A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.~ Robert Heinlein
Melanie is our historical fiction expert. Since we are living in historic times, we asked her to recommend some of her favorite historical fiction novels. Here are 5 books that depict a variety of eras, countries and characters. Melanie thinks these all deserve 5 stars.
The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate
Lisa Wingate’s new novel is inspired by little-known historical events: a dramatic story of three young women on a journey in search of family amidst the destruction of the post-Civil War South, and of a modern-day teacher who rediscovers their story and its vital connection to her own students' lives.
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
The unforgettable story of four orphans who travel the Mississippi River on a life-changing odyssey during the Great Depression.
The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
Vivid, gripping, and steeped in the language and traditions of Việt Nam, The Mountains Sing brings to life the human costs of this conflict from the point of view of the Vietnamese people themselves, while showing us the true power of kindness and hope.
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
Master storyteller Ruta Sepetys once again shines light into one of history’s darkest corners in this epic, heart-wrenching novel about identity, unforgettable love, repercussions of war, and the hidden violence of silence—inspired by the true postwar struggles of Spain.
Ribbons of Scarlet by Kate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie, E. Knight, Sophie Perinot, Heather Webb…
Six bestselling and award-winning authors bring to life a breathtaking epic novel illuminating the hopes, desires, and destinies of princesses and peasants, harlots and wives, fanatics and philosophers—six unforgettable women whose paths cross during one of the most tumultuous and transformative events in history: the French Revolution.