history of historical fiction

The history of historical fiction: exploring the realms of the past

Historical fiction is a captivating genre that combines the allure of history with the creativity of fiction. It takes readers on a journey through time, immersing them in bygone eras and allowing them to experience the lives of people who lived before us. In this article, we will delve into the history of historical fiction, explore some of the notable authors and their works, and recommend websites for further exploration of this fascinating genre.

Historical fiction has a long and rich history, dating back centuries. The earliest known examples can be found in ancient Greek and Roman literature, with works like Homer's "The Iliad" and Virgil's "Aeneid" presenting fictionalized accounts of historical events. However, it was not until the 19th century that historical fiction truly emerged as a distinct genre.

One of the pioneers of historical fiction was Sir Walter Scott, a Scottish author whose novels such as "Ivanhoe" and "Waverley" set the stage for what would become a popular genre in the following centuries. Scott's meticulous attention to historical detail and his skill in blending fact with fiction captivated readers and set a standard for future historical fiction authors.

As the genre evolved, authors began exploring various time periods and regions, bringing history to life in different ways. In the 20th century, authors like Marguerite Yourcenar, known for her novel "Memoirs of Hadrian," and Ken Follett, with his epic "The Pillars of the Earth," continued the tradition of crafting immersive historical narratives.

In recent years, historical fiction has gained even more popularity, with authors like Hilary Mantel, Philippa Gregory, and Bernard Cornwell captivating readers with their meticulously researched novels set in eras ranging from the Tudor period to the Viking age.

For readers interested in diving into the world of historical fiction, there are numerous websites and resources available to explore. Goodreads (www.goodreads.com) is a popular platform that allows users to discover new historical fiction novels, read reviews, and connect with other book lovers. The Historical Novel Society (www.historicalnovelsociety.org) is another valuable resource, providing reviews, author interviews, and a comprehensive list of historical fiction novels categorized by time period and location.

Some highly recommended historical fiction novels and their authors include:

1. "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco - A murder mystery set in a medieval monastery, blending history, religion, and philosophy.
2. "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel - A fictionalized account of Thomas Cromwell's rise to power in the court of Henry VIII.
3. "Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon - A time-traveling adventure that takes readers from 20th-century Scotland to 18th-century historical events.
4. "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak - Set during World War II, it tells the story of a young girl in Nazi Germany and the power of books.
5. "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell - A sweeping epic set during the American Civil War and Reconstruction era.

In conclusion, historical fiction has a rich and diverse history, captivating readers for centuries. From the works of Sir Walter Scott to contemporary authors like Hilary Mantel and Diana Gabaldon, historical fiction continues to transport readers to different time periods and provide a unique perspective on the past. With the help of platforms like Goodreads and the Historical Novel Society, readers can easily discover new novels and satisfy their appetite for historical knowledge.
The Legend of the Great Han Empire Fiction
The Legend of the Great Han Empire

Based on the principles of delving into history and transcending history, this book depicts the intricate and grand historical processes and epic battles of dominance that took place many years ago. The novel follows Li Hong, a slave who saves a Xianbei commander and escapes back to the Han Dynasty. Starting as an ordinary soldier, Li Hong repeatedly achieves remarkable feats and becomes a general, thus influencing the history of the late Eastern Han Dynasty. The novel portrays the ever-changing historical landscape and the struggle of a group of heroic characters who change the fate of the world, revealing the laws of historical development. Li Hong's loyalty to his friends and comrades, his fierce battles with enemies, his entangled relationships with several women, and his connection to the fate of the Han Dynasty form a huge vortex that alters the course of the entire world. The book also devotes considerable effort to depicting the social life scenes of the late Han Dynasty, from the palace to the battlefield, from the capital city to the rural areas, from the desert to the Central Plains, striving to present history in its original form. From political competition to battlefield clashes, from rites and rituals to social customs, the book aims to showcase the profound charm of traditional Han culture. Across the vast desert - Li Hong, with a mysterious background; dressed in white like snow - the beauty of love with a certain woman; a trail of bloodshed - the perilous return of the Han people; fierce battles on the frontier - the Great Wall, forged with the blood of the northlands; court conspiracies - the contradiction between intellectuals and warriors; invincible with me - turning into a bloodthirsty blade for the Han Dynasty; cultivating land outside the Great Wall - saving the people from water and fire; drinking from the Yellow River - reorganizing the landscape of Huaxia for the world; galloping for thousands of miles, proudly traversing the spring and autumn of a generation. The might of the Han Dynasty, invincible with me, let's fight splendidly together! Publishing news: Volumes four and five of "The Wind and Clouds of the Han Empire" will be released on May 10th. Please show your support. Due to special reasons, this publication is now under the China Drama Publishing House. Volumes one, two, and three of "The Wind and Clouds of the Han Empire" are available in bookstores and online. You can purchase them on websites such as Excellence. Thank you all for your love and support. MSN group number: [email protected]. The old group for book lovers is full, please join the new group. In addition, a special section for the Han Empire has been opened on the Huanglong Knights' forum. You can find it by searching for Huanglong Knights. Once you enter the forum, you will find the Han Empire section below the "Knights Welcome Hall". Feel free to express your thoughts. Recommendation: "Lightning Thundering for Hegemony" by Jin Longyu. Handbooks: "The Cunning Slave" by Xiahou Yuanrang, "Sui Tang" by Baifen Yin, "Communication with the Netherworld" by Tongming. The New Qinhuai Eight Wolves Advertising Alliance: Minghui's "Long Wind," "Three Thousand Beautiful Beauties," Duan Kong's "Sword-Wielding Barbarian Witch," Zhixu Yang's "Legend of Reincarnation," Jingguan's "Flow of Blood," "Boiling Blood of Beasts," "In the Storm of Storms," "Glorious Years," "Heaven and Earth," "Life and Death," "Sacred Wisdom Wolf's "Vileness at the End of the Han Dynasty." Author's custom tags: Passionate.

