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Top Picks

Historical Fiction

By:

PickeringAdult

Pickering Public Library

Staff-created list

On May 7, 2024, we're hosting a Tea & Books to share the best and newest Historical Fiction! Here are the library staff's top picks for books set in the 1900s or earlier. Tea & Books are hosted bi-monthly and focus on a different theme or genre each session. Check out our event listings to register for future events!

By:

PickeringAdult

Pickering Public Library

22 items

22 items

Medea

Medea

A Novel

by Quin, Eilish

Book - 2024

Ancient Greece: Known for the brutal act of killing her own children to exact vengeance on her deceitful husband, the Argonauts leader Jason, Medea has ca...Show more Ancient Greece: Known for the brutal act of killing her own children to exact vengeance on her deceitful husband, the Argonauts leader Jason, Medea has carved out a singularly infamous niche in history, but in this propulsive, beautifully written debut, readers hear Medea’s side of the story through a fresh new lens. Show less

Ancient Greece: Known for the brutal act of killing her own children to exact vengeance on her deceitful husband, the Argonauts leader Jason, Medea has ca...Show more Ancient Greece: Known for the brutal act of killing her own children to exact vengeance on her deceitful husband, the Argonauts leader Jason, Medea has carved out a singularly infamous niche in history, but in this propulsive, beautifully written debut, readers hear Medea’s side of the story through a fresh new lens. Show less

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Glorious Exploits

Glorious Exploits

A Novel

by Lennon, Ferdia

Book - 2024

Sicily, 412 BCE: Blood and glory abound in this heart-pounding and surprisingly hilarious historical tale about two unemployed friends who come up with a plan to direct a play with Athenian prisoners of war. Sicily, 412 BCE: Blood and glory abound in this heart-pounding and surprisingly hilarious historical tale about two unemployed friends who come up with a plan to direct a play with Athenian prisoners of war. Show less

Sicily, 412 BCE: Blood and glory abound in this heart-pounding and surprisingly hilarious historical tale about two unemployed friends who come up with a plan to direct a play with Athenian prisoners of war. Sicily, 412 BCE: Blood and glory abound in this heart-pounding and surprisingly hilarious historical tale about two unemployed friends who come up with a plan to direct a play with Athenian prisoners of war. Show less

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The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi

A Novel

by Chakraborty, S. A.

Book - 2023

Indian Ocean, 12th Century: Amina al-Sirafi, a retired pirate, is lured back into a life of adventure to rescue a kidnapped girl. This thrilling high-seas fantasy promises magic, ancient mysteries, and a battle for Amina's very soul. Indian Ocean, 12th Century: Amina al-Sirafi, a retired pirate, is lured back into a life of adventure to rescue a kidnapped girl. This thrilling high-seas fantasy promises magic, ancient mysteries, and a battle for Amina's very soul. Show less

Indian Ocean, 12th Century: Amina al-Sirafi, a retired pirate, is lured back into a life of adventure to rescue a kidnapped girl. This thrilling high-seas fantasy promises magic, ancient mysteries, and a battle for Amina's very soul. Indian Ocean, 12th Century: Amina al-Sirafi, a retired pirate, is lured back into a life of adventure to rescue a kidnapped girl. This thrilling high-seas fantasy promises magic, ancient mysteries, and a battle for Amina's very soul. Show less

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The Last Hours

The Last Hours

by Walters, Minette

Book - 2018

Dorsetshire, 1348: During the Black Death, a widowed Lady Anne takes charge of her serfs, creating a new social order within a quarantined manor. Fear of...Show more Dorsetshire, 1348: During the Black Death, a widowed Lady Anne takes charge of her serfs, creating a new social order within a quarantined manor. Fear of starvation and a mysterious murder test the community's courage and their fragile hope for survival. Show less

Dorsetshire, 1348: During the Black Death, a widowed Lady Anne takes charge of her serfs, creating a new social order within a quarantined manor. Fear of...Show more Dorsetshire, 1348: During the Black Death, a widowed Lady Anne takes charge of her serfs, creating a new social order within a quarantined manor. Fear of starvation and a mysterious murder test the community's courage and their fragile hope for survival. Show less

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Lady Tan's Circle of Women

Lady Tan's Circle of Women

A Novel

by See, Lisa

Book - 2023

China, 1469: Sent into an arranged marriage, Tan Yunxian, forbidden to continue her work as a midwife-in-training as well as see her forever friend Meilin...Show more China, 1469: Sent into an arranged marriage, Tan Yunxian, forbidden to continue her work as a midwife-in-training as well as see her forever friend Meiling, is ordered to act like proper wife and seeks a way to continue treating women and girls from every level of society in fifteenth-century China. Show less

China, 1469: Sent into an arranged marriage, Tan Yunxian, forbidden to continue her work as a midwife-in-training as well as see her forever friend Meilin...Show more China, 1469: Sent into an arranged marriage, Tan Yunxian, forbidden to continue her work as a midwife-in-training as well as see her forever friend Meiling, is ordered to act like proper wife and seeks a way to continue treating women and girls from every level of society in fifteenth-century China. Show less

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The Marriage Portrait

The Marriage Portrait

A Novel

by O'Farrell, Maggie

Book - 2022

Florence, 1550: Third daughter Lucrezia de' Medici is thrust into the spotlight when her sister dies. Married for political gain to the Duke of Ferrara, ...Show more Florence, 1550: Third daughter Lucrezia de' Medici is thrust into the spotlight when her sister dies. Married for political gain to the Duke of Ferrara, Lucrezia must navigate a treacherous court and prove her worth as a duchess while battling for her own survival. Show less

