historical fiction books about the great depression

Historical Fiction Books About the Great Depression: Exploring a Dystopian Era

The Great Depression was one of the darkest periods in American history, marked by economic turmoil and social upheaval. If you are a fan of historical fiction and fascinated by this era, you'll be delighted to know that there are numerous captivating novels that bring the Great Depression to life. In this article, we will explore some highly recommended historical fiction books set during this tumultuous time, along with the talented authors behind them.

1. "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck:
Considered a classic piece of American literature, "The Grapes of Wrath" is a must-read for anyone interested in the Great Depression. Steinbeck's novel follows the Joad family as they struggle to survive through poverty, drought, and forced migration. This heartbreaking tale provides a poignant portrayal of the era's hardships.

2. "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen:
Sara Gruen's "Water for Elephants" is a gripping novel that combines circus life with the struggles of the Great Depression. Set in the 1930s, the story follows Jacob Jankowski, a young veterinary student turned circus worker. This book weaves together elements of love, adventure, and survival amid economic despair.

3. "Empire Falls" by Richard Russo:
"Empire Falls" by Richard Russo is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that takes place in a small, decaying town during the 1980s. While it explores the decline of the working class in more modern times, flashbacks provide a glimpse into the town's history during the Great Depression. Russo's masterful storytelling captures the complex relationships and struggles of the townspeople.

4. "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak:
While not set in the United States, "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak offers a unique perspective on the impact of the Great Depression. This best-selling novel is narrated by Death and follows a young girl named Liesel Meminger in Nazi Germany. It explores the power of books and literature as a means of escape and hope in the face of adversity.

5. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee:
While not directly centered on the Great Depression, Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" offers a compelling coming-of-age story set during the 1930s in the racially divided South. The book addresses themes of racism, injustice, and poverty while showcasing the resilience of its young protagonist, Scout Finch.

For more Great Depression-era historical fiction recommendations, websites like Goodreads or Book Riot offer comprehensive lists created by book lovers. These platforms allow you to explore user reviews, ratings, and additional novels that delve into the era from different perspectives.

In conclusion, the Great Depression serves as a rich backdrop for historical fiction novels that capture the struggles and triumphs of individuals during that time. From John Steinbeck's classic "The Grapes of Wrath" to Markus Zusak's unique perspective in "The Book Thief," these books provide readers with a deeper understanding of the era. So, grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and immerse yourself in the compelling stories that bring the Great Depression to life.
King of Kings Fiction
King of Kings

An era of heroes in chaotic times! In the midst of raging battles! From an ordinary soldier to a mighty emperor, everything changed overnight. From then on, he embarked on the path of a ruler, uniting the Northwest and establishing the Great Hua Empire. With his Eastern and Western conquests, he commanded the world as an unparalleled king, hailed as the "Martial Emperor". Like a mythical figure, how will he unfold his extraordinary life...!!!!

261.82 Million words | 2023-04-20 08:20Update

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Eastern Sea Slaughter Fiction
Eastern Sea Slaughter

How did the hidden currents beneath the surface grow into an empire outside the system? How did an exiled playboy become the master of the seas? How did the Ming Dynasty's maritime merchants break through the policy of maritime prohibition and reach places that even Zheng He had never been to? Let us unfold the ukiyo-e of the era, record an obliterated history, and sing a legendary tale of heroes. In the Age of Exploration, a different possibility in Chinese history. Witness the roaring of mere merchants in the Southeast, shaking the four seas, and forging a new celestial realm! Glory and dreams, all in the Eastern Sea Slaughter!

