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.
It is an old saying: "Generals come from the west, statesmen come from the east." Heye is a natural-born military genius. She is a substitute for her older brother, having fought on the battlefield for many years, pacifying the Western Qiang and establishing order in the southern barbarian lands. However, she achieved her military accomplishments and retired from service just as her older brother, who is of the same clan, recovered from illness. She got married. After marriage, she did not receive the affection of her husband and was afflicted by a strange illness, causing her to lose her sight. A beautiful concubine stood before her and spoke gently: "The medicine that caused your blindness was personally sent by the elders of your clan. Only a dead person would not reveal the secret. By staying alive, you are a tremendous threat to them!" As a renowned female general and heroine, she met an absurd fate, dying at the hands of an ignorant and jealous woman in her husband's residence. How ridiculous! When she woke up, she found herself in the position of a colonel's daughter in a training camp, weak and pampered, full of youthful exuberance. They wanted my achievements, they wanted my life, they wanted my soldiers, they took advantage of my emotions! In this second chance, she vowed to reclaim everything she had lost. Gathering the world's attention, she would be crowned as a beauty and dominate the nine provinces! As vast as the ocean is the military camp, and so it begins - she encounters her nemesis from her past life, that young general who was known for "pointing his spear, astonishing the world." A fierce female general and an explosive wolf-like young man, bound by their roles as dual generals. Please support the original work. Cheers~
129.39 Million words | 2021-12-17 06:01Update
During the prosperous era of the Tang Dynasty, peace and harmony prevailed throughout the land, with magnificent mountains and rivers, and the Li clan reigning supreme. General Li Jing led troops to defeat the Turks in the north, while Emperor Taizong embarked on an expedition to Goguryeo in the east, establishing his dominance in all directions. Starting anew, they restored the old glory of the empire. Before the portraits of the heroes, Emperor Li Yuan strummed his lute with a sense of melancholy, while Emperor Li Shimin danced gracefully and joyously on the Lingyan Terrace. In the grandest and most spirited era in Chinese history, outside the ancient capital of Chang'an, a young man in humble attire smiled as he gazed at the setting sun's glow upon the imperial city...
329.80 Million words | 2021-12-25 12:56Update
He's a destitute and down-and-out nobleman, with only a loyal maid by his side, making a living by running a calligraphy stall. He's a time-traveling forensic doctor, examining and dissecting, searching for clues from the slightest trace, unraveling layer by layer, investigating the true culprit behind the scenes. He's the top executioner in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, his left hand holding the inspection box, his right hand holding the dissecting knife. A modern forensic doctor ruling the officialdom of the Tang Dynasty. With him around, justice will never be absent.
94.42 Million words | 2020-07-14 09:52Update
Looking back suddenly, a thousand years have passed, yet the magnificent palaces of the Han Dynasty still stand! It was the third year of the reign of Emperor Zhao of Han, and the court was dominated by powerful ministers. The threat of the Huns remained, and the Silk Road continued to thread its way across the land... Although Wei and Huo were gone, the pioneering spirit of the Han people never ceased. A new hero was about to emerge! In the deserts of Dunhuang, within a post station named Xuanquan Zhi, a lowly clerk named Ren Hong shouted angrily, "A true man should aspire to achievements beyond the confines of writing brushes and inkstones, just like Zhang Qian and Fu Jiezi did in foreign lands, to attain a noble title. How can one be content with merely toiling between pen and paper?" Book club discussion:
198.86 Million words | 2023-04-11 12:33Update
He originally thought that being a bandit in troubled times was a very promising job, but he never expected to become a favorite of the court, the person Yang Guang trusts the most. When he became immensely popular and wanted to pursue his grand ambitions, he was helpless to discover that the world was in chaos, in a complete state of disorder. Xiao Buyi, who started out as a nobody, rose to power, with his iron horse galloping and no one daring to oppose him! - - - - - - The new book "Stealing Fragrance" by Mo Wu, set in the Three Kingdoms era, has already been released on Qidian. There is a link in the description below, with over a million words! Friends are welcome to go and support it!
434.02 Million words | 2022-08-06 23:06Update
In her previous life, she, as the legitimate granddaughter of the main branch, died a miserable death after wandering outside the family. In this life, she leaned against the soft couch and looked at the current powerful official kneeling in front of her. With a cold flick of her fingertips, a speck of rouge splattered. "It's too late, Third Uncle." A true expert in household power struggles should devour people without leaving a trace and kill without shedding blood. From being the eldest daughter of an unmarried widow to the glamorous and prestigious ceremonial makeup, it relied not only on a stroke of luck, but also on a keen eye! There is already a completed book called "The Lady's Style". Welcome everyone to jump into the new or old stories together!
137.45 Million words | 2023-02-25 16:52Update
In the previous life, the so-called blood relatives told her that sacrificing herself for the family's interests was the greatest honor of her life as a woman of the Ren family. As a result, she became enemies with her sister, causing her mother to shed tears and her father to fall under a shower of blood... Reborn in her early years of learning, she was no longer a pawn to be manipulated! With a scheming aunt, heartless elders, ruthless enemies, and hidden arrows in the court... Watch how she calculates the hearts of people, one by one revealing their true colors and eradicating them invisibly! The so-called honor is to protect the safety and smooth life of her beloved family. The so-called honor is to have the heart of one person and never be separated until old age.
