Historical Fiction Books
You can often tell when someone is a great reader, when they’ve absorbed the wisdom of those who’ve come before and contemplated with themselves and the world via the medium of the all-conquering pen. To know the stories of great authors is to augment our humanity. Historical fiction is therefore a category we couldn’t miss out on at Sherlock & Pages. Through these books we might not only know the great events of our past but to feel them too. What a privilege that is and one which we invite you to share with us through works such as Hilary Mantel’s ‘Wolf Hall’ trilogy or Min Jin Lee’s Korean epic ‘Pachinko.’
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The Last Quarter of the Moon : A novel from the Vintage Earth collection
A long-time confidante of the rain and snow, I am ninety years old. The rain and snow have weathered me, and I too have weathered them'At the end of the twentieth century an old woman sits among the birch trees and reflects on the...- £9.99 GBP
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Lust For Life
Irving Stone's "Lust for Life" offers a captivating fictional account of the extraordinary existence of Vincent Van Gogh. This masterpiece paints a vivid portrait of the artist's undying legacy, asserting that Van Gogh's passion, brilliance, and artistic contributions shall forever enrich our world. As...- £11.99 GBP
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The Island of Missing Trees
Honoured with a place on the Women's Prize for Fiction 2022 shortlist and celebrated as a Sunday Times top ten bestseller, this captivating tale has also captured the heart of Reese Witherspoon's Book Club. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of 1974 Cyprus, two star-crossed...- £9.99 GBP
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The King's General
Penned at Menabilly, the estate that inspired Manderley in Rebecca, The King's General marks Daphne du Maurier's first novel set in this iconic locale. Sparked by a macabre 19th-century discovery, this tale transports readers to the tumultuous 17th century, weaving a narrative of a...- £9.99 GBP
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Cold Comfort Farm
Hailed as one of the BBC's '100 Novels That Shaped Our World', Cold Comfort Farm is a wickedly clever and uproarious tale that the Sunday Times lauds as 'Brilliant ... very probably the funniest book ever written'. When the astute and refined Flora Poste...- £9.99 GBP
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Underland : A Deep Time Journey
Embark on an extraordinary subterranean odyssey with the internationally acclaimed nature writer Robert Macfarlane. 'Underland: A Deep Time Journey' is a spellbinding exploration of the hidden worlds beneath our feet, crafted by one of the most beloved voices in contemporary nature writing. This Sunday...- £12.99 GBP
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Alone in Berlin
Hailed as an international bestseller and lauded as one of the most extraordinary novels about World War II, Hans Fallada's 'Alone in Berlin' is a riveting wartime thriller rooted in a true story. Set in 1940 Berlin, a city gripped by fear, the narrative...- £9.99 GBP
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Cuddy : Winner of the 2023 Goldsmiths Prize
Benjamin Myers' triumphant novel 'Cuddy' has garnered critical acclaim, scooping the Goldsmiths Prize 2023 and the Winston Graham Historical Prize, whilst also earning spots on numerous 'book of the year' lists. This audacious reimagining of St. Cuthbert's tale - the unofficial patron saint of...- £9.99 GBP
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Hamnet : WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2020 - THE NO. 1 BESTSELLER
Crowned victor of the 2020 Women's Prize for Fiction and reigning supreme as the No. 1 bestseller of 2021, this literary gem has been hailed as "richly sensuous... something special" by The Sunday Times and "a thing of shimmering wonder" by David Mitchell. At...- £9.99 GBP
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Waterland
In Graham Swift's Booker-shortlisted masterpiece, 'Waterland', the discovery of a teenage boy's lifeless body by a lock-keeper in 1943 sets the stage for a riveting tale that unfolds nearly four decades later. Tom Crick, the lock-keeper's son and a history teacher, finds himself embroiled...- £9.99 GBP
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Cecily : An epic feminist retelling of the War of the Roses
Hailed as 'Wolf Hall for the 2020s' by Manda Scott, this gripping tale thrusts readers into the perilous world of 15th-century England. With a 'startling heroine' at its core, as noted by Sarah Moss, 'Cecily' offers a fresh, feminist perspective on the tumultuous Wars...- £9.99 GBP
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This Is Happiness
Nominated for Best Novel in the Irish Book Awards and in contention for the 2020 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, this work comes from the pen of Niall Williams, whose previous novel 'History of the Rain' earned a place on the Man Booker...- £9.99 GBP
