Historical Fiction Books
Step into captivating past worlds with our Historical Fiction collection. From epic sagas to intimate tales, discover narratives that blend well-researched history with imaginative storytelling. Explore stories that make history come alive for every kind of reader.
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Kim Edwards
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Viking
Penguin
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
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Goodreads rating: 3.69
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On a winter night in 1964, Dr. David Henry is forced by a blizzard to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy. Yet when his daughter is born, he sees immediately that she has Down's Syndrome. Rationalizing it as a need to protect Norah, his wife, he makes a split-second decision that will alter all of their lives forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and never to reveal the secret. But Caroline, the nurse, cannot leave the infant. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child herself. So begins this story that unfolds over a quarter of a century - in which these two families, ignorant of each other, are yet bound by the fateful decision made that long-ago winter night. Norah Henry, who knows only that her daughter died at birth, remains inconsolable; her grief weighs heavily on their marriage. And Paul, their son, raises himself as best he can, in a house grown cold with mourning. Meanwhile, Phoebe, the lost daughter, grows from a sunny child to a vibrant young woman whose mother loves her as fiercely as if she were her own.
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Lorrie Moore
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Faber
I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home
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Goodreads rating: 3.31
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If you've ever felt torn between places and people, or if you've ever had to find your footing amid national chaos and personal turmoil, this book speaks volumes. It's a story that unflinchingly explores themes of loss, love, and what it means to truly be home. Lorrie Moore's narrative captures the raw essence of human connections, woven into the tapestry of a country's frenzy, which might resonate deeply with your own experiences.
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Henry James, Charles R James, Henry; Edited and with an Introduction and Notes by Anderson |
Penguin
The Bostonians
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Goodreads rating: 3.57
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Recommendation: The Bostonians is a must-read for those who appreciate satirical storytelling. Henry James skillfully captures the nuances of the women's rights movement, presenting a clash between two distant cousins who vie for control over the captivating Verena Tarrant. With its thought-provoking exploration of feminism, love, and ambition, this novel will keep you engrossed from start to finish. Get ready to dive into a world where passion and ideology collide in unexpected ways.
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Anyi Wang, Susan Chan Egan, Michael Berry |
Columbia
University
Press
The Song of Everlasting Sorrow
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Goodreads rating: 3.92
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If you're drawn to stories that entwine personal fates with vast historical canvases, "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow" might just resonate with you. It offers a window into a woman's life sculpted against the backdrop of a changing Shanghai, capturing the allure and pain of a bygone era with intimate storytelling. As Wang Qiyao's life unwinds through China's turbulent times, her pursuit of beauty and longing for the glamorous life become a poignant reflection of the universal quest for meaning amidst life's impermanence.
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If politics and courtroom dramas intrigue you, "The Porcupine" by Julian Barnes might just be the book you're looking for. Julian Barnes deftly explores the fall of totalitarianism in a gripping narrative that pits old regime against new in a battle of wits and wills. With its concise prose and insightful look at human nature, you're likely to find yourself engrossed in the strategic game between a fallen leader and the embodiment of a new era.
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Pat Barker
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Hamish
Hamilton
The Silence of the Girls
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Goodreads rating: 3.9
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If you're drawn to the ancient tales but crave a fresh perspective, "The Silence of the Girls" should be next on your list. Pat Barker gifts a voice to the overshadowed women of the Trojan War, particularly Briseis, creating an immersive narrative that's as emotionally rich as it is thought-provoking. It's a compelling retake on a classic that will resonate with anyone interested in the untold stories of history.
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Joanna Goodman
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Harper
Paperbacks
The Home for Unwanted Girls : The Heart-Wrenching, Gripping Story of a Mother-Daughter Bond That Could Not Be Broken - Inspired by True Events
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Goodreads rating: 4.23
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This book is for anyone who loves emotional stories that tug at the heartstrings. Inspired by true events, "The Home for Unwanted Girls" captures the unbreakable bond between a mother and daughter, separated against their will. Set in 1950s Quebec, the book explores themes of love, secrets, and deceit, taking readers on a gripping journey filled with suspense and heartache. You'll be drawn into the lives of Maggie and Elodie, rooting for them as they navigate a world filled with adversity, and ultimately find the strength to reclaim their truth and family. Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions as this compelling story unfolds.
