One of the highly popular ones is 'War and Peace' which is set during the Napoleonic Wars in Russia. It delves deep into the lives of the characters against the backdrop of war and social change. 'Outlander' series is also quite popular, which combines historical fiction with elements of time travel, taking the readers to different historical periods in Scotland.
Some of the most popular historical fiction books include 'Gone with the Wind' which vividly depicts the American South during the Civil War. Another is 'The Pillars of the Earth' that takes readers back to 12th - century England, showing the building of a cathedral. 'Wolf Hall' is also very popular, focusing on the life of Thomas Cromwell in Tudor England.
Well, 'The Thirteenth Tale' had a lot of fans too. It's a gothic - style historical fiction that weaves a complex web of mystery and family secrets. The atmospheric writing and the way it unfolds the story over different time periods really attracted readers.
Well, 'Homegoing' was also very popular. Its multi - generational and multi - cultural story was very engaging. It was able to connect different historical periods and places in a very seamless way, which made it stand out among the other historical fiction books of 2016.
Also, 'Pachinko' was popular. Its multi - generational story of a Korean family was appealing to a wide range of readers. It not only told a great family story but also educated readers about the historical context of Korea under Japanese rule and the experiences of Korean immigrants.
In '100 historical fiction books', 'The Book Thief' is highly popular. Set during World War II, it tells the story of a girl who steals books. It has a unique narrative style. Also, 'The Help' is very well - liked. It shows the racial situation in the American South in the 1960s.
Don DeLillo's 'Falling Man' is also very popular. It has been praised for its in - depth exploration of the trauma and the sense of dislocation that people felt after the attacks. The way it weaves different stories together gives a comprehensive view of the post - 9/11 world.
I would say 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens is also very popular. Set during the French Revolution, it shows the contrast between London and Paris at that time. It's a classic that has been loved by generations for its vivid portrayal of that historical period.
Another popular one was 'The Alice Network' by Kate Quinn. It weaves together two timelines, one during World War I and the other after World War II. It tells the story of female spies and their crucial roles in the war, which attracted a lot of readers interested in both history and strong female characters.
I'm not entirely sure which ones were the most popular, but 'Bring Up the Bodies' was very well - received. It won many awards and was highly praised for its writing style and historical accuracy.
I think 'A Game of Thrones' was really popular. It had a huge following due to its complex world - building and interesting characters. It was adapted into a very successful TV series which also increased its popularity.
Some historical fiction books that are part of a series can also be popular. If there was a book in the 2008 list that was part of a series about ancient Rome, for example, it could be popular. Readers often like to follow a story over multiple books, getting deeper into the history and the characters as the series progresses.