174.98 Million words | 2023-04-23 07:13Update
The world is so big, I want to go out and see it. Sports teacher Li Xin is reborn as a subordinate of Li Yuan, hoping to gain favor with Li Er. However, to his disappointment, Li Yuan marries Princess Pingyang to someone else. Li Yuan, since you have ruined my plans, I will take your daughter, your daughter-in-law, and your kingdom.
308.04 Million words | 2020-12-04 18:39Update
We have inherited the legacy of our ancestors, which has brought brilliance to China for thousands of years. We are so content and serene, never considering a return to the era when we struggled in the face of difficulties. To repay our suffering ancestors and discover the true meaning of homeland within, is the story that this book aims to tell.
382.56 Million words | 2021-05-11 22:17Update
I accidentally opened a door and found myself transported to Ming dynasty-era Yueyang. But now, I am back in the familiar modern society. However, with the bonds I have formed, I can no longer return to my peaceful life. I have decided to pick up my weapon and fight against the invaders, so that I can live in a future where there are no queues and no need to address everyone as "servant".
192.29 Million words | 2023-03-14 12:52Update
She once experienced the Battle of Changping and witnessed the massacre of hundreds of thousands of people. She led the Great Qin Iron Cavalry and competed with the Six States for dominance over the world. She witnessed the division of the world into three parts, and the shattering of mountains and rivers. She also heard the melodic sound of the Lu Zhongqin. During the prosperous era of Zhenguan, she indulged in the present with a single intoxication. How did that eternal empress remain youthful? She galloped with a fresh robe and a furious horse, and also wore a feather fan and a silk headdress. She worked as a farmer in the countryside and taught as a scholar. But no one knows that such a person has lived for two thousand years. Well, this is a relatively light-hearted and relaxing historical text because of personal reasons, it may not completely conform to history and withstand rigorous scrutiny. However, I will do my best to research and write the material comprehensively. It's my first time writing this kind of article, so I hope to make it more interesting, haha. Lastly, be cautious when transforming, embrace the single life. Reader group: Second Group: Support Group:
102.70 Million words | 2023-06-16 00:08Update
Transmigrated and reborn... but as Dong Zhuo's son. However, I remember that Dong Zhuo didn't have a son in the Three Kingdoms, so what's going on? My impression of Dong Zhuo was that he competed with the fearsome generals for women. Even though I married Xiao Diao, I lost my head. Then my entire family was beheaded by the fearsome generals, including my elderly grandmother who had white hair. What should I do? I don't know how to make paper, understand gunpowder, let alone possess advanced dipping fire techniques. I'm just a lowly forest ranger who forgot to bring Baidu da shen (Baidu's great god) with me when I transmigrated, and to make matters worse, I was born into an extremely ugly individual. My father sees me as a monster, and everyone else treats me like a ferocious beast, except for my grandmother and sister... I need to survive, so that my grandmother won't be beheaded. I must kill Huangfu Song first; but what can changing history really accomplish? Everything I do is for the sake of my own survival and for the ones who love me to stay alive.
267.15 Million words | 2020-08-01 23:29Update
The legitimate daughter of the noble family, she was virtuous and gentle. She foolishly fell in love with the Crown Prince and ran away with him. For six years, she assisted him and eventually became the Empress. Accompanying him in building a prosperous nation, she faced dangers and became a hostage in another country. After five years, she returned, only to find no place for her in the harem. The beauty in his arms smiled brightly, saying, "Sister, the country is settled, you should also step down." Her daughter died tragically, the Crown Prince was deposed. The Shen family was engulfed in loyalty and martyrdom, with no one spared. In an instant, the family was destroyed, with all the children lost! Shen Miao never expected that the couple who supported each other through hardships was nothing but a farce! He said, "Since you have followed me for twenty years, I will grant you a complete corpse as a token of appreciation." With a three-foot white cloth, Shen Miao made a solemn vow: "When the day of death arrives, both you and I shall perish!" Reborn to the age of fourteen, before tragedy struck, her loved ones were still alive and she remained the gentle and elegant legitimate daughter of the noble family.
140.06 Million words | 2021-09-19 06:50Update
Rebirth in the Ming Dynasty, I found myself becoming the protagonist of the crosstalk performance "Rapidly Ascending Three Levels". The story began to become interesting. It is more amusing to join Wei Gonggong and train the emperor than to follow Emperor Tianqi who was sweeping Liaodong in a Tianqi tank. By then, the Ming Dynasty was no longer the same.