667.67 Million words | 2020-08-20 02:08Update

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The Prosperous Tang Dynasty Fiction
The Prosperous Tang Dynasty

Four poles waste, the nine provinces tear apart, the heavens cannot cover all, the earth cannot bear such weight; fierce beasts prey upon the innocent, raptors seize the old and weak. And so, Nüwa refined the five-colored stones to mend the azure sky. Born here, grown here, the five-colored stones leave us no other choice. Great Tang, our homeland! Join the Drunkard QQ Fan Group, fellow readers are welcomed to discuss the plot together.

162.61 Million words | 2022-12-23 08:39Update

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I will never become an emperor. Fiction
I will never become an emperor.

I, Yu Zhiqian, would rather die in poverty, starve to death, and be degraded to a commoner than become an emperor!

101.85 Million words | 2023-05-10 12:06Update

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convict Fiction
convict

The King of Qin sweeps across the land, his gaze as fierce as a tiger! The flying sword shatters the illusions, and the lords from the west come together!

174.25 Million words | 2022-07-30 19:50Update

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Landlord in the Tang Dynasty Fiction
Landlord in the Tang Dynasty

Traveling through the Tang Dynasty: The Struggle of a Small Landowner. Dear readers, if you think "The Small Landowner of the Tang Dynasty" is good, please don't forget to recommend it to your friends in your QQ group and on Weibo!

162.60 Million words | 2020-07-17 03:04Update

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Mixed in the Early Tang Dynasty. Fiction
Mixed in the Early Tang Dynasty.

Yang Heng is a very cautious person. Even when crossing the street, he would look both ways multiple times and wait for the green light to confirm there are no cars breaking the red light or turning quickly before he crosses. However, despite his careful nature, he still got into trouble one winter. "Dodorodo, dodorodo, ah, it's so cold. Let me light up the stove and get a good night's sleep," he muttered to himself. "Oh no, I forgot to open the window a little bit. Why can't I move now?" Yang Heng realizes he's suffering from gas poisoning.

139.21 Million words | 2023-03-24 15:54Update

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Dazzling Great Tang Fiction
Dazzling Great Tang

My father is Emperor Tang Gaozong Li Zhi, my mother is Empress Wu Zetian, my younger brother is Emperor Tang Ruizong Li Dan, my nephew is Emperor Tang Xuanzong Li Longji, and my son is Li Zhongmao, the Young Emperor. Together with myself, our family spans three generations and includes six emperors. Because of this, I am jokingly called the "Six Emperor Pill" by later generations. This pill is delicious, so Empress Wu Zetian, my brother Li Dan, Princess Taiping, and my cousin Wu Chengsi are all interested in it. Li Xian said, "If a tiger does not show its might, do you think I am Hello Kitty? Do you want to taste the pill? Damn it, it will poison you all." Let's see how Li Xian, traveling through time, seizes the flourishing Tang Dynasty amidst numerous enemies, and creates a prosperous era of peace and dominance in the land.

110.15 Million words | 2023-01-25 21:12Update

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Dai Zhou Fiction
Dai Zhou

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, Liang, Tang, Jin, Han, Zhou. The darkest period in Chinese history. Over fifty years, five dynasties came and went. Wars and rebellions plagued the land, with the common people living in dire situations, longing for salvation. Four women, each with different personalities and charms, who is the protagonist's true goddess? Brotherhood, who will accompany the protagonist to the end? Dai Zhou tells the story of a modern person's helplessness in ancient times, and their struggle in the face of adversity. What will be the outcome? Perhaps unimaginable. "Why not carry a Wu hook, claim fifty states of the mountain pass. I invite you to ascend the Lingyan Pavilion momentarily, becoming a nobleman of countless households?" Join "Dai Zhou" and experience a different journey through time and space.