525.04 Million words | 2021-08-30 03:15Update

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The Great River Fiction
The Great River

The Great River depicts the comprehensive, detailed, and in-depth changes in the economic field, social life, and people's spiritual outlook in China since the reform and opening-up period. It has been hailed as a remarkable book that portrays the reform and opening-up of China. From the restoration of college entrance examinations in the year to the Southern Tour Speech in the year , from the emergence of township enterprises to the rise of Made in China, from real estate reform to the financial crisis in , the novel vividly portrays representative figures such as state-owned enterprise leader Song Yunfei, township entrepreneur Lei Dongbao, individual business owner Yang Xiaowu, and overseas returnee intellectual Liu Jun, authentically recreating the entrepreneurial life, struggle, and destiny of a generation.

530.48 Million words | 2021-04-22 15:34Update

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The country is so proud and majestic. Fiction
The country is so proud and majestic.

A time-space accident caused the protagonist to travel through, assuming the new identity of Zhao Kuo, who was known for his empty talk on paper for thousands of years. Don't doubt it, this is a fantasy novel, a work of imagination. However, I hope it can bring a different kind of fantasy feeling to everyone. Let's assume for a moment, if you became the hedonistic Zhao Kuo, what would you do? The first thing our protagonist did was to take advantage of Princess Zhao Ni, setting the stage for an exciting story. In the turbulent era of the Warring States, with various heroes rising, how would the new Zhao Kuo, a scion of a noble family, create his magnificent legend? If you have any opinions about the book, feel free to express them in the author's circle. I will be there to respond regularly. Circle address: http://q.k.com/t/.html.

91.30 Million words | 2021-11-08 15:01Update

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For Ming Fiction
For Ming

The late Ming Dynasty was a time where everyone was trying to be worse than each other, only causing suffering for the common people, with heavens not answering and earth not responding. China lost its leading position in the world, becoming a weak and bullied nation in East Asia. In such a situation, whether it was the Mongols, Manchus, Ming Dynasty, or rebels, they should all be eliminated. Divine right of kings? Roll that nonsense away! Descendants of Confucius? Parasites that should be eliminated... As Hu Guang, whose soul has traveled back in time, he intends to use 21st-century knowledge to crush all enemies in the late Ming Dynasty, making the heavens answer and the earth respond, and rebuild the glory of the Chinese nation!

136.45 Million words | 2020-07-24 15:52Update

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Legend of Yanxi Palace Fiction
Legend of Yanxi Palace

The struggle between women is always the cruelest. And the imperial harem is a place of intense cruelty. In the imperial harem depicted by the author Liulanzhi, the beautiful women may come from prestigious families or possess exquisite beauty and intelligence. They compete for love, wealth, and the attention of a man who may not be worth it, engaging in schemes, deceptions, and constant rivalries, wasting their youth and happiness in this never-ending battle. Though they are stunningly beautiful, they are also perilous. However, no matter how fierce their struggle is, they still hold hope for a better life. In the story, Zhen Huan, created by Liulanzhi, is unparalleled in the world, a delicate and virtuous woman with extraordinary talent. She firmly believes in true love. She is not an ethereal being detached from the mortal world. In the imperial harem, she yearns for extravagant love, but is burdened with too many considerations. As the curtain falls, the loneliness becomes particularly chilling.

273.50 Million words | 2022-07-06 05:47Update

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Leap of a Thousand Years Fiction
Leap of a Thousand Years

During an unexpected incident in his mission in Africa, international mercenary Luo Kai was transported back in time, a thousand years ago, to Africa. He found himself surrounded by pitch-black tribes and wild beasts of the grasslands. Even encounters with the local people were a group he couldn't fully accept. How could he survive in this unfamiliar land? Despite being a warlord, his individual strength was insignificant, especially without a sense of belonging in Africa. So... he decided to return home. In the unfamiliar city, he was a lawless savage, kidnapping Fatima's renowned scientist... looting the academic library in Constantinople... monopolizing the artisans under Abbasid's rule... However, upon returning to his homeland in the East, he realized he couldn't even set foot on his own ancestral land. The Eternal Prosperity Army of the Song Dynasty and the bureaucrats of the Qin Feng Road saw him as nothing more than a fat lamb to be exploited...

