Great Historical Fiction Novels

Schnabel 2014

What is Historical Fiction?

Historical fiction can take a number of forms,including but not limited to:

·        Depictions of real historical figures in the context of the challenges they faced.·        Depictions of real historical figures in imagined situations.·        Depictions of fictional characters in documented historical situations.·        Depictions of fictional characters in fictional situations, but in the context of a real historical period.

Historical Fiction can also include:

• Timeshift stories, in which a modern character is transported back in time, or more rarely, a historical character is transported to the present, or to a time period not his own.

·        Alternate history or "What if?" stories, usually set in a world in which an historic event did not occur, or occurred much differently, such as a Nazi victory in World War II, a Texan victory at the Alamo, or the death of William, Duke of Normandy, in 1065.

·        Historical fantasy, in which characters, even historic figures, are depicted in historical periods or situations, but along with magic or dragons or some other element of fantasy.

All The King's Men is the story of the rise of politician Willie Stark from a rural county seat to the spotlight. Along the way, he loses his initial innocence, and becomes just as corrupt as those who he assaulted before for this characteristic.

Political

A Northern Light

ByJennifer Donnelly

1900’s

1917- a female horse whispererThis is a stark portrayal of the West during the first two decades of the 20th century create a moving, wistful memorial to a lost way of life. Shy, self-effacing Martha captivates her fellow humans in much the same way she charms wayward horses

Caleb’s Crossing

1600’s

The brutally grim story of a Slavic family who emigrates to America, The Jungle tells of their rapid and inexorable descent into numbing poverty, moral degradation, and social and economic despair. Vulnerable and isolated, the family of Jurgis Rudkus struggles — unsuccessfully — to survive in an urban jungle.

1900’s

Hurricane Song2000’s

For ten days, as burning crosses and the crack of sniper fire spread through the streets of Clanton, the nation sits spellbound as young defense attorney Jake Brigance struggles to save his client’s life–and then his own

Civil Rights/African American

Winner of the 2011 National Book Award

A big-hearted novel about familial love and community against all odds, and a wrenching look at the lonesome, brutal, and restrictive realities of rural poverty, Salvage the Bones is muscled with poetry, revelatory, and real.

A hurricane is building over the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the coastal town of Bois Sauvage, Mississippi…

2000’s

East of Eden1930’s

Summer of My German SoldierWWII