goodreads best historical novels

Some well - known ones could be 'All the Light We Cannot See' by Anthony Doerr. It beautifully weaves the story of a blind French girl and a German boy during World War II. Another is 'The Pillars of the Earth' by Ken Follett, which takes readers back to 12th - century England and details the building of a cathedral and the lives of the people involved. 'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel is also among them, offering a vivid portrayal of Thomas Cromwell's life in the Tudor court.

One of the well - known ones is 'Outlander' by Diana Gabaldon. It combines time - travel and historical settings in Scotland beautifully, with a passionate love story between Claire and Jamie.

One great Irish historical fiction on Goodreads is 'The Dubliners' by James Joyce. It gives a vivid picture of life in Dublin during a particular era. Another is 'Troubles' by J. G. Farrell which is set during the Irish War of Independence. And 'Brooklyn' by Colm Tóibín is also a popular choice, telling a story of an Irish immigrant in the US with a backdrop of Irish history.

One way to find the best historical novels on Goodreads is to use the search function. Type in keywords like 'historical novels' along with specific time periods or locations you're interested in, such as 'Roman historical novels' or '19th - century American historical novels'. Then, sort the results by rating or popularity. You can also join historical novel - related groups on Goodreads. Members of these groups often discuss and recommend great historical novels. Additionally, Goodreads sometimes has lists of top - rated historical novels created by their editorial team or users, which can be a great resource.

A third option could be 'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel. It's set in the Tudor court and follows the rise of Thomas Cromwell. Mantel's writing is known for its historical accuracy and her ability to bring the past to life. The political intrigue and the complex characters make it a fascinating read for those interested in historical fiction. It's also been highly rated on Goodreads.

You can start by looking at the ratings and reviews. High - rated books with many positive reviews are usually a good bet. For example, if a historical fiction has a 4.5 star rating and hundreds of glowing reviews, it's likely to be a great read.

One of the highly rated historical fiction books on Goodreads is 'All the Light We Cannot See' by Anthony Doerr. It's a beautifully written novel set during World War II, following the lives of a blind French girl and a German boy. Another great one is 'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak, which tells the story of a young girl in Nazi Germany who steals books. And 'The Nightingale' by Kristin Hannah is also popular, depicting two sisters in France during the war.

You can simply visit the Goodreads website and search for 'historical novels'. Then look for the ones with high ratings and a large number of reviews. That's a quick way to identify some of the best ones.

Sure. 'Gone with the Wind' by Margaret Mitchell is a classic. It's set during the American Civil War. Scarlett O'Hara's complex love for Ashley and Rhett Butler is at the center of this epic story. The historical backdrop of the war - torn South adds depth to the romance.

One of the top books might be 'Circe' by Madeline Miller. It retells the story of Circe from Greek mythology in a very engaging way.