adminThere’s something magical about opening up a book and finding yourself in another place and time. One of the best ways to do that is historical fiction — stories that take real events and weave them with made-up characters and settings.
The result is a blend of fact and fiction that transports you to an earlier time and place and paints a vivid picture for you. You feel like you’re there. You can see and feel and touch.
If you love history, this reading experience is even more wonderful. Read on to learn about the best authors of historical fiction that will transport you back to earlier times and places.
1. Ken Follet
Ken Follet is one of the authors of historical fiction that everyone needs to read. Follet’s works offer readers a unique way to experience the past as they explore a vast and complex array of characters in eras gone by.
He is also a master of creating unexpected twists and turns, ensuring that no one will see where his plot is going until the very end. Follet is often described as a ‘literary time machine’; his books transport readers to a different era entirely, immersing them in intricate descriptions of vibrant characters and cultures that have long since passed.
His works range from the time period of the Hundred Years War between England and France to the tale of three cousins in modern-day London. Through his powerful writing, one can become an active participant in history, making Follet an essential author for readers of historical fiction to explore.
2. Hilary Mantel
Hilary Mantel is a highly acclaimed author of historical fiction and undoubtedly one of the best in this genre. Through her writing, she creates ‘literary time machines’ that transport her readers into centuries past.
Her mesmerizing, masterly accounts of the travails of England’s monarchs have truly set a new benchmark for historical novels. Her award-winning works include Wolf Hall and its sequel, Bring Up the Bodies. These novels follow the extraordinary career of Thomas Cromwell and cover the reigns of Henry VIII and his successors as he ascended the throne.
Her writing style takes the characters off the pages and brings them to life in a stunningly vivid way. She deals with history, but her books are not about history. They’re about people, devotion, power, and ambition. Hilary Mantel is an author whose work is a must-read for any lover of historical fiction.
3. Geraldine Brooks
Geraldine Brooks is an author of historical fiction whose stories are often described as literary time machines. Her novels combine historical facts with vivid imagination, transporting readers to past eras with extraordinary detail, resulting in experiences that both entertain and educate.
Brooks’ stories begin with research into a period or person and then expand into enthralling tales. Her novels “March” and “The Secret Chord” are based on the life of 19th-century American iconic figure, the Reverend John March.
“People of the Book” tells the story of the survival and restoration of an ancient Jewish book during an adventure of loss, fate, faith, and time. Brooks’ impressive research and ability to create complex characters make her tales accessible to readers of all ages and from all backgrounds.
Her novels transport readers to another place and time, embellishing the importance of the past and helping readers to understand the present. Geraldine Brooks is an author of historical fiction who writes compelling stories taking readers to a journey through time they won’t soon forget.
4. Diana Gabaldon
Diana Gabaldon is an incredible author of historical fiction and a literary time machine for readers. Her stories transport readers to times and places that may never have been witnessed first-hand.
Her Outlander series has been an incredibly popular idea for a long time, and the success of the series has led to her becoming an international bestseller. These books have been adapted into a popular television series and no matter the medium, each story is a captivating journey of intrigue and adventure, spanning centuries.
Her stories center on characters that are rich in their emotional journeys as they face hardship and stir up unanticipated depths of emotion. Despite the plotlines being historically inspired, readers can be sure of fantastic tales and unforgettable journeys in the unique worlds crafted by Gabaldon.
5. Philippa Gregory
Philippa Gregory is a beloved author of historical fiction, renowned for her use of literary time machines to transport readers to another era. Her novels, spanning from the War of the Roses to the American Revolutionary era, take readers on a journey through time.
Her work focuses on the stories of individuals with a strong focus on realism, compassion, and complex relationships. Her vivid settings, precise detail, and strong female characters make these books “must-reads” for historical fiction fans.
With over 15 published works, this incredible author is sure to take your breath away with tales of love, treachery, power, class struggle, and more. Readers can expect to explore new boundaries with each novel Gregory releases, from the intrigue of the old British court to the danger of a post-Revolutionary Virginia plantation.
6. Sarah Waters
Sarah Waters is a renowned author of classic historical fiction who creates extraordinarily vivid and compelling stories set in the past. Her novels build richly detailed worlds that transport the reader to a bygone era.
She is an expert in crafting complex characters that wrestle with moral and ethical dilemmas set against the backdrop of difficult historical periods. Her stories often span a long timeline, exploring the changing moralities of the world and looking at how personal relationships are affected by the times.
Sarah Waters’ work is an incredibly enjoyable form of literary time travel, immersing the reader in the nuance of period and behavior. Waters is a masterful storyteller who has earned her place among history’s most influential authors.
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Explore the Best Authors of Historical Fiction
The best authors of historical fiction created a journey to the past that transported the reader into a time machine. It is highly recommended for each of these authors to anyone looking for a captivating and entertaining story.
If you want to escape the present and explore the days of the past, these authors are the perfect way to do it!
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