Top 50 Historical Fiction Authors of All Time
Historical fiction is like having your own time travel machine, allowing you to go back in time and see how life was. It is the genre that allows readers to walk the streets of ancient Rome, sail with the Vikings, sit in the courts of Tudor England, witness the American Civil War, and experience the terror and heroism of the Second World War — all from the safety of an armchair. At its best, historical fiction does something that history books cannot: it makes the past feel inhabited, immediate, and human.
The greatest historical fiction writers are researchers as well as storytellers. They spend years immersed in the details of a particular era — the food, the clothing, the language, the social hierarchies, the smells and sounds of a vanished world — before putting a single word on the page. Then they take everything they have learned and use it in service of characters so vivid and plots so compelling that readers forget they are being educated. The research becomes invisible. The history becomes story.
The genre spans an extraordinary range. Some historical fiction writers work at epic scale — multi-volume sagas following families across generations, civilizations rising and falling, wars reshaping continents. Others work in miniature, using a single day or a single life to illuminate an entire era. Some stay rigorously faithful to the historical record. Others invent freely, using real people and real events as the scaffolding for wholly original narratives. All of them share a conviction that the past is not dead — that understanding how people lived, loved, suffered, and survived in other times and places is essential to understanding ourselves.
Here are the 50 best historical fiction authors of all time.
1. Hilary Mantel The most critically acclaimed historical fiction writer of the modern era, Hilary Mantel won the Booker Prize twice — for Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies — making her the first woman and first British author to achieve that distinction. Her Thomas Cromwell trilogy, completed with The Mirror and the Light, is considered the finest work of historical fiction published in the 21st century. Her ability to place readers inside Tudor England with unprecedented psychological intimacy transformed what historical fiction could achieve. Browse Hilary Mantel books in order →
2. Ken Follett The most commercially successful historical fiction writer of all time, Ken Follett has sold over 160 million copies of his novels worldwide. The Pillars of the Earth — a sweeping epic about the building of a medieval cathedral — has sold over 175 million copies and been adapted into a television miniseries, stage musical, and video game. His Kingsbridge series and Century trilogy demonstrate an extraordinary range across medieval England and 20th century Europe. Browse Ken Follett books in order →
3. Bernard Cornwell The master of military historical fiction, Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series — following rifleman Richard Sharpe through the Napoleonic Wars — is considered the gold standard of the genre. His Saxon Stories, basis for the BBC series The Last Kingdom, and his Grail Quest and Starbuck Chronicles demonstrate an unmatched ability to place readers in the thick of historical battle. Cornwell has sold over 25 million copies and earned a reputation as the most reliably gripping historical fiction writer alive. Browse Bernard Cornwell books in order →
4. Diana Gabaldon Creator of the Outlander series — one of the bestselling historical fiction series ever published with over 50 million copies sold — Diana Gabaldon blends 18th century Scotland, time travel, romance, and meticulously researched historical detail into an addictive combination that has captivated readers for three decades. The series inspired a long-running Starz television adaptation that introduced Gabaldon's work to a global audience. Browse Diana Gabaldon books in order →
5. Philippa Gregory The most popular Tudor historical fiction writer in the world, Philippa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl — a vivid reimagining of the rivalry between Mary and Anne Boleyn — sold millions of copies and introduced a generation of readers to the drama of the Tudor court. Her Cousins' War and Plantagenet series have similarly dominated bestseller lists. Gregory has sold over 14 million copies worldwide and her books have been adapted into films and BBC television series. Browse Philippa Gregory books in order →
6. Edward Rutherfurd The master of the multi-generational epic, Edward Rutherfurd's novels — Sarum, London, Russka, The Forest, Dublin, New York, Paris, and China — each follow multiple families across centuries to illuminate the history of a place. His debut Sarum, tracing the history of Salisbury from prehistoric times to the present, established a format so original and compelling that it spawned an entire career of similarly ambitious works. His books have sold millions of copies worldwide. Browse Edward Rutherfurd books in order →
