Reading is more than just a hobby or a leisure activity. It’s a great medium for learning, which many appreciate. It also has a broad scope of topics that fascinates those who have the heart to enjoy, discover, and learn. Among the popular subjects tackled by books is history. There are many historical lessons cleverly infused by fictional elements to tell an interesting story. Thus, the birth of the genre called historical fiction.
If you are among those who fancy reading stories filled with or inspired by historical events, then this blog is for you. ReadersMagnet presents you with the top historical fiction books that you shouldn’t miss reading.
Bannack: A Growing Up Story in the Vigilante West by Jerry Delaney
Bannack: A Growing Up Story in the Vigilante West by Jerry Delaney is a notable book that excellently captures the fragments of events during the Civil War and vigilante violence. The pieces of historical happenings were featured through the journey to self-discovery of Billy Mayfair. He was originally from Illinois but arrived in a mining camp around Montana Territory after being cast away from home. Billy faced many setbacks but still thrived on standing back up again. He later on settled in Bannack and befriended a sheriff. And that’s when the true horrors caused by humans start to unfold.
A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende
The New York Times bestselling author Isabel Allende penned the book titled A Long Petal of the Sea. It was named among the Best Books of the Year by different platforms, such as Good Housekeeping, Parade, and more. The story is set in the late 1930s in Spain. Thousands of citizens were attempted to escape the land after General Franco ousted the government. They are headed to the French border, and among these people was a young widow named Roser, who was pregnant. She gets involved with the brother of her late beloved named Victor Dalmau. They embarked on a journey to find a new home without the mess and threats. But, whether they like it or not, they have to get married for survival.
The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate
This Goodreads Choice Award nominee and bestselling book was written by Lisa Wingate. The Book of Lost Friends was published in 2020 by Ballantine Books. It features fictional Louisiana in two different timeframes. The first one was in 1875, while the second one was in 1987. The former showcased how three young ladies with profound secrets went on a journey together amidst the war, while the latter presented the tale of the teacher Benedetta Silva. Despite the different timelines, everything seems to be connected to one another.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles was published by Viking in 2016. The story is primarily set in Moscow, Russia, in the Stalin period. It narrates the tale of Count Alexander Rostov. In 1922, Rostov was convicted of housing arrest in a popular hotel called Metropol. This is a sudden shift in the life of the impenitent aristocrat who never experienced labor but now is set to live in an attic room. While Count Alexander Rostov stayed in his hotel room, the history continued to unravel. Due to unanticipated events, his poor condition opened a new path into a wider realm of emotional discovery.
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
This 2016 Goodreads Choice Award Winner was written by Colson Whitehead. The Underground Railroad highlights the extreme slavery and discrimination before the Civil War. It revolves around the story of a slave named Cora, who has an intense will to break away from the horrors of slavery and a captivating reflection on history.