Historical Fiction - Exodus Books

Store Location

The best way to learn history is not always in a textbook. (That's probably the worst way, really, but more on that elsewhere.) While learning history through novels can be taken too far (it is fiction after all), there's much to be said for getting a feel for the Civil War through books like The Red Badge of Courage or Across Five Aprils, or learning about the deep rifts between Saxons and Normans in Medieval England through Scott's Ivanhoe.

A well-researched historical novel imparts something no list of names and dates can—a picture of life among a particular people at a particular time, the way they thought, the way they ate, who they admired, how they traveled. Sometimes readers are introduced to real historical figures and events from an intimate perspective, not the stale cardboard presentations common in schools.

There's plenty of nonsense available, of course, and just because the cover says a book takes place in Renaissance Italy or ancient Egypt doesn't mean it's a good book, or even that it's historical fiction in the true sense. A writer who simply transposes stories on different time periods isn't really saying anything about that time period, they're just trying to inflate sales with an appeal to the exotic and unfamiliar.

Such bogus historical fiction is really just fantasy. The good stuff is real and bright and dusty and loud, just like an old Roman city or a battle between Roundheads and Cavaliers. It reflects the religious sentiments of the characters as they would have been, such as in Lilli Thal's brilliant Medieval epic Mimus. It shows how one small action can lead to many much larger events, as happens frequently in C.S. Forester's Hornblower series.

Whether you're into the technical descriptions of battles found in Henty's boy-versus-the-world stories, or prefer the romance of The Scarlet Pimpernel, or like to break your heart over and over with books like Amos Fortune, Free Man, historical fiction is above all fiction of the present—not to be kept in the annals of the past, it shows us that the people of long ago (or not so long ago) are not so different than the people of today.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

Did you find this review helpful?

Parent Categories

Fiction & Literature

Fiction by Genre

Historical Fiction

Subcategories by Grade

4th grade (Ages 9-10)

5th grade (Ages 10-11)

6th grade (Ages 11-12)

7th grade (Ages 12-13)

Subcategories

G. A. Henty Books

- Henty Audio Books

Louise Vernon Historical Fiction

Nautical Fiction

We Were There Series

61 Items found Print

Active Filters:

