20 Best Ancient Historical Fiction Books (2023 Update)

From the bestselling author of fatherland and pompeii comes the most provocative and brilliant novel of antiquity since i, claudius — imperium a cautionary tale of cicero, the greatest orator of all time, and his extraordinary struggle for power in rome. when tiro, the confidential secretary (and slave) of a roman senator, opens the door to a terrified stranger on a cold november morning, he sets in motion a chain of events that will eventually propel his master into one of the most suspenseful courtroom dramas in history. the stranger is a sicilian, a victim of the island's corrupt roman governor, verres. the senator is marcus cicero — an ambitious young lawyer and spellbinding orator, who at the age of twenty-seven is determined to attain imperium — supreme power in the state. of all the great figures of the roman world, none was more fascinating or charismatic than cicero. and tiro — the inventor of shorthand and author of numerous books, including a celebrated biography of his master (which was lost in the dark ages) — was always by his side. robert harris, the world's master of innovative historical fiction, lures us into a violent, treacherous world of roman politics at once exotically different from and yet startlingly similar to our own — a world of senate intrigue and electoral corruption, special prosecutors and political adventurism — to describe how one clever, compassionate, devious, vulnerable man fought to reach the top.

The deadly paranoia of domitian is followed by the golden age of trajan and hadrian, but even the most enlightened emperors wield the power to inflict death and destruction on a whim. empire is strewn with spectacular scenes, including the great fire of 64 a.d. that ravaged the city of rome, nero's terrifying persecution of the christians, and the opening games of the colosseum.

#1 new york times bestseller“absorbing . . . impossible to resist.” —the washington postas europe erupts, can one young spy protect his queen? ken follett takes us deep into the treacherous world of powerful monarchs, intrigue, murder, and treason with his magnificent epic, a column of fire—the chronological latest in the kingsbridge series, following the pillars of the earth, world without end, and the prequel, the evening and the morning.in 1558, the ancient stones of kingsbridge cathedral look down on a city torn apart by religious conflict. as power in england shifts precariously between catholics and protestants, royalty and commoners clash, testing friendship, loyalty, and love. ned willard wants nothing more than to marry margery fitzgerald. but when the lovers find themselves on opposing sides of the religious conflict dividing the country, ned goes to work for princess elizabeth. when she becomes queen, all europe turns against england. the shrewd, determined young monarch sets up the country’s first secret service to give her early warning of assassination plots, rebellions, and invasion plans. over a turbulent half century, the love between ned and margery seems doomed as extremism sparks violence from edinburgh to geneva. elizabeth clings to her throne and her principles, protected by a small, dedicated group of resourceful spies and courageous secret agents. the real enemies, then as now, are not the rival religions. the true battle pitches those who believe in tolerance and compromise against the tyrants who would impose their ideas on everyone else—no matter what the cost. exciting and ambitious, and set during one of the most turbulent and revolutionary times in history, a column of fire will delight longtime fans of the kingsbridge series and serve as the perfect introduction for readers new to ken follett.

In tom roberts' award-winning debut historical novel, lost scrolls of archimedes, you will encounter improbable-though not impossible-history. along the way, there will be danger, adventure, pain, and love. and a few philosophical discussions of the dangers of new technology. marcus, a young roman scholar, and hippolytus, his mentor, steal two long-lost scrolls of archimedes from the temple of artemis in ephesus. legends say the encrypted documents contain the knowledge of immense powers. when hippolytus flees alexandria to avoid roman agents seeking him, marcus is left to safeguard the scrolls. he waits, but after four years, he decides to try to crack the complex coding obscuring archimedes masterwork. marcus seeks help from his best friend, kleon, and from the alluring electra, cousin of cleopatra and an expert linguist. the ambitious kleon, seeking wealth and status, betrays marcus to the agents of roman strongman, octavian. on a trading voyage for his father, marcus is attacked and thrown into captivity as a galley slave. marcus and kleon thus begin a dangerous game of cat and mouse as each rush to extract the knowledge of the scrolls. assassination, kidnapping, a midnight raid, and a long chase across the tunisian desert bring marcus to the climactic encounter with enemies-and friends-on the day of the epoch-making battle of actium, the funeral pyre of the republic and the crucible of the roman empire.

