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If you’ve ever wanted to step back in time and see what life was like for those who came before us, books are the perfect entry points.
And the American historical fiction books on this list, in particular, do an amazing job of whisking one away to a tine past.
There’s just something about immersing yourself in a story set against the backdrop of important events that makes you feel connected to the past.
These books let us experience everything from the excitement of the American Revolution to the trials of the civil rights movement, all through the eyes of unforgettable characters.
Sounds like an experience you’d savour? Then you’re going to want to stay tuned throughout this post and I promise you’ll find a new fave soon.
1. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
The Four Winds is set during the Dust Bowl in 1930s Texas, where Elsa Martinelli has to make a tough choice: stay and fight for her family’s land or move to California in search of a better life.
This novel gives a gripping look at America’s Great Depression through Elsa’s eyes, showing just how strong people had to be to survive those hard times.
This is one of those books that pulls you right into the characters’ lives. Elsa’s journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring, and it was easy to get lost in her story.
Kristin Hannah does an amazing job of making you feel the dust and desperation of the Dust Bowl, but she also shows how hope and perseverance can get people through the darkest times.
What I loved most about the book was Elsa’s transformation. She starts off unsure of herself, but by the end, she’s a force to be reckoned with.
The way Hannah portrays the American Dream, showing both its promises and its harsh realities, really stuck with me.
And the sense of community that develops among the characters was a real highlight I strongly believe anyone would appreciate.
2. Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian
Set in 1662 Boston, Hour of the Witch follows Mary Deerfield as she tries to escape her abusive marriage and ends up fighting accusations of witchcraft.
It’s a story of survival in a time when being a strong-willed woman could get you into serious trouble.
The tension just kept building, and I found myself rooting for Mary the whole way through.
What I found especially gripping was the way the book highlights the hypocrisy and power dynamics of the time.
Mary’s struggle against her abusive husband and the community’s narrow-mindedness was intense and made me appreciate how far we’ve come—and how far we still have to go.
The historical details were spot-on, and I loved how our author mixed in just enough suspense to keep things interesting from start to finish.
3. Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Inspired by true events, Take My Hand tells the story of Civil Townsend, a young Black nurse in 1973 Alabama, who uncovers a shocking injustice against her young patients.
As Civil gets more involved in the lives of two sisters, she faces tough choices that will change their lives—and hers—forever.
Civil’s story is both heartbreaking and uplifting, and I couldn’t put the book down.
Dolen Perkins-Valdez really knows how to make you feel the weight of the moral dilemmas Civil faces, and the bond she forms with the Williams sisters is just beautiful.
The book opened my eyes to a part of history I didn’t know much about, and it left me thinking about the importance of standing up against injustice, even when it’s hard.
The way Perkins-Valdez weaves together Civil’s personal struggles with the bigger social issues of the time makes this a powerful read.
4. When Two Feathers Fell From The Sky by Margaret Verble
Set in 1926 Nashville, When Two Feathers Fell From The Sky is about Two Feathers, a young Cherokee horse-diver who works at a zoo.
After a disaster during one of her shows, strange things start happening, and Two, along with an eclectic group of friends, tries to solve a mystery that spans centuries.
The mix of history, mystery, and a bit of the supernatural made this American historical fiction book a really unique story.
1920s Nashville is brought to life by our author in such a vivid way that I felt like I was right there, experiencing all the weird and wonderful things happening at the zoo.
Two Feathers is such a cool character – strong, determined, and a bit mysterious herself – and I really enjoyed the diverse cast of characters that added depth to the story.
It’s one of those books that’s just different enough to be completely captivating, and I appreciated the way it dealt with issues of identity and belonging in a way that felt real and relatable.
5. Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang
Four Treasures of the Sky follows Daiyu, a young girl kidnapped from China and brought to America, where she has to constantly reinvent herself to survive.
Set during a time of intense anti-Chinese sentiment, the novel is a powerful exploration of identity, resilience, and the fight to reclaim one’s story.
Four Treasures of the Sky was a beautifully written book that really tugged at my heartstrings.
Daiyu’s journey is full of hardship, but it’s also a story of strength and survival and the riting is so vivid and emotional that I felt every bit of Daiyu’s pain and determination.
