🗺️ Historical Fiction · United States
Best Historical Fiction Books from United States
Historical fiction places imagined characters in the documented past, using the tools of the novel — interiority, scene, dialogue — to make history legible and emotionally immediate in ways that non-fiction rarely achieves. United States has produced some of the most internationally recognised works in historical fiction, with titles that have appeared on major prize lists and critical surveys worldwide. This page ranks the best historical fiction from United States by editorial consensus.
#1
literary-fiction
Beloved
Toni Morrison· 1993
★Nobel Prize in Literature
Editorial Score85/100
#2
historical-fiction
The Lacuna
Barbara Kingsolver· 2009
★Women's Prize for Fiction
Editorial Score83/100
#3
literary-fiction
The Sympathizer
Viet Thanh Nguyen· 2016
★Pulitzer Prize
Editorial Score81/100
#4
literary-fiction
The Nickel Boys
Colson Whitehead· 2020
★Pulitzer Prize
Editorial Score80/100
#5
historical-fiction
The News from Paraguay
Lily Tuck· 2005
★National Book Award
Editorial Score78/100
#6
literary-fiction
Demon Copperhead
Barbara Kingsolver· 2022
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score77/100
#7
historical-fiction
The Underground Railroad
Colson Whitehead· 2017
★Pulitzer Prize
Editorial Score75/100
#8
literary-fiction
Lessons in Chemistry
Bonnie Garmus· 2022
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score72/100
#9
literary-fiction
Tree of Smoke
Denis Johnson· 2008
★National Book Award
Editorial Score72/100
#10
fantasy
Circe
Madeline Miller· 2018
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score72/100
#11
literary-fiction
Daisy Jones and The Six
Taylor Jenkins Reid· 2019
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score71/100
#12
literary-fiction
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Taylor Jenkins Reid· 2017
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score71/100
#13
historical-fiction
Europe Central
William T. Vollmann· 2006
★National Book Award
Editorial Score70/100
#14
literary-fiction
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
Michael Chabon· 2001
★Pulitzer Prize
Editorial Score70/100
#15
historical-fiction
In America
Susan Sontag· 2001
★National Book Award
Editorial Score70/100
#16
historical-fiction
The Song of Achilles
Madeline Miller· 2012
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score70/100
#17
science-fiction
The Calculating Stars
Mary Robinette Kowal· 2019
★Hugo Award
Editorial Score69/100
#18
literary-fiction
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Junot Díaz· 2008
★Pulitzer Prize
Editorial Score68/100
#19
historical-fiction
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Elizabeth George Speare· 1959
★Newbery Medal
Editorial Score67/100
#20
historical-fiction
The Years of Rice and Salt
Kim Stanley Robinson· 2003
★Hugo Award
Editorial Score66/100
#21
literary-fiction
American Pastoral
Philip Roth· 1998
★Pulitzer Prize
Editorial Score65/100
#22
literary-fiction
All the Pretty Horses
Cormac McCarthy· 1993
★National Book Award
Editorial Score65/100
#23
fantasy
The Poppy War
R.F. Kuang· 2018
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score64/100
#24
historical-fiction
Number the Stars
Lois Lowry· 1990
★Newbery Medal
Editorial Score64/100
#25
adventure
Lonesome Dove
Larry McMurtry· 1986
★Pulitzer Prize
Editorial Score64/100
#26
historical-fiction
Cold Mountain
Charles Frazier· 1997
★National Book Award
Editorial Score62/100
#27
science-fiction
Blackout/All Clear
Connie Willis· 2011
★Hugo Award
Editorial Score60/100
#28
historical-fiction
Cloudsplitter
Russell Banks· 1999
★PEN/Faulkner Award
Editorial Score59/100
#29
mystery-thriller
Devil in a Blue Dress
Walter Mosley· 1990
★Edgar Award
Editorial Score59/100
#30
short-stories
Ship Fever
Andrea Barrett· 1997
★National Book Award
Editorial Score57/100
#31
literary-fiction
Sophie's Choice
William Styron· 1980
★National Book Award
Editorial Score57/100
#32
literary-fiction
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain· 1876
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score55/100
#33
literary-fiction
The Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne· 1800
Library Journal
Editorial Score55/100
#34
literary-fiction
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Mark Twain· 1817
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score55/100
#35
literary-fiction
The Prince and the Pauper
Mark Twain· 1881
Library Journal
Editorial Score55/100
#36
literary-fiction
Twice-Told Tales
Nathaniel Hawthorne· 1800
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score55/100
#37
literary-fiction
Tender is the Night
F. Scott Fitzgerald· 1933
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score55/100
#38
literary-fiction
Ben Hur
Lew Wallace· 1800
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score55/100
#39
literary-fiction
Life on the Mississippi
Mark Twain· 1883
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score55/100
#40
classic-literature
Great Short Works of Herman Melville
Herman Melville· 1940
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score55/100
#41
historical-fiction
Cane River
Lalita Tademy· 2001
Oprah's Book Club
Editorial Score53/100
#42
historical-fiction
The Healer's War
Elizabeth Ann Scarborough· 1989
★Nebula Award
Editorial Score50/100
#43
literary-fiction
A history of New York
Washington Irving· 1800
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score50/100
#44
literary-fiction
The House of Seven Gables Readalong
Nathaniel Hawthorne· 1851
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#45
literary-fiction
The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym
Edgar Allan Poe· 1838
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#46
literary-fiction
The adventures of Captain Bonneville, U.S.A.
Washington Irving· 1800
Library Journal
Editorial Score50/100
#47
literary-fiction
Billy Budd
Herman Melville· 1900
Library Journal
Editorial Score50/100
#48
literary-fiction
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn / Billy Budd / Red Badge of Courage / Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne· 1969
Library Journal
Editorial Score50/100
#49
literary-fiction
The Portable Melville
Herman Melville· 1952
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score50/100
#50
classic-literature
Novels (Bartleby, the Scrivener / Benito Cereno / Billy Budd / Encantadas)
Herman Melville· 1928
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score50/100
