'Real' historical fiction for 16yo

[FruAashild]

My 16yo would like to read some fictionalised history books. She's read the feminist greek myth retellings by Madeline Miller and Jennifer Saint (yes, I've pointed out those are completely fictional) and has enjoyed a few of Dominic Sandbrook Adventures in Time books, and Laura Ingalls Wilder and Judith Kerr's fictionalised biographies. She says she doesn't want to read about completely fictional characters.

I'm trying to think of books that aren't as heavy going as Hilary Mantel but can only think of Philippa Gregory. Any good suggestions? She's not fussy about period but would prefer books about women.

Try Margaret George, Alison Weir who is more non fiction, and Antonia Fraser, also more non fiction.

Anything by Jean Plaidy. ‘Royal Escape’ by Georgette Heyer. An Infamous Army by Georgette Heyer has fictionalised main characters but is otherwise very accurate in the retelling of Waterloo.

Katherine by Anya Seton

Mrs. Benedict Arnold by Emma Parry is about the American Revolution. Peggy Shippen (aka Mrs Arnold) is known as one of the biggest traitors of all time for her part in ending the Revolution.

The Angel of Warsaw by Rebecca Scott is about Irena Sendler, a Polish social worker who smuggled Jewish children or of the ghetto. She was an amazing woman.

Philippa Gregory is terrible.

Try Cynthia Harnett, Barbara Willard, Rosemary Sutcliffe - all sold as children’s books but I’ve found them very satisfying as an adult.

Michelle Moran, I really enjoyed a few of her books

Girl with a Pearl Earring?

A timeless little treasure:
Tisha: a Young Teacher in the Alaskan WWilderness y Robert Specht

One of my all time favourite books, definitely one to keep on the bookshelf!

Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy is excellent and really well researched, and I remember first reading it as a teenager

Rosemary Sutcliffe.

Nora Lofts - esp her House trilogy.

Sharon Penfold - The Sunne in Splendour about Richard III and her trilogy about the last Welsh princes - the first is called Here Be Dragons. They all contain strong female characters.
(Though her later ones on Eleanor Aquitaine aren't as good - you can feel her lack of sources)

If she fancies the 20th century then Dorothy L Sayers' mysteries reflect the world between the wars better than Agatha Christie - you can feel the rumblings of war in the later books and her hero suffers from shell shock. Harriet Vane (who first appears in Strong Poison) was my heroine at her age.

Robert Harris' historical fictions are great - my favourite are Fatherland, Enigma & Pompeii are my favourites

Tracy Chevalier has written some great books about Women in history. But might be a bit to adult. Obviously depending on how much your DD reads. Maybe have a look at Remarkable Creatures as a first read.

The Siege by Helen Dunmore

The Shardlake books

Not Women unfortunately but Conn Iggulden has done several fantastic historical series, Julius Caesar, Genghis Kahn and War of the Roses are the ones I’ve read (he may have written more since)

They’re historically accurate but read like fiction - I loved them!

Also there is a fabulous book called Sarum which documents Salisbury from prehistoric times to almost the modern day.

Edited to add - 100% second Robert Harris as per PP!

Cecily by Annie Garthwaite

Yes I agree.

Norah Lofts
rosemary sutcliffe
Manda Scott Boudicca series

If she would like historical non fiction then Ruth Goodman is very readable and pretty female focussed.

The Sealwoman's Gift Sally Magnusson

Its not technically historical fiction but have a look at National Velvet by Enid Bagnold. It paints a really vivid, and unsentimental picture of life in 1930’s Sussex. The book is a million miles away from the Elizabeth Taylor film that was made of it.

I came on to suggest The Sunne in Splendour & Here be dragons but they are by Sharon Penman not Penfold, really good. I was quite young when I read and really enjoyed them.

The Kate Quinn WWII books or Mistress of Rome might work. As a teenager, I enjoyed Jean Plaidy. Maybe also Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks, or something by Isabel Allende.

Barbara Erskine has written some great books, spread over different periods. She includes some supernatural type elements sometimes but the historical facts are always correct. I think (iirc) that she has some sets as well as stand alones. They're marketed as adult fiction but I'd think they're suitable for a teenager with an interest in history 😊

Jean M Auel's books are set during prehistoric times.

Cynthia Harrod Eagles is excellent
Edward Rutherford - start with Sarum or The Forest
Ken Follett

Also, a classic Forever Amber