Historical Fiction bestsellers

James

A Novel

By: Percival Everett
Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
Length: 7 hours 48 minutes

“Perhaps my favorite audiobook experience...ever. Dominic Hoffman delivers everything Percival Everett's writing skill could possibly ask of a reader. This reworking/reimagining/re-everythinging of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn hit me on new levels as I listened to the ending while driving through Hannibal, MO. I passed Huck's gas station,... Read more

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

A Novel

By: James McBride
Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
Length: 12 hours 21 minutes

“I fell in love with James McBride's narrative style reading Deacon King Kong. His most recent novel, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, has confirmed him as one of my all-time favorite authors. McBride creates an intricate tapestry for us, of people, of a community, of the many forms of struggle enveloping his cast of characters. Every thread... Read more

The Song of Achilles

A Novel

By: Madeline Miller
Narrated by: Frazer Douglas
Length: 11 hours 14 minutes

“Did this book leave me devastated and sobbing? Yes. Is it one of my favorite books ever? Also, yes! Madeline Miller knows how to write historical fiction beautifully. This novel follows the tragic story of Achilles' and Patroclus. While Miller stays true to the classic legend, she adds to the romantic relationship between the two that was... Read more

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

A Novel

By: Shannon Chakraborty
Narrated by: Lameece Issaq & Amin El Gamal
Length: 16 hours 59 minutes

“This was a super fun, supernatural, and magical pirate adventure with a protagonist my age who is a badass pirate but whose back also hurts. I can relate! Read more

Babel

Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of The Oxford Translators' Revolution

By: R. F. Kuang
Narrated by: Chris Lew Kum Hoi & Billie Fulford-Brown
Length: 21 hours 45 minutes

“IMHO, the best fantasy books give a reader new insights into our own world. Babel passed that test for me with its grounding in Britain's colonial history with an overlay of magic. I loved R.F. Kuang's The Poppy War trilogy, but this finely wrought novel surpasses it. Highly recommended. Read more

North Woods

A Novel

By: Daniel Mason
Narrated by: Mark Bramhall, Michael Crouch, Jason Culp, Mark Deakins, Jayne Entwistle, Billie Fulford-Brown, Arthur Morey, George Newbern, Kirsten Potter & Simon Vance
Length: 11 hours 5 minutes

“Wow, Daniel Mason can WRITE. A truly masterful story of one house, one orchard, one forest over the American centuries. A feast of descriptions of the natural world paired with poignant character sketches. I started with the ensemble cast on Libro.fm audio (incredible) and finished by reading the actual book - pick your method; both are amazing. Read more

The Bright Sword

A Novel of King Arthur

By: Lev Grossman
Narrated by: Nicholas Guy Smith & Lev Grossman
Length: 23 hours 9 minutes

“The Bright Sword is nothing short of absolute brilliance! Lev Grossman has created a sharp and realized re-imagination of the classic Arthurian tale with whip-snap dialog, rich world-building, and an intriguing assortment of sundry characters that come together to create a story that is refreshing, exciting, thought-provoking, and downright... Read more

Circe

By: Madeline Miller
Narrated by: Perdita Weeks
Length: 12 hours 8 minutes

“Miller expands on the story Circe, a little-known figure in Greek mythology to create an insightful portrayal of humanity. This is some of the most beautiful writing I've ever experienced. As a society, we are flooded with tales of ordinary to extraordinary, of the special, chosen hero. But what about the power of the ordinary? And of choice?... Read more

The Frozen River

A Novel

By: Ariel Lawhon
Narrated by: Jane Oppenheimer & Ariel Lawhon
Length: 15 hours 5 minutes

“Based on the life of Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife in Maine, The Frozen River is mesmerizing. Martha is brilliant and strong in a period when women were lucky to read. Throw in a murder mystery with vivid characters? Heaven. Read more

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

By: V. E. Schwab
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
Length: 17 hours 9 minutes

“Unlike anything I have ever read. Stunning, masterful, epic, dark and rich! Even my friends who usually scoff at sci-fi/fantasy books, loved this one. No short synopsis will properly prepare you, just dive in. Read more

Mexican Gothic

By: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Narrated by: Frankie Corzo
Length: 10 hours 39 minutes

