Bookle reading guide: Historical fiction
⏱️ 4 min read
Love stepping into another time?
Historical fiction takes you somewhere that once existed, whether that’s Ancient Rome, a medieval castle, Victorian England, wartime Europe or South Africa’s own past. The history matters, but so do the people living through it. You get the politics, places and events of another time alongside love, family, ambition, survival and all the messy human stuff that never really changes.
And historical fiction covers a lot of ground. You might want a sweeping family saga, a royal drama, a wartime story or a mystery with a detective in another century. You might even want a love story set in the past.
Here’s a look at some of the types you’ll come across, and where to start if you’re ready to travel back in time.
In this guide you'll discover:
- The most popular types of historical fiction
- What makes each one unique
- Which style might suit your reading taste
- Popular authors and books to start with
1. Ancient world fiction
Step back into the worlds of Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, where emperors ruled, armies marched and civilisations rose and fell. These novels bring distant history to life through the people who lived it.
If you enjoy ancient civilisations, mythology, political intrigue and epic stories, ancient world fiction is a good place to start.
Look out for: Colleen McCullough, Robert Graves, Christian Jacq, Mary Renault, Steven Pressfield and Madeline Miller.
Try:
- Colleen McCullough – The First Man in Rome; The October Horse
- Robert Graves – I, Claudius; Claudius the God
- Christian Jacq – Ramses: The Son of Light
- Mary Renault – The King Must Die; The Persian Boy
- Steven Pressfield – Gates of Fire; Tides of War
- Madeline Miller – The Song of Achilles; Circe
2. Medieval fiction
Castles, kingdoms, battles and shifting alliances provide the backdrop for stories set during the Middle Ages. Some focus on real historical figures and events, while others imagine the lives of ordinary people caught up in a changing world.
If you enjoy medieval settings, royal intrigue, battles and richly detailed historical worlds, medieval fiction is a good place to start.
Look out for: Ken Follett, Sharon Kay Penman, Ellis Peters, Umberto Eco, Elizabeth Chadwick and Robyn Young.
Try:
- Ken Follett – The Pillars of the Earth; World Without End
- Sharon Kay Penman – The Sunne in Splendour; When Christ and His Saints Slept
- Ellis Peters – A Morbid Taste for Bones
- Umberto Eco – The Name of the Rose
- Elizabeth Chadwick – The Greatest Knight; The Scarlet Lion
- Robyn Young – Brethren; Crusade
3. Tudor & royal fiction
Royal families have always made good stories. Tudor and royal fiction brings us into the palaces, marriages, rivalries and scandals surrounding some of history’s most famous monarchs and royal families.
If you enjoy power struggles, court intrigue, famous queens and larger-than-life historical figures, this is a good place to start.
Look out for: Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir, Jean Plaidy, C.J. Sansom, Hilary Mantel and Elizabeth Fremantle.
Try:
- Philippa Gregory – The Other Boleyn Girl; The Queen’s Fool
- Alison Weir – Innocent Traitor; Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen
- Jean Plaidy – The King’s Pleasure; Murder Most Royal
- C.J. Sansom – Dissolution; Dark Fire
- Hilary Mantel – Wolf Hall; Bring Up the Bodies
- Elizabeth Fremantle – Queen’s Gambit; Sisters of Treason
4. Wartime fiction
From the trenches of the First World War to occupied Europe during the Second, wartime fiction explores what happens to ordinary people when the world around them is turned upside down.
If you enjoy stories of courage, survival, resistance, family and love during times of war, wartime fiction is a good place to start.
Look out for: Kristin Hannah, Anthony Doerr, Markus Zusak, Heather Morris, Kate Quinn, Sebastian Faulks and Alan Furst.
Try:
- Kristin Hannah – The Nightingale; The Women
- Anthony Doerr – All the Light We Cannot See
- Markus Zusak – The Book Thief
- Heather Morris – The Tattooist of Auschwitz; Three Sisters
- Kate Quinn – The Alice Network; The Rose Code
- Sebastian Faulks – Birdsong; Charlotte Gray
- Alan Furst – Night Soldiers; The Polish Officer
5. Historical mystery
What could be better than a good mystery? A good mystery set several hundred years ago.
Historical mysteries combine crime and investigation with the atmosphere of another era. Instead of modern police stations and forensic technology, detectives may have to rely on observation, deduction and whatever resources were available at the time.
If you enjoy mysteries, historical settings, clever investigations and atmospheric stories, historical mystery is a good place to start.
