Check it Out: Through the Lens of History

Submitted by B. Wood on

Historical fiction novels are a wonderful blending that allows us to learn about historical events in the embrace of a story. They can take many forms, as long as they adhere to the parameters for this type of fiction. The time period, for example, must be real in history, and the place must be real or authentic. Characters, plots and scenes can be either real or fictional, but they must remain congruent with the time period, which is the anchor of this genre. Historical mysteries and romances follow these same guidelines.

Like history itself, historical fiction can be subdivided based on time periods. Here are novels or series worth investigating, set in each time period.

Prehistory (up to c. 3000 BCE)

Classical (c. 3000 BCD - 500 AD)

Middle Ages (c. 500 - 1300)

Late Middle Ages/Renaissance (1300 - 1600)

Early Modern Period (1600 - 1800)

19th Century (1800 - 1899)

20th Century (1900 - 1999, including the World Wars)

New at the Library

Fiction

Nonfiction

Children