An enthralling novel of historical fiction for fans of lisa wingate and ellen marie wiseman, the undertaker’s assistant is a powerful story of human resilience set during reconstruction-era new orleans that features an extraordinary and unforgettable heroine at its heart. “the dead can’t hurt you. only the living can.” effie jones, a former slave who escaped to the union side as a child, knows the truth of her words. taken in by an army surgeon and his wife during the war, she learned to read and write, to tolerate the sight of blood and broken bodies—and to forget what is too painful to bear. now a young freedwoman, she has returned south to new orleans and earns her living as an embalmer, her steady hand and skillful incisions compensating for her white employer’s shortcomings. tall and serious, effie keeps her distance from the other girls in her boarding house, holding tight to the satisfaction she finds in her work. but despite her reticence, two encounters—with a charismatic state legislator named samson greene, and a beautiful young creole, adeline—introduce her to new worlds of protests and activism, of soirees and social ambition. effie decides to seek out the past she has blocked from her memory and try to trace her kin. as her hopes are tested by betrayal, and new orleans grapples with violence and growing racial turmoil, effie faces loss and heartache, but also a chance to finally find her place . . .

At the height of the roman empire, a young jewish boy, saul, is taken from his family in palestine to be a slave to marcus tiberius of rome. but though the father of the house is obsessed with the boy, it is marcus' son, flavius, whose interest saul returns, brewing a storm within the family which saul can only hope to weather.as years pass and the boys grow into men, their love will be tested, the marriage marcus plans for his son bringing a selfish and jealous woman between them. and if she cannot tempt flavius from saul with kindness, it will have to be cruelty… in a time when jealousy, honor, and rivalries were questions of life and death, how can a slave protect himself from the jealousy of his masters? j. mann's 6th book, aquila et noctua tells a story of love across boundaries in ancient rome, a deeply human tale from a world thousands of years and leagues away.

Would you risk your life to save just one person? an incredible story of love, hope and friendship, and a testament to humanity and courage in history's darkest days. 1941, nazi-occupied amsterdam. professor josef held has never recovered from the loss of his beloved wife – and has no intention of ever letting anyone new into his quiet, safe world. it is a world where the clock ticks steadily in his mathematics classroom, where every equation has a solution. every day he walks the same route home, past his neighbour mrs epstein's, to a home inhabited only by him and a cat he refuses to even name. but then the nazis come for the jews – and mrs epstein is killed. and josef, in an impulsive act of courage, offers his student michael blum a place to hide. michael is everything josef is not: spontaneous, poetic, and unafraid to love. even though his passionate relationship with a dutch girl called elke strictly is forbidden by the nazis – for he is jewish, and she is not. desperate to give michael and elke's love a chance to survive, josef gives michael refuge in his attic: an act of bravery and resistance that will change both of their lives. but as the dark days of war continue, with danger and betrayal at every turn, no-one can be trusted, and no one is safe. if michael is going to get back to the woman he loves, it is down to josef – to find the hero inside himself, and do whatever it takes to keep michael alive. a heartbreakingly beautiful story about love, trust, and courage against the odds, perfect for fans of the tattooist of auschwitz, lilac girls, and the nightingale.

Diana gabaldon's magnificent historical saga, begun with outlander and dragonfly in amber, continues with this new york times bestseller. set in the intriguing scotland of 200 years ago, the third installment in the romantic adventures of jamie and claire is as compelling as the first. now that claire knows jamie survived the slaughter at culloden, she is faced with the most difficult decision of her life. she aches to travel back through time again to find the love of her life, but, in order to do that, she must leave their daughter behind. it has been 20 years since she and jamie were forced to separate. can she risk everything, maybe even her life, on a gamble that their love has withstood the long, rigorous test of time? diana gabaldon's powerful, witty, and heroic characters lend themselves well to the rich, melodic narration accorded them by davina porter. under her spell, listeners find themselves transported back through time to exciting faraway places alive with people they would enjoy knowing.

