It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
Today’s topic is a “Back to School” Freebie! I’m taking a suggested idea of Books to Complement a History Lesson and turning it into a list of true history in fiction. I enjoy historical fiction — especially when I’m learning something new through story. I am allowing myself to go a *little* over 10 books (I’m listing 18 books in total). I hope you find a new era or event you’re interested in learning more about!
Wait, that’s a true story? True History in Fiction
Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund
1520s The early Protestant Reformation and the true-life romance between the prominent protestant reformation starter Martin Luther and former Catholic nun Katharina von Bora.
The “Steadfast Love” series by Rachelle Rea Cobb
The Sound of Diamonds | The Sound of Silver | The Sound of Emeralds
1566 A Catholic girl’s changing perspective in Protestant Reformation-Era England.
The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green
1719-22 Early French settlement of New Orleans and the Louisiana area.
The “Pathfinders” duology by Lori Benton
The Wood’s Edge | A Flight of Arrows
1757-1777 New York settlement and Native American involvement in Revolutionary War.
A Moonbow Night by Laura Frantz
1777 Kentucky wilderness during the early American frontier– plus a little of Daniel Boone’s personal influence on its settlement.
The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton
1787 The “State of Franklin” dispute in the Appalachians and western North Carolina.
With You Always by Jody Hedlund
1857 The “orphan train” era, including working conditions and an inside look at poverty in immigrant communities of NYC.
The Sentinels of Andersonville by Tracy Groot
1864 Andersonville prison in Georgia and its conditions toward the end of the Civil War.
The “Penned in Time” series by Pepper D. Basham
The Thorn Bearer | The Thorn Keeper | The Thorn Healer
1910s WWI England and post-war America, including the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, events on the England homefront, and a German internment camp in the Appalachians.
High as the Heavens by Kate Breslin
1917 WWI Belgium, with secret spy networks and methods (the heroine was inspired by 3 different real women).
Maggie Bright by Tracy Groot
1940 England and Dunkirk, France during the WWII evacuation event.
The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron
1940s WWII Auschwitz and the role of Jewish musicians/artists in concentration camps.
With Love, Wherever You Are by Dandi Daley Mackall
1941-45 America and Europe, late WWII conditions from a nurse and doctor’s perspectives. Fun fact: The couple in this story is based on the real-life parents of the author and includes much of their real-life correspondence during the war.
As always, thank you for reading!
What did you pick for this back-to-school week? Have you read any of the books on my list? What is your favorite era/setting for historical fiction? Do share in the comments!
The Green Mockingbird 
Fabulous list. I love historical fiction, so I think I’ll be checking out these recommendations.
Thank you, Chrissi! These are some of my favorite books and authors! I hope you find something new :).
PS You list was super cute!
Several of these look great, I’d be especially interested in A Moonbow Night and The Mark of the King. Luther and Katharina as well maybe.
Thank you, Greg! All 3 of those are wonderful and highly recommended. Happy reading!
Hi Courtney!
Great minds! I have The Thorn Keeper, With You Always, and Mark of the King on my list too. I also have Love’s Reckoning by Laura Frantz on mine. Great list!!
Woohoo! You list is awesome, too!
Hi! What a great idea for this week 🙂 The Butterfly and the Violin looks great. I’ll have to check it out!
My TTT
Leslie
Thank you! The Butterfly and the Violin is a unique look at that era! (Plus it ties into a contemporary story, too. I didn’t mention that!) Thanks for visiting!
You have a lot more self-discipline than I do! My list of historical books included a few of these but grew to enormous proportion.
Haha, thank you! It was super tough to limit myself! I finally decided to go with books that had pretty prominent actual events. I’m off to read your list!
Fantastic List Courtney! I’ve read most of the ones you have listed, but need to check out “With Love Where Ever You Are” and “Maggie Bright”
Thank you Trisha! Both of those are Must Reads! “With Love….” has a unique letter aspect that I really enjoyed. And “Maggie Bright” is one that includes a hint of mystery/secrets! Happy reading!
This is a great list! It’s so nice to get that true background in a fictional setting.
Here is our TTT.
Thank you! I agree, it’s even more fun to “learn” while reading a story! Textbook authors should take note 🙂 (more narrative, please!)
Agreed! Although in college, whomever wrote the text for my accounting 101 textbook had an excellent sense of humor. It was the snarkiest textbook I’d ever read. 😀
Courtney!!!! You make me smile!!!!!
Pepper! Day = made. ❤ YOU!
Courtney, this is a great list of historical fiction! I’ll be adding to my book list. 🙂 Thanks so much for including High As The Heavens!
It was my pleasure! I will always be eager to recommend Eve and Simon’s story. 🙂
Yay for finding more books to add to your TBR!
Love this round-up, Courtney! I always smile when visiting your blog. Thank you so much for featuring Diamonds here.
One of the reasons I love historical fiction so much is that I just never run out of things to learn! 🙂
Aw, thank you, Rachelle!!! I agree— somehow, learning through story and fiction just makes it more fun. Happy reading (and time traveling! 🙂 )
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