7. Colm Tóibín One of the most celebrated literary novelists working in historical fiction, Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn — a quiet, devastating portrait of an Irish immigrant's life in 1950s New York — and The Master, a fictional account of Henry James, demonstrate his extraordinary ability to inhabit historical consciousness with psychological precision. His Booker Prize-shortlisted novels have earned him a reputation as one of Ireland's greatest living writers. Browse Colm Tóibín books in order →
8. Anthony Doerr Author of All the Light We Cannot See — winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and one of the bestselling historical novels of the 21st century with over 15 million copies sold — Anthony Doerr created a story of a blind French girl and a German boy during World War II that is both meticulously researched and heartbreakingly beautiful. The Netflix adaptation introduced his work to a new global audience. Browse Anthony Doerr books in order →
9. Kristin Hannah Already featured in our romance section, Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale — a story of two French sisters during the Nazi occupation — became one of the most beloved historical fiction novels of the current era with over 7 million copies sold. Firefly Lane and The Great Alone demonstrate her range, but it is her ability to illuminate the experience of women in wartime that has made her one of the most important voices in contemporary historical fiction. Browse Kristin Hannah books in order →
10. Margaret Mitchell Author of Gone with the Wind — one of the bestselling novels in American history with over 30 million copies sold and winner of the Pulitzer Prize — Margaret Mitchell created a portrait of the American South during the Civil War and Reconstruction that has defined how generations of readers imagine that era. Despite its deeply problematic racial politics, Gone with the Wind remains one of the most read historical novels ever published. Browse Margaret Mitchell books in order →
11. Colleen McCullough Author of The Thorn Birds — one of the bestselling Australian novels ever published with over 30 million copies sold — and the Masters of Rome series, Colleen McCullough demonstrated extraordinary range across family sagas and meticulously researched Roman history. The Masters of Rome series, spanning seven novels, is considered the most authoritative fictional account of the late Roman Republic ever written. Browse Colleen McCullough books in order →
12. Sharon Kay Penman One of the most respected historical fiction writers in the genre, Sharon Kay Penman's Welsh Princes trilogy and Plantagenet novels are celebrated for their extraordinary depth of research and their ability to make medieval history feel urgently alive. The Sunne in Splendour — her account of Richard III — is considered one of the finest historical novels ever written. Penman died in 2021, leaving behind a body of work that stands as a monument to the genre. Browse Sharon Kay Penman books in order →
13. Patrick O'Brian Creator of the Aubrey-Maturin series — 20 novels following Royal Navy Captain Jack Aubrey and ship's surgeon Stephen Maturin through the Napoleonic Wars — Patrick O'Brian is considered the finest maritime historical fiction writer who ever lived. Master and Commander was adapted into a major film starring Russell Crowe. His novels are celebrated for their period authenticity, their humor, and one of fiction's greatest friendships. Browse Patrick O'Brian books in order →
14. C.J. Sansom Creator of the Matthew Shardlake series — legal thrillers set in Tudor England — C.J. Sansom is celebrated for the most atmospherically authentic portrayal of Tudor London in fiction. His hunchbacked lawyer protagonist navigates the dangerous politics of Henry VIII's court in novels that combine meticulous historical research with genuinely gripping plots. The BBC adaptation of Shardlake brought his work to a new audience. Browse C.J. Sansom books in order →
15. Geraldine Brooks A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist turned historical fiction writer, Geraldine Brooks' March — a reimagining of the father from Little Women as a Civil War chaplain — won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Her People of the Book, Year of Wonders, and Caleb's Crossing demonstrate an extraordinary ability to find the untold stories within history's most dramatic moments. Browse Geraldine Brooks books in order →
16. Leon Uris Author of Exodus — one of the most influential historical novels of the 20th century about the founding of Israel — and Trinity, about the Irish struggle for independence, Leon Uris brought the grand sweep of political history to popular audiences with a journalist's eye for detail and a storyteller's gift for character. His books have sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide. Browse Leon Uris books in order →
