Historical fiction is gradually dominating our reading tastes. Thus, while the historical novel was a fairly limited genre and in many cases branded as fanciful, now it is a totally alive genre that even teachers use to explain society or the context of certain times.
Taking advantage of this situation, we at Todo eReaders wanted to offer you a list of the 10 most important historical novels of the moment , or rather, the works that any enthusiast of this genre should read. In some cases, the work itself isn't as important as its author or the role they give to the work. We have great masters like Umberto Eco, whose work mentioned here isn't as significant as * The Name of the Rose* , but as his last novel, it plays an important role. A similar case occurs with Ken Follett's work, which is part of a trilogy. The work itself is important, as all works are, but in this case, if the entire trilogy isn't considered, the work won't have particular relevance.
We've also added a special touch that many lists lack. We've included works from what's known as the Modern World. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, many historians label the subsequent events as a new era known as the Modern World. Trying to delve into this period, which many of us have lived through, we've selected the novel * The American Sniper *, a work that speaks volumes about the era many of us experienced and which seems so distant to our children.
1.- Africanus, the Consul's son
Historical fiction and bestseller lists wouldn't be the same without a good story set in ancient Rome. Africanus, the Son of the Consul, takes us to Rome in 300 BC, a time when Rome wasn't the only empire in the ancient world. At that time, Hannibal the Carthaginian had forged a serious alliance with Philip V of Macedon, threatening Rome's supremacy in the Mediterranean. It was during this period that the legend of Publius Cornelius Scipio, better known as Africanus, was born. He was the first to conquer almost all of North Africa. Scipio not only achieved this but also halted Hannibal's armies, even preventing a Carthaginian army from reaching the Italian peninsula. This novel is written by Santiago Posteguillo, author of other important works such as The Cursed Legions and The Betrayal of Rome. If the ancient world fascinates you, you shouldn't miss one of the best works of fiction about Rome.
2.- The threshold of eternity
The Edge of Eternity is the third installment in British author Ken Follett's latest trilogy. The novel deals with the historical period known as the Cold War. But rather than focusing on the historical era itself, Follett explores the lives of the descendants of the five families featured in the previous books. The Century trilogy , by Follett, delves into the experiences of five families: an American family, a Russian family, a German family, a British family, and a Welsh family. The first book in the trilogy, Fall of Giants , begins the series with World War I.
3.- Maids and ladies
Written by Kathryn Stockett, the novel takes us to the mid-20th century, where a small community in the southern United States still lives under the shadow of slavery. Specifically, The Help deals with the treatment of Black people in that era, and how hatred, prejudice, and indiscriminate treatment are challenged by a young journalist, Skeeter, and two endearing Black maids who begin to recount the hardships they endured as servants. The story concludes with the publication of the young journalist's book, Help! (the original title of Stockett's novel), a book that exposes the injustices faced by people of color in American society. The Help didn't receive much advertising, but word of mouth, along with the release of a film adaptation, has made Stockett's work a bestseller in the historical fiction genre in recent months.
4.- The Prague cemetery
The Prague Cemetery is a novel by the master Umberto Eco that tells the story of Captain Simonini, a Piedmontese man living in Paris who makes a living by forging documents. The central theme is a Judeo-Masonic conspiracy, and throughout the novel, various historical biographies are recounted, which Captain Simonini must reconstruct. The great master of historical fiction tells us about major diplomatic and historical cases in which Captain Simonini participates, since his scruples allow him to sell himself to the highest bidder, from someone seeking an inheritance to governments like France, Prussia, or even Hitler himself.
5.- The sniper: memories of the most lethal SEAL in history
Time marches on for everyone, even for the world of historical fiction. The Sniper tells the story of Chris Kyle, an American who quickly becomes one of the deadliest snipers in history. After an arm injury, Chris joins the SEALs, where he excels as a marksman, so much so that an $80.000 bounty was placed on his head in Iraq. Chris is killed in 2013 while assisting a war veteran. The Sniper offers a glimpse into our recent history: the Iraq War, while also reflecting on life in professional militaries today.