What really stood out to me was how the novel explored the idea of identity—how Daiyu had to keep changing who she was just to survive, and how she fought to hold on to her true self in a world that wanted to erase her.
Honestly, this is one of those books that stays with you and will always remind you of the strength it takes to keep fighting for your place in the world.
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6. The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
The Night Watchman is based on the true story of Louise Erdrich’s grandfather, who fought against a bill in the 1950s that threatened Native American rights.
The novel follows Thomas Wazhashk, a Chippewa night watchman, and a young woman named Patrice as they navigate life on the Turtle Mountain Reservation.
Louise Erdrich’s storytelling is so rich and full of life that I felt like I was part of the community she describes.
Thomas Wazhashk’s determination to protect his people’s rights was inspiring, and Patrice’s journey was equally compelling.
Both characters showed such strength in the face of adversity, which made the story really resonate with me.
The way Erdrich captures the culture and struggles of the Chippewa people was both eye-opening and deeply moving. I loved how she mixed humor and seriousness, because this made the characters feel real and relatable.
The novel also does a great job of showing how history isn’t just something that happens—it’s something that people live through, fight against, and try to change.
7. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Set in the 1960s, The Nickel Boys tells the story of Elwood Curtis, a young Black boy sent to a brutal reform school in Florida.
Based on real events, the novel explores the horrors of the school and the impact it has on Elwood and his fellow students.
The Nickel Boys was a tough read, but it was incredibly powerful, as Colson Whitehead doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of the Nickel Academy, and his portrayal of the abuse and corruption there was both heartbreaking and eye-opening.
Elwood’s struggle to hold onto his ideals in such a brutal environment was really moving, and I couldn’t help but feel for him every step of the way.
What hit me the hardest was the contrast between Elwood’s hope and the harshness of the world around him.
The novel does a great job of showing how systemic racism can crush even the most innocent dreams, but it also shows the strength it takes to keep going in the face of such cruelty.
8. The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
In The 19th Wife, David Ebershoff intertwines the story of Ann Eliza Young, a 19th-century woman who fights to end polygamy, with a modern-day murder mystery involving a polygamist family in Utah.
The novel explores themes of faith, love, and the complexities of belief systems across different times.
The mix of historical fiction and modern mystery kept things interesting, and I loved how David Ebershoff brought these two stories together in such a seamless way.
Ann Eliza’s story was particularly compelling—her fight against polygamy was brave and ahead of its time, and it was fascinating to see how her life intersected with the present-day mystery.
The modern storyline added a great twist, and I found myself hooked on both narratives. Ebershoff’s exploration of faith and the different ways it can shape people’s lives was thought-provoking without being preachy.
The dual timelines gave the book a nice balance, as it makes it both an intriguing mystery and a deep dive into the complexities of belief and personal freedom.
9. The Cold Millions by Jess Walter
The Cold Millions is set in early 20th-century Spokane and follows the Dolan brothers as they get caught up in the labor movement and social unrest.
While Rye dreams of stability, his older brother, Gig, is deeply involved in the fight for workers’ rights.
Their paths lead them into a world of activism, danger, and the harsh realities of the divide between rich and poor.
Jess Walter does an incredible job of bringing early 1900s America to life, with all its struggles and hopes.
The story of the Dolan brothers, especially the tension between Rye’s desire for a quiet life and Gig’s passion for justice, really drew me in.
I felt like I was right there with them, jumping onto freight trains and getting swept up in the labor movement because the historical setting was richly detailed so the social issues feel very real and immediate.
What I loved most was how the book balanced personal stories with broader social commentary—it’s about the Dolans, but it’s also about the bigger fight for fairness and dignity in a world that often feels stacked against the little guy.
I appreciated how Walter didn’t shy away from showing the tough choices people had to make.
It’s a story about fighting for something better, even when the odds are against you and you’re going to want to read this American historical fiction book.
10. A Good American by Alex George
A Good American tells the multigenerational story of Frederick and Jette, who emigrate from Germany in 1904 and settle in Beatrice, Missouri.
The novel follows their descendants as they navigate life in America, exploring what it means to belong and the challenges of being an outsider.