17. Mary Renault One of the finest historical fiction writers who ever lived, Mary Renault's novels set in ancient Greece — The Last of the Wine, The King Must Die, The Persian Boy — are celebrated for their scholarly accuracy and their extraordinary psychological depth. Her Alexander the Great trilogy is considered the definitive fictional account of Alexander's life. Renault lived in South Africa and drew on her own experience as a gay woman to portray ancient Greek sexuality with unusual frankness. Browse Mary Renault books in order →
18. Robert Graves Author of I, Claudius and Claudius the God — two of the most celebrated historical novels ever written — Robert Graves created a fictional memoir of the Roman Emperor Claudius that has never been surpassed as a portrait of Roman imperial life. The BBC television adaptation became one of the most acclaimed British series ever made. Graves also wrote The Greek Myths, one of the most authoritative popular accounts of classical mythology. Browse Robert Graves books in order →
19. Gore Vidal One of America's greatest public intellectuals, Gore Vidal's American Chronicles — including Lincoln, Burr, 1876, Empire, Hollywood, and The Golden Age — constitute the most ambitious fictional account of American history ever attempted. His Lincoln in particular is considered a masterwork, placing readers inside the Lincoln White House with extraordinary vividness. Browse Gore Vidal books in order →
20. Umberto Eco Author of The Name of the Rose — one of the most intellectually ambitious historical novels ever published — Umberto Eco's medieval murder mystery set in an Italian monastery became an international bestseller and inspired a film starring Sean Connery. His Foucault's Pendulum and Baudolino demonstrate an unmatched ability to use historical settings as laboratories for philosophical and semiotic exploration. Browse Umberto Eco books in order →
21. James Michener The king of the multi-generational historical epic, James Michener's Hawaii, Centennial, The Source, Chesapeake, and Poland span thousands of years of history in works of staggering research and narrative ambition. His novels have sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide and defined the popular historical epic as a genre. Michener donated over $100 million to educational causes during his lifetime. Browse James Michener books in order →
22. Tracy Chevalier Author of Girl with a Pearl Earring — one of the most beloved historical fiction novels of the current era with over 5 million copies sold — Tracy Chevalier specializes in finding the untold stories behind famous works of art and literature. Her imaginative reconstructions of the lives of Vermeer's model, Shakespeare's contemporaries, and the Rossetti women have earned her a devoted international readership. Browse Tracy Chevalier books in order →
23. Susanna Kearsley A multiple Rita Award winner, Susanna Kearsley is known for her intricately plotted time-slip romances that move between present-day protagonists and their historical counterparts. The Shadowy Horses, Mariana, and The Splendour Falls are beloved for their atmospheric Scottish and European settings and their intelligent interweaving of past and present. Browse Susanna Kearsley books in order →
24. Sarah Waters A multiple Booker Prize nominee, Sarah Waters' Victorian novels — Tipping the Velvet, Affinity, and Fingersmith — are celebrated for their atmospheric evocation of the 19th century and their groundbreaking portrayal of lesbian lives in a period when such stories were invisible. Fingersmith in particular is considered one of the finest Victorian novels written since the Victorian era. Browse Sarah Waters books in order →
25. Jacqueline Winspear Creator of the Maisie Dobbs series — set in interwar Britain and following a female detective and psychologist — Jacqueline Winspear is one of the most beloved writers in historical mystery fiction. Her meticulous portrayal of Britain between the wars — still haunted by the trauma of the First World War and sliding toward the second — gives her novels an emotional depth that transcends genre. Browse Jacqueline Winspear books in order →
26. Conn Iggulden One of the most popular writers of ancient and medieval historical fiction, Conn Iggulden's Emperor series about Julius Caesar and Conqueror series about Genghis Khan have sold millions of copies worldwide. His ability to place readers in the midst of ancient battles and political machinations with visceral authenticity has made him one of the genre's most reliable practitioners. Browse Conn Iggulden books in order →
27. Kathryn Stockett Author of The Help — one of the most widely read historical novels of the 21st century with over 10 million copies sold — Kathryn Stockett's story of Black domestic workers in 1960s Mississippi sparked national conversations about race, history, and whose stories get told. The Academy Award-winning film adaptation brought her work to an even wider audience. Browse Kathryn Stockett books in order →