“Creepy and romantic, Mexican Gothic is easily one of my favorite books of 2020! Upon receiving a strange letter from her cousin, Noemi Taboada goes to investigate the happenings of High Place, a decaying manor filled with secrets, and is plagued by terrifying dreams and visions. Moreno-Garcia delivers a fresh take on a classic gothic novel that... Read more

The Briar Club

A Novel

By: Kate Quinn
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
Length: 15 hours 3 minutes

The New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye and The Rose Code returns with a haunting and powerful story of female friendships and secrets in a Washington, DC, boardinghouse during the McCarthy era.Washington, DC, 1950. Everyone keeps to themselves at Briarwood House, a down-at-the-heels all-female boardinghouse in the heart of the... Read more

The Lincoln Highway

A Read with Jenna Pick (A Novel)

By: Amor Towles
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Marin Ireland & Dion Graham
Length: 16 hours 38 minutes

“THIS BOOK EXCEEDED ALL EXPECTATIONS! As a huge fan of A Gentleman in Moscow and Rules of Civility, The Lincoln Highway had a lot of pressure and holy cow did it surpass anything I could have hoped for. From the first page, I was immediately drawn into Towles' magical writing and superb characters. This felt like a modern classic, the new and... Read more

Cloud Cuckoo Land

A Novel

By: Anthony Doerr
Narrated by: Marin Ireland & Simon Jones
Length: 14 hours 51 minutes

“Spanning from the final days of Constantinople to the distant space-exploring future, this is about how stories resonant across space and time. I know that readers will emerge from its pages grateful: for our connections with each other, how great art outlasts all of us, how together we are all writing one big story, imperfect and hopeful. Read more

Trust (Pulitzer Prize Winner)

By: Hernan Diaz
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Jonathan Davis, Mozhan Marnò & Orlagh Cassidy
Length: 10 hours 20 minutes

“Who can you trust in the end? This 'brilliant literary puzzle' tells the story of the legendary Wall Street Tycoon Andrew Bevel and his enigmatic wife Mildred. Told in four interlocking parts, Trust is a novel within a novel, the fragmented notes for a ghostwritten memoir that Andrew hopes will set the record straight, the ghostwriter's own... Read more

The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love

Love's Academic: Book #1

By: India Holton
Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden
Length: 10 hours 19 minutes

"So riotously clever it almost defies description...an alchemy of romantic elements held in perfect harmony."—NPR

Rival ornithologists hunt through England for a rare magical bird in this historical-fantasy rom-com reminiscent of Indiana Jones but with manners, tea, and helicopter parasols.

Beth Pickering is on the verge of finally capturing the... Read more

Black Sun

Between Earth and Sky: Book #1

By: Rebecca Roanhorse
Narrated by: Cara Gee, Nicole Lewis, Kaipo Schwab & Shaun Taylor-Corbett
Length: 12 hours 46 minutes

“Black Sun is a fresh take on fantasy that includes rich world building and complex, nuanced character-driven storytelling. Read more

Weyward

A Novel

By: Emilia Hart
Narrated by: Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley & Nell Barlow
Length: 10 hours 51 minutes

“This is an excellent read if you love well-researched historical fiction and multiple familial timelines. While I have read a few reviews that chastise the book's lack of positive male figures, I respectfully disagree. The patriarchy was entirely in charge during the Witch Hunts of the late 17th Century, as it was during the turmoil of... Read more

The Familiar

A Novel

By: Leigh Bardugo
Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
Length: 12 hours 57 minutes

“Just read it, you won't regret the time spent (safely through a book) during the Spanish Inquisition time period. Richly researched, Bardugo's writing will leave you wanting more magic in your life. Read more

Long Island

By: Colm Toibin
Narrated by: Jessie Buckley
Length: 9 hours 27 minutes

“In Colm Tóibín’s new book, Long Island, his masterful language and ability to draw quietly engaging characters is on full display. When a stranger knocks on Eilis Lacey’s door with an alarming message, her life and that of her family is thrown into disarray. After receiving the news, she returns to her hometown of Enniscorthy, where she... Read more

