The best historical novels, according to hackers
13 historical novels recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.
All historical novels
- Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'BrianReaders call it joyful, funny and astonishingly detailed naval fiction, with historical accuracy that people find rewarding. The most common caveat is heavy archaic and naval terminology.18recommend
- The Three Musketeers by Alexandre DumasRecommended for its fast, action-packed plot, romance and humor, and for holding readers' attention from start to finish. Critics raise no recurring caveat.12recommend
- The MANIAC by Benjamin LabatutPeople recommend it as a beautifully written novel about John von Neumann, told through chapters from the viewpoints of people in his life, and praise its historical accuracy.12recommend
- I, Claudius by Robert GravesPeople recommend this book for its solid fictionalization of Roman history and family lineage, and for the strong BBC adaptation. One critic says the sets feel bound.11recommend
- Master and Commander by Patrick O'BrianPeople recommend it as the first of a long, well-written naval series with a rich, period English voice. The most common caveat is that it is a long series that is hard to stop reading.7recommend
- The Baroque Cycle by Neal StephensonRecommended for well-researched historical fiction with a sprawling cast and masterful prose; critics say its endings sometimes fail to land.7recommend
- The Name of the Rose by Umberto EcoReaders recommend it as a phenomenal historical novel, richer than the 1986 film, which they say leaves out its philosophical and historical depth.6recommend
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles DickensPeople say it rewards a second reading and becomes a favorite, though its older English style takes patience.5recommend
- Musashi by Eiji YoshikawaPeople recommend it for Musashi's spiritual growth, vivid storytelling and a strong ending, with no common caveat raised.5recommend
- Wolf Hall by Hilary MantelRecommended for making history stick through historical fiction, with a BBC miniseries too, though some find the dense prose a real struggle.5recommend
- Hornblower series by C.S. ForesterReaders praise its Star Trek-like exploration of new worlds and well-researched technical detail, and people recommend reading the whole series.4recommend
- When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin LabatutRecommended as a fictionalized look at scientists whose discoveries drove them mad. Critics say many details were made up and the real scientists were not driven mad.3recommend
- Drood by Dan SimmonsReaders enjoyed this historical novel even without a deep Dickens background, praising its fantastical bent and its tone and style, which convincingly match Dickens and Collins.3recommend