Historical books referred to literary works that recorded and reflected specific historical periods. They usually included historical novels, historical biographies, historical novels, historical essays, historical poems, and so on. The authors of these books were characters in a historical context. They narrated historical events, character stories, cultural heritage, and other methods to show the readers the social, political, and cultural features of a specific historical period.
There was a wide variety of historical books, covering different fields and topics such as war, politics, culture, religion, science and technology, etc. Among them, historical novels were the most common and popular type of historical books. They mainly used fictional historical events and characters to show the social style and cultural characteristics of the historical period.
Famous historical books included War and Peace, Pride and Predict, Dream of the Red Chamber, Water Margins, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Journey to the West, and The Scholars. These books are not only of high literary value, but also an important heritage of human civilization and culture, worthy of our study and appreciation.
Many of them would likely blend real historical events with fictional characters or storylines. So, you could have a story set during a real war, like the Napoleonic Wars, but the main characters could be fictional people whose lives are intertwined with the events of the war. This creates a more immersive experience for the reader as they get to see the big historical events from a more personal perspective.
Well, 'The Water Dancer' by Ta - Nehisi Coates is a great pick. It combines historical facts about slavery with a touch of magical realism. The story follows a young slave who discovers he has a special power related to water. It's a powerful exploration of the African - American experience during slavery times. Also, 'Melmoth' by Sarah Perry is interesting. It's inspired by the legend of Melmoth the Wanderer and is set in different historical periods, exploring themes of guilt, redemption, and the power of stories.
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.
Some of the well - known historical fiction books from 2020 could be 'The Vanishing Half' by Brit Bennett. It tells the story of twin sisters in the context of racial segregation in America. Another one might be 'Hamnet' by Maggie O'Farrell which delves into the family life of Shakespeare.
There are many great historical fiction books. 'Circe' by Madeline Miller is one that might be in the '2023 top historical fiction books'. It gives a new perspective on the mythological figure Circe, and Miller's writing is so immersive that it transports readers to the ancient Greek world. The book explores themes of power, love, and identity in the context of that time.
There were some obvious differences between historical novels and history books. Historical novels usually used fictional plots as the theme to present historical stories by describing the background, characters, and plots of historical events. History books were formal books with strict historical records and research. They provided detailed historical background, historical events, biographies, and other content based on historical events and characters.
Historical novels usually paid more attention to character creation and emotional expression, while history books paid more attention to the restoration and verification of events and facts. Historical novels may add fictional plots and characters to present the complexity and variety of historical events, while history books tend to describe the authenticity and details of historical events.
Historical novels and history books are different in theme, style, and content, so to distinguish them, you need to judge them according to the specific genre and theme.
A great 2018 historical fiction is 'Where the Crawdads Sing' by Delia Owens. It's set in the marshes of North Carolina and spans several decades. The story follows a young girl named Kya who grows up alone in the wild. It combines elements of mystery, nature, and the changing social fabric of the South over time. It gives a great sense of the place and time, with vivid descriptions of the natural world and the hardships Kya endures.