282.92 Million words | 2022-10-17 04:45Update
Kou Jihun, who reincarnated into the Northern Song Dynasty, became the great-grandson of the renowned statesman Kou Zhun. As a typical third-generation official, he should have enjoyed a lavish and extravagant life. However, when he received a letter from his father inviting him to the capital, Kaifeng, for a life of luxury, he discovered that his grandfather, Kou Zhun, seemed to be in danger! 【Reader Group: 195992981】
467.27 Million words | 2022-05-27 03:32Update
In his previous life, Zhou Zhong was involved in smuggling and tragically drowned at sea. Unexpectedly, when he woke up again, he found himself in the era of the Ming Dynasty's Zhengde period, as the son of a recently bankrupted wealthy merchant in Songjiang Prefecture. In this era, Zhou Zhong possessed an empty mansion that had been stripped of all valuable things, a timid and cowardly Aunt Wang, a fat and food-loving Steward Xu, a bankrupted elder sister who had been rejected by her prospective husband, and a four-year-old little sister, Duo'er, who had been abandoned by their mother. Additionally, he had a scholar's fame, an unmarried fiancée from a prestigious family, and a former high-ranking official turned commoner as a prospective father-in-law, along with a few close friends — these were everything Zhou Zhong possessed in this era. While eight powerful officials in the court were at odds with ministers, imposing a meaningless ban on overseas trade, officials and businessmen in the southern coastal regions colluded and smuggling ran rampant. However, these issues were temporarily irrelevant to Zhou Zhong. Utilizing his knowledge and experience from his past life, he gradually changed the dire circumstances around him. But Zhou Zhong slowly discovered that if he wanted to make a name for himself in this era, he had to go with the flow of the times and immerse himself in the booming tide of smuggling.
167.01 Million words | 2021-09-10 04:52Update
A great empire has just been born, and a new era is about to begin. Liu Chang once considered whether he should strive for the throne and lead this brand new empire himself, but when he looked around at those like Liu Bang, Empress Lv, Liu Ying, and Liu Heng... well, isn't it better to just live a peaceful life? So, Liu Chang put on the hat of the "shameful time traveler" and embarked on a life of idleness and waiting for death. Also known as "My Foolish Oudoudou", "Isn't this kid actually Xiang Yu's?" and "How can we cure the Han Dynasty with someone like you?" and so on.
435.52 Million words | 2021-07-13 23:29Update
He, a humble illegitimate child with a mysterious background, a young man who has achieved great success in the business world for ten years, a lazy person who is indifferent to fame and fortune. In his previous life, he was alone with no one to rely on; in this life, he is born into a prestigious royal family, surrounded by beautiful wives. In the ever-changing dynasty, where the struggle for the throne is intense and the court is filled with intrigue, what path should this lazy person take? From the renowned historical writer Gao Yue, who has brought us "The Great Tang Dynasty," "Noble Families," and "The World," comes another spectacular masterpiece. With Gao Yue's five-year track record of consistent updates, this book is bound to be just as exciting.
138.78 Million words | 2023-06-06 12:45Update
The mansion reeks of alcohol and meat, frozen bones litter the road... Battlegrounds ablaze, refugees scatter, formidable enemies invade... These are faithful reflections of the late Ming Dynasty... And it was in the July of the second year of Chongzhen, when the Later Jin troops invaded Zunhua. Unexpectedly, a modern special forces soldier named Wei Zheng found himself transported to this tumultuous world, becoming a bandit leader in Zunhua struggling to even have a satisfying meal...
220.92 Million words | 2021-12-16 07:23Update
The long spy novel "Thin Ice" is set in Shanghai during a certain era. Military Intelligence Bureau agent Chen Qian is captured after a failed attempt to assassinate a high-ranking Japanese collaborator. With the help of an undercover agent from the Communist underground organization and a doctor named Gu Manli, Chen fakes his own death and escapes. Returning to the Military Intelligence Bureau headquarters in Chongqing, Chen learns that they have intercepted Akita, a representative of the Japanese military industry who has come to Shanghai to negotiate the transfer of important industrial raw materials. Akita happens to be Chen's former roommate when he studied in Japan, and they bear a striking resemblance. Chen assumes Akita's identity and infiltrates the enemy's ranks to disrupt their conspiracy and gather intelligence. During his mission, Chen reunites with Gu Manli, and they find themselves embroiled in a dangerous game of deception with ruthless and cunning Japanese agents, including the chief of the Intelligence Department at Mei Organization, Hirojiro Iida. The stage is set for a thrilling duel between master spies! How will Chen Qian break through the web of deception and make choices that test his emotions and beliefs? Where will his path ultimately lead him?
18.49 Million words | 2022-08-04 00:07Update
In the second year of the Yonglong era of the Great Zhou Dynasty, a flourishing era conceals underlying concerns. The nobles and officials are adorned with colorful attire, while civil and military officers face the fiery trials. Internal strife between factions persist both in the north and south, while external threats loom on the nine borders. This is both the best and the worst of times. The key lies in how one navigates through it. With courage and perseverance, watch me embrace a resolute and elegant path, striving to change the course of the heavens! This is a historical narrative that nurtures the political environment, and I ask for your support, my friends. Join the loyal readers' group of Rui Gen for discussions and updates.
814.36 Million words | 2021-09-24 02:31Update
