If you enjoy reading about characters living in a different time or navigating real historical events, here are some tips to help you find your next historical fiction read! Browse award winners, get recommendations from our staff, or make a selection from our list of historical fiction authors linked directly to our catalog, so you can conveniently place holds and check item availability. You might also find reading suggestions at If You Like Historical Romance.
Award Winners
- The Walter Scott Prize recognizes historical fiction novels published in the last year. Browse the Walter Scott Prize award winners.
- The Society of American Historians awards a Prize for historical fiction every other year. View the Society of American Historians award and past winners.
- The Crime Writers’ Association awards the Historical Dagger for a historical crime novel published in the last year in the UK in English.
- Make a selection from the Goodreads Readers’ Favorite Historical Fiction of 2024.
Awards for Young Adult and Children’s Historical Fiction:
Reading Recommendations from Library Staff
Adults:
Staff Picks 2024 – Best of Historical Fiction
Here are a few of our staff members’ favorite historical fiction selections of 2024– covering a span of hundreds of years. Read a trippy reimagining of Montezuma and Cortez’s meeting, see how an 18th century midwife handles being on trial for murder, or experience Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of James, the enslaved man at the center of the narrative. Looking for epic narratives that deal with the present as well as history? Take a peek at our Best of Fiction list.
New this year: we’ve included some recommendations at the bottom of the list that were our favorite reads from previous years. Hopefully, these will have a shorter hold list for you!
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NoveList Plus
Use your Library card to login to NoveList Plus to find recommendations, read-alikes, series lists, reviews, and lists of award-winning books.
There are several historical fiction categories to choose from including:
NextReads
You can choose to receive recommendations via email from categories including mysteries, audiobooks, urban fiction, graphic novels, biographies, history, kids’ books, Spanish, and so much more. Sign up for as many collection newsletters as you want. It’s FREE! Subscribe to the categories you’d like on NextReads today!
Historical Fiction Authors
Isabel Allende
Tessa Arlen
Marie Benedict
Georgie Blalock
Rhys Bowen
Pearl S. Buck
Isabel Cañas
Monica Chenault-Kilgore
Tracy Chevalier
Chanel Cleeton
Fiona Davis
Lindsey Davis
E. L. Doctorow
Shaunna J. Edwards
Louise Erdrich
Ken Follett
Diana Gabaldon
Margaret George
Philippa Gregory
Author Talks & Book Discussions
- Event: WitLITS Book Discussion Group
- Date & Time: Friday, August 21, 10:30am
- Location: Spades Park Branch
- Description: A read aloud group exploring classic literature in a group reading.
- No Registration Required.
- Event: Tween Graphic Novel Club
- Date & Time: Saturday, August 22, 2:00pm
- Location: Lawrence Branch
- Description: Join other tweens at our monthly club! Reading the book is encouraged but not necessary.
- Register Here
- Event: Black Author Book Club
- Date & Time: Monday, August 24, 6:00pm
- Location: East 38th Street Branch
- Description: Come celebrate the wide array of books by Black authors. We will explore various genres ranging from poetry, urban fiction, nonfiction, and adult fiction. There are a limited number of spots so reserve yours today!
- Register Here
- Event: Science Fiction Book Group at Central Library – Ad Astra
- Date & Time: Monday, August 24, 6:00pm
- Location: Central Library
- Description: Get ready for an interstellar adventure like no other! Ad Astra, Central Library’s science fiction book group, invites you to journey through the cosmos with us. Our meetings will be held in the Indianapolis Special Collections Room every month on Monday evenings from 6-7 p.m.
- No Registration Required.
- Event: Adult Book Discussion at Beech Grove – Chatterbooks
- Date & Time: Monday, August 24, 6:30pm
- Location: Beech Grove Branch
- Description: Adults are invited to this monthly book discussion.
- No Registration Required.
Need help? Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch, and listen on a PC, tablet, or phone.