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Run to the Western Shore : `Surprising, poignant, elemental' novel from award-winning author
In this captivating tale of love and destiny, Tim Pears weaves a mesmerising narrative set against the backdrop of ancient Britain. It's AD 72, and two unlikely souls find themselves thrust together in a world teetering on the brink of change. Meet Quintus, a...- £12.99 GBP
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Love of Country : A Hebridean Journey
Nestled on the fringe of the British Isles, the Hebrides occupy a singular place in the collective consciousness of Scotland and England. These iconic islands, facing the vast Atlantic, form a natural boundary of Europe and have long been a crossroads of ancient maritime...- £10.99 GBP
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My Brilliant Friend
OVER 5 MILLION COPIES SOLD IN ENGLISH WORLDWIDEOVER 14 MILLION COPIES OF THE NEAPOLITAN QUARTET SOLD WORLDWIDETHE NEW YORK TIMES' #1 BEST BOOKS OF THE 21st CENTURYTHE NEW YORK TIMES' #8 READERS' LIST BEST BOOKS OF THE 21st CENTURYTHE GUARDIAN'S 100 BEST BOOKS OF...- £10.99 GBP
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Barkskins : Longlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 2017
Shortlisted for the prestigious Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction and now a captivating television series, 'Barkskins' is the magnum opus of Annie Proulx, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of 'The Shipping News' and 'Brokeback Mountain'. This sweeping, audacious novel chronicles the devastating exploitation of the...- £14.99 GBP
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This Tender Land : A Novel
Embark on a captivating journey through the Great Depression with William Kent Krueger's "This Tender Land: A Novel". This gripping tale, reminiscent of beloved works like "Before We Were Yours" and "Where the Crawdads Sing", weaves a tapestry of myth and mysticism around four...- £8.99 GBP
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All the Seas of the World : International bestseller
Lauded as a 'genius' by Brandon Sanderson, Guy Gavriel Kay returns to the quasi-Renaissance realm of his previous works, 'A Brightness Long Ago' and 'Children of Earth and Sky'. In this gripping tale of retribution, authority, and passion, Kay weaves a tapestry of intrigue...- £9.99 GBP
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A Gentleman in Moscow
With over 4 million copies sold and a Showtime/Paramount+ adaptation starring Ewan McGregor, this captivating tale from the #1 New York Times bestselling author has taken the literary world by storm. Critics and readers alike have hailed it as witty, insightful, and utterly charming....- £9.99 GBP
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Pachinko : The New York Times Bestseller
Embark on an extraordinary journey through four generations in Min Jin Lee's captivating saga, 'Pachinko'. This million-copy bestseller and National Book Award finalist has taken the literary world by storm, earning its place as an instant New York Times Bestseller and one of their...- £8.99 GBP
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The Book Thief : TikTok made me buy it! The life-affirming reader favourite
A captivating tale that intertwines triumph and tragedy, masterfully crafted to both uplift and move the reader. This extraordinary narrative has garnered acclaim from the Guardian, New York Times, and Telegraph for its ambitious scope and brilliant execution. Set against the backdrop of 1939...- £9.99 GBP
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A Little Trickerie
Introducing the instant Sunday Times bestseller that's captivating readers across the nation. Bonnie Garmus, author of 'Lessons in Chemistry', hails it as "Crisp, transportive, uplifting. The fresh, irreverent voice of Tibb Ingleby is sheer brilliance." Meet Tibb Ingleby, a vagabond by birth who's never...- £16.99 GBP
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The Name of the Rose
Immerse yourself in a captivating medieval whodunit. It's 1327, and a wealthy Italian abbey is rife with suspicion of heresy. Enter Brother William of Baskerville, tasked with uncovering the truth. But when seven mysterious deaths occur, his mission takes a sinister turn. With the...- £10.99 GBP
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Black Narcissus
NOW A HAUNTING BBC DRAMA, STARRING GEMMA ARTERTON AND DIANA RIGG'A remarkable and beautiful book' DAILY TELEGRAPH'I envy anyone reading it for the first time' AMANDA COE'[Godden has] a genius for storytelling' EVENING STANDARDHigh in the Himalayas, the mountaintop palace shines like a jewel....- £14.99 GBP
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English Pastoral : An Inheritance - The Sunday Times bestseller from the author of The Shepherd's Life
Lauded as THE SUNDAY TIMES NATURE BOOK OF THE YEAR, this captivating bestseller from James Rebanks, acclaimed author of The Shepherd's Life, weaves a poignant tale of rural transformation. Nigel Slater aptly describes it as 'A beautifully written story of a family, a home...- £10.99 GBP
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Death in Spring