440.90 Million words | 2023-05-10 16:43Update

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China above all else. Fiction
China above all else.

"The desire for the destruction of other races lives on within me, and only by completely eliminating them can we achieve peace!" "We have one third of the world's population, yet less than one tenth of its land; we need war to break these constraints!" "The Earth is too small, and can only accommodate one race - our own!" This is the story of a reborn individual with space abilities who leads the rise of the Chinese nation during the end of the Qing dynasty. A new book club has been created: _____.

223.96 Million words | 2021-04-11 10:03Update

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Phoenix in the Nine Skies Fiction
Phoenix in the Nine Skies

Feng Ming, a powerless young boy from the countryside, accidentally enters the palace while searching for his relatives in the capital city. He is forced to get involved in the political scene of the West Lei Dynasty and meets the regent prince Rong Tian. After several encounters, they develop a deep bond. Rong Tian, ambitious and aspiring to revive the West Lei Dynasty, seeks to end the chaotic times. With the assistance of Feng Ming's wisdom and strategies, they stabilize the internal affairs, embark on diplomatic missions, and quell wars. Through various challenges, they experience the desires of the people to escape the turmoil and live in peace. Feng Ming, kind-hearted and brave, often displays his ingenious wit, while Rong Tian demonstrates his military and political acumen, caring for the people and solving numerous difficulties. Eventually, through their perfect cooperation, they unite various forces, defeat evil influences, repel enemies, uphold justice, and each achieves a legendary life.

329.82 Million words | 2021-06-02 23:03Update

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The Legend of Yaoxiang Fiction
The Legend of Yaoxiang

During the middle period of the Tang Dynasty, Princess Shengping's second daughter, Yaoxiang, was mischievous from a young age, often causing trouble. As a result, she was sent by her parents to train in the Hezhong Army. In Hezhong, Yaoxiang honed her skills and became a well-known female warrior. As border conflicts escalated, Yaoxiang fell into an enemy trap and the Hezhong Army suffered consecutive defeats on the verge of collapse. Faced with these setbacks, Yaoxiang had to abandon her carefree nature and transform from an innocent girl into a resilient and independent female general. She took on the mission of revitalizing her family and rebuilding the Hezhong Army.

2.57 Million words | 2020-09-02 18:16Update

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Crazy Cavalry Wave at the End of the Han Dynasty Fiction
Crazy Cavalry Wave at the End of the Han Dynasty

With the system accompanying him in this era, the throne that surpasses all sentient beings is the freedom that Li Zheng pursues. Invincible battle steeds traverse the land, gallop across the oceans, and dominate the sky. No one can stop Li Zheng's advancing footsteps. Cao, Liu, Sun? In this unique end of the Han Dynasty, witness the unrivaled fury of the battle steeds, crushing everything in their path!

447.92 Million words | 2023-04-16 12:28Update

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Glory belongs to Rome. Fiction
Glory belongs to Rome.

The banners fluttered, and swords and shields surged like a tide. A mournful horn resounded as the thunderous sound of marching feet brought back the Roman legions, whose history had been sealed for thousands of years. With the whip in hand, they surveyed the world with a disdainful gaze. Glory belonged to Greece, and honor to Rome! Looking back a thousand years, let us once again appreciate that brilliant era, as dazzling as the East, and dance with those heroes who have vanished into the river of history. This story is purely fictional, please do not make any associations~~ QQ: For those who are able, please help me create a group.

464.64 Million words | 2020-11-08 03:01Update

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The Great Achievements of Late Ming Fiction
The Great Achievements of Late Ming

The land is open and flat, with well-structured houses and beautiful fields, ponds, mulberry trees, and bamboo groves. The streets are busy, with the sounds of chickens and dogs. The people come and go, engaged in farming and wearing clothing like outsiders. Young and old, they all live happily. This is the Peach Blossom Spring described by Tao Gong, as well as Hanjia Village, envisioned by Yang Ming. Going from a village to a political power, Yang Ming transformed the late Ming Dynasty with the wisdom of a modern person.