Look out for: C.J. Sansom, Lindsey Davis, Anne Perry, Ellis Peters, Ariana Franklin and S.J. Parris.
Try:
- C.J. Sansom – Dissolution; Dark Fire
- Lindsey Davis – The Silver Pigs; Shadows in Bronze
- Anne Perry – The Cater Street Hangman; The Face of a Stranger
- Ellis Peters – A Morbid Taste for Bones; One Corpse Too Many
- Ariana Franklin – Mistress of the Art of Death
- S.J. Parris – Heresy; Prophecy
📚 Where to find it on Bookle: You’ll find historical mysteries in our Suspense category.
6. Historical romance
Historical romance combines a love story with the customs, restrictions and social expectations of another time. The setting isn’t just decoration. It can shape who people are allowed to marry, how they live and what choices are open to them.
If you enjoy romance, period settings, family drama and stories where love has plenty of obstacles to overcome, historical romance is a good place to start.
Look out for: Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen, Diana Gabaldon, Julia Quinn, Lisa Kleypas and Mary Balogh.
Try:
- Georgette Heyer – The Grand Sophy; Frederica
- Jane Austen – Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility
- Diana Gabaldon – Outlander; Dragonfly in Amber
- Julia Quinn – The Duke and I; The Viscount Who Loved Me
- Lisa Kleypas – Secrets of a Summer Night; It Happened One Autumn
- Mary Balogh – The Secret Pearl; Slightly Married
📚 Where to find it on Bookle: You’ll find historical romance in our Historical romance category.
7. Historical family sagas
Some historical novels follow one person. Others follow an entire family, sometimes across decades or generations. As the world changes around them, so do the relationships, fortunes and secrets within the family.
If you enjoy multi-generational stories, complicated families and sweeping historical settings, historical family sagas are a good place to start.
Look out for: Lucinda Riley, Edward Rutherfurd, Belva Plain, Rosamunde Pilcher, Penny Vincenzi and Barbara Taylor Bradford.
Try:
- Lucinda Riley – The Seven Sisters; The Storm Sister
- Edward Rutherfurd – London; Paris
- Belva Plain – Evergreen; The Carousel
- Rosamunde Pilcher – The Shell Seekers; September
- Penny Vincenzi – No Angel; Something Dangerous
- Barbara Taylor Bradford – A Woman of Substance; Hold the Dream
8. South African historical fiction
South Africa’s past is full of stories worth exploring, and historical fiction gives us a way to experience that past through characters, families and places. From colonial history and the Anglo-Boer War to apartheid and life in rural South Africa, these novels bring local history into the story.
If you enjoy South African history, familiar landscapes, local culture and stories rooted in our own past, this is a good place to start.
Look out for: Dalene Matthee, Wilbur Smith, Bryce Courtenay, James A. Michener and André Brink.
Try:
- Dalene Matthee – Circles in a Forest; Fiela’s Child
- Wilbur Smith – When the Lion Feeds; The Burning Shore
- Bryce Courtenay – The Power of One; Tandia
- James A. Michener – The Covenant
- André Brink – A Dry White Season; The Other Side of Silence
Looking for Afrikaans historical fiction?
South African history has inspired generations of Afrikaans writers, with novels exploring war, family, place, identity and the country’s complicated past.
If you enjoy historical stories rooted in South Africa and Afrikaans culture, look out for:
- Dalene Matthee – Kringe in ‘n bos; Fiela se kind
- F.A. Venter – Die tuiskoms; Geknelde land
- Piet van Rooyen – Etosha; Gif
- Christoffel Coetzee – Op soek na generaal Mannetjies Mentz
- Hans du Plessis – Die pad na Skuilhoek
What kind of historical fiction reader are you?
Maybe you want to wander through a Tudor palace, solve a murder in Ancient Rome or follow a family through generations of change. Perhaps you’d rather stay closer to home and discover stories shaped by South Africa’s own past.
Whatever draws you in, historical fiction has a way of making the past feel surprisingly close. The clothes and customs may have changed, but people are still people.
Continue exploring
📚 Browse historical fiction books on Bookle
Discover preloved historical fiction, from timeless classics to modern bestsellers.
📖 Read another reading guide
Love beautifully written stories? Explore our Bookle reading guide: Literary fiction and discover the rich, character-driven novels that stay with you long after the final page.
💬 Join the conversation
Which historical period do you most enjoy reading about? We’d love to hear your recommendations in the Bookle – Let’s Talk Books Facebook group.