Today, the day of “love”, seems appropriate to share a few thoughts about why I LOVE HISTORICAL FICTION and why other readers do as well.

As the author of two novels defined as historical fiction, I chose the genre believing that I would reach more readers with the story of the Woman’s Medical College of PA (THE UNLOCKED PATH) and the American Women’s Hospital Unit (THE PATH BENEATH HER FEET) versus a non-fiction book or a memoir about the woman doctors I feature. Through historical fiction, I could educate with facts and also inspire readers to imagine the inner emotions and challenges these women faced. Their struggles would come to life through the addition of sensory sprinkles and relationship building. Readers would relate to characters to learn from the past and appreciate those that paved the paths for many of us.

This interest points to many readers’ desires for lifelong learning. There are so many time periods to explore and events to probe that the material can stay fresh. And most of them are extremely well-written. Historical fiction titles claimed the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction for the past two years…TRUST by Hernan Diaz (2023) set in the 1920s and NIGHT WATCH by Jayne Anne Phillips (2024) set in the U.S. South post-Civil War.

A quest for knowledge, which goes beyond the basics taught to us in history class, also creates demand. More specifically, as noted by Anita Diamant, author of THE RED TENT, in a January 2015 interview with the Canadian magazine, Chatelaine, “Women’s history and women’s stories are still under told, which means that there’s a hunger for them.”

We hope to satisfy that hunger. I think it’s working. The top 25 titles of Amazon’s Best Sellers today in the historical fiction category includes recent blockbusters like Percival Everett’s JAMES (#1) and Kristin Hannah’s THE WOMEN (#3) and older titles like THE LOST APOTHECARY by Sarah Penner (#2—published in 2021) and Hannah’s earlier blockbuster, THE NIGHTINGALE (#6—published in 2017). Perennial favorite historical fiction authors Kate Quinn, Ariel Lawhon, and Donna Jones Alward round out other top spots.

Although my preference for historical fiction began over twenty years ago when I read Anita Diamant’s THE RED TENT, I think the explosive success of THE NIGHTINGALE could be considered the catalyst for many readers to seek historical fiction. In fact, in a survey I fielded late last year, THE NIGHTINGALE was the most frequently mentioned title as the book which turned readers into fans of historical fiction.

Photo Credit: Good News Broadcast, October 19, 2015

Here’s what a few of those readers who mentioned The Nightingale said about the genre:

“It is so educational for me. I have learned so much history coupled with an author’s feel on character thoughts and conversations.” – S. Clark   

“I love historical fiction because the story will draw me into an era that interests me. I get to see how a story evolves, how they cope with what is happening, challenges they face, how they overcome obstacles.”–C. Blackurn

Also, from the survey, I learned that historical fiction readers are more likely to enjoy reading mystery/thriller, contemporary fiction, and biography / memoir. The high ranking of biography / memoir mirrors a desire to learn more about a person. Mystery / Thrillers can also be considered “brain work”.  They tend to be more serious readers, as evidenced by a lower likelihood of picking up a romance / “beach” read.

Since I LOVE Historical Fiction and I LOVE lists, here are a few other top recommendations for favorites of mine and other survey respondents:

Started me on my historical fiction reading journey:

• Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell*
• Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden*
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Shaffer and Mary Ann Barrows
• Clan of the Cave Bears by Jean Auel
• The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
• Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
• Hawaii and others by James Michner
• Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Pillars of the Earth and others by Ken Follett
• North and South and others by John Jakes

Interesting side note, some folks mentioned classic titles like the Grapes of Wrath (1939), Little Women (1868) and Tom Sawyer (1876). Technically these are not historical fiction as when they published, they were contemporary to the times. When published, historical fiction presents a setting of at least fifty years in the past, a guideline established by the Historical Novel Society.

Some favorite historical fiction read in 2024 (beyond ones on the Amazon list above):

• Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray*
• One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow by Olivia Hawker
• Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall
• The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray*
• Go As a River by Shelley Read
• Finding Margaret Fuller by Allison Pataki
• The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan*
• The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
• The Spectacular by Fiona Davis
• The Book of Lost Names by Kristen Harmel

 *one of my favs

And, ok I guess a few of my friends took part in the survey. Several mentions of The Path Beneath Her Feet popped up. 😊

One last note on the subject. Remember, historical fiction is FICTION. An author who has completed exhaustive research into her subject will also share through the AUTHOR’S NOTES what she has presented as facts and what she has fictionalized in order to move the story forward and add depth to the story / character arc. I highly recommend you read those Notes for a fuller appreciation of the book.

Thank you for the opportunity to share a few thoughts about historical fiction with you. What’s your favorite historical fiction read? Which era or place would you like to learn more about? Pick up a book. I guarantee they’ll transport you to a spot rarely mentioned in our history books.