bestseller historical fiction novels

Another great one is 'Gone with the Wind' by Margaret Mitchell. Set during the American Civil War, it tells the story of Scarlett O'Hara. It's a long - standing bestseller that gives readers a deep understanding of the era, from the plantation life to the chaos of war and its aftermath.

Sure. 'All the Light We Cannot See' is a bestseller. It's set during World War II and follows the lives of a blind French girl and a German boy. The story beautifully weaves together their different experiences during the war.

Some of the bestseller historical fiction books in 2017 included 'The Underground Railroad' by Colson Whitehead. It's a powerful novel that reimagines the Underground Railroad as an actual railroad underground, and through its main character Cora, it shows the harrowing journey of slaves escaping to freedom.

The appeal of bestseller historical fiction lies in its ability to transport readers to different eras. For example, in books like 'The Other Boleyn Girl', we get a peek into the Tudor court. It's like time - traveling. Also, these books often have well - developed characters facing real historical events, which adds drama.

One of the well - known bestseller western historical novels is 'Lonesome Dove' by Larry McMurtry. It vividly portrays the lives of cowboys in the American West.

One of the well - known bestseller historical fictions 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 'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel, which delves into the court of Henry VIII. And 'All the Light We Cannot See' by Anthony Doerr is also highly popular, telling a story during World War II.

These books often bring history to life. They can make you understand historical events from a more personal perspective. For example, 'The Book Thief' shows the impact of Nazi rule on ordinary people. The characters in these books are usually well - developed, like in 'The Underground Railroad' where the main characters' journey reflects the larger struggle against slavery. And they usually have a sense of authenticity, whether it's the language used or the historical details presented.

One characteristic is their rich historical detail. For example, books like 'The Underground Railroad' by Colson Whitehead are full of accurate descriptions of the era it depicts, in this case, the slavery era in the United States. This makes the story feel very real and immersive.

One more is 'Before We Were Yours' by Lisa Wingate. Based on a true - life scandal, it delves into the history of a Memphis - based adoption organization in the 1930s. It tells the story of children who were taken from their families under false pretenses. The book is both heart - breaking and eye - opening, showing a dark chapter in American history.

'Outlander' by Diana Gabaldon also has elements that can be considered in this genre. The story has a time - traveling aspect that takes the main character to the Scottish Highlands which has a historical and somewhat 'western - like' feel in terms of the rough and rustic environment, and of course, there are strong romantic elements throughout. It has been extremely popular and on bestseller lists for a long time.