Lincoln in the Bardo

A Novel

By: George Saunders
Narrated by: George Saunders, Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, Carrie Brownstein, Don Cheadle, Lena Dunham, Bill Hader, Kirby Heyborne, Keegan-Michael Key, Julianne Moore, Megan Mullally, Susan Sarandon, Ben Stiller & Various
Length: 7 hours 24 minutes

“This was my first audiobook and i've been devoted to them ever since. This novel was one-of-a-kind to begin with, so it's no wonder it took a cast of over one hundred actors to realize it in audio. I will admit, at first I found the citations jarring - yes, real and fictional historical sources presented mid-narrative - but by the end they were... Read more

Nicked

A Novel

By: M. T. Anderson
Narrated by: Euan Morton
Length: 7 hours 55 minutes

“Before reading this, would I have said we needed a madcap queer romantic historical adventure about based on the true story of an earnest monk and a rakish pirate stealing the sacred bones of Saint Nicholas? No, I wouldn't have, but it was delightfully unpredictable, witty, and fun! Based on real historical events, with a touch of whimsy added,... Read more

Let Us Descend

A Novel

By: Jesmyn Ward
Narrated by: Jesmyn Ward
Length: 8 hours 12 minutes

“Let Us Descend enveloped me. Jesmyn Ward's rich prose at the sentence level and her sheer determination through all 300 pages of this book are remarkable. I don't feel she once faltered. So many books peter out at the end or lose focus or motivation but not here...The book is a brutal retelling of slavery and the physical/spiritual/mental... Read more

A Gentleman in Moscow

A Novel

By: Amor Towles
Narrated by: Nicholas Guy Smith
Length: 17 hours 51 minutes

“Through Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov's ordinary encounters and activities within the bounds of the four walls of post-revolutionary Moscow's Metropol Hotel, where he is under house arrest, Towles deftly guides readers across a century of Russian history, from the Bolshevik uprising to the dawn of the nuclear age under Krushchev. Grandiloquent... Read more

A Fate Inked in Blood

Book One of the Saga of the Unfated

Saga of the Unfated: Book #1

By: Danielle L. Jensen
Narrated by: Nina Yndis
Length: 15 hours 15 minutes

“Blood brilliant! (Figuratively and literally!) Oh, this is SO good and addictive! I knew within the first few pages of starting that this book was going to be great. Dark, gritty, bloody, inspired by Norse Mythology, and desperately romantic, A Fate Inked in Blood is an exciting new addition to the romantasy genre that combines the high-octane... Read more

The Once and Future Witches

By: Alix E. Harrow
Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
Length: 16 hours 3 minutes

“Alix E. Harrow's second novel propels the listener from the year 1893 through a past and the future, with fantasy releasing the spells the Sisters Grimm have hidden in plain sight. I also delighted in the witchy affirmation of historical moments and unions at the turn of the 20th Century. Read more

A Thousand Ships

A Novel

By: Natalie Haynes
Narrated by: Natalie Haynes
Length: 8 hours 33 minutes

“THIS is the literary Greek Mythology retelling that fans of Circe should get immediately! The narration by the author is perfect, the story is beautifully written, and it's from the perspective that we've always needed to hear from—the WOMEN of the war. I so so highly recommend this one! Read more

Don't Want You Like a Best Friend

A Novel

The Mischief & Matchmaking Series: Book #1

By: Emma R. Alban
Narrated by: Mary Jane Wells & Morag Sims
Length: 10 hours 47 minutes

“What a vibrant beginning to a new historical romance series! Full of intrigue, stolen kisses, and London drama, this sweet queer love story follows two women who dare to hope in a world not built for them. Read more

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

A Novel

By: Heather Morris
Narrated by: Richard Armitage
Length: 7 hours 25 minutes

“I devoured The Tattooist of Auschwitz, a powerful book based on a true story, in two sittings. Lale, a Slovakian Jew at Auschwitz-Birkenau, becomes the Tatowierer—the man responsible for tattooing every prisoner who arrives at the concentration camp. Seen by some as a collaborator, Lale must make impossible choices to keep himself and his... Read more

Lady Tan's Circle of Women

By: Lisa See
Narrated by: Jennifer Lim & Justin Chien
Length: 13 hours 15 minutes

“This book is a rare combination of in-depth historical research based on a true-life character, and an edge-of-your-seat story that takes us through various births, deaths, marriages, and diseases over the course of almost a century. The setting of 15th century China is unique; the reader becomes immersed in the world built by Lisa See, privy to... Read more

