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The 10 Best Historical Fiction Books of All Time
Historical fiction brings the past to life through the eyes of people who lived it. These ten novels, set from Tudor England to World War II, are the historical stories readers still choose most today. They are a moving way to learn about history while getting lost in a great story.
The Nightingale#1The Nightingale
by Kristin Hannah · first published 2015
Why it is on the list: Sold nearly half a million copies in 2025, a decade after release; a film is due in 2027.
Two very different French sisters face the Nazi occupation of France in their own ways, one quietly protecting her family and one joining the Resistance. A gripping, emotional World War II story of courage and sisterhood.
Evidence and sources
- Sold nearly half a million copies in 2025, per Publishers Weekly's year-end Circana data (RA for All, Jan 2026) (source)
- Deluxe edition No. 8 on PW's Circana BookScan top 10 for the week, 23,152 units (March 2025) (source)
- More than 4.5 million copies sold worldwide as of 2021 (NYT/Time, cited) (source)
- St. Martin's Griffin edition ISBN 9781250080400 (source)
All the Light We Cannot See#2All the Light We Cannot See
by Anthony Doerr · first published 2014
Why it is on the list: Pulitzer winner that returned to bestseller lists with the 2023 Netflix series; ThriftBooks' top war-fiction seller.
A blind French girl and a gifted German orphan boy are drawn toward each other in the years leading up to World War II's siege of Saint-Malo. A beautifully written wartime story for fans of emotional historical fiction.
Evidence and sources
- Spent 8 weeks on the NYT combined fiction list and hit No. 1 on the Washington Post paperback list after the Nov 2023 Netflix series (Netflix) (source)
- Listed first in ThriftBooks' War Fiction 'Bestsellers' (viewed Oct 2026) (source)
- Won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (source)
- Over 15 million copies sold (Variety/Hollywood Reporter, cited) and over 200 weeks on NYT list (source)
- Scribner edition ISBN 9781501173219 (source)
The Book Thief#3The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak · first published 2005
Why it is on the list: Sold over 114,000 US print copies in 2025 alone; Printz Honor book with 17 million sold.
In Nazi Germany, a foster girl steals books and shares them with neighbours and the Jewish man hidden in her family's basement. Narrated by Death, it is a moving story about the power of words in dark times.
Evidence and sources
- Sold 114,249 print copies in 2025, No. 40 on PW's Circana paperback backlist list (source)
- Listed in ThriftBooks' Fiction 'Bestsellers' (viewed Oct 2026) (source)
- Ranked No. 14 in The Great American Read (source)
- Michael L. Printz Honor Book (2007); 17 million copies sold (source)
- Alfred A. Knopf edition ISBN 9780375842207 (source)
Hamnet#4Hamnet
by Maggie O'Farrell · first published 2020
Why it is on the list: The 2025 film's success sparked a new sales surge; Women's Prize winner with 2 million copies sold.
In 1580s Warwickshire, a gifted healer marries a young Latin tutor, and the loss of their son years later shapes one of the world's most famous plays. An intimate, beautifully written portrait of Shakespeare's family.
Evidence and sources
A Gentleman in Moscow#5A Gentleman in Moscow
by Amor Towles · first published 2016
Why it is on the list: A 1.5-million-copy bestseller adapted in 2024 as a Paramount+/Showtime series with Ewan McGregor.
In 1922 a witty Russian count is sentenced to house arrest in a grand Moscow hotel, where he builds a rich life over decades of upheaval. A charming, elegant novel about friendship, purpose and making the most of small spaces.
Evidence and sources
Before We Were Yours#6Before We Were Yours
by Lisa Wingate · first published 2017
Why it is on the list: Still a ThriftBooks and Walmart bestseller; Goodreads Choice winner with over two million copies sold.
In 1939 Memphis, five siblings are taken from their river shantyboat by a corrupt adoption agency; decades later, a lawyer uncovers her family's link to their story. Inspired by a real scandal, it is a heartfelt family mystery.
Evidence and sources
- Listed in ThriftBooks' Historical Fiction 'Bestsellers' (viewed Oct 2026) (source)
- Listed in Walmart's Adult Fiction Top 100 (viewed Oct 2026) (source)
- 2017 Goodreads Choice Award winner for historical fiction; over two million copies sold; 54 weeks on the NYT list (source)
- Ballantine Books edition ISBN 9780425284698 (source)
Wolf Hall#7Wolf Hall
by Hilary Mantel · first published 2009
Why it is on the list: Booker winner ranked No. 3 in the NYT's 2024 best books of the century; BBC/PBS series concluded 2024-25.
