best sellers list historical fiction

One of the well - known books on the historical fiction best - sellers list is 'The Pillars of the Earth' by Ken Follett. It's set in 12th - century England and vividly depicts the building of a cathedral and the lives of the people involved.

One of the best - selling 2017 historical fictions is 'The Underground Railroad' by Colson Whitehead. It offers a unique take on the Underground Railroad as a literal railroad underground, exploring themes of slavery and freedom in a very imaginative way.

'The Book of Lost Names' was also quite popular in 2023 historical fiction. It tells a story of a young woman during World War II who gets involved in a dangerous mission of forging documents for Jewish children. The book combines elements of mystery, history, and human drama very well.

One of the best - selling 2019 historical fictions is 'The Testaments' by Margaret Atwood. It's a continuation of the story in 'The Handmaid's Tale' and offers more insights into the dystopian world she created.

One of the best - selling 2020 historical fictions is 'The Vanishing Half' by Brit Bennett. It tells the story of twin sisters who grow up in a small, southern black community and then take very different paths in life, exploring themes of race, identity, and family against the backdrop of historical America.

One of the best - selling 2018 historical fictions was 'The Alice Network' by Kate Quinn. It weaves together two timelines, World War I and World War II, following female spies.

Libraries often keep track of popular books in different genres. You can visit your local library and ask the librarian. They can show you the books that are most frequently borrowed in the historical fiction section, which is a good indication of best - selling titles in this area.

In 2019, 'The Alice Network' by Kate Quinn was a best - selling historical fiction. It's about female spies during World War I. Then there was 'Circe' by Madeline Miller, which reimagines the story of the Greek mythological figure Circe. It was very well - received for its beautiful writing and unique take on the classic story. Also, 'The Water Dancer' by Ta - Nehisi Coates, which has elements of magic and tells a story set against the backdrop of slavery in the United States.

One characteristic is a strong focus on real historical events. For example, many books are set during World War II, like 'The Nightingale', which uses the backdrop of the war to tell a story of human endurance. Another is the creation of vivid and relatable characters. In 'Hamnet', the characters are so well - drawn that you can almost feel their joys and sorrows. Also, they often have a sense of authenticity in terms of the historical details, whether it's the description of the clothing in the Gilded Age in a relevant book or the way people lived during the Great Depression in others.

One of the best - selling historical fictions is 'The Pillars of the Earth' by Ken Follett. It vividly depicts the building of a cathedral in 12th - century England, with complex characters and a detailed look at the society of that time.