137.92 Million words | 2022-03-27 13:10Update

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Iron horse in the mountain pass Fiction
Iron horse in the mountain pass

In the year of the Common Era, Wanyan Zonghan and Wanyan Zongwang launched a second siege on Bianjing. Emperor Qin Zhaohuan was forced to enter the Jin camp for negotiations and wrote a letter of surrender before returning to the city. From then on, the Wanyan brothers began their endless extortion, taking everything from money, beautiful women, to sacred artifacts. In order to protect themselves, Emperor Qin and the retired emperor adopted a reckless spirit of

160.81 Million words | 2021-10-23 07:01Update

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The vastness of the late Ming Dynasty. Fiction
The vastness of the late Ming Dynasty.

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

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Resurrecting Lu Bu Fiction
Resurrecting Lu Bu

Due to a series of unfortunate events, the legendary warrior Lu Bu found himself inexplicably transported to a different timeline. If he were to be in a world where might makes right, would his fate still be as tragic?

6.67 Million words | 2022-07-17 21:58Update

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Thousand troops beheaded. Fiction
Thousand troops beheaded.

Qing's new book "Strategy for the Han Dynasty" has been officially uploaded. Just by looking at the book title, you already know the content and style...

190.44 Million words | 2021-08-19 22:20Update

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Conquering States with the City Fiction
Conquering States with the City

While playing a web-based strategy game, Zhao Wuming suddenly found himself transported to another world. As the youngest and most despised son of the Zhao King, he watched from the sidelines as his brothers fought for the throne. Silent and determined, he developed his city and recruited renowned ministers and warriors from history. In the vast northern lands, he forged his own empire.

68.37 Million words | 2022-08-29 15:47Update

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Struggle for Supremacy Fiction
Struggle for Supremacy

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

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Three Kingdoms Great Inventor Fiction
Three Kingdoms Great Inventor

In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the decline of the Han Dynasty became inevitable. Liu Yao, a historian in his previous life, sacrificed himself to protect an ancient book. With the book tattooed on his body, he was reborn in the imperial family as the older brother of Emperor Ling, Liu Bian. Will he succumb to destiny or rise up in rebellion? My fate lies in my own hands, not in the heavens. The world is at my mercy. Let us witness how Liu Yao establishes his dominance over the Three Kingdoms with great wisdom and strategy.

150.04 Million words | 2023-04-01 08:25Update

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Song Feng Fiction
Song Feng

[Start third edition signed work] Wang Jinghui, as a medical soldier, inexplicably returns to the Song Dynasty. How will he survive in this unfamiliar era? The path of reform is full of unpredictable variables. Wang Anshi, Sima Guang, Su Shi... everyone is searching for a way out for the Great Song. Who is right and who is wrong? Everything before his eyes is tempering Wang Jinghui's maturity. Can the reborn butterfly change the course of history? Please read "Song Wind" which is narrated by a modern doctor. The new book "North Ocean" will be officially released on April 7th. We hope that our esteemed readers can kindly support it. Thank you for your support!

243.88 Million words | 2023-06-11 00:10Update

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Holy Roman Empire Fiction
Holy Roman Empire

Austria's Road to Revival, the Struggle of the Habsburg Family! Neither holy, nor Roman, but the Holy Roman Empire revived! !!! The completed book "The Road to Mediterranean Hegemony" is now available for those who are looking for new books to read! Welcome to join the New Moon Book Club, group chat number: [群聊号码].

372.36 Million words | 2021-01-07 08:50Update

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Business Through Words Fiction
Business Through Words

The new book "I Have a Dreamlike Castle" has been published. "Suyan, are you willing to help me unify the world?" "I will bring salt to the world."

97.19 Million words | 2022-11-19 23:52Update

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The Grand Wei Glory Fiction
The Grand Wei Glory

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

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Chu Chen Fiction
Chu Chen

During the fragmented Tang Dynasty, various vassals emerged and the divine Emperor rose from the wilderness. For the past twelve years, Chu State has been established in the Jianghuai region, becoming one of the three most powerful overlords in the world alongside Liang State in the Central Plains and Jin State in the Hedong and Youyan regions. The relentless warfare has left the people in desperate hardship.

305.18 Million words | 2023-06-20 01:37Update

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The Rise of the Poor Family Fiction
The Rise of the Poor Family

This is the story of a graduate student majoring in Ancient Chinese who has been repeatedly frustrated in his career. He goes back to the middle of the Ming Dynasty and ends up in the body of a young child in a rural village. With a reserved father and a fierce mother, and all kinds of troublesome relatives, the farmhouse is far from peaceful. Fortunately, our protagonist has thousands of years of historical accumulation, with a solid foundation in the Four Books, Five Classics, and the art of essay writing. Moreover, his expertise is well-suited to this era, and he can even perceive fate. Who says it is difficult for a poor family to produce an outstanding child? As the country's strength rises, the government maintains stability; however, there is lax law enforcement and bureaucratic inefficiency. There are a few treacherous officials and occasional pirate attacks, but overall, this is a fertile land where scholars and gentlemen can thrive freely. A legendary rise from a humble background begins here. With this story, I pay tribute to all the classic time-travel novels.

409.01 Million words | 2021-10-19 20:25Update

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