Best Historical Fiction Books Travel back in time with these highly-praised works of historical fiction. Each book on this list brings history to life with rich storytelling, and has been repeatedly recognized by notable literature enthusiasts and publications. From WW2 novels to historical romance novels, our guide to the best historical fiction books will transport you through time. Historical novel, a novel that has as its setting a period of history and that attempts to convey the spirit, manners, and social conditions of a past age with realistic detail and fidelity (which is in some cases only apparent fidelity) to historical fact. Historical fiction transports readers to another time and place, either real or imagined. Writing historical fiction requires a balance of research and creativity, and while it often includes real people and events, the genre offers a fiction writer many opportunities to tell a wholly unique story.