For fans of bridgerton looking for a mysterious twist on the glittering ballrooms of the regency—a masterfully plotted story from a usa today bestselling author that combines engaging protagonists with rich historical detail and international intrigue, plus a touch of romance that readers of amanda quick and deanna raybourn will savor. “[penrose] mixes well thought out mysteries, early forensic science, great details of the era and a slow burning attraction creating a compulsive read.” —the new york public librarycharlotte, now the countess of wrexford, would like nothing more than a summer of peace and quiet with her new husband and their unconventional family and friends. still, some social obligations must be honored, especially with the grand peace celebrations unfolding throughout london to honor victory over napoleon.but when wrexford and their two young wards, raven and hawk, discover a body floating in hyde park’s famous lake, that newfound peace looks to be at risk. the late jeremiah willis was the engineering genius behind a new design for a top-secret weapon, and the prototype is missing from the royal armory’s laboratory. wrexford is tasked with retrieving it before it falls into the wrong hands. but there are unsettling complications to the case—including a family connection.soon, old secrets are tangling with new betrayals, and as charlotte and wrexford spin through a web of international intrigue and sumptuous parties, they must race against time to save their loved ones from harm—and keep the weapon from igniting a new war . . . “a charming, action-packed mix of historical mystery and regency romance.”— kirkus reviews “fascinating and well-researched historic events… a colorful depiction of regency england.” –publishers weekly

#1 new york times bestseller – an amazon best book of 2020 the thrilling and addictive prequel to the pillars of the earth–set in england at the dawn of a new era: the middle ages"just as transporting as [the pillars of the earth] . . . a most welcome addition to the kingsbridge series." –the washington post – it is 997 ce, the end of the dark ages. england is facing attacks from the welsh in the west and the vikings in the east. those in power bend justice according to their will, regardless of ordinary people and often in conflict with the king. without a clear rule of law, chaos reigns. – in these turbulent times, three characters find their lives intertwined. a young boatbuilder's life is turned upside down when his home is raided by vikings, forcing him and his family to move and start their lives anew in a small hamlet where he does not fit in. . . . a norman noblewoman marries for love, following her husband across the sea to a new land, but the customs of her husband's homeland are shockingly different, and it soon becomes clear to her that a single misstep could be catastrophic. . . . a monk dreams of transforming his humble abbey into a center of learning that will be admired throughout europe. and each in turn comes into dangerous conflict with a clever and ruthless bishop who will do anything to increase his wealth and power. – thirty years ago, ken follett published his most popular novel, the pillars of the earth. now, follett's masterful new prequel the evening and the morning takes us on an epic journey into a historical past rich with ambition and rivalry, death and birth, love and hate, that will end where the pillars of the earth begins.

The only survivor of a brutal battle, driven by a desperate need to see his family again… rome, 105 bc. quintus sertorius fought while the enemy slaughtered 90,000 of his brethren in the city's bloodiest defeat. battling night terrors and survivor's guilt, he vows to preserve his beloved rome and embarks on a covert mission deep into enemy territory. sertorius grows his beard and disguises himself in the garb of a gaul, all the while his stomach churns with fear of discovery. but in order to gain vital information about the invaders, he must sink deeper into their ranks. as he uncovers the depths of the barbarian's depravity he alone will have to rise to rome's aid. will sertorius avenge his comrades and reunite with loved ones, or will the next massacre mark the end of the republic? the noise of war is the second book in the best-selling sertorius scrolls historical fiction series. if you like vivid backdrops, the courage of conviction, and a fight for survival, then you'll love vincent b. davis ii's compelling saga. buy the noise of war to don your armor for a heart-pounding adventure today!

No one believed i was destined for greatness. – so begins isabella's story, in this evocative, vividly imagined novel about one of history's most famous and controversial queens—the warrior who united a fractured country, the champion of the faith whose reign gave rise to the inquisition, and the visionary who sent columbus to discover a new world. gortner envisages the turbulent early years of a woman whose mythic rise to power would go on to transform a monarchy, a nation, and the world. – young isabella is barely a teenager when she and her brother are taken from their mother's home to live under the watchful eye of their half-brother, king enrique, and his sultry, conniving queen. there, isabella is thrust into danger when she becomes an unwitting pawn in a plot to dethrone enrique. suspected of treason and held captive, she treads a perilous path, torn between loyalties, until at age seventeen she suddenly finds herself heiress of castile, the largest kingdom in spain. plunged into a deadly conflict to secure her crown, she is determined to wed the one man she loves yet who is forbidden to her—fernando, prince of aragon. – as they unite their two realms under “one crown, one country, one faith,” isabella and fernando face an impoverished spain beset by enemies. with the future of her throne at stake, isabella resists the zealous demands of the inquisitor torquemada even as she is seduced by the dreams of an enigmatic navigator named columbus. but when the moors of the southern domain of granada declare war, a violent, treacherous battle against an ancient adversary erupts, one that will test all of isabella's resolve, her courage, and her tenacious belief in her destiny. – from the glorious palaces of segovia to the battlefields of granada and the intrigue-laden gardens of seville,the queen's vow sweeps us into the tumultuous forging of a nation and the complex, fascinating heart of the woman who overcame all odds to become isabella of castile. – look for special features inside. join the random house reader's circle for author chats and more. – praise for the queen's vow“a masterwork by a skilled craftsman . . . make a vow to read this book.”—new york journal of books“a beautifully crafted piece of historical fiction . . . gortner's vivid details blend with his deeply intensive research to re-create isabella and castile in a way that the reader will find compelling and immersive, bringing not just the queen but the whole nation to life.”—rt book reviews“a fascinating story . . . through his creative and spellbinding storytelling, gortner's readers come to know isabella intimately in mind, heart and body as she lives through a tumultuous time, her intense longing to be the determiner of her own unique destiny.”—wichita falls times record news“a novel of triumph as isabella vanquishes her enemies one by one . . . [she is] a very human and appealing character.”—the roanoke times“politically charged, passionate . . . [a] well-researched, intriguing historical.”—bookreporter

