I like historical fiction but I’m feeling like so much of it focuses on negative things and I’d like a change. I know life could be difficult but it wasn’t all hardship and misery! I’d really like to read something historical that isn’t primarily about war, genocide, slavery, extreme poverty, backstabbing monarchies, colonialism, religious intolerance, oppressed women, child exploitation, etc etc.
I enjoy books that really evoke a particular era or location through social/cultural references or historical events. I’d be interested in themes like the arts/music/theatre/literary scene, culture/everyday life in different countries, travel (as long as it’s not from a colonialist/racist perspective), science/inventions. Also open to other suggestions. I’m fairly flexible about what “historical” means – anything up to the mid 1900s is probably good.
I’m not interested in historical romance (some romance/relationships is fine, just not as the main focus) Also looking for books written more recently but set in a particular period of history, rather than classics. I don’t mind those books that go back and forth between history and the present as long as it’s done well, but I’d prefer ones that are just set in the past.
A few writers I’ve enjoyed – Sarah Waters, Tina Jackson, Elizabeth Wein, Jodi Taylor, Sara Donati, Diana Gabaldin, Isabel Allende, Patrick Gale, Daphne du Maurier. Of the books that tend to get mentioned for historical fiction, I haven’t enjoyed things like Philippa Gregory, Tracy Chevalier, Hilary Mantel, or retellings of myths and legends.
by Virtual-Two3405
3 Comments
I know she’s older but Daphne DuMaurier’s historical novels are excellent and cover big social themes, Frenchman’s Creek does have a romance plot but it’s not the only thing in it, Jamaica Inn, and My Cousin Rachel
I keep putting my phone down and then remembering another recommendation- Stella Duffy’s Theodora and The Purple Shroud, though they are quite bleak in places really evokes ancient Byzantine
Karen Cushman has written a few books about young girls in medieval England. They’re aimed at younger readers, but they’re quite sweet.
Ellis Peters’ Cadfael novels are murder mysteries set during th early 12th century England (on the border with Wales)
Other books:
Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner
Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park (this is also aimed at a younger audience, but also quite good, and it has a bit of the magical realism you get with Isabel Allende).
I also highly recommend Black Beauty. It gives a very accurate description of the lives of horses in 19th century England, and was directly inspured for the passage of animal rights bills following its publication.