Well, 'The Kite Runner' can be considered a great historical fiction. It shows Afghanistan from a different era, with its rich culture and the tragedies it has endured over time. 'The Book Thief' is also among the best. Set in Nazi Germany, it tells the story from the perspective of a young girl and how books and words were so important during that dark time. 'All the Light We Cannot See' is another excellent one, set during World War II, exploring the lives of a blind French girl and a German boy.
One of the great historical fictions in 2012 was 'Bring Up the Bodies' by Hilary Mantel. It's set in the court of Henry VIII and offers a vivid portrayal of the power struggles and political intrigue of the time.
One of the great historical fictions in 2010 could be 'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel. It offers a vivid portrayal of Tudor England, with complex characters like Thomas Cromwell. Another might be 'The Passage' by Justin Cronin which has elements of post - apocalyptic future but also delves into historical events that led to that state.
One of the best historical fictions in 2017 could be 'The Underground Railroad' by Colson Whitehead. It tells a powerful story about slavery in a unique way, with the concept of an actual underground railroad as a physical structure.
One of the best historical fictions is 'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel. It vividly portrays the court of Henry VIII. Another great one is 'The Pillars of the Earth' by Ken Follett, which gives a detailed look at the building of a cathedral in the Middle Ages. 'Gone with the Wind' is also a classic historical fiction set during the American Civil War.
Another great one is 'Schindler's List' by Thomas Keneally. This novel is based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of many Jews during the Holocaust. It's a detailed and harrowing account of that dark time.
One of the best is 'The Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown. It combines historical facts and religious symbols in a thrilling chase across Europe.
One of the popular 2018 best selling historical fictions was 'The Alice Network' by Kate Quinn. It weaves together two timelines, one during World War I and the other after World War II, following the story of female spies which was really engaging.
Well, 'Gaudy Night' by Dorothy L. Sayers is a wonderful historical detective fiction. It's part of her Lord Peter Wimsey series and is set in an Oxford college. Then there's 'The Daughter of Time' by Josephine Tey, which is unique as it involves a detective solving a historical mystery about King Richard III while being bedridden. And we can't forget 'A Morbid Taste for Bones' by Ellis Peters, set in medieval Wales with a monk as the detective.
One of the best is 'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak. It tells the story from the perspective of a young girl in Nazi Germany and how books became a form of solace. Another great one is 'All the Light We Cannot See' which follows a blind French girl and a German boy during the war. And 'Slaughterhouse - Five' by Kurt Vonnegut also stands out as a unique take on the WW2 experience.
One great Catholic historical fiction is 'The Pillars of the Earth' by Ken Follett. It vividly depicts the building of a cathedral in the Middle Ages and also touches on the role of the Catholic Church during that time. Another is 'Quo Vadis' by Henryk Sienkiewicz which is set in ancient Rome and shows the interaction between early Christians and the Roman society, with Catholic beliefs and values being central to the story. And 'I, Claudius' by Robert Graves gives a detailed look at the Roman Empire and the influence of religious beliefs including those related to Catholic precursors.