The new novel in master storyteller conn iggulden's bestselling series tells the story of pericles amid the battlefields of the peloponnesian war.after the gods, after the myths and legends, came the world of men—and in the front rank stood pericles. enter pericles—the lion of athens. behind him lies the greatest city of the ancient world. before him stands the ferocious persian army. both sides are spoiling for war. but pericles knows one thing: to fight a war you must first win the peace. it’s time for a hero to rise. for his enemies to tremble. and for a city to shine like a beacon . . .

Longlisted for the center for fiction first novel prize a massachusetts book award “must read” set amongst the scandal, wealth, and upstairs-downstairs politics of a roman family, this “addictively readable first novel” (kirkus reviews) features the man who inspired the world’s oldest cookbook and the ambition that led to his destruction.in the twenty-sixth year of augustus caesar’s reign, marcus gavius apicius has a singular ambition: to serve as culinary adviser to caesar. to cement his legacy as rome’s leading epicure, the wealthy apicius acquires a young chef, thrasius, for the exorbitant price of twenty thousand denarii. apicius believes that the talented thrasius is the key to his culinary success, and with the slave’s help he soon becomes known for his lavish parties and sumptuous meals. for his part, thrasius finds a family among apicius’s household, which includes his daughter, apicata; his wife, aelia; and her handmaiden passia, with whom thrasius falls passionately in love. “a gastronomical delight” (associated press), feast of sorrow is a vibrant novel, replete with love and betrayal, politics and intrigue, and sumptuous feasts that bring ancient rome to life.

Internationally bestselling author: imperium was hailed as “quite possibly harris's most accomplished work to date” ( los angeles times ) and has received rave reviews from across the globe. robert harris's novels have sold more than 10 million copies and have been translated into thirty-seven languages.. – powerful protagonist: cicero returns to continue his struggle to grasp supreme power in the state of rome. amidst treachery, vengeance, violence, and treason, this brilliant lawyer, orator, and philosopher finally reaches the summit of all his ambitions. cicero becomes known as the world's first professional politician, using his compassion, and deviousness, to overcome all obstacles.. – compelling historical fiction at its best: harris employs historical detail and an engrosing plot to give readers a man who is by turns a sympathetic hero and compromising manipulator who sets himself up for his own massive, violent ruin. this trilogy charges forward, propelled by the strength of harris's stunningly fascinating prose..

New york times bestseller: a magnificent novel of ancient rome and the tragic life of cicero, who tried in vain to save the republic he loved from tyranny. in this riveting tale, the roman empire in its final glory is seen through the eyes of philosopher, orator, and political theorist marcus tullius cicero. from his birth in 106 bc in the hill town of arpinum, cicero, the educated son of a wealthy member of the equestrian order, is destined for greatness. at a young age, he discovers the legend of the unknown god, the coming messiah, and it propels the rising lawyer on a journey of spiritual conflict and self-discovery. from his tumultuous family life to his tenuous alliance with julius caesar to a fateful love affair with the roman empress livia and, finally, to the political role that will make him a target of powerful enemies, a pillar of iron is the story of cicero's legacy as one the greatest influences on western civilization. based on hundreds of speeches, voluminous private correspondence, and ancient texts and manuscripts, this bestselling epic brings into focus cicero's complicated relationships with his contemporaries, including caesar, mark antony, and crassus, and brilliantly captures the pageantry, turmoil, and intrigue of life in ancient rome. according to legendary editor maxwell perkins, author "taylor caldwell is a storyteller first, last and foremost, and once you begin reading one of her books, you can't help finishing it." this ebook features an illustrated biography of taylor caldwell including rare images from the author's estate.

