Books with historical fiction have gained popularity not so long ago. This genre is also called alternative. In addition, some readers described such books as military historical fiction. Next, you will learn a brief history and description, as well as find a selection of good works in this genre.
Where did it all begin
The first book with historical fiction is rightfully considered the “History of Rome”. You will be surprised, but it was written before our era by the Roman historian Titus Livius. The book is about how the victory of Alexander of Macedon over Rome would have influenced the further course of history.
Also worth mentioning separately are books with patriotic utopia. They reached a peak of popularity in the 19th century. The essence of this subgenre is that the authors “change” the course of history in favor of their native countries. A striking example is the book of Louis Geoffrey on the development of world history in the event of the victory of Napoleon over Russia.
Features of historical fiction books
This genre differs from all other science fiction in that the story described in these works could be a reality. For example, it could very well have happened that Hitler captured the Soviet Union or there would have been a different outcome of the Caribbean crisis in 1962.
It is also worth noting a slightly different approach, which is implausible, but also applies to books with historical fiction. In such works, incidents that have influenced historical reality are too unbelievable. For example, it can be aliens, time travelers and the like.
Book selection
11/22/63 by Stephen King. This book is a vivid representative of its genre. In the middle of the story is Jake Epping, who works as an English teacher. In the story, Jake moves in time into the past and prevents the Kennedy assassination. Returning back in due time, he discovers that the world with Kennedy not only has not improved, but, on the contrary, has become much worse.
How to Make a Story by Stephen Fry. Reflections on a world where Hitler did not exist. Michael Young and Leo Zuckerman using a time machine poison Hitler's father with a substance that causes infertility. Hitler was not born, but is the modern world better?
"Option" Bis "" by Sergei Anisimov. The Patriotic War began not so suddenly, and the Soviet Union managed to prepare for war, so Germany was defeated in 1944. But superpowers cannot divide Europe, so a new war is approaching. The author has written a series of historical fiction books on this subject.
“Long live the transatlantic tunnel!” Hurrah!" Harry Harrison. This wonderful writer describes a world where Columbus did not discover America, and where the United States could not defend its independence.
"The Man in the High Castle" by Philip Dick. In the fictional reality of this work in the Second World War, Hitler defeated. The USA turned into a colony, the USSR was occupied, and the population of Africa was almost destroyed. The action takes place in 1962, when a writer, Hawthorne Abendsen, publishes a book with historical fiction, in which Germany was not defeated. The book prompted the heroes to create "Resistance."
This list of books is just a short selection of interesting works of this genre. If you don’t have enough time to read, but you like the genre of historical fiction, then you should pay attention to films of this subject. In addition, many films have already been shot based on many books, including some from our selection.