historical novel definition and examples

Historical novels are a fascinating genre that combines elements of both fiction and history. These novels are set in a specific time period in the past and strive to portray the era as accurately as possible while still incorporating fictional characters and plotlines. Through these stories, readers can immerse themselves in different historical periods, gaining insights into the lives and events that shaped our world.

Here are some exemplary historical novels that have captivated readers worldwide:

1. "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell: Set during the American Civil War and Reconstruction era, this classic novel follows the life of Scarlett O'Hara as she navigates love, loss, and the changing social landscape of the South.

2. "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett: This epic tale is set in 12th-century England and revolves around the construction of a magnificent cathedral. It intertwines the lives of various characters against a backdrop of political intrigue and religious strife.

3. "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel: This gripping novel delves into the life of Thomas Cromwell, a key figure during the reign of Henry VIII. Mantel's detailed historical research and compelling storytelling earned her the prestigious Booker Prize.

4. "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak: Set in Nazi Germany, this powerful story narrated by Death explores the experiences of Liesel Meminger, a young girl who finds solace in stealing books and sharing them with others during the dark days of World War II.

5. "The Samurai's Garden" by Gail Tsukiyama: This emotionally charged novel follows the journey of a Chinese painter, Stephen, who retreats to a Japanese coastal village in 1937. Against the backdrop of a looming war, Stephen learns about love, friendship, and the resilience of the human spirit.

If you're interested in diving deeper into the world of historical novels, there are numerous websites and platforms that offer extensive collections and recommendations, such as Goodreads (www.goodreads.com), Historical Novel Society (www.historicalnovelsociety.org), and Amazon's historical fiction category.

Whether you're a history enthusiast or simply crave a gripping tale set in the past, historical novels can transport you to bygone eras while keeping you entertained and informed. So, pick up a historical novel and embark on a journey through time!
Hero of Great Jin Fiction
Hero of Great Jin

Princess Loulan, born with special abilities, finds herself in distress in Luoyang. She dedicates herself to mastering gambling skills and gathering an army, vowing to reclaim her homeland. In a surprising turn of events, the beautiful youth transforms into a deadly assassin, but amidst utter despair, obtains an unparalleled divine skill! I seek revenge! I long to regain my masculinity! The city of Luoyang is overrun with zombies, causing terror everywhere. Who will break the impasse? With this invisibility cloak, one can freely do whatever they desire without being seen, but absolutely no misdeeds should be committed! As chaos engulfs the world, who will emerge as the ultimate ruler? It is time to save the people!

76.18 Million words | 2021-04-10 14:47Update

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The Divine General Liu Feng in the Three Kingdoms War. Fiction
The Divine General Liu Feng in the Three Kingdoms War.

In this year, Liu Bei's biological son, Liu Shan, was born. In this year, Cao Cao boasted an army of 800,000 marching south. In this year, a modern accountant traveled back in time and became Liu Bei's adopted son, Liu Feng. With an awkward identity, imminent disasters, and a tragic ending in the distant future, Liu Feng, who is well aware of all this, can only rise up and resist

404.85 Million words | 2023-01-24 00:01Update

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Prince Yuxiao Fiction
Prince Yuxiao

The protagonist is named Xuanyuan Yuxiao. Originally the crown prince of the Qingyun Kingdom, he narrowly escaped during the destruction of his country. By chance, he arrived at the Falling Flower Village and met Luo Yihan, becoming his sworn brother. However, due to his identity, Luo Yihan's family was destroyed, and Luo Yihan was unaware of who his enemies were. Ten years later, Xuanyuan Yuxiao sought refuge in the Nanshang Kingdom, only to discover that his uncle was still alive and had become a strategist for the kingdom. He was overjoyed. Later, with the help of the Nanshang Kingdom, Xuanyuan Yuxiao managed to restore his own country. During the process, he found out that his sworn brother Luo Yihan had joined their

334.35 Million words | 2021-02-10 12:47Update

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Fairy spectrum Fiction
Fairy spectrum

