Journal shelf

Historical Fiction

Readerly notes on the real people, places, and questions that give historical fiction its staying power.

Reader’s guide

Maritime Historical Fiction: Where to Start

What to look for in maritime historical fiction, from shipboard life and shore communities to the real histories beneath the voyage.

Reader’s guide

How to choose historical fiction about real people, read it with care, and keep the line between record and imagination in view.

Reader’s guide

Six thoughtful novels about the Civil War, and a practical way to choose a story without mistaking fiction for the historical record.

Reader’s guide

A practical way to choose a historical novel, prepare the conversation, and leave room for both story and history.

Reader’s guide

Five historical fiction books based on true stories, from Longfellow to early lifeboats, and how to choose one with care.

Reader’s guide

How historical novels based on true stories balance fact and invention, what to look for in an author’s note, and what to read next.