Wolf Hall

A Novel

Wolf Hall Trilogy: Book #1

By: Hilary Mantel
Narrated by: Simon Slater
Length: 22 hours 58 minutes

In the ruthless arena of King Henry VIII's court, only one man dares to gamble his life to win the king's favor and ascend to the heights of political power

England in the 1520s is a heartbeat from disaster. If the king dies without a male heir, the country could be destroyed by civil war. Henry VIII wants to annul his marriage of twenty years,... Read more

The Binding

A Novel

By: Bridget Collins
Narrated by: Carl Prekopp
Length: 15 hours 29 minutes

“The Binding first takes you on a fantastic journey to an old woman's cottage that teaches the art of book-binding; then becomes a very personal story to the apprentice book-binder Emmett Farmer. This is a story that is rooted around memories, the people that wish to use them for profit, and the individuals that feel better left to not... Read more

The Starless Sea

A Novel

By: Erin Morgenstern
Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman & Various
Length: 18 hours 36 minutes

“Rarely is a book such an absolute feast—for the senses, for the intellect, and, above all, for the soul. Morgenstern dazzles in her latest novel, an intricately wrought tale populated by lovers, mystery, and sumptuous magic. The Starless Sea is an ode to book lovers everywhere, reanimating the excitement as well as the pure possibility felt when... Read more

Husbands & Lovers

A Novel

By: Beatriz Williams
Narrated by: Helen Laser & Caroline Hewitt
Length: 12 hours 31 minutes

“If you love historical fiction you are going to love this book. If that is not your favorite genre, you are in luck because half the book is set in the present. Mallory and Hannah are two women separated by generations but their lives are woven together in love. Two narrators (one for Hannah and one for Mallory) make it pretty easy to know who's... Read more

Lady in the Lake

A Novel

By: Laura Lippman
Narrated by: Susan Bennett
Length: 10 hours 43 minutes

“I continue to be in awe of Laura Lippman’s ability to write novels that are so much more than mysteries. Lady in the Lake is, of course, a wonderful mystery with twists and turns and surprises —nothing is predictable. But it is also a beautiful character study and a sensitive look at the desire to have a meaningful life and how ambition can be... Read more

The Poppy War

A Novel

The Poppy War

By: R. F. Kuang
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
Length: 19 hours 27 minutes

An AudioFile Magazine Best Audiobook of 2018!A Library Journal, Paste Magazine, and ENTROPY Best Books of 2018 pick!Washington Post ""5 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel of 2018"" pick!A Bustle ""30 Best Fiction Books of 2018"" pick!“I have no doubt this will end up being the best fantasy debut of the year [...] I have absolutely no doubt... Read more

Hamnet

By: Maggie O'Farrell
Narrated by: Ell Potter
Length: 12 hours 42 minutes

“A wonderful imaginative tale of the family of one of England’s most famous writers – who is never named, but of course you know immediately who it is. O’Farrell has a beautiful style of language, with astute observations and lovely vivid descriptions and Daisy Donovan is the perfect narrator. At the core it is a story of shared grief and how... Read more

The Night Circus

A Novel

By: Erin Morgenstern
Narrated by: Jim Dale
Length: 13 hours 38 minutes

“The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern might just be the loveliest book I've ever read. There is no book quite so effervescent or immersive as this one, and I would love nothing more than to live in its pages forever. Read more

The Fraud

A Novel

By: Zadie Smith
Narrated by: Zadie Smith
Length: 12 hours 24 minutes

“Hearing Zadie Smith narrate The Fraud only enhances the experience of this already great novel. The characters are unique and easily distinguishable, and her considerable skill with accents is astounding. A thoroughly unique and enjoyable experience, just like everything Smith writes. Listen, and let her words transport you. You won't regret it. Read more

The Paris Novel

By: Ruth Reichl
Narrated by: Kiiri Sandy
Length: 9 hours 25 minutes

“Ruth Reichl delivers the poignant tale of Stella and her contentious relationship with her now deceased mother. I loved the character's growth throughout this novel, and her willingness to open herself up to everything in her world. The great mix of historical truth within a fictional setting had me wiki-diving for hours. I loved every word,... Read more