A mesmerising and haunting masterpiece, Death in Spring weaves a tapestry of beauty and unease. This extraordinary tale follows a young lad's journey into adulthood in a secluded Catalan mountain village, cut off from the world beyond. Here, barbaric traditions reign supreme, and any...- £9.99 GBP
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All the Light We Cannot See
Prepare for a captivating Netflix adaptation helmed by Shawn Levy, featuring a stellar cast including Louis Hofmann, Lars Eidinger, Marion Bailey, Hugh Laurie, and Mark Ruffalo, with newcomer Aria Mia Loberti. Anthony Doerr's "All the Light We Cannot See" has garnered numerous accolades, including...- £9.99 GBP
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In Memoriam
Acclaimed as Waterstones Novel of the Year and British Book Awards Debut of the Year, this Sunday Times bestseller has captivated readers and critics alike. Bonnie Garmus, author of 'Lessons in Chemistry', declares it a must-read, whilst Elizabeth Day urges readers to "rush out...- £9.99 GBP
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The Bell in the Lake : The Sister Bells Trilogy Vol. 1: The Times Historical Fiction Book of the Month
"Love, suspense, nature and superstition are woven together in this powerful novel" MAJA LUNDE, author of The History of Bees"Lars Mytting writes with an insight, empathy and integrity few others can match" JO NESBO"An exquisitely atmospheric novel . . . The Bell in the...- £9.99 GBP
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Forbidden Notebook
On a routine errand, Valeria Cossati succumbs to an unexpected urge and procures a gleaming ebony journal. Unbeknownst to her family, she embarks on a clandestine journey of self-expression, chronicling her innermost thoughts. As she puts pen to paper, Valeria delves into her apprehensions...- £9.99 GBP
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Fire from Heaven : A Novel of Alexander the Great: A Virago Modern Classic
From the moment of his birth, Alexander's exceptional qualities were evident. His childhood experiences moulded these innate gifts into the foundations of a future ruler. Olympias, his mother, and Philip, his father and King of Macedon, engaged in a tug-of-war for their son's allegiance,...- £9.99 GBP
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The English Patient : Winner of the Golden Man Booker Prize
Crowned with the Golden Man Booker Prize in 2018, this 'magnificent' (Sunday Times) novel has been hailed as 'the best piece of fiction I've read in years' (Independent on Sunday). As the final act of the Second World War draws to a close, we...- £9.99 GBP
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Henry VIII: The Heart and the Crown : 'this novel makes Henry VIII's story feel like it has never been told before' (Tracy Borman)
Alison Weir's Sunday Times top 10 bestseller offers a fresh perspective on one of history's most infamous monarchs. As Tracy Borman notes, 'This novel makes Henry VIII's story feel like it has never been told before... It will open your eyes and, at times,...- £10.99 GBP
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The Marriage Portrait : the Instant Sunday Times Bestseller, Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023
Maggie O'Farrell's "The Marriage Portrait" has garnered widespread acclaim, securing a spot on the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023 shortlist and becoming a Reese's Bookclub selection. This gripping tale swiftly ascended bestseller lists across the globe, earning plaudits from literary critics and readers alike....- £9.99 GBP
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An Ordinary Youth : A Novel
Growing up in Rostock, in the north of Germany, Walter has a comfortable upbringing: quiet and content, he spends his days scheming with school friends and resisting the torment of his older siblings. But, as the country rolls toward war, the attitudes of his...- £9.99 GBP
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I Was Jack Mortimer
Hailed as 'A gripping glimpse into interwar Vienna, brisk and enthralling' by the Guardian, this tale unfolds with the precision of a finely-tuned timepiece. Ferdinand Sponer, a humble cabbie, finds himself thrust into a world of intrigue when his passenger, bound for the Hotel...- £9.99 GBP
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Maud Martha (Faber Editions) : 'I loved it and want everyone to read this lost literary treasure.' Bernardine Evaristo
AS HEARD ON BBC RADIO 4'S 'A GOOD READ'Such a wonderful book. Utterly unique, exquisitely crafted and quietly powerful. I loved it and want everyone to read this lost literary treasure.' Bernardine Evaristo'Maud Martha finds beauty in the brutal formative moments that make us....- £9.99 GBP
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Darkness at Noon
A brilliant new translation of Koestler's long-lost original manuscript. A chilling and unforgettable 20th century classic. From a prison cell in an unnamed country run by a totalitarian government Rubashov reflects. Once a powerful player in the regime, mercilessly dispensing with anyone who got...- £9.99 GBP
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Where the Crawdads Sing
