Dynasty, famine and foreign invasions plagued the land. Let's witness how Luozhi Xue, with his wisdom, brings an end to this chaotic era and leads our people to stand at the pinnacle of the world, forging a prosperous era for our nation. Luozhi Xue's version: I want to be the emperor!
373.87 Million words | 2020-07-29 14:06Update
Dou Zhao felt that she might not live much longer. These days, she often dreamt of returning to her childhood, sitting under a pergola covered in purple wisteria, swinging her chubby little legs while a plump wet nurse fed her like a dumpling... But what kind of differences would there be in her life if she really went back to her childhood? "Nine Layers of Purple" tells the story of a rebirth! ※ Unless there are special circumstances, updates will be posted around midnight every night! Completed works: "Harmony is Valuable," "Troublesome Times," "Guide to Being a Concubine," "
169.09 Million words | 2020-11-06 14:58Update
From a princess to a member of the Imperial Guards, Wentai felt that life with Yushi was fulfilling and exciting. However, how can a woman become a member of the Imperial Guards? It seemed like a problem indeed! Can she give up her responsibilities? The commanding officer spoke, 'Of course, be a good wife of mine and you can give up whenever you want!'
47.52 Million words | 2021-05-01 16:12Update
In the twenty-third year of Chuyuan, in April, Emperor Jing of Chen passed away. The feudal lords ruled in chaos and powerful families took control. In the third year of Yong'an, General Ye Yi led an army to fetch back the young emperor and moved the capital to Yunzhou. In April, he was appointed as the prime minister. One person above ten thousand, he selected new officials and sent an appointment letter to the second young master of the Gu family in Yunzhou. The second young master of the Gu family was only fourteen years old, gentle, courteous, and exceptionally talented. Yet, only he knew his true identity beneath others. Damn it! How can I take office if I'm actually a girl? You already have my elder brother as a hostage, isn't that enough for you? 'Second Young Master' Gu Che rolled his eyes in the courtyard, knowing well that Ye Yi had the appearance of a wolf and would definitely rebel and usurp the throne one day. You want this young lady to join you in rebellion? Dream on. The art of ruling a kingdom, in times of chaos, entangles with the schemes of a beautiful woman..
90.94 Million words | 2023-06-26 15:59Update
