One should read 'I, Claudius' by Robert Graves. It offers a fascinating view of the Roman Empire. 'The Thorn Birds' by Colleen McCullough is set in Australia and spans generations. And 'The Good Earth' by Pearl S. Buck is an important look at rural China in the early 20th century.
Well, 'All the Light We Cannot See' is an excellent historical fiction book. It tells a story about a blind French girl and a German boy during World War II. Then there's 'The Book Thief' which is also set during World War II, but from the perspective of a young girl in Germany who steals books. 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens is a classic, set during the French Revolution.
One great 2023 historical fiction is 'The Paris Apartment'. It takes readers into the heart of Paris and weaves a mystery within a historical setting. Another is 'The Cartographers' which combines family secrets with historical cartography. And 'The Cloisters' also stands out, with its exploration of art history in a fictional narrative.
You should check out 'The Name of the Rose' by Umberto Eco. It combines mystery and history in a monastery setting. The detailed descriptions and complex plot make it a must-read.
I would also recommend 'All the Light We Cannot See' by Anthony Doerr. This novel is set during World War II and follows the lives of a blind French girl and a German boy. It beautifully weaves together their stories, showing the impact of the war on individuals, and also provides a lot of historical details about the occupation of France and the German military.
The book 'Lincoln in the Bardo' by George Saunders is a must - read. It's a unique take on historical fiction as it focuses on the death of Abraham Lincoln's son and Lincoln's visit to the cemetery. The writing style is experimental, with multiple voices, which makes it an interesting read and gives a different perspective on a well - known historical figure.
One must - read historical fiction from 2017 is 'The Essex Serpent' by Sarah Perry. It's set in Victorian England and weaves a tale of mystery and social change around the supposed sighting of a mythical serpent. The characters are richly drawn, and it gives a great sense of the time period's superstitions and scientific progress.
In 2017, 'The Essex Serpent' by Sarah Perry was a standout. It combined historical elements with a touch of mystery and romance.
One great example is 'The Pillars of the Earth' by Ken Follett. It's set in 12th - century England and vividly depicts the building of a cathedral. Another is 'Gone with the Wind' which shows the American South during the Civil War. 'All the Light We Cannot See' is also a remarkable one, set during World War II.
One great historical thriller is 'The Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown. It combines historical facts and mystery in a really engaging way. Another is 'Umberto Eco's 'The Name of the Rose'. It's set in a medieval monastery and is full of intrigue.
One must - read is 'War and Peace' by Leo Tolstoy. It gives a detailed account of Russian society during the Napoleonic Wars. Another is 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen which shows the social and family life in 19th - century England. Also, 'The Scarlet Letter' by Nathaniel Hawthorne, set in Puritan New England, exploring themes of sin and redemption.