Whether you’re fascinated by Ancient Rome, captivated by Medieval battles, drawn to Tudor intrigue, or moved by World War II stories, Historical Shelf helps you discover and navigate the rich world of historical fiction.
📚 What Is Historical Fiction?
Learn about the genre, how it differs from other types of fiction, and what makes great historical novels.
🎯 For Beginners
Start your historical fiction journey with our curated recommendations for newcomers to the genre.
⭐ Best of All Time
Explore the greatest historical fiction novels ever written across all time periods.
Explore by Time Period
Featured Authors
Discover the masters of historical fiction and explore their complete bibliographies and series.
Popular Series Reading Orders
Get the complete reading order for your favorite historical fiction series.
The Last Kingdom
Bernard Cornwell’s epic saxon stories saga
Sharpe Series
Napoleonic Wars adventures
Kingsbridge Series
Ken Follett’s medieval saga
Wolf Hall Trilogy
Hilary Mantel’s Tudor chronicle
Emperor Series
Conn Iggulden’s Julius Caesar saga
Outlander Series
Diana Gabaldon’s time-traveling romance
Curated Reading Lists
Latest Articles
Shardlake Series Reading Order: Complete Guide
The Shardlake series by C.J. Sansom is one of the finest achievements in historical mystery fiction, combining meticulously researched Tudor history with gripping murder investigations. Across seven novels spanning 1537 to 1553, we follow Matthew Shardlake, a hunchbacked lawyer navigating the deadly political and religious upheavals of Henry VIII’s England and the turbulent reigns that…
Plantagenet & Tudor Series Reading Order: Complete Guide
The Plantagenet and Tudor series by Philippa Gregory represents one of the most ambitious historical fiction projects ever undertaken, spanning over 400 years of English royal history across 15+ interconnected novels. These books bring to life the queens, princesses, and noblewomen who shaped medieval and Tudor England through war, betrayal, love, and ambition. Philippa Gregory…
Cicero Trilogy Reading Order: Complete Guide
The Cicero Trilogy by Robert Harris is a complete series of 3 political thrillers set in Ancient Rome during the final decades of the Roman Republic. Narrated by Cicero’s loyal secretary Tiro, the trilogy chronicles the extraordinary life of Marcus Tullius Cicero from ambitious young lawyer to Rome’s greatest orator and statesman, culminating in his…
Conqueror Series Reading Order: Complete Guide
The Conqueror series by Conn Iggulden comprises five epic novels that chronicle the rise of the Mongol Empire across three generations. The series follows the legendary Genghis Khan from his brutal childhood on the Mongolian steppes through his creation of the largest contiguous land empire in history, then continues with his sons and grandsons who…
Emperor Series Reading Order: Complete Guide
The Emperor Series brings ancient Rome’s most legendary figure to vivid life through meticulously researched historical fiction that combines brutal warfare, political intrigue, and the making of a legend. Conn Iggulden’s epic saga follows Julius Caesar from his boyhood through his transformation into one of history’s most famous conquerors. The Emperor Series by Conn Iggulden…
Century Trilogy Reading Order: Complete Guide
The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett is a monumental achievement in historical fiction, an epic family saga spanning the entire 20th century. This sweeping series follows five interrelated families across three generations as they navigate the most turbulent and transformative period in human history. Published between 2010 and 2014, the trilogy encompasses World War I,…