Thomas Cromwell, a blacksmith's son, rises to become the most powerful adviser at the court of Henry VIII. A richly detailed political drama for readers who love Tudor history.
Evidence and sources
- Second TV series aired on BBC One (Nov-Dec 2024) and in the US (Mar-Apr 2025) (source)
- Ranked third in The New York Times' 2024 list of the best books of the 21st century (source)
- Won the 2009 Booker Prize (source)
- Won the National Book Critics Circle Award and the 2010 Walter Scott Prize; estimated 1.09 million copies sold (source)
- Picador edition ISBN 9780312429980 (source)
All Quiet on the Western Front#8All Quiet on the Western Front
by Erich Maria Remarque · first published 1929
Why it is on the list: The 2022 film won four Oscars in 2023, renewing interest in this 2.5-million-copy WWI classic.
A young German soldier and his schoolmates go from patriotic classrooms to the trenches of World War I and learn what war really costs. A short, unforgettable anti-war novel still taught around the world.
Evidence and sources
Gone with the Wind#9Gone with the Wind
by Margaret Mitchell · first published 1936
Why it is on the list: Pulitzer winner, PBS's No. 6 favourite, and still on ThriftBooks' romance bestseller shelves.
Headstrong Scarlett O'Hara fights to survive and hold on to her Georgia plantation through the Civil War and Reconstruction. A sweeping, dramatic saga for readers who like strong-willed heroines and epic scale.
Evidence and sources
- Listed in ThriftBooks' Historical Romance 'Bestsellers' (viewed Oct 2026) (source)
- Listed in ThriftBooks' Contemporary Romance 'Bestsellers' (viewed Oct 2026) (source)
- Won the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (source)
- Over 30 million copies printed; set in the Civil War and Reconstruction (source)
- Ranked No. 6 in The Great American Read (source)
- Included in TIME's All-TIME 100 Novels (source)
- Included in Library of Congress Books That Shaped America (source)
- Scribner edition ISBN 9781451635621 (source)
Kristin Lavransdatter#10Kristin Lavransdatter
by Sigrid Undset · first published 1922
Why it is on the list: On Penguin Random House's current Classics bestseller list; the trilogy behind Undset's 1928 Nobel Prize.
In 14th-century Norway, a strong-willed farmer's daughter defies her family to marry the man she loves and lives with the consequences through a long, eventful life. An immersive medieval family saga.
Evidence and sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the best historical fiction book of all time?
On our list it is The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Sold nearly half a million copies in 2025, a decade after release; a film is due in 2027.
Which historical fiction book should I read first?
Start with the top three: The Nightingale, All the Light We Cannot See and The Book Thief. They are the most popular books in this genre right now, and each one is a good way into the rest of the list.
Are these books still popular today?
Yes. Every book here has evidence of strong sales or readership from the last few years, which you can see under “Evidence and sources” on each book. That is the main difference between this list and lists that only look back at history.
How often is this list updated?
We review it about once a month against current bestseller charts and change a book only when the evidence clearly changes.
Apart from this list, see the books we love most, hand-picked by QuickOnlineTips.
How we chose these books
1. Still selling and read today
Every book shows current demand from roughly the last three years: Audible best-seller charts (Audible is owned by Amazon), US independent bookstore bestseller lists from the American Booksellers Association, Publishers Weekly and Circana BookScan sales figures, and similar charts. Old books that nobody buys any more do not make the cut.
2. Stood the test of time
Every book was first published at least five years ago and has a lasting credential: a major award (such as the Pulitzer, Booker, Newbery or Hugo), a place on a respected all-time list (such as the Modern Library 100, TIME 100 or the BBC Big Read), or very large total sales.
3. Suitable for most readers
We leave out books built around explicit sexual content or graphic abuse, and books best known for being banned. Some books on the list deal with hard themes such as war, crime or loss, and the summaries say so.
Within each genre, books are ranked with current popularity weighted most, then lasting reputation. We review the list about once a month and swap a book only when the evidence clearly changes.
Book covers: Open Library. Links to each book go to Amazon. Last reviewed: October 2026.
More of the best books of all time
See the full 200 best books of all time list, or explore more fiction genres: Classic Novels, Literary Fiction Books, Romance Novels, Children's Books, Mystery and Thriller Books, Science Fiction Books, Fantasy Books, Horror Books, Young Adult Books.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, QuickOnlineTips earns from qualifying purchases.