315.84 Million words | 2023-03-05 15:09Update

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Glorious Mission 1937 Fiction
Glorious Mission 1937

All I seek is the prosperity of our motherland and the well-being of our people; all I desire is to expel the Japanese invaders and reclaim our China; all I rely on is my fervent passion and a steel rifle in my hand! A humble life, an extraordinary era, a tragic song of resistance, an immortal legend! ****** Proud works: "Snow Vengeance in the War against Japan", "The Supreme Landlord of a Region" Reader exchange group: Glorious Group ()

598.88 Million words | 2020-07-19 13:44Update

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The Beauty of a Country in the Late Ming Dynasty Fiction
The Beauty of a Country in the Late Ming Dynasty

In the chaotic era of the late Ming Dynasty, a time traveler and the untold stories of the "Eight Beauties of Qinhuai".

475.47 Million words | 2021-07-11 00:40Update

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Being a warlord in the Three Kingdoms Fiction
Being a warlord in the Three Kingdoms

The protagonist's determination and strong fighting spirit attract numerous renowned generals and talents. They then search for a territory, develop it, and ultimately unify the world. Are such plotlines not overused?

223.96 Million words | 2022-08-07 14:01Update

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The Rivalry of 1451 in Europe Fiction
The Rivalry of 1451 in Europe

Through the years, the Han ethnic group survived amidst the struggles on the Crimean Peninsula. Starting from Crimea Island, they defeated the Genoese, assimilated the Tatars, and ventured northward, crossing the Dnieper River to control the Cossacks, turning them into the sword of the nation. The iron mines of Krivoy Rog and the Donbass coalfield forged

343.03 Million words | 2021-02-07 03:08Update

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King of Chaos Fiction
King of Chaos

Xiao Chengben is a soldier, but he accidentally travels through time and possesses the body of Li Yao, the Duke of Ning in the country of Qi. Since fate doesn't want him to die, he naturally can't waste his second life. He develops water conservancy projects, reforms agricultural fields, modernizes military tactics, and gains popular support. At this moment, being content with being just a lord is no longer enough to satisfy his ambitions in this chaotic world, so a new stride is added! PS: Although my updates may be slow, I will not stop writing. this is the first book from me, Xiao Chengben, and I promise to complete it, leaving a satisfactory impression for everyone!

81.43 Million words | 2021-07-12 13:56Update

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Joyful Detective Fiction
Joyful Detective

In the early years of the Republic of China, the sky was just beginning to light up. The early morning of early spring still had a chill in the air, but the Shanghai North Bund Pier was already a bustling scene. There were porters carrying goods, unloading cargo, and people waiting, all in abundance. Inspector Ying Xi of the Old Gate Police Station in the Shanghai International Settlement was also waiting for someone. He was about twenty years old, with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes. His short hair was slightly messy, and the stubble on his cheeks added a touch of ruggedness to his handsomeness and wildness. Ying Xi was leaning against the back seat of his bicycle, wearing his police uniform. His leather shoes were scruffy on his feet, and the buttons on his uniform were undone, revealing a hint of the gun holstered at his waist. His face was turned towards the river, and his deep eyes gazed into the distance.

72.34 Million words | 2021-05-11 09:19Update

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Great Han Arrow God. Fiction
Great Han Arrow God.

When the young are strong, so is the mighty Han! This is an era filled with heroism, exuberance, and unrestrained spirit. With a steed that travels a thousand miles beneath them and a precious golden eagle bow in hand, they ride steeds to conquer the Xiongnu, shooting three arrows to determine the fate of Tian Shan. Glory is destined to be attained on horseback, as the majestic Han's power spreads across thousands of miles.

205.77 Million words | 2020-07-30 07:02Update

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