Historical Fiction Authors

There are many authors who write historical fiction. Here is a list of both well-known and lesser-known authors, but your reading choices are not limited to just those on this page. Try out an author new to you and discover your new favorite.

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Well-Known Authors for Historical Fiction

Lisa See

Lisa See has brilliantly illuminated the strong bonds between women in her many popular novels. Her books have been celebrated for their authentic, deeply researched, lyrical stories about Chinese characters and cultures.

Read any of her historical fiction titles.

Lady Tan's Circle of Women

Snowflower and the Secret Fan

The Island of Sea Women

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane

China Dolls

Ken Follett

Ken Follett is one of the greatest historical fiction writers of all time. He has sold more than 160 million copies of his works, and many of them have found their way onto lists of the best historical fiction works of all time. A few of his books have even found their way to the number one position on the New York Times Bestseller List, with many of them being thrillers.

Read any of his historical fiction titles.

The Pillars of the Earth

World Without End

A Column of Fire

A Place Called Freedom

The Key to Rebecca

Fall of Giants

Diana Gabaldon

Diana Gabaldon is known for the brilliant Outlander series of novels. She has the ability to merge multiple genres of literature together, including historical fiction. The series focuses on a 20th-century nurse who travels back in time to Scotland in the 18th century and finds romance and adventures. The character travels to North America, England, France, and the West Indies and witnesses many key moments in history.

Read any of her historical fiction titles in these series.

Outlander Series (9-book series so far)

The Lord John Series (3 novels, 6 novellas

Philippa Gregory

Philippa Gregory's works have focused on a variety of historical periods, including the Tudor era of the 16th century. Some of her novels have been set in the 17th century, while others have been set in the 18th century. The most popular book, titled The Other Boleyn Girl, won the award for the Romantic novel of the year in 2001. Another one of her works, The White Queen, was turned into a TV series.

Read any of her historical fiction titles.

The Other Boleyn Girl

Bolelyn Traitor

The Bolyn Inheritance

The White Queen

The White Princess

The Red Queen

Tidelands

The Last Tudor

Historical Fiction Books to Explore

Check out these historical fiction titles.

Isola (Allegra Goodman)

Ordinary Grace (William Kent Krueger)

This Tender Land (William Kent Krueger)

Last Twilight in Paris (Pam Jenoff)

Isola (Allegra Goodman)

Frankie (Graham Norton)

The Ghosts of Rome (Joseph O'Connor)

Red Clay (Charles B. Fancher)

The Frozen River (Ariel Lawhon)

What the Wind Knows (Amy Harmon)

Wolf Hall (Hilary Mantel)

The Underground Railroad (Colson Whitehead)

The Boston Girl (Anita DIamant)

The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)

Richard Sharpe 24-Book Series (Bernard Cornwell)

The Nightingale (Kristin Hannah)

Best Sellers in Historical Fiction

Have you read any of these best-sellers in the historical fiction genre?

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