Produced by the Qingdu Studio, Email Address: [email protected] ___________________________________ Chess transcends the mundane, dominating the world of strategy, portraying the image of a chess player who uses the game to navigate life. Exploring danger and seeking marvels, it reveals the illusions of existence. Different from wuxia romance or supernatural tales, it creates a unique legend. Chess family secrets - Nine Palace Chess, Three Wars Chess, Blind Chess, Murderer's Chess... The protagonist Fang Guohuan is guided by a master, comprehending the highest realm of chess, the Tianyuan state. From then on, he roams the world of chess, benefiting society with his skills. Outside the Great Wall, he sets up the Tianyuan Chess Formation, repelling the iron cavalry of the Jurchen; at the Yellow Crane Tower, he engages in a fierce battle against the Killer's Chess. Later, he travels overseas to avoid disaster, following in Zheng He's footsteps to explore the Western world. Bearing witness to countless adventures, beneath the Kunlun Mountains, he changes the "Land Pattern" with his chess skills, creating an unparalleled myth. In the end, he bathes in the blood of Liaodong... Life is like a chess game, but few can truly navigate it successfully!

499.30 Million words | 2022-12-15 20:01Update

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Red Soviet Fiction
Red Soviet

The enormous steel warplane shimmered like a shooting star in the vast sky, reincarnating as Lieutenant Andrei in the Soviet Far Eastern Military District. He piloted a supersonic fighter jet, soaring through the air, showcasing his true heroism. While the Eastern Plain country faced threats from powerful Western nations, it pursued technological advancement to strengthen its military, embracing reform for national prosperity. The flags of the sickle and hammer bore witness to the deep-seated animosity from the freedom-loving world towards the Soviet Union.

516.80 Million words | 2022-02-23 14:11Update

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Through The Dream of Lanke Fiction
Through The Dream of Lanke

Amidst complaints and murmurs, a sweet-looking girl of around seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing a T-shirt and jeans, walked slowly along the black road. Annoyed, her grandfather insisted on accompanying her to Mt. Maoshan, but at the last minute, he became interested in studying protective talismans and left her alone at the Yinsi Palace. It was indeed a good day for traveling. Although the weather had cooled down, the mountains were still lush, with red flowers leaning against the greenery and fragrant grass and trees. Perhaps due to the rain a few days ago, the sunlight unexpectedly became gentle, like a light veil, with a hint of coolness in the wind, and the scent of green leaves wafting in the air. Lin Feifei walked with great enthusiasm...

410.71 Million words | 2021-05-18 01:46Update

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The Great Qin Empire Fiction
The Great Qin Empire

"The Great Qin Empire" is a long historical novel that depicts the rise and fall of the Qin dynasty. The Qin Empire emerged during a time of fierce competition among powerful contenders, establishing a unified and powerful empire and pioneering a new iron civilization. However, it only had a lifespan of fifteen years, fleeting like a shooting star, roaring and then perishing. Within this immense historical upheaval and dramatic fate of the empire, countless miraculous stories and the joys and sorrows of great figures are hidden. Their individual destinies, whether delicate or magnificent, righteous or wicked, heroic or mediocre, compose this symphony of history. The societal framework and cultural traditions woven by the empire still regulate our lives today, serving as a monumental spiritual pillar of the Chinese nation."

558.67 Million words | 2020-12-12 06:23Update

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The Anger of the Leader Fiction
The Anger of the Leader

Modern German fan Li Mo unexpectedly travels to World War II Germany, and he is even the only son of the Fuhrer. How can he navigate in unfamiliar surroundings? How can he survive amidst the flames of war? The rumbling war tanks of the Fuhrer are crushing the world, and the German army, with the power of just one nation, challenges the entire world. My Fuhrer, this is a suicidal rhythm you're setting! Can Li Mo save those honorable, loyal, brave, and sacrificial German soldiers? Can he save that mysterious Germany, embodying arrogance, vanity, fanaticism, bravery, sincerity, rigidness, seriousness, harshness, diligence, and reflection all at once? (Disclaimer: We admire the German army, their loyalty and bravery, patriotism and dedication, strength and resilience, honor and sacrifice, as well as the unique German traits of diligence and rigor. None of these are related to Nazis or fascism. I strongly oppose mass killings and extreme racism. Looking at the current situation, our predicament resembles that of pre-war Germany. Therefore, we need to be more patriotic, stronger, braver, and more tightly united to build our great motherland.)