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Emma Straub
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Picador
Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures
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Goodreads rating: 3.27
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"Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures" is an invitation to immerse in the luscious era of old Hollywood and follow the transformative journey of Elsa Emerson into Laura Lamont. You get to taste the blend of glamour and the undercurrents of personal sacrifice that come with fame. It's a deep dive into a movie star's life, replete with triumphs and trials, and it might leave you reflecting on the delicate balance between public image and private reality. If you're enchanted by the golden age of cinema and relish stories of personal evolution, this book is your backstage pass to one woman's captivating life.
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Unfolding in 1991 South Africa, at the moment of Nelson Mandela’s release, this novel explores the underground world of activists, spies, and saboteurs in the liberation movement—a world seldom revealed to outsiders. It also journeys back in time to find the forgotten history of "coloured" people, whose mixed-race heritage is embedded in four centuries of wrenching South African history. The effect is a bold and revisionary work—a moving exploration of the meaning of history, memory, and truth.
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Valerie Martin
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Abacus
Property : Winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction
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Goodreads rating: 3.69
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Set on a Louisiana sugar plantation amid slave revolts, Property explores themes of ownership and belonging through the struggles of Manon Gaudet and Sarah. Valerie Martin's writing style tells the story of both the individual and the changes within the larger societal landscape, making it a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction.
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Michel Faber
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Canongate
Books
Ltd.
The Crimson Petal And The White
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Goodreads rating: 3.88
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Sugar's journey from a lowly prostitute to a member of London's upper society is a compelling and unforgettable one. Michel Faber's rich and vivid descriptions bring the characters and setting to life, making it easy to become fully engrossed in the story. The book's unique and distinctive feature lies in its unapologetic portrayal of Victorian-era prostitution and the struggles of women trying to improve their station in life. Overall, "The Crimson Petal and the White" is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and those looking for a deeply satisfying and immersive literary experience.
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Emma Cline
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Vintage
The Girls
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Goodreads rating: 3.5
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"The This novel delves into the complex emotional landscapes of adolescence, entangling you in Evie's struggle to find identity and acceptance, all set against the sinister backdrop of a cult. Emma Cline's literary craft shines as she weaves a story that's both a chilling historical fiction and an insightful commentary on girlhood and longing. Transporting you to the 1960s with its evocative prose, 'The Girls' promises to haunt long after the last page.
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"Women Talking" isn’t just a book; it’s a heart-wrenching contemplation of autonomy and faith in stark circumstances. Miriam Toews weaves a narrative that's both a painful reflection on a real-life tragedy and a profound discourse on ethics. If you’re inclined towards novels that not only tell a story but also grapple with deep moral questions, then this book can be a relentless but illuminating companion. Through the intimate setting of a hayloft discussion, "Women Talking" offers readers a piercing look into the resilience of the human spirit.
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Richard Yates
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Picador
The Easter Parade - A Novel
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Goodreads rating: 4.03
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Recommendation: The Easter Parade is a heart-rending novel that captures the lives of two sisters as they forge different paths, yet ultimately face the same heartaches. With a poignant portrayal of familial discord and personal growth, Richard Yates creates a masterpiece that will leave readers touched and moved.
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Thomas Hardy
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Modern
Library
Collected Novels of Thomas Hardy
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Goodreads rating: 4.63
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Recommendation: Step into the immersive world of Thomas Hardy's classic novels, where love, desire, and societal norms collide. Tess of the d'Urbervilles will take you on a heart-wrenching journey as Tess grapples with her conflicting emotions, while Jude the Obscure presents a bold critique of marriage, education, and religion. These timeless stories will captivate you with their depth and provoke deep reflection on the constraints of society. Dive into this collection and experience the power of Hardy's compelling narratives.
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Muriel Spark
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Penguin
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
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Goodreads rating: 3.7
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If you've ever had a teacher who seemed larger than life, "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" could resonate with you. Muriel Spark's novel captures the essence of an educator's impact, showcasing how a charismatic mentor can both inspire and manipulate. It's a thought-provoking read, succinct and elegantly crafted, that reveals the complexities of influence and the intricacies of coming of age.
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“It is an inexplicable lapse on the part of literary scholars and critics,” writes Nadine Gordimer in her Introduction, “that Turbott Wolfe is not recognised as a pyrotechnic presence in the canon of renegade colonialist literature along with Conrad.” Indeed, William Plomer’s astonishing first novel, which first appeared in 1926, ignited a firestorm of controversy in his native South Africa. At the novel’s center is Turbott Wolfe, a British trader who opens a general store in Lembuland. He befriends many of his black customers but has less luck ingratiating himself with the bigoted whites who have lived in the area for generations. Eventually, Wolfe and his comrades embrace miscegenation as the key to Africa’s future—the Young Africa, where the races have blurred. Provocative and deeply questioning, Turbott Wolfe remains a powerful chronicle of the intimate human consequences of racism.
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Zoë Wicomb
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Virago
You Can't Get Lost in Cape Town
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Goodreads rating: 3.57
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Zoë Wicomb's complex and deeply evocative fiction is among the most distinguished recent works of South African women's literature. It is also among the only works of fiction to explore the experience of "Coloured" citizens in apartheid-era South Africa, whose mixed heritage traps them, as Bharati Mukherjee wrote in the New York Times, "in the racial crucible of their country. "Wicomb deserves a wide American audience, on a part with Nadine Gordimer and J.M.Coetzee." - Wall St. Journal Wicomb is a gifted writer, and her compressed narratives work like brilliant splinters in the mind, suggesting a rich rhythm and shape."- Seattle Times "[Wicomb's] prose is vigorous, textured, lyrical. . . . [She] is a sophisticated storyteller who combines the open-endedness of contemporary fiction with the force of autobiography and the simplicity of family stories."-Bharati Mukherjee, New York Times Book Review For course use African literature, African studies, growing up female, world literature, women's studies Zoe Wicomb was born in 1948 and raised in Namaquland, South Africa. After 20 years voluntary exile, she returned to South Africa in 1991 to teach at the University of the Western Cape. She currently lives in Glasgow and teaches at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland. Marcia Wright is professor of history at Columbia University and a member of the executive committee for the Women Writing Africa series. Carol Sicherman is professor emerita of English at Lehman College, CUNY.
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Clarisse Zimra, Assia Djebar, Marjolijn De Jager |
University
Of
Virginia
Press
Women of Algiers in Their Apartment
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Goodreads rating: 3.56
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"Women of Algiers in Their Apartment" is an impactful read for those interested in exploring the lived experiences of oppressed women, particularly those in postcolonial societies. Assia Djebar's writing style is both innovative and lyrical as it illuminates the struggles faced by Algerian women - from being cloistered to grappling with the implications of reticence, the connection of language to oppression and the impact of war on both women and men. This book's strength lies in its unapologetic portrayal of the plight of urban Algerian women as they navigate a postcolonial society that has denied and subjugated them even as it celebrates the liberation of men. Highly recommended for those interested in women's stories of struggle and victory.
Travel Back in Time with Historical Fiction
At Thryft, we invite you to journey through eras gone by with the finest historical fiction. Our selection captures the essence of different times, portraying epoch-defining events and the lives of people who inhabit them. Whether it's ancient history or modern tragedies, our curated collection immerses you in the vast tapestry of human experience. Join us in exploring these rich, vivid histories.
Our collection includes a diverse range, from ancient civilisations to modern wartime stories. Dive into tales from the Historical Fiction section to find the perfect match for your interests.
Absolutely! While these stories integrate fictional elements, they often provide valuable insights into historical contexts. Pair your reading with factual resources from our History collection for a fuller understanding.
Yes, we celebrate diverse voices and settings, including many stories set in Asia. Explore novels that delve into Asian history and its multifaceted narratives in our Asian Historical Fiction section.
Think about the time period or event you're curious about. Our Historical Fiction page offers detailed descriptions to help you find stories that align with your interests.