The Ten Thousand Doors of January

By: Alix E. Harrow
Narrated by: January LaVoy
Length: 12 hours 20 minutes

“I read The Ten Thousand Doors of January with my eyes and my ears... both were literary nirvana experiences. Alix E. Harrow's tale of a young girl who finds a mysterious book that tells of doors that lead to fantastical worlds reminded me of what story telling is all about. I was transported to the early 1900's and the life of January Scaller,... Read more

The Fox Wife

A Novel

By: Yangsze Choo
Narrated by: Yangsze Choo
Length: 14 hours 36 minutes

“I'm not sure that any description of this book would have prepared me for how well Choo blends Chinese lore, murder mystery, family saga and character examination. Told from the perspectives of Snow, a fox woman and Bao a private investigator, this book is a genre- bending, engrossing read. I'm positively floored that it was read so convincingly... Read more

Last Night at the Telegraph Club

By: Malinda Lo
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
Length: 12 hours 25 minutes

“This coming of age story about a young woman growing up queer in 1950s Chinatown, San Francisco, was brilliant. I loved the rich historical detail, believable characters, exploration of intersectional identities, romance, and sense of place, made even stronger by the excellent narration. Best book I've read in quite some time and highly... Read more

Horse

A Novel

By: Geraldine Brooks
Narrated by: James Fouhey, Lisa Flanagan, Graham Halstead, Katherine Littrell & Michael Obiora
Length: 14 hours 5 minutes

“This book centers on Lexington, often considered the greatest horse in history. But this book is much more than the story of a horse. Brooks writes of slavery, the Civil War, academia, art and publishing, love and loyalty, and racism in history and today. I loved the bond between Jarret, an enslaved boy, and Lexington. I will be thinking of this... Read more

The Honey Witch

By: Sydney J. Shields
Narrated by: Mia Hutchinson Shaw
Length: 13 hours 1 minute

“The Honey Witch was incredibly adorable and had me squealing at some points. This was absolutely so endearing! The story was incredibly unique, and I feel like I learned a lot about being a Honey Witch! Read more

Pachinko (National Book Award Finalist)

By: Min Jin Lee
Narrated by: Allison Hiroto
Length: 18 hours 15 minutes

“A father's gentle nature, a mother's sacrifice, a daughter's trust, and a son's determination are the cornerstones of this grand, multilayered saga. Pachinko follows one family through an ever-changing cultural landscape, from 1910 Korea to 1989 Japan. As the bonds of family are put to the test in the harsh realities of their world, Sunja and... Read more

The Shadow of the Wind

By: Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
Length: 18 hours 4 minutes

“The author is a pianist and frequently sat at his piano while writing this book. He wrote a complete soundtrack to the book and the music is included in the audiobook narrated by Jonathan Davis. Davis is fantastic at keeping true to the voice of the novel. Plus, his pronunciation is spot on. I learned the correct way to pronounce Barcelona! This... Read more

The Vaster Wilds

A Novel

By: Lauren Groff
Narrated by: January LaVoy
Length: 7 hours 5 minutes

“If you’ve ever seen an interview with Lauren Groff, you might think it’s all fun and games with her. But when that woman starts writing, she’s full-tilt serious business. Her new novel, The Vaster Wilds, follows a young servant girl, Lamentations, from the colony of Jamestown as she flees traumatic events in the household where she worked. Did... Read more

A Ruse of Shadows

The Lady Sherlock Series: Book #8

By: Sherry Thomas
Narrated by: Kate Reading
Length: 13 hours 3 minutes

"I cannot recommend this series enough."—#1 New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood

Charlotte Holmes is accustomed to solving crimes, not being accused of them, but she finds herself in a dreadfully precarious position as the bestselling Lady Sherlock series continues.

Charlotte’s success on the RMS Provence has afforded her a certain... Read more

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

By: Susanna Clarke
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
Length: 32 hours 25 minutes

At the dawn of the nineteenth century, two very different magicians emerge to change England's history. In the year 1806, with the Napoleonic Wars raging on land and sea, most people believe magic to be long dead in England-until the reclusive Mr Norrell reveals his powers, and becomes a celebrity overnight.

Soon, another practicing magician... Read more