290.29 Million words | 2021-11-13 11:46Update

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Reversal in the Tang Dynasty: The Maple Feather Empire Fiction
Reversal in the Tang Dynasty: The Maple Feather Empire

A normal college student stumbling around in a drunken state accidentally steps into the immortal realm of an old man, as the gates of time and space open up for him, leading him into a new life in the late Tang Dynasty. In a chaotic era of wars and turmoil, people struggle to find a path to survival. Though just arriving in this new world, the young man understands the sufferings of the people and takes risks to save them. When facing danger, he takes up the sword and becomes a warrior, sacrificing everything for his brothers and sisters, and staining his clothing with blood for the sake of the world. In desperate situations, he manages to turn the tide with a death-defying battle. He establishes the Maple Feather Empire, dividing the

133.52 Million words | 2022-04-29 16:49Update

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Battle Thunder Fiction
Battle Thunder

A new world rises, the strong balance, the weak struggle to survive, floating and sinking in this world, battling amid thunder and lightning. The extraordinary journey of a young soldier...

585.50 Million words | 2021-06-22 19:10Update

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Become the Reigning Tea Master in Tokyo. Fiction
Become the Reigning Tea Master in Tokyo.

Lu Ya, a descendant of the incompetent Tang Dynasty tea master Lu Yu, is reborn as Qian Li Yu, the descendant of the renowned Japanese tea master Sen no Rikyu, and the inheritor of Tokyo's Wudai An. This year, at the age of__, he is on the brink of bankruptcy. Just before he is forced to sell his tea house, he awakens to something strange...

96.25 Million words | 2020-08-27 08:22Update

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Li Zicheng Fiction
Li Zicheng

Following the principle of "delving into history while transcending history", the author depicts the intricate and grand historical process of a peasant uprising that took place many years ago. The novel revolves around the transformation of Li Zicheng's peasant uprising from weakness to strength, the overthrow of the Ming Dynasty, and the resistance against the invading Qing army. It presents a multi-perspective, multi-faceted, and multi-level panorama of the tumultuous events during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, as well as the tragic end of the peasant uprising, revealing the laws governing peasant wars and historical development.

380.97 Million words | 2021-06-22 06:13Update

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The Impostor Grand Emperor Fiction
The Impostor Grand Emperor

Because he was too eager to lose his virginity, he shamelessly kissed the school beauty and got beaten up, only to miraculously traverse to Emperor Yang Guang of Sui Dynasty, who shares the same name and surname. Consequently, chaos ensued in the Great Sui Empire, as this Yang Guang had not yet ascended to the throne but was already involved with the princess of the Northern Zhou, playing around with a

77.00 Million words | 2021-07-02 17:38Update

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Rebuilding Tsinghua Fiction
Rebuilding Tsinghua

On June 11th, in the second year of the Xianfeng reign, a woman slowly walked into the Shunzhen Gate, later to be known as the evil Dowager Empress, Satan's wife, and the Iron-blooded Queen, Cixi. Little did anyone know that history would take a drastically different turn. "When the Lobster Army returned triumphant alongside the Gallic Rooster at the Baili Bridge, the remnants of the Taiping Rebellion had already quietly ignited the gunsmoke in India. The brightest jewels on the crown of the Queen of England were about to gather dust. As the Russian bear's reach into the Far East was severed, the awakening dragon had set its sights on the succulent meats of Lake Baikal and Alaska. As the Meiji Restoration began to take shape, the Beiyang Fleet, born out of the twenty-year Westernization Movement, visited Japan with the might of a second Black Ship..." In the Jien Hall of the Yuanmingyuan, under the carved moon and opened sky, Xingzhen set aside the chapter of the Tongdaotang and opened her eyes. She looked at her unusually long lifeline in the palm of her hand, and her eyes emitted a daunting radiance. Since I am Cixi, then no one shall be spared!

