20 Historical Fiction Books To Read 

I got introduced Bernard Cornwell through one of your previous videos and I honestly can’t thank you enough. I’ve become obsessed. This is by far one of the most underrated YT channels! 💪

1:00 Dorothy Dunnet - Niccolo Rising 1:53 Manda Scott - Boudica Series 3:45 Simon Scarrow - Wellington and Napoleon series 5:00 Charles Portis - True Grit 6:55 Hilary Mantel - Wolf Hall 8:30 James Clavell - Shogun 9:26 Alan Le May - The Searchers 11:00 Bernard Cornwell - Warlord 12:26 Gary Jennings - Aztec 13:50 Matthew Harffy - Killer of Kings 14:32 Peter Carey - The History of The Kelly Gang 15:50 Conn Iggulden - Lion 17:53 James Alexander Thom - Panther in the Sky 18:50 Elodie Harper - The House With The Golden Door 20:35 Joseph M. Marshall - Hundred in the Hand 22:15 Robert Harris - The Cicero Trilogy 23:31 Sebastian Faulks - Birdsong Trilogy 24:15 Kristin Hannah - The Four Winds 25:01 Jeff Shaara - Gods and Generals 26:06 Baptiste Pinson Wu - Yellow Sky Revolt

Shogun is the first book in a 6 book series. It’s so well written that I found myself flying through it. Same with the Ken Follett historical fiction books.

I was just about to look for some videos for Historical Fiction recommendations then this video pops up! Perfect timing!

Always enjoy your historical fiction recommends guys, whether they would be rereads or brand new for me. Conn Iggulden was one of my first author introductions to historical fiction, yet I haven't read any of the Ancient Athens books yet. Also I keep meaning to read Wolf Hall Trilogy too, I even have the first on my shelf still waiting. Cheers gents!

Shogun was a huge priority for me this year, almost done with it (been reading it over three months as part of a readalong). The Cicero books are excellent (I've read the first two so far in Allen's readalong), would love to read more from that time period.

Thanks for mentioning Yellow Sky Revolt in this video guys! I hope you'll enjoy it as well as the following ones. And you're right, the Shu characters are the best.

A nice and varied list! I'm in the middle of the 1st Law with "Best Served Cold", but have decided to get back to historical fiction after a long while with Günter Grass' epic classic "The Tin Drum, so I'll be squeezing that one in right after BSC.

My tbr grew so much with this video! I read Birdsong a long time ago and loved it but I'd like to reread it at some point because I think I'd appreciate it even more now that I'm older, I'd also like to read more by Sebastian Faulks.

Good job. Well done. Fun to watch. Thanks.

I LOVE the variety on this list, you guys keep being absolute terrors for my TBR and I don't even mind hahah. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on all of these, they all sound fascinating. Also, thank you so much for keeping in all the side tangents and quibbling, your videos are just top tier entertainment 🤩 Happy reading!

Also the Century trilogy by Ken Follett was very good. The first book was amazing. Made me tear up a few times.

The four winds is really great definitely one of kristen best books

Currently reading The Troy series by David Gemmell, great read so far. Also started a Roman series by Angus Watson. 1st book Age of Iron.

Imperium was fantastic. I’m mildly ashamed I got it as a gift when I was 16 it stayed on my shelf 16 years before reading. Just bought Lustrum. Also the influence it had on Richard swan and justice of kings is clearly visible

Great content as always!

Jerusalem by Cecelia Holland is a great historical novel. Glad to see Aztec on the list - one of my favorites!

That was a very varied list. As for historical fiction that i would like to read this year, aside from the Boudica readalong which i do plan to participate in, I'm extremely interested in The New Achilles by Christian Cameron.

Historical I'm intending on reading this year: All the light we cannot see by Anthony doerr (current read) Brooklyn by colm toibin More of the Marcus Didius Falco series by Lindsey Davis World without end by Ken Follett The betrayal by Kate Furnival The pale horseman by Bernard Cornwell (and more in the series) Shuggie bain by Douglas Stuart Between shades of gray by Ruta sepetys The boleyn inheritance by philippa gregory Shogun by James clavell Fingersmith by Sarah waters Hell fire by cj sansom Atonement by Ian mcewan We'll see how I get on!!

