Well, one characteristic is the use of humorous dialogue. In books like 'Gentlemen & Players', the conversations between the characters are witty and full of double - meanings. Another is the creation of absurd situations within a historical context. Take 'The Good Thief', where the orphan gets into all sorts of preposterous situations in the 19th - century setting. And often, these books use satire to comment on historical social norms, making the reader both laugh and think about the past.
One great funny historical fiction is 'The Good Soldier Švejk' by Jaroslav Hašek. It tells the story of Švejk, a simple man in the Austro - Hungarian army during World War I. His bumbling and naive nature often gets him into comical yet thought - provoking situations. Another is 'Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal' by Christopher Moore. It takes a humorous look at the life of Jesus through the eyes of his fictional childhood friend.
One great funny historical fiction is 'The Good Soldier Švejk' by Jaroslav Hašek. It's set during World War I and follows the misadventures of Švejk, a simple - minded man. His naivete and the absurd situations he gets into make for a hilarious read. Another is 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' by Mark Twain. A modern - day man is transported back to Camelot and his attempts to introduce modern ideas to the archaic society are both comical and thought - provoking.
Good funny historical fiction WW1 books often use humor to offset the horror of war. For example, they might have characters who are bumbling or naive in the face of the military bureaucracy, like in 'The Good Soldier Švejk'. This makes the reader laugh while also showing the inefficiencies of the war machine.
I would recommend 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. It takes place after World War II and is told through letters. The characters are charming and there are many humorous moments as they share their stories. Then there's 'The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 ¾' by Sue Townsend. Although it's more of a modern - day diary, it still has historical elements and is extremely funny as it chronicles the life and thoughts of a young boy.
One great example is 'The Princess Bride' by William Goldman. It has a perfect blend of humor, adventure and historical - like elements in a fictional medieval setting. The characters are really memorable, like Westley and Buttercup, and their love story is told with a lot of witty dialogues and comical situations.
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.
One great book is 'All Quiet on the Western Front'. It has some dark humor in it. It shows the real and brutal side of World War 1 through the eyes of German soldiers. Another is 'Birdsong' which has elements of historical fiction with a touch of humor in the way it portrays the characters' relationships in the context of the war.
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.