Florence, 1550: Third daughter Lucrezia de' Medici is thrust into the spotlight when her sister dies. Married for political gain to the Duke of Ferrara, ...Show more Florence, 1550: Third daughter Lucrezia de' Medici is thrust into the spotlight when her sister dies. Married for political gain to the Duke of Ferrara, Lucrezia must navigate a treacherous court and prove her worth as a duchess while battling for her own survival. Show less

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The African Samurai

The African Samurai

A Novel

by Shreve, Craig

Book - 2023

Japan, 1579: Enslaved Yasuke navigates cultural clashes and internal conflicts, while becoming a samurai. Japan, 1579: Enslaved Yasuke navigates cultural clashes and internal conflicts, while becoming a samurai. Show less

Japan, 1579: Enslaved Yasuke navigates cultural clashes and internal conflicts, while becoming a samurai. Japan, 1579: Enslaved Yasuke navigates cultural clashes and internal conflicts, while becoming a samurai. Show less

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North Woods

North Woods

A Novel

by Mason, Daniel

Book - 2023

New England, 1600s-2020s: A multi-generational saga told through the lens of a single house in the New England woods, exploring themes of life, death, and our connection to nature and history. New England, 1600s-2020s: A multi-generational saga told through the lens of a single house in the New England woods, exploring themes of life, death, and our connection to nature and history. Show less

New England, 1600s-2020s: A multi-generational saga told through the lens of a single house in the New England woods, exploring themes of life, death, and our connection to nature and history. New England, 1600s-2020s: A multi-generational saga told through the lens of a single house in the New England woods, exploring themes of life, death, and our connection to nature and history. Show less

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Hour of the Witch

Hour of the Witch

A Novel

by Bohjalian, Chris

Book - 2021

Boston, 1662: A young Puritan wife trapped in a violent marriage, plots her escape, but seeking a divorce makes her a target for accusations of witchcraft, forcing her to fight for her freedom and her life. Boston, 1662: A young Puritan wife trapped in a violent marriage, plots her escape, but seeking a divorce makes her a target for accusations of witchcraft, forcing her to fight for her freedom and her life. Show less

Boston, 1662: A young Puritan wife trapped in a violent marriage, plots her escape, but seeking a divorce makes her a target for accusations of witchcraft, forcing her to fight for her freedom and her life. Boston, 1662: A young Puritan wife trapped in a violent marriage, plots her escape, but seeking a divorce makes her a target for accusations of witchcraft, forcing her to fight for her freedom and her life. Show less

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The Frozen River

The Frozen River

A Novel

by Lawhon, Ariel

Book - 2023

Maine, 1789: Martha Ballard, a respected midwife, investigates the suspicious death of a man found frozen in the river, defying societal norms and risking her reputation to uncover the truth. Maine, 1789: Martha Ballard, a respected midwife, investigates the suspicious death of a man found frozen in the river, defying societal norms and risking her reputation to uncover the truth. Show less

Maine, 1789: Martha Ballard, a respected midwife, investigates the suspicious death of a man found frozen in the river, defying societal norms and risking her reputation to uncover the truth. Maine, 1789: Martha Ballard, a respected midwife, investigates the suspicious death of a man found frozen in the river, defying societal norms and risking her reputation to uncover the truth. Show less

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Babel

Babel

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

by Kuang, R. F.

Book - 2022

Oxford, 1830: In this blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction, the reader follows Robin, who, as someone who is Chinese, grapples with the fa...Show more Oxford, 1830: In this blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction, the reader follows Robin, who, as someone who is Chinese, grapples with the fact that his work at Babel supports British colonialism in China in this alternate 1800s dark academia. Show less

Oxford, 1830: In this blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction, the reader follows Robin, who, as someone who is Chinese, grapples with the fa...Show more Oxford, 1830: In this blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction, the reader follows Robin, who, as someone who is Chinese, grapples with the fact that his work at Babel supports British colonialism in China in this alternate 1800s dark academia. Show less

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River Sing Me Home

River Sing Me Home

A Novel

by Shearer, Eleanor

Book - 2023

Barbados, 1834: Promised freedom with the abolition of slavery, Rachel is instead bound to her plantation for six more years. Undeterred, she embarks on a...Show more Barbados, 1834: Promised freedom with the abolition of slavery, Rachel is instead bound to her plantation for six more years. Undeterred, she embarks on a perilous journey across continents, driven by an unyielding love to find the children stolen from her. Show less

Barbados, 1834: Promised freedom with the abolition of slavery, Rachel is instead bound to her plantation for six more years. Undeterred, she embarks on a...Show more Barbados, 1834: Promised freedom with the abolition of slavery, Rachel is instead bound to her plantation for six more years. Undeterred, she embarks on a perilous journey across continents, driven by an unyielding love to find the children stolen from her. Show less

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James

James

A Novel

by Everett, Percival

Book - 2024

New Orleans, 1860s: A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view. New Orleans, 1860s: A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view. Show less

New Orleans, 1860s: A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view. New Orleans, 1860s: A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view. Show less

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Red Rabbit

Red Rabbit

by Grecian, Alex

Book - 2023

Kansas, Post-Civil War: A folk horror epic about a ragtag posse that must track down a witch through a wild west beset by demons and ghosts―and where death is always just around the bend. Kansas, Post-Civil War: A folk horror epic about a ragtag posse that must track down a witch through a wild west beset by demons and ghosts―and where death is always just around the bend. Show less

Kansas, Post-Civil War: A folk horror epic about a ragtag posse that must track down a witch through