My Top 10 Historical Fiction Recommendations

00:00 05:00 Intro
05:01 06:29 The Master by Colm Tóibín
06:30 07:57 The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
07:58 09:12 Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
09:13 10:55 The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George
10:56 12:24 The Alienist by Caleb Carr
12:25 15:44 The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict
Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict
Her Hidden Secret by Marie Benedict
15:45 16:49 My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
16:50 18:50 Eye of the Needle by Ken Folllet
18:51 21:45 The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory
21:46 Classics

[Richard.HistoryLit]

The Phillipa Gregory was a good moment for me... if a little unexpected after the _Lady Clem_ which your earlier review I thought was really good... All viewers should check it out and in full imho. 💛

[theknightssayme]

Any list that includes the Neapolitan Quartet is a list for me! I read My Sister’s Keeper when I was a teenager and it really impacted me then. Thank you for all your great recommendations 😌

[joshuacreboreads]

“Lady Clementine” sounds fascinating, as I’ve been getting into WW2 history recently. As it is, I haven’t read nearly as much historical fiction as I would like to. Bernard Cornwell is an author that has been on my mind, however, ever since I watched The Last Kingdom on Netflix. Great video, Emily!

[brenboothjones]

I remember you mentioning Lady Clementine in another video and this is a timely reminder to look out for a copy! Sounds excellent! Thanks for the recommendations :)

[Johanna_reads]

I loved hearing all your recommendations! I started watching the show adaptation of My Brilliant Friend, and it was very captivating! Augustus by John Williams is my favorite historical fiction novel. Highly recommend! ❤

[apoetreadstowrite]

Interesting to listen to your careful definition of the genre, & many of your recommendations are new to me, this is such a vibrant & dramatic genre (when done well). Thanks for another stimulating video - very enjoyable.

[mm]

I usually read books set during the 20th century (often World War Two), but lately I've been getting into Medieval Europe fiction. One of my favorite books is Cathedral by Ben Hopkins, and the story takes place in a medieval city in Germany named Hagenburg. A Cathedral is being constructed, and this massive project affects and often brings together the lives of several characters. I love the ending of this book so much that it made me cry.
Also, for more 20th century historical fiction, I give high praises to Amor Towles. He is a favorite author of mine, and of the three books of his that I have read, two have been five star reads and favorites. Those books are A Gentleman in Moscow and The Lincoln Highway.
I don't often read books set during World War One, but All Quiet On the Western Front was one of the best books I read last year. And it's a modern classic! This book is so honest, brutal, and hopeless. It really captures the utter devastation of war and the destruction of innocence.

[ellenmadebookclub]

“Sentimental”, thank you! 😂 I’ve had some people mentioning The Storyteller when I’ve talked about The Mare, (maybe you have too), and I’ve been trying to articulate how I think they’re different, without ever havin read a Picoult! So I’m going “I think she’s more shimmering golden light” etc 😂 SENTIMENTAL is the word I’m looking for. Is The Storyteller that? 😅 ok back to the video
Also thank you for the 🌶️😂

[stuartgriffin]

Based upon what you said, I think the older books I've read would be considered classics. As far as non-fiction history books, last year I read The Children of Athena by Charles Freeman, The Crown Games of Ancient Greece by David Lunt, The First Physical Culturists by Alex Daulat, and Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia by Christina Thompson

[FFdeAndrade]

All the books are so interesting. I love all the recommedations, thank you!

[dqan]

First book that comes to mind for this topic is usually E. L. Doctorow's "Ragtime". Have four on your list (+ some honorable mentions) that I've been meaning to get to. Nice to see Johnny Tremain at the end. Some of the scenes in that book have stuck with me for 30+ years. Can't say that about some of the works I read in college.

[mattkean]

I loved The Master, and I admit that's what got me first interested in Henry James, who has gone on to become a favorite of mine! The scene with them taking out the boat with the clothes still sticks with me. And it really shed some light on the inspiration of characters in some stories, like friend at the center of The Beast in the Jungle.

Have you read Dorothy Dunnett? I'm reading her Lymond Chronicles and enjoying them immensely.

[bibliosophie]

oh hey, very kind of you to make this video specifically for me and my [potential] 2025 goals 😋

[lsu]

I wish I have loved Elena Ferrante's books as much as most people apparently (I hated the narrator) 😅