10th grade (Ages 15-16),

Trade Paperback,

Used Books & Materials

	Adam and His Kin The Lost History of Their Lives and Times by Ruth Beechick from Mott Media Historical Fiction for 7th-10th grade in Ancient History (Location: HISW-ANC) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies Hornblower Series #11 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company Nautical fiction for 8th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.14 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Alone Yet Not Alone Based on the True Story of Barbara and Regina Leininger by Tracy Leininger Craven Mti from Zonderkidz Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $5.60 (1 in stock)
	Beat to Quarters Hornblower Series #6 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company Nautical fiction for 10th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.14 $7.20 (1 in stock)
	Beyond the Desert Gate Bethlehem Books Young Adult Bookshelf by Mary Ray 2^nd edition from Bethlehem Books Historical Fiction for in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $11.86 $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Beyond the Sacred Page The Tyndale Translation Book of Books #2 by Jack Cavanaugh from Zondervan for 7th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Billy Budd, Sailor, and Other Stories by Herman Melville from Bantam Books Realistic Nautical Fiction for 10th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $4.21 $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman from Puffin Books for 5th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Borrowed House Bethlehem Books Young Adult Bookshelf by Hilda Van Stockum from Purple House Press Historical Fiction for 7th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Brethren A Tale of the Crusades by H. Rider Haggard from Christian Liberty Press Historical Fiction for 8th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.24 $7.20 (1 in stock)
	Butter in the Well: Historical Diary 1868-1888 A Scandinavian Woman's Tale of Life on the Prairie by Linda K. Hubalek from Butterfield Books for 8th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Commodore Hornblower Hornblower Series #9 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company Nautical fiction for 10th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.14 $7.20 (1 in stock)
	Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton 5^th edition from Charles Scribner's Sons for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Curse of Carne's Hold by G. A. Henty from Robinson Curriculum for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN)
	Cyrus the Persian by Sherman A. Nagel from A. B. Publishing, Inc. for 5th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Escape The Adventures of Three Huguenot Children Fleeing Persecution Huguenot Inheritance Series #1 by A. Van der Jagt from Inheritance Publications Historical fiction for 7th-10th grade in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02) $11.86 $5.60 (1 in stock)
	Far Side of the World Aubrey/Maturin #10 by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $13.95 $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Far Side of the World Aubrey/Maturin #10 by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $8.00 (2 in stock)
	Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston from Houghton Mifflin for 7th-11th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $4.80 (2 in stock)
	Flames of Rome by Paul L. Maier 2^nd edition from Kregel Publications for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $18.99 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Flying Colours Hornblower Series #8 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company Nautical fiction for 10th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.44 $8.00 (2 in stock)
	For God and the King William and Mary Trilogy Volume 3 by Marjorie Bowen from Inheritance Publications Historical fiction for 9th-12th grade in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03) $16.96 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Forgotten Daughter by Caroline Dale Snedeker from American Home-School Publishing for 7th-10th grade 1934 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Fortune of War Aubrey/Maturin #6 by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $14.95 $6.50 (1 in stock)
	Golden Ocean by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $25.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
	H. M. S. Surprise Aubrey/Maturin #3 by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	I Will Maintain William and Mary Trilogy Volume 1 by Marjorie Bowen from Inheritance Publications Historical Fiction for 9th-12th grade in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03) $13.56 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Ides of April Bethlehem Books Young Adult Bookshelf by Mary Ray from Bethlehem Books for 8th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $11.86 $6.40 (4 in stock)
	Ionian Mission Aubrey/Maturin #8 by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $14.95 $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Jack Nastyface Memoirs of an English Seaman by William Robinson from US Naval Institute Press for 10th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $5.60 (1 in stock)
	John Treegate's Musket Treegate Series Book 1 by Leonard Wibberly from Bethlehem Books Historical fiction for 7th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke from Bloomsbury Publishing for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Kitchen Boy Novel of the Last Tsar by Robert Alexander Reprint from Penguin Press for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Last Castle by George MacDonald, edited for today's reader by Dan Hamilton from Victor Books for 10th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Lord Hornblower Hornblower Series #10 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company Nautical fiction for 10th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.14 $7.20 (2 in stock)
	Lysbeth A Tale of the Dutch by H. Rider Haggard from Christian Liberty Press Historical Fiction for 8th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.24 $7.20 (2 in stock)
	Midshipman Bolitho by Alexander Kent from McBooks Press for 8th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Morbid Taste for Bones Brother Cadfael by Ellis Peters from Mysterious Press for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $3.50 (2 in stock)
	My Heart Lies South The Story of My Mexican Marriage by Elizabeth Borton de Treviño Young People's Edition from Bethlehem Books Biography for 8th-12th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $12.71 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Out on the Pampas The Young Settlers by G. A. Henty from Robinson Curriculum Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Parcel of Patterns by Jill Paton Walsh from Farrar, Straus and Giroux for 7th-12th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.34 $4.40 (2 in stock)
	Pearl Maiden by H. Rider Haggard from Christian Liberty Press Historical Fiction for 8th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.24 $7.20 (1 in stock)
	Pontius Pilate A Novel by Paul L. Maier 2^nd edition from Kregel Publications for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $8.50 (1 in stock)
	Rainbow's Gold by Vera Martin Lynch from William W. Lynch for 6th-12th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $4.40 (1 in stock)
	Rifleman Dodd by C. S. Forester from Marine Corps University for 8th-12th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	Sea Captain from Salem Treegate Series Book 3 by Leonard Wibberley Reprint from Bethlehem Books for 9th-12th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Search for a Secret by G. A. Henty from Robinson Curriculum for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Secret Mission A Huguenot's Dangerous Adventures in the Land of Persecution Huguenot Inheritance Series #2 by A. Van der Jagt from Inheritance Publications Historical Fiction for 7th-10th grade in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02) $13.56 $7.20 (1 in stock)
	Shepherd of the Hills by Harold Bell Wright from Bethany House for 9th-12th grade in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $7.00 (1 in stock)
	Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Marie Pope from Sandpiper Books for 10th-12th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.79 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Squalls Before War His Majesty's Schooner Sultana by Ned Bustard from Veritas Press Nautical Fiction for 7th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $15.00 $8.00 (2 in stock)
	Story of Liberty by Charles Coffin from Maranatha Publications Historical Reference for 10th-Adult in America's Christian Heritage (Location: HISA-CH) $16.97 $8.00 (2 in stock)
	Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp from HarperCollins Biography for 7th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.14 $7.20 (1 in stock)
	The Robe by Lloyd Douglas from Houghton Mifflin Historical Fiction for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $16.99 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Weight of a Flame The Passion of Olympia Morata Chosen Daughters by Simonetta Carr from P&R Publishing for 9th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.20 (1 in stock)
	William the Conqueror by Jacob Abbott from A Beka Books for 7th-10th grade in A Beka Book Report books (Location: REA-ABK) $8.08 (1 in stock)
	With Cochrane the Dauntless Lord Cochrane in South American Waters by G. A. Henty from Robinson Curriculum for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	With Pipe, Paddle and Song A Story of the French-Canadian Voyageurs Bethlehem Books Young Adult Bookshelf by Elizabeth Yates 2^nd edition from Bethlehem Books Historical Fiction for 7th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $20.36 $9.60 (2 in stock)
	With the Allies to Pekin A Tale of the Boxer Rising by G. A. Henty from Robinson Curriculum Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Wulf the Saxon A Story of the Norman Conquest by G. A. Henty from Dover Publications Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN) $16.96 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Young Huguenots Huguenot Inheritance Series #4 by Edith Floyer from Inheritance Publications Historical Fiction for 7th-10th grade in Huguenot Inheritance Series (Location: FIC-WH02) $10.16 $5.60 (1 in stock)

Shop

Support

Hours & Directions

Connect