Il mulino. an old crumbling mill, by a winding river, nestled in the tuscan mountains. an empty home that holds memories of homemade pasta and nonna's stories by the fire, and later: the nazi invasion, and a family torn apart by a heartbreaking betrayal. anna is distraught when her beloved mother, ines, passes away. she inherits a box of papers, handwritten in italian and yellowed with age, and a tantalising promise that the truth about what happened during the war lies within. the diaries lead anna to the small village of rofelle, where she slowly starts to heal as she explores sun-kissed olive groves, and pieces together her mother's past: happy days spent herding sheep across tuscan meadows cruelly interrupted when world war two erupted and the nazis arrived; fleeing her home to join the resistenza; and risking everything to protect an injured british soldier who captured her heart. but anna is no closer to learning the truth: what sent ines running from her adored homeland? when she meets an elderly italian gentleman living in a deserted hamlet, who flinches at her mother's name and refuses to speak english, anna is sure he knows more about the devastating secret that tore apart her mother's family. but in this small tuscan community, some wartime secrets were never meant to be uncovered… a stunning tale, inspired by true events, about how the tragic consequences of war can echo through generations, and how love can guide us through the darkest times. fans of kristin hannah's the nightingale and the letter by kathryn hughes will be captivated. readers have fallen in love with the tuscan secret: 'wow! why have i not read anything by this author before? the writing is magnificent… a story of love, lose, secrets and hope… i have truly fallen in love… a beautiful, touching story that i would recommend to everyone.' cooking the books 'a fabulous historical fiction story… wonderful… angela petch is now added to my favourite author list… the rich details of the story are captivating. a must read.' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'wow what a story… could not put it down.' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'fantastic read… i loved this book… i would highly recommend.' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'excellent book!… will grab you and hold onto you long after you put it down.' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'a feast of a book… transports you to tuscany.' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'this beautifully woven story had me captivated from the start… i could not help but love the descriptions of tuscany, the countryside, the people and the food.' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'i was gripped… the author weaves a magical tale… there is so much beautiful detail in the author's writing, one could almost taste the food, or feel the beauty of the surroundings.' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Second in the acclaimed mystery series set in ancient rome, starring gordianus the finder. the estate overseer of rome's wealthiest citizen has been murdered. unless the killer is caught, 99 slaves will die. to gordianus falls the task of finding the perpetrator. martin's.

Steven saylor's historical mysteries set in ancient rome and featuring investigator gordianus the finder enjoy a widespread following in america. robinson is publishing the whole series – five novels to date – in the uk. the venus throw is the fourth novel in the series to be published in britain. the fifth, murder on the appian way, is available in hardback or paperback. on a cold january evening in 50 bc, two strangers enter rome – one an egyptian ambassador, the other a eunuch priest. both are seeking gordianus the finder, who has a reputation for solving murders. but the ambassador, a philosopher named dio, asks for something that gordianus cannot give him – help to stay alive. before the night is out, dio is brutally assassinated. now gordianus begins the most dangerous case of his career. hired to investigate dio's murder by a beautiful woman with a scandalous reputation, he must follow a trail of intrigue into the highest circles of political power and the city's secret arenas of debauchery. uncovers, nor the suspect he sends to trial, nor the real truth behind dio's death which is shrouded in secrets of the heart as well as the state. saylor brings the people and the politics of ancient rome to convincing life, in the middle of a fast-moving and compelling mystery.

When centurion macro and his young subordinate, optio cato arrive on the shores of britain to take part in the emperor claudius' invasion in ad 43, macro knows the desperately outnumbered roman army will be facing one of the toughest campaigns ever. meanwhile, a sinister organization is secretly betraying the brave men of the legions. when assassination rumors coincide with the emperor's arrival, the soldiers realize they are up against a force more ruthless than the britons, and that time is running out if they are to prevent claudius's glorious victory from turning to disaster.