6.- The immortal pyramid
When it comes to historical fiction, ancient Egypt and its magic are essential elements. Currently, one of the best works of fiction featuring these elements is Javier Sierra's *The Immortal Pyramid* , an updated and improved version of his earlier work, * Napoleon's Egyptian Secret *. *The Immortal Pyramid* takes us to 1799, where a young Frenchman finds himself trapped inside the Great Pyramid of Egypt. This young Frenchman is none other than Napoleon Bonaparte, who will learn the greatest secret the Egyptians have ever known: the secret of eternal life. Javier Sierra specializes in historical fiction with a mystery element; his latest work is *The Master of the Prado*, preceded by * The Lost Angel* and *The Secret Supper *. If *The Da Vinci Code* caught your attention, then * The Immortal Pyramid* is sure to be a book for you.
7.- The eagle in the snow
The Eagle in the Snow , written by Wallace Breem, tells one of the many stories that unfolded on the Roman limes. Specifically, it recounts the disappearance of the last Roman legion in Germania Superior, the XX Valeria Victrix. The story is told in the first person. It is the legion's legate, Gaius Maximus Paulinus, who narrates the legion's experiences near the Rhine River. The work can be divided into two parts: one detailing the legate's adventures before joining the Valeria Victrix, and the other recounting the legion's demise. Before joining the Valeria Victrix, Gaius Maximus Paulinus was stationed in Britain, responsible for the care and protection of Hadrian's Wall, another Roman Empire frontier that suffered constant attacks, as Paulinus recounts.
8.- The tragic fate of the children of the Catholic Monarchs
A work written by Vicenta Márquez de la Plata, this novel straddles the line between historical fiction and historical fact. It recounts the lives of the children of the Catholic Monarchs, their misfortunes, and their tragic ends. The Catholic Monarchs were the first rulers of what is now Spain, and curiously, none of them succeeded their parents in power. Moreover, with the exception of Juan and Juana, the eldest children destined to rule the country, the rest of the siblings were married into various European royal houses, and none of the children managed to perpetuate the Trastámara lineage in Europe. This is the circumstance the author attempts to portray, using historical documents and fictionalized conversations to lend coherence to the narrative. " The Tragic Fate of the Children of the Catholic Monarchs" is a fairly popular work following the success of the series "Isabel," and it is atypical in its approach to the subject matter.
9.- The betrayal of Rome
This novel, written by Santiago Posteguillo, author of Africanus, the Son of the Consul , is the final installment of the trilogy dedicated to Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus. It explores the twilight of Scipio's life. After his triumph at Zama, Scipio returns to Rome in triumph, but Rome is short-lived. The great general is quickly forgotten, and he is relegated to obscurity. A similar fate befalls the other characters who have accompanied Scipio throughout his life, or more specifically, in the trilogy. The Betrayal of Rome is the final part of the trilogy, so if you enjoyed Africanus, the Son of the Consul , you won't want to miss this one.
10.- To blood and fire. Heroes, beasts and martyrs of Spain
It is a compilation work that brings together several stories and stories about the Spanish Civil War. Its author was Manuel Chaves Nogales, a journalist who lived through the harshness of the Spanish Civil War. The work was written in 1937 but it was not until 2001 when it was published. In it, through nine stories and stories, it talks about the harshness of the war in Madrid and the Spaniards who lived through it. Unlike other works, Manuel Chavez Nogales shows the vision of the War and the Spanish Left from the left itself. Manuel Chaves was a militant of the Republican Left who rejected not only the fascism and autarky of the right but also the Russian communism that many on the left supported. Perhaps this vision is what enhances and gives importance to the work since so far not many works have been published like this. It is unique in its kind, but also the harshness and reality with which they relate the most important events of XNUMXth century Spain make this work a must-read for all those who like XNUMXth century stories.
As you can see, it is a somewhat personal list that dances between works of historical fiction and historical works, but in each case the tendency is to relate the events as if they had really happened, so the only difference between them is that the reader knows or not if it actually happened. All these works can be found on paper and in ebook format, which are ideal for all audiences to read regardless of the format.
I know that there are not all the works of historical fiction that have to be, but I do know that the works that are there have to be. But this is not a closed list, on the contrary, so if you want to comment on a work or contribute more works, do it!