I absolutely loved A Good American and the way the author captures the immigrant experience in such a warm and relatable way that it felt like I was part of the family.
The story of Frederick and Jette, and how they built a life in a small American town, was both touching and inspiring and their journey, filled with hope, struggle, and unexpected twists, really resonated with me.
It felt like a love letter to small-town America, with all its charm and challenges. I also appreciated how George explored the idea of being an outsider—not just in a new country, but sometimes even within your own family.
The way the story spans generations makes it feel epic, yet it’s also deeply personal, full of moments that made me laugh, cry, and think about what it means to be part of a family and a community.
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11. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
In the frigid, isolated landscape of rural Wisconsin, Ralph Truitt, a wealthy but lonely man, places an ad in a Chicago newspaper seeking a reliable wife.
Enter Catherine Land, who responds to the ad, presenting herself as a simple, honest woman.
But her intentions are far from pure—she plans to marry Ralph, then slowly poison him to inherit his fortune and be with the man she truly loves.
However, Catherine soon learns that Ralph is not the clueless, lonely soul she thought he was. He has a dark past and his own hidden agenda. As they get caught in a web of deceit, manipulation, and unexpected emotions, neither of them anticipates falling deeply, perhaps dangerously, in love.
A Reliable Wife is like a beautifully twisted psychological thriller set in the chill of early 20th-century Wisconsin.
When I first started reading, I thought I had the characters figured out—Catherine as the schemer and Ralph as the unsuspecting victim.
But as the story unfolded, the lines between predator and prey became wonderfully blurred. Goolrick does an amazing job of making you question everyone’s motives and keeping the suspense taut throughout the novel.
The dark, moody atmosphere was incredibly immersive and it made me feel the cold, both literally and emotionally, as I got deeper into the story.
The characters are complex and flawed, and that’s what makes them so fascinating.
And, the book is full of unexpected twists, and by the end, I was completely hooked on this twisted tale of love, betrayal, and madness.
12. The Alienist by Caleb Carr
Set in 1896 New York City, The Alienist follows John Schuyler Moore, a reporter for The New York Times, and his friend, Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, a psychologist, or “alienist,” as they are drawn into a gruesome murder investigation.
The body of a young boy, brutally mutilated, is found near the East River. Theodore Roosevelt, then police commissioner, enlists Moore and Kreizler to investigate the crime, hoping that Kreizler’s pioneering psychological insights can lead them to the killer.
The team, which includes Sara Howard, the first woman employed by the NYPD, and two detective brothers, embarks on a revolutionary and dangerous quest.
They aim to build a psychological profile of the killer based on the nature of the crimes, an approach that was considered groundbreaking—and controversial—at the time.
This gripping historical thriller pulls you into the dark underbelly of 19th-century New York and Caleb Carr paints a vivid picture of the era, complete with the stark contrast between the glitz of high society and the grime of the city’s underworld.
The novel is meticulously researched, and the historical details are so rich that I felt like I was walking the streets of old New York alongside the characters.
The psychological aspect of the investigation is what really sets this book apart. It’s fascinating to see the early days of criminal profiling come to life, and the way the team pieces together the killer’s psyche is both chilling and intriguing.
The characters are well-drawn, especially Dr. Kreizler, whose methods are as innovative as they are risky and though the book delves into some pretty dark and disturbing territory, it’s handled with a deft touch that keeps you turning the pages and you’ll be eager to see where the investigation will lead.
13. Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy
Blood Meridian is a brutal and haunting exploration of the violent American West, based on real historical events.
The novel follows “the Kid,” a fourteen-year-old drifter who gets caught up with a scalp-hunting expedition along the Texas-Mexico border in the mid-1800s.
As the Kid and his companions traverse the barren, lawless landscape, they encounter unimaginable horrors and violence, led by the enigmatic and terrifying Judge Holden.
McCarthy’s prose is both stark and poetic, as it paints a grim portrait of the American frontier that subverts the romanticized image of the Wild West.
Blood Meridian is unlike any Western I’ve ever read—it’s raw, relentless, and often unsettling.
Cormac McCarthy doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities of westward expansion, and the violence depicted in the book is intense, almost to the point of being overwhelming. But it’s this unflinching portrayal that makes the novel so powerful.