Oh man what a throwback. Loved playing dynasty warriors on ps2 back in the day. Gan Ning has always been my favourite. Will have to check out yellow sky revolt!

What a list. I've just bought Boudica cause you two keep saying how good it is, so I'm looking forward to starting that later in the year. Hard to beat a good bit of historical fiction.

I will start my historical fiction journey with Warlord Chronicles in the next few days and will be moving on to Saxon Stories afterwards. The Last Kingdom is probably my favorite TV show ever and I can’t wait to experience it in written form! Based on all I’ve heard, I’m certain Cornwell will click with me!

Reading War & Peace at the moment. Would like to read Wolf Hall too someday

I hope to try one or two by Amy Harmon, who has a really nice prose style, as well as The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I told my dad you recommended Dan Jones and so he’s enjoying one by him

We Appy Few is a great book to read. A hundred year old man tells a young Henry 8th his account of the battle of Agincourt. Its funny and touching, and makes you question the nature of history, truth, and language.

The Cicero Trilogy is amazing!! My favourite books ever!

Have you guys considered a follow up video on how the books panned out?

Added Boudica to my ever growing list. Sounds awesome. Thanks, guys.

I'm looking forward to joining Will's Boudica readalong starting in March. I'll be heading over to the discord to suggest Ed host a readalong for the True History of the Kelly Gang.

I'm planning on reading the Knightsbridge books again. And re reading the Sharpe novels. I can recommend Tim Willocks - Tannhauser trilogy. Although he hasn't finished the trilogy yet Great list of books. Very interested in the one written by the Lakota dude.

I didn't read Panther in the Sky, but I did read From Sea to Shining Sea by the same author, James Alexander Thom. I thought it was fantastic and made me want to read more of his books. Another of his I just purchased recently was Follow the River

One omission: the Flashman series is more than a match the stuff here. Flashman at the Charge and Flashman in the Great Game are best: witty, intelligent and well researched.

Recommend sword and scimitar by Simon scarrow. Really good stand alone about the great siege of Malta. Also hurry up and read the wars of the roses by conn Iggulden

Thanks so much for this great list! What is the great Amanda Scott book that was mentioned?

Thank you good recommendations

I wondered if you fine chaps had/planned to read any books by Alfred Duggan: "The Little Emperors", "Conscience of the King", "Winter Quarters" etc. ? Can recommend checking out "The Templar Trilogy" by Swedish Jan Guillou. Currently enjoying "The Winter King" by Bernard Cornwell!

I finished today my current read and I will start Boudica - Dreaming the Eagle. Hmm, which Booktubers are responsible for that?

Audio is a bit rough

So, No Pillars of the Earth 😭

Well now I have to go buy all of these books lol

Ben Hur.

What if I´m from the city? Do you still want my ears?

All is fair in love of books 😘 I like Renaissance Italy, though the first time I played Assassin's Creed 2, I didn't care for it. Then I couldn't stop playing it. I looked up Niccolo Rising the first time you mentioned it, Ed, but I couldn't find the audio for it 🥲. I had been trying to remember which historical fiction series I had that was napoleonic except for Sharpe. Thanks, Ed! I haven't gotten to it yet, but I have the audio! Will is choosing the short western? Lonesome Dove will fly by, Will! True Grit has been known to elicit some giggles. And I have the audio for The Searchers. The True History of the Kelly Gang is on audible (looks interesting). I have found an Australian author named Peter FitzSimons that does nonfiction, history & military/war. I have multiple audiobooks of his to get to. The Cicero trilogy is fantastic, in my opinion, boys. I am midway through the final book & I'm already considering what other books by this author I want to get to. I've been feeling like a yapping chihuahua, jumping up and down, in the comments trying to make sure you knew about Shelby Foote, Ed, and you already knew 😂. You might look into Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson, too.

Historical I'm intending on reading this year: All the light we cannot see by Anthony doerr (current read) Brooklyn by colm toibin More of the Marcus Didius Falco series by Lindsey Davis World without end by Ken Follett The betrayal by Kate Furnival The pale horseman by Bernard Cornwell (and more in the series) Shuggie bain by Douglas Stuart Between shades of gray by Ruta sepetys The boleyn inheritance by philippa gregory Shogun by James clavell Fingersmith by Sarah waters Hell fire by cj sansom Atonement by Ian mcewan We'll see how I get on!!