28. Min Jin Lee Author of Pachinko — one of the most acclaimed novels of the current era — Min Jin Lee's multi-generational saga following a Korean family in Japan from 1910 to 1989 is a landmark of contemporary historical fiction. A finalist for the National Book Award, Pachinko was adapted into a critically acclaimed Apple TV+ series. Her earlier Free Food for Millionaires is equally accomplished. Browse Min Jin Lee books in order →
29. Yaa Gyasi Author of Homegoing — one of the most celebrated debut novels of the current era — Yaa Gyasi's multi-generational saga tracing a Ghanaian family across three centuries and two continents is a breathtaking achievement that combines historical research with devastating emotional power. Each chapter follows a different descendant, and together they create one of the most complete fictional accounts of the African-American experience ever written. Browse Yaa Gyasi books in order →
30. Dorothy Dunnett Considered by many readers and critics to be the greatest historical fiction writer who ever lived, Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles — six novels following the brilliant, tortured Francis Crawford of Lymond through the courts and battlefields of 16th century Europe — are dense, allusive, and extraordinarily rewarding. Her House of Niccolo series is equally ambitious. Dunnett requires patience and repays it with an experience unlike anything else in the genre. Browse Dorothy Dunnett books in order →
31. Kate Mosse Author of Labyrinth — a dual-timeline historical thriller set in medieval and modern Languedoc that became a massive international bestseller — Kate Mosse is one of the most commercially successful British historical fiction writers of the current era. Her Languedoc trilogy and Burning Chambers series have sold millions of copies and made her a leading voice in the dual-timeline historical thriller subgenre. Browse Kate Mosse books in order →
32. Philippa Carr The pen name of Eleanor Hibbert — who also wrote as Victoria Holt and Jean Plaidy — Philippa Carr was one of the most prolific historical romance and fiction writers of the 20th century. As Jean Plaidy alone she wrote over 90 novels of British royal history that have sold tens of millions of copies and introduced generations of readers to the drama of the English monarchy. Browse Jean Plaidy books in order →
33. Wilbur Smith One of the most prolific and commercially successful historical adventure writers of the 20th century, Wilbur Smith's novels set in Africa — spanning centuries of the continent's history — have sold over 140 million copies worldwide. His Courtney and Ballantyne family sagas are among the most popular multi-generational epics in the genre. Browse Wilbur Smith books in order →
34. Colette Freedman One of the most beloved writers of Irish historical fiction, Colette Freedman brings warmth, wit, and meticulous period detail to her novels of Irish life across the centuries. Her work has earned her a devoted readership among fans of character-driven historical fiction with strong female protagonists. Browse Colette Freedman books in order →
35. Rhys Bowen Creator of the Royal Spyness and Molly Murphy mystery series set in Edwardian England and early 20th century New York, Rhys Bowen is one of the most beloved writers in the historical mystery subgenre. Her cozy, meticulously researched period mysteries have earned her multiple Agatha and Anthony Awards and a massive loyal readership. Browse Rhys Bowen books in order →
36. Simon Scarrow One of the most popular writers of Roman military historical fiction, Simon Scarrow's Eagle series following Roman soldiers Macro and Cato through the legions of the early empire has sold millions of copies worldwide. His accessible, action-packed novels have introduced a new generation of readers to the Roman world. Browse Simon Scarrow books in order →
37. Sara Gruen Author of Water for Elephants — one of the most beloved historical novels of the 2000s with over 10 million copies sold — Sara Gruen's story of a veterinary student who joins a Depression-era circus is a warm, vivid portrait of a vanished American world. The film adaptation starring Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon introduced the novel to an even wider audience. Browse Sara Gruen books in order →
38. Stacy Schiff A Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer whose narrative nonfiction reads like the finest historical fiction, Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra and The Witches illuminate their subjects with an immediacy and psychological depth that few purely fictional treatments have matched. Her work represents the highest achievement of narrative history as literature. Browse Stacy Schiff books in order →
39. Ben Kane One of the most popular writers of Roman and ancient historical fiction, Ben Kane's Forgotten Legion trilogy and Eagles of Rome series have sold millions of copies. His viscerally authentic battle scenes and his deep research into Roman military culture have made him a favorite among readers who want to experience ancient warfare at ground level. Browse Ben Kane books in order →
