Top Historical Fiction Novels of 2023

Top Historical Novels of the Year

In 2023, there have been a surge of excellent historical novels making their way to the bookshelves. Picking out the top 25 would be a task, but narrowing down to the best 10 is even more challenging. After much consideration, here’s the list of top 10 historical novels of the year, alphabetically ordered.

Alice McDermott’s “Absolution”

“ABSOLUTION” by Alice McDermott (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 336 pp., $28) explores guilt and responsibility through the lens of an Irish Catholic woman from New York, living in the unfamiliar terrain of Southeast Asia amidst the unfolding Vietnam crisis in 1963.

“The Fraud” by Zadie Smith

In “THE FRAUD” by Zadie Smith (Penguin Press, 454 pp., $29), she navigates through a notorious inheritance trial in late-19th-century Britain, presenting a critical commentary on honesty and class loyalty.

James McBride’s “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store”

“THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE” by James McBride (Riverhead, 385 pp., $28) takes readers back to a small Pennsylvania town in the mid-1950s. The story revolves around a suspicious death and a child’s encounter with the law, all while painting a vivid picture of the once-feared Pennhurst asylum.

“The House of Doors” by Tan Twan Eng

“THE HOUSE OF DOORS” by Tan Twan Eng (Bloomsbury, 320 pp., $28.99) presents a riveting narrative set in 1920s Malaya. The story revolves around a married couple, their secrets, and the political maneuverings of the local Chinese quietly supporting Sun Yat-sen’s independence movement.

Elizabeth Graver’s “Kantika”

“KANTIKA” by Elizabeth Graver (Metropolitan, 287 pp., $27.99) ventures from Istanbul through Barcelona and Havana to the 1950s neighborhoods of Queens, chronicling the tumultuous journey of one family’s exile.

“North Woods” by Daniel Mason

“NORTH WOODS” by Daniel Mason (Random House, 372 pp., $28) explores the evolution of a densely forested property in western Massachusetts through various eras and inhabitants, all while maintaining an enticing sense of mystery.

Leila Aboulela’s “River Spirit”

“RIVER SPIRIT” by Leila Aboulela (Grove, 311 pp., $27) delves into colonialism and religious fanaticism in late-19th-century Sudan, offering a multi-dimensional view of the era.

“South” by Mario Fortunato

“SOUTH” by Mario Fortunato (Other Press, 384 pp., paper, $18.99) is a family saga set against the backdrop of both world wars and Italy’s ever-changing political scenario.

Paul Harding’s “This Other Eden”

“THIS OTHER EDEN” by Paul Harding (Norton, 221 pp., $28) is a Pulitzer Prize winner’s poignant portrayal of a marginalized community in Malaga Island, forcibly evicted by the state of Maine in 1912.

“The Witching Tide” by Margaret Meyer

“THE WITCHING TIDE” by Margaret Meyer (Scribner, 327 pp., $28) is a gripping narrative set in a mid-17th-century East Anglian village gripped by witch hunts. The story follows a mute midwife trying to protect herself and those she serves from the escalating hysteria.

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