The Kid’s journey through a world where humanity seems lost and morality is a distant memory is both disturbing and thought-provoking.
The author’s sparse yet lyrical prose creates an almost dreamlike atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the brutality of the events described.
The character of Judge Holden is particularly memorable—he’s one of the most terrifying and enigmatic villains I’ve encountered in literature, representing a kind of pure, philosophical evil.
14. The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron
The Confessions of Nat Turner is a fictionalized account of the life of Nat Turner, the leader of the most significant slave rebellion in American history, which took place in Virginia in 1831.
The novel is presented as Turner’s confession, given to his jailers as he awaits execution. Through his eyes, we see the brutal realities of slavery and the profound spiritual and psychological conflicts that drove him to lead the revolt.
Styron’s novel delves deeply into the complexities of Turner’s character, portraying him as a deeply religious man torn between his faith and the horrors of his existence as a slave.
Reading The Confessions of Nat Turner was a powerful and emotional experience and William Styron’s portrayal of Nat Turner is incredibly nuanced, as he does an excellent job of exploring the internal and external forces that led to the rebellion.
The novel doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of slavery, and at times, it’s a tough read because of the graphic depictions of violence and suffering.
The American historical fiction novel raises important questions about justice, morality, and the lengths to which people will go when pushed to their breaking point.
It’s a deeply thought-provoking book that offers no easy answers, but it’s a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of America’s history with slavery.
15. Fools Crow by James Welch
Set in post-Civil War Montana, Fools Crow tells the story of White Man’s Dog, a young Blackfeet Indian who earns the name Fools Crow after killing a chief of the Crow tribe.
The novel follows Fools Crow and his band, the Lone Eaters, as they struggle to preserve their traditional way of life in the face of encroaching white settlers and the U.S. government.
As Fools Crow comes of age, he faces difficult choices about how to respond to the threats facing his people—whether to fight, adapt, or find some middle ground.
The story culminates in the tragic Marias Massacre of 1870, a devastating event in which a friendly band of Blackfeet is mistakenly slaughtered by the U.S. Cavalry.
James Welch’s portrayal of the Blackfeet people is both respectful and deeply empathetic, and I felt a strong connection to Fools Crow as he tried to survive the complexities of his world.
The novel does an excellent job of showing the tension between tradition and change, as Fools Crow and his people struggle to maintain their way of life in the face of relentless pressure from white settlers.
The writing is lyrical and evocative and it really captures the beauty of the Montana landscape and the rich cultural heritage of the Blackfeet tribe.
The historical events depicted in the book are heartbreaking, but Welch handles them with grace and sensitivity that echoes the costs of cultural and physical genocide.
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16. Glow by Jessica Maria Tuccelli
Glow is a multi-generational saga that begins in 1941 with eleven-year-old Ella McGee’s journey to her Southern hometown.
As the story unfolds, it weaves together the histories of Ella’s ancestors, tracing their lives from the Great Depression back to the early 19th century, where slave plantations bordered the lands of the Cherokee Nation.
Through the voices of five different characters, Tuccelli explores themes of race, identity, and family in the American South.
The novel is rich in historical detail and draws on the legacies of slavery, Native American displacement, and the complex tapestry of Southern heritage to tell a story that is both deeply personal and sweeping in its scope.
Jessica Maria Tuccelli’s ability to give voice to such a diverse cast of characters, each with their own struggles and histories, made the story feel incredibly rich and layered.
And, I especially loved how the novel moved between different time periods, as it revealed the hidden connections and secrets that bind the characters together.
The way Tuccelli handled the themes of race and family was particularly powerful and the vivid descriptions of the Southern landscape and the intricate details of each character’s life made the novel feel like a living, breathing world.
17. The House Girl by Tara Conklin
The House Girl intertwines the stories of two women separated by more than a century but connected by a shared legacy.
In 1852 Virginia, Josephine Bell is a seventeen-year-old house slave who nurses her ailing mistress, Lu Anne Bell, and dreams of escape.
In present-day New York City, Lina Sparrow is a young lawyer tasked with finding the perfect plaintiff for a historic class-action lawsuit seeking reparations for the descendants of American slaves.