40. Deanna Raybourn Creator of the Lady Julia Grey and Veronica Speedwell mystery series set in Victorian England, Deanna Raybourn is one of the most beloved writers in the historical mystery genre. Her witty, meticulously researched novels feature strong female protagonists navigating the social constraints and genuine dangers of Victorian Britain with intelligence and style. Browse Deanna Raybourn books in order →
41. Kate Quinn A multiple USA Today bestselling author, Kate Quinn is known for her dual-timeline historical thrillers including The Alice Network, The Huntress, and The Rose Code — all set during the World Wars and featuring women in espionage and resistance roles. Her meticulous research and gift for page-turning plotting have made her one of the most popular historical fiction writers currently publishing. Browse Kate Quinn books in order →
42. Pam Jenoff A former diplomat and Holocaust historian turned historical fiction writer, Pam Jenoff's The Kommandant's Girl and The Orphan's Tale draw on her expertise to create emotionally powerful stories of women caught in the machinery of World War II. Her novels are celebrated for their authenticity, their moral complexity, and their unforgettable female protagonists. Browse Pam Jenoff books in order →
43. Lisa See Author of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, Lisa See is one of the most celebrated writers of Chinese and Chinese-American historical fiction. Her meticulous research into Chinese culture and history and her gift for multi-generational storytelling have earned her a devoted global readership. Browse Lisa See books in order →
44. Anita Diamant Author of The Red Tent — one of the most beloved biblical historical fiction novels ever written with over 3 million copies sold — Anita Diamant reimagined the story of Dinah from Genesis as a vibrant celebration of women's lives in the ancient world. Her novel sparked a renaissance of interest in feminist biblical fiction and remains one of the most influential historical fiction debuts of the modern era. Browse Anita Diamant books in order →
45. Arthur Golden Author of Memoirs of a Geisha — one of the most successful historical fiction debuts ever published with over 10 million copies sold — Arthur Golden created an immersive portrait of geisha life in pre-war Japan that became a global phenomenon. Despite controversy over authenticity, the novel's atmospheric evocation of a vanished world captivated millions of readers and was adapted into a major film. Browse Arthur Golden books in order →
46. Michael Shaara Author of The Killer Angels — winner of the Pulitzer Prize and widely considered the greatest Civil War novel ever written — Michael Shaara put readers inside the minds of the generals and soldiers at Gettysburg with unprecedented intimacy. The novel inspired the film Gettysburg and launched a dynasty of Civil War fiction continued by his son Jeff Shaara. Browse Michael Shaara books in order →
47. Edward P. Jones Author of The Known World — winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award — Edward P. Jones created a stunning and morally complex account of Black slaveholders in antebellum Virginia that is considered one of the finest American novels of the 21st century. His short story collection Lost in the City is equally celebrated. Browse Edward P. Jones books in order →
48. Viet Thanh Nguyen Author of The Sympathizer — winner of the Pulitzer Prize — Viet Thanh Nguyen created a darkly comic, morally complex account of the Vietnam War from the perspective of a communist spy that is one of the most original and important American novels of the current era. Its sequel The Committed confirmed him as one of the most important literary voices working in historical fiction today. Browse Viet Thanh Nguyen books in order →
49. Guy Gavriel Kay Already featured in our Fantasy list, Kay's historical fantasy novels — which transpose real historical civilizations into lightly fictionalized settings — represent some of the finest historical fiction being written. The Lions of Al-Rassan, set in a world mirroring medieval Spain, and Under Heaven, set in Tang Dynasty China, are masterworks of the form. Browse Guy Gavriel Kay books in order →
50. Noah Gordon Author of The Physician — one of the most beloved historical epics ever written with over 10 million copies sold — Noah Gordon created a sweeping story of an English boy who travels to Persia to study medicine in the 11th century. The novel spent years on European bestseller lists, was adapted into a major film, and remains one of the most popular historical adventure novels ever published, particularly in Germany where it is a perennial bestseller. Browse Noah Gordon books in order →
Looking for more? Browse our Top 50 Romance Authors, Top 50 Mystery & Thriller Authors, Top 50 Science Fiction Authors, Top 50 Fantasy Authors, and Top 50 Horror Authors lists.