In these difficult times we all need something to focus on, positives in our lives and for me one of those things is books and book blogging. So I’m going to press ahead and allow books to help me cope in the weeks ahead.
Today I’m looking at some of my all time favourite historical fiction novels, with a list of my top 50 favourite books in this genre. I’m going to break it down into five separate blog posts, so you don’t get bored before you reach the bottom.
So here we go with part 5 of my favourite historical fiction novels.
As with previous posts in this series they are not listed in any particular order!
1 The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier
Though I love all of this authors books, this is without doubt one of my favourites. Powerful and an absolute joy to read.
2 The Invention Of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
I studied American History at University and have a deep abiding fascination about it’s history and Ilove any novels relating to this. Set in the Deep South this The Invention of Wings is a stunning story about a very dark period in this countries turbulent past.
3 Longbourn by Jo Baker
Set below stairs in the house where Jane Austen set Pride and Prejudice, this for me was a powerful read about loyalty, love and social norms. Wonderful read.
4 Instruction for a Heatwave by Maggie O’Farrell
This is a powerful family drama from a writer of immense talent.
5 Winter In Madrid by C J Sansom
When you think about the author C J Sansom most name his stunning Shardlake series! Here is an equally powerful and intriguing read about wartime Spain.
6 The Courier by Kjell Ola Dahl
This is a stunning portrayal of loss and betrayal and the first book by this author that I had read. I have since gone on to read more and his ability to write intense, atmospheric thrillers makes him a must read author.
7 To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Surely this qualifies as one of the greatest novels ever written! For me, it is truly a classic that is not only of its period, but as relevant today as the day it was written.
8 Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
I knew nothing about the orphan trains until I read this novel. It’s an emotional read and one that has stuck with me for a long time.
9 The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cromwell
I enjoyed this when it was adapted for TV, but the books for me as so much better!
10 Shogun by James Clavell
It has been a long time since I read this book, but I can still remember how addictive it was, how the writer evoked a land and history I knew nothing about.
Well that is the end of my series of posts about some of my favourite historical reads. You can buy these from the usual online sites such as Amazon and Waterstones, but why not give your local indie a ring and order from them?
booksaremycwtches 
Wait… Instructions for a Heatwave takes place in 1976 (I know because I read this and was thrilled to recall that I was in the UK during that horribly hot summer). That’s not historical… because it takes place less than 50 years before it was written! No, I wouldn’t call this historical. Sorry!
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Well, always happy to disagree. I studied history and often that included periods within my living memory. It is all subjective!
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Yes and no… I mean, if someone writes a novel about the 2016 elections in the US or the Brexit vote, while that was history in the making, true, it is still contemporary fiction in my book. And technically, historical fiction is defined as 50 years prior to the writing of the book (although that’s a touch flexible these days).
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