108.73 Million words | 2022-09-06 11:21Update

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The Days of Being Soldiers Together. Fiction
The Days of Being Soldiers Together.

There is a place called barracks! There is a person called soldier! There is a way to wake up called emergency assembly! There is a kind of patience called five kilometers! There is a torment called 400-meter obstacle! There is a walk called marching! There is a title called martyr! There is a blanket called tofu block! There is a dream called waking up naturally! There is a dance called capture boxing! There is a heaven called guesthouse! There is a carefree act called collectively peeing on the highway!... Regret for two, five, or twelve years after serving in the military, but regretting for a lifetime for not serving. The barracks is a great furnace. Going in as iron and coming out as steel. The old squad leader used to advise us to become as tough as steel and not become a scrap of iron. The old squad leader also said that there are two places that truly temper men, one is the barracks and the other is the prison. Only those who have no way out would choose prison, so let us ambitious youth

456.94 Million words | 2022-11-07 00:58Update

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Emperor of the Great Tang Fiction
Emperor of the Great Tang

During the Wu Zhou period, there were internal and external troubles. Internally, there was a struggle for the throne, while externally, there were threats from the Turks, Tibetans, and the Arab Empire... Yang Chen arrived during this turbulent autumn when the Wu family held power and the Li family was in a perilous situation. As a young man named Li Longji, how can he ascend to the throne? How can he create a "prosperous era of the Kaiyuan reign"?

102.91 Million words | 2021-10-31 17:22Update

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Three Kingdoms: The Taiji Epic Fiction
Three Kingdoms: The Taiji Epic

Three Kingdoms! Three Kingdoms again! Three Kingdoms is an era full of changes, with turbulent waters and renowned heroes, making it an enchanting time. Countless unparalleled heroes have showcased their talents there, dominating the world and painting a picturesque scene, with so many warriors. In times of prosperity, idle people are nurtured; in times of chaos, heroes emerge. Since you have traveled to the chaotic era of Three Kingdoms, don't expect to just be a wealthy person. ... Come on, let's ignite our passion for Three Kingdoms together! It's just a light novel, not that serious. It's just for laughter and conversation after meals. ... I hope all the readers enjoy it. Holding onto Cao Cao's thigh, the two of us are both loyal subjects and friends, sharing laughter and discussing the world, overlooking all the heroes and competing for dominance!

248.20 Million words | 2022-12-04 06:40Update

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By Imperial Decree, Eat Sugar Fiction
By Imperial Decree, Eat Sugar

Ning Shu and the Crown Prince of Jin Kingdom have been childhood sweethearts, on the verge of getting married. However, their plans are disrupted when her step-sister, who shares a father with her, enters the picture and marries him instead. Everyone expects Ning Shu to suffer, but to their surprise, she catches the attention of the Empress Dowager and is summoned to the palace. They all assume Ning Shu is there to keep the Empress Dowager company, but little do they know that she will eventually become the Empress herself. Nobody knows that Ning Shu can hear what porcelain tells her...

306.82 Million words | 2020-07-15 04:56Update

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Unparalleled Prince of the Great Tang Dynasty. Fiction
Unparalleled Prince of the Great Tang Dynasty.

Li Jian traveled through the Tang Dynasty and became the son of Li Shimin. At the beginning, he cut off all ties with Li Shimin. "Ding! Congratulations, host, for activating the War System." Li Jian: ??? With the system in hand, I have dominion over the world. This world is ultimately within my grasp!

250.15 Million words | 2022-04-16 18:48Update

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Ming Dynasty Grand Duke Fiction
Ming Dynasty Grand Duke

The heavens bestow great tasks upon men, but first they must...cross over? Li Li, a modern young man, unexpectedly travels through time to the Ming Dynasty. With his modern thinking, Li Li rises through the ranks of the Ming officialdom, fighting against corrupt officials and cunning commoners, stabilizing the borderlands, and guiding Zhu Houzhao onto the right path

500.35 Million words | 2021-07-08 23:00Update

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