“A reader lives a thousand lives.” – George R.R. Martin

Books easily transport us to different times and places. Through their pages there is immersion in the sights, sounds, and emotions of other people and times. They create a way for us to experience multiple lives and expand our horizons beyond our own worldview. Historical fiction is a genre that is easy to come back to time and time again, as it helps us grapple with the past, empathize with others, and reflect on our own lives. Here are a few historical fiction novels that will take you on a journey through time. 

The Fraud by Zadie Smith

One of my favorite books of last year, this book is honestly dazzling in its brilliance. Based on real historical events, this book centers around the “Tichborne Trial” with a middle-aged widow as a protagonist. It is a novel about fraudulence and authenticity, Jamaica and Britain, and the mystery of who we really are. 

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

Inspired by the World War II history of the few bookshops to survive the Blitz, this story is about love, loss, and the everlasting power of literature. Grace Bennett has always dreamed of moving to London, but the London of August 1939 is quite different from her imagination. Through blackouts and air raids, Grace discovers the power of storytelling to keep her community moving forward. 

The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry

Both a western and a love story, this story is set in 1891 in Montana. A young poet and a woman brought to town to be the new bride of the mine captain spark a love affair and go on the lam. Pursued by gunmen, their choices and each other are all they have. It is a moving, lyrical, and propulsive story.

Oil and Marble by Stephanie Storey

A story of the nearly forgotten rivalry between Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti as they both lived and worked in Florence in the early 1500s. Stephanie brings Florence alive and shows the impact these two incredible artists had on each other. 

Fireflies in the Mist by Qurratulain Hyder

Following the creation of modern day Bangladesh from Indian province to Partition to the emergence of statehood, this book is focused on a group of women whose lives are intertwined. Their stories are personal and woven together with the politics of the age as each woman heads towards her own fate. 

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

With achingly beautiful prose, Jesmyn tells the story of a young enslaved woman called Annis. This book is a reimagining of American slavery and travels from the rice fields of the Carolinas to the slave markets of New Orleans to Louisiana plantations. It is a story of rebirth and reclamation. 

The Color of Air by Gail Tsukiyama

Highlighting the experience of Japanese Americans who immigrated to Hawaii to work on sugar plantations, this story also centers on family dynamics and the 1935 eruption of Mauna Loa. Gail’s writing is worthy of savoring, and she brings the time to life in an almost tactile and atmospheric way.

Happy Reading!

Featured in the August 10, 2024 issue of The Independent