As Lina delves into the past, she uncovers a controversy that could change everything—paintings attributed to Lu Anne Bell may have actually been created by Josephine.
Tara Conklin does an excellent job of drawing parallels between Josephine’s struggle for freedom and Lina’s quest for truth, which only made this novel feel both timely and timeless.
I was particularly intrigued by the exploration of art and ownership—who gets to claim creative works, and how does history remember those who are often forgotten?
The legal and ethical dilemmas that Lina faces added an extra layer of drama to the story, so it was as much about personal discovery as it is about righting historical wrongs.
18. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
The Joy Luck Club tells the stories of four Chinese-American immigrant families in San Francisco who start a club to play mahjong, eat dim sum, and share stories.
The novel alternates between the perspectives of the mothers, who grew up in China, and their American-born daughters, who often struggle to reconcile their Chinese heritage with their American identities.
Through a series of interconnected vignettes, Amy Tan explores the deep and sometimes painful connections between mothers and daughters, the cultural divides that separate them, and the shared experiences that ultimately bring them together.
Reading The Joy Luck Club felt like being invited into the intimate world of these families, where every story told around the mahjong table reveals deeper truths about love, loss, and the immigrant experience.
Amy Tan’s writing is both tender and sharp, and she does the best job at capturing the complexities of mother-daughter relationships with incredible insight and sensitivity.
What resonated with me the most was the theme of cultural identity—how the daughters navigate their dual identities, caught between the expectations of their Chinese mothers and the realities of growing up in America.
The novel beautifully illustrates the generational and cultural gaps that can create distance between parents and children, but also the deep, unspoken bonds that connect them.
19. The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore
Set in New York City during the late 19th century, The Last Days of Night follows young lawyer Paul Cravath as he takes on one of the most significant legal battles of the era—the fight between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse over the invention of the light bulb.
The stakes are high, with a fortune and the future of electricity in America hanging in the balance.
As Paul navigates the cutthroat world of high society and ruthless industrialists, he finds himself caught in a web of intrigue, crossing paths with figures like Nikola Tesla and opera singer Agnes Huntington.
The novel is a thrilling mix of history, science, and legal drama, as it captures the dawn of the electrical age and the fierce competition that fueled it.
The Last Days of Night was a fascinating dive into a pivotal moment in history, where innovation and ambition collided in the race to light up the world.
Graham Moore does a fantastic job of making the legal and scientific complexities of the story accessible and engaging, and he weaves them into a fast-paced narrative that kept me hooked from start to finish.
I was particularly drawn to the character of Paul Cravath, who, despite being a young and inexperienced lawyer, takes on these powerful men with a mix of determination and ingenuity.
The novel also sheds light on the lesser-known figures in the story, like Nikola Tesla, whose brilliance often goes unrecognized in mainstream accounts of history.
20. Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley
Set in 1948 Los Angeles, Devil in a Blue Dress introduces us to Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins, a Black war veteran who’s just been laid off from his job at a defense plant.
Struggling to make ends meet, Easy takes on a job from a mysterious white man named Mr. Albright—to find Daphne Monet, a woman known to frequent the jazz clubs of Central Avenue.
What starts as a simple missing persons case quickly spirals into a tangled web of murder, corruption, and racial tension.
As Easy navigates the dangerous streets of L.A., he discovers that nothing is as it seems, and everyone has something to hide.
Devil in a Blue Dress is a masterful blend of noir mystery and social commentary, set against the backdrop of post-war Los Angeles.
Walter Mosley’s writing is sharp and atmospheric, capturing the gritty reality of a city divided by race and class.
Easy Rawlins is a compelling and relatable protagonist—an ordinary man who gets caught up in extraordinary circumstances, forced to use his wits and street smarts to survive.
I loved how Mosley weaves in themes of identity, power, and the Black experience in America, which makes the novel much more than just a detective story.
The setting of 1940s L.A. comes to life through Mosley’s vivid descriptions, and the tension between the characters reflects the broader social issues of the time.
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There you have it – a list of my all-time favourite American historical fiction books!
Whether you cheered for a brave pioneer or felt the weight of a pivotal moment, I hope you found a few that you’ll check out later.
I’d love to hear your thoughts – what are some of your favorite historical fiction reads? Share them in the comments below!