Topping the New York Times Bestseller list and lauded by Reese Witherspoon's book club, "Where the Crawdads Sing" has captivated readers with its haunting narrative. The New York Times Book Review aptly describes it as "painfully beautiful". Set in the coastal town of Barkley...- £9.99 GBP
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Laurus : The International Bestseller
Acclaimed as 'the most significant living Russian author' by The New Yorker, Eugene Vodolazkin's 'Laurus' has garnered multiple prestigious accolades, including the Big Book Award, the Leo Tolstoy Yasnaya Polyana Award, and the Read Russia Award. It was also recognised as a Book of...- £9.99 GBP
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Lincoln in the Bardo : WINNER OF THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2017
The acclaimed novel by George Saunders, winner of the prestigious Man Booker Prize in 2017, is a poignant tale of love and loss that transcends the boundaries of reality. Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, the story revolves around President Abraham...- £9.99 GBP
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China Court : The Hours of a Country House
A brand new edition of the 1961 classic novel by Rumer Godden. This book is set in Cornwall, and tells the story of five generations of the Quin family, as their lives unfold at China Court, their beautiful country house.- £18.99 GBP
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Wolf Hall
Embark on a journey through the tumultuous Tudor era with Hilary Mantel's masterpiece, 'Wolf Hall'. This Man Booker Prize-winning novel, now a gripping television series, marks the inception of the acclaimed Wolf Hall trilogy. With the release of 'The Mirror and the Light', this...- £10.99 GBP
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The Mirror and the Light
Poised to become a major television series, this Sunday Times bestseller has garnered critical acclaim, earning a place on both the Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist and the Booker Prize longlist. The Telegraph hails it as "a book not read, but lived", whilst the...- £10.99 GBP
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The Colour
In Rose Tremain's gripping novel "The Colour", we follow the tumultuous journey of Joseph and Harriet Blackstone as they leave Norfolk behind for the promise of a fresh start in New Zealand. Their hopes for prosperity are swiftly challenged by the unforgiving landscape near...- £10.99 GBP
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Year of Wonders
Penned by the esteemed Pulitzer Prize laureate behind 'March' and 'People of the Book', this gripping tale unfolds in the fateful year of 1666. It chronicles a young woman's valiant struggle to preserve her family and her very essence amidst a devastating plague that...- £9.99 GBP
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Labyrinth
In the sweltering heat of July 1209, Carcassonne witnesses the birth of a mystery. Young Alaïs Pelletier, merely seventeen, receives an enigmatic tome from her father. He insists it harbours the authentic Grail's secret. Though the peculiar symbols and words elude her comprehension, Alaïs...- £12.99 GBP
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Split Tooth
Shortlisted for the 2023-2024 Gordon Burn Prize and the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize, and crowned victor of the 2019 Indigenous Voices Award for Published Prose in English, this extraordinary debut novel blurs the lines between fact and fiction, reality and myth. Set in the...- £14.99 GBP
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The Grapes of Wrath
Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, 'The Grapes of Wrath', sets out to shred the reader's emotions with ruthless precision. This provocative and contentious novel chronicles the Joad family's harrowing exodus from Dust Bowl Oklahoma to the promised Eden of California. Their odyssey unfolds as a...- £9.99 GBP
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Historical Fiction Books For Readers Who Love a Good Period Piece
British book lovers know there's nothing quite like getting lost in a gripping historical fiction novel. At Sherlock and Pages, we have an extensive range of historical fiction books for every taste. Our historical fiction section transports readers back through the ages to experience the drama and intrigue of days gone by.
Whether you fancy tales of wartime espionage, sweeping family sagas, or vivid adventures on the high seas, we have historical fiction books to satisfy. Our range includes bestselling historical fiction from celebrated authors who really know how to bring the past to life. You can shop historical fiction books by your favourite time periods or settings.
At Sherlock and Pages, we make it easy for you to find new historical fiction books to add to your to-be-read pile. Browse our collection and you'll find gripping historical fiction novels that will have you hooked from page one. With our passion for great storytelling and exciting periods in history, we're your number one destination for historical fiction books online.