4 Best-Selling Authors Share Their Favorite Historical Fiction Books

“As a reader myself, I remember being so swept away when I first read the Outlander series. If you've ever met Diana, she was a scientist, and she really is a student of history and science and research. I learned so much reading those books.” —Jodi Picoult

Also a popular TV series, Outlander is a romantic epic that follows nurse Claire Randall as she is swept back in time to 1743 Scotland.

“Kathryn Stockett is back 17 years later, and the first question I want to say to her is, what took you so long? It's terrific.” —Adriana Trigiani

The author of The Help returns with a 650-page heartfelt drama set in Mississippi during the Great Depression. A plucky 11-year-old orphan and an outspoken 24-year-old “old maid” form an unlikely sisterhood to change their lives.

“Every summer, I reread Jane Eyre. I love that story. Because it's about a poor girl who's shunned by her family, thrown out, has no reason ever, at any point in her life, to do the right thing. But she's got a moral code. And she cannot be deterred from her path of being a decent human being. So that's the kind of historical fiction I like.” —Adriana Trigiani

“Sadeqa Johnson is the author of Yellow Wife. Her newest book is about mixed-race kids in Germany after the Nazis, with American soldiers mixing with the local German women. She's a great writer.” —Adriana Trigiani

“Hilary Mantel’s brilliant Wolf Hall books were a huge influence on me. I read those books at the start of the pandemic when I felt like I was going to crawl out of my skin, and they are an absolute lifeline. If you're anything like me, the length will feel like a pleasure because you don't have to put it down.” —Rebecca Lehmann

In England in 1520, King Henry VIII wants to annul his marriage, marry Anne Boleyn, and produce a male heir. Enabling the king’s wishes is Thomas Cromwell, and the story is told through his eyes.

“I finished it about a month ago. It's a post-Civil War story of two formerly enslaved siblings finding freedom, which is not as simple as it sounds. I thought it was just brilliant.” —Rebecca Lehmann

“Beautiful, whimsical historical fantasy. So much heart, and the writing is so beautiful.” —Isabel Ibañez

An orphaned duchess is ordered to marry the King of France, who has invaded her realm. To prevent her land from being annexed, she instead starts a secret betrothal with France’s enemy, but everything changes when a unicorn appears with a stranger out of legend.

“I grew up reading Lisa Kleypas, and she has the new one coming out after years. I'm so happy she's back. It’s called The Queen of Lombard Street, and it is a historical fiction with such a great romance, but it's about the first female banker in England. And it is fantastic.” —Isabel Ibañez

Susanna Kearsley has the most transportive, beautiful way of capturing history. I love all of her books. They're historicals, but often include a subtle thing of imagining the fantastical. Her last book that I read, The King’s Messenger, was fantastic. I highly recommend.” —Isabel Ibañez

This book is a love story set during the Jacobite revolution. When the prince dies of suspected poisoning, messenger Andrew is sent to arrest Sir David for the crime, all while hiding that he has the magic Sight.

“Another author I have been digging so much is Ariel Lawhon. The book is about a midwife writing about a murder that happened. Highly recommend, fantastic.” The book is set in Maine in 1789.