Best Historical Literature Books Reviewed: Top 15 for 2025
Discover the best historical literature with us, from epic battles to intimate tales, bringing history alive one story at a time.
Discover historical literature at its finest with our list of the 15 best books in this genre. We’ve put together a mix of captivating stories that transport you to different times and places, each offering its own unique perspective on the past. When picking these books, we focused on compelling narratives, accurate historical context, and characters that leap off the page. No spoilers here, just a promise of enthralling journeys through history.
On this list:
15 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This one’s a tearjerker with a heartwarming story set during WWII. We loved the unique perspective of Death as the narrator.
14 All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
A beautiful tale of war and hope starring a blind French girl and a German boy. Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster.
13 The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Sisters in Nazi-occupied France! This one keeps you on your toes. We couldn’t stop reading it, even when the pizza arrived!
12 Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Step into the shoes of Thomas Cromwell in the Tudor court. We found ourselves talking like British nobility for days after!
11 The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Epic! It’s like a medieval soap opera. We were hooked on cathedrals, drama, and betrayal. It’s like history with extra spice!
10 A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
We know it’s old-school, but nothing beats the classics! Love and revolution in Paris and London. Dickens at his best.
9 Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
This is the antebellum South captured in an unforgettable love story. Our book club had a heated debate over Scarlett’s choices!
8 The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
Mystery in a medieval monastery! This book made us want to visit Italy. It’s like Sherlock Holmes in monk robes!
7 The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
Romance and heartbreak in Jazz Age Paris. We could almost hear the jazz playing as we read. Perfect with a glass of wine!
6 Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Time-travel romance in Scotland! We were swept away by the adventure and accent (don’t even try to mimic it, believe us!).
5 Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Set in nineteenth-century China, this book explores female friendship and forbidden love, providing a rich cultural backdrop reminiscent of ‘Memoirs of a Geisha.’
4 The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Civil Rights movement in the 1960s in Mississippi. This book was both powerful and bittersweet, and we learned a ton from it.
3 The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Drama, romance, and betrayal in the Tudor court! History buffs in our group couldn’t get enough of this juicy tale.
2 The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Biblical history from a woman’s perspective. We found this narrative refreshing and empowering. Post-reading discussion turned serious record-breaking!
