One of the best is 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. It vividly depicts the power struggles, heroic deeds, and complex relationships during the Three Kingdoms period. Another great one is 'Dream of the Red Chamber', which offers deep insights into the life and culture of a wealthy family in feudal China. And 'Water Margin' is also highly regarded, presenting the stories of 108 outlaws and their fight against corruption.
Some excellent Chinese historical fictions include 'A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms' by Faxian. It records Faxian's travels to India in search of Buddhist scriptures, which gives us a glimpse into the cultural exchanges between China and India at that time. Also, 'The Scholars' is a great work that satirizes the feudal examination system and the scholars' lives in old China. These works are all very important in the history of Chinese literature.
One of the great historical fictions in 2012 was 'Bring Up the Bodies' by Hilary Mantel. It's set in the court of Henry VIII and offers a vivid portrayal of the power struggles and political intrigue of the time.
Well, 'The Kite Runner' can be considered a great historical fiction. It shows Afghanistan from a different era, with its rich culture and the tragedies it has endured over time. 'The Book Thief' is also among the best. Set in Nazi Germany, it tells the story from the perspective of a young girl and how books and words were so important during that dark time. 'All the Light We Cannot See' is another excellent one, set during World War II, exploring the lives of a blind French girl and a German boy.
One of the great historical fictions in 2010 could be 'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel. It offers a vivid portrayal of Tudor England, with complex characters like Thomas Cromwell. Another might be 'The Passage' by Justin Cronin which has elements of post - apocalyptic future but also delves into historical events that led to that state.
One of the best historical fictions in 2017 could be 'The Underground Railroad' by Colson Whitehead. It tells a powerful story about slavery in a unique way, with the concept of an actual underground railroad as a physical structure.
One of the best historical fictions is 'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel. It vividly portrays the court of Henry VIII. Another great one is 'The Pillars of the Earth' by Ken Follett, which gives a detailed look at the building of a cathedral in the Middle Ages. 'Gone with the Wind' is also a classic historical fiction set during the American Civil War.
One of the best Chinese fictions is 'Dream of the Red Chamber'. It vividly depicts the life of a large aristocratic family, with complex characters and an intricate plot that reflects the social and cultural aspects of that era.
The historical changes of Chinese novels could be divided into the following stages: 1. Traditional novel stage (about 10th century to 18th century) The novels of this period were mainly narrative-based literary works such as Water Margins, Journey to the West, Dream of the Red Chamber, etc. These works reflected the living conditions of the society and people's thoughts and beliefs at that time. 2. New Culture Movement (19th century to 1920s) The novels of this period were mainly literary works that described the revolutionary struggle and the idea of progress, such as The White-haired Girl and Lu Xun's Collection of Short Stories. The New Culture Movement accelerated the process of the Chinese literature's modernisation and also gave birth to the development of modern Chinese literature. 3. Modern novel stage (1930s to 1950s) The novels of this period mainly described urban life and the class of the citizens, such as City and Dog, Teahouse, Song of Everlasting Sorrow, etc. Modern novels reflected the reality of society and people's thoughts and feelings at that time. 4. Period of contemporary novels (1960s to present day) The novels of this period were mainly literary works that reflected contemporary society and characters, such as Living, Xu Sanguan Selling Blood, Brothers, etc. The contemporary novels deeply revealed the reality and humanity of the society at that time, and also promoted the process of Chinese literature's modernisation. It should be noted that the historical changes of Chinese novels are a long process. Different historical periods have different literary topics and styles, as well as different cultural and intellectual backgrounds.
For beginners, 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' is a great choice. It has a lot of exciting stories about war, strategy, and heroic figures like Zhuge Liang and Guan Yu. The plot is engaging and not too difficult to follow. Another good one is 'Journey to the West'. With its vivid characters such as the Monkey King, Pigsy, and Sandy, it's very interesting and easy to get into. It also has a lot of adventure elements.
One of the best 2023 historical fictions could be 'The Cloisters' which is set in the world of medieval art and secrets. It weaves a fascinating story that draws you into that historical period.
One of the best 2020 historical fictions is 'The Mirror & the Light' by Hilary Mantel. It's the final part of her Cromwell trilogy, vividly portraying the court of Henry VIII. Another great one could be 'Hamnet' by Maggie O'Farrell, which delves into the story of Shakespeare's family. And 'The Vanishing Half' by Brit Bennett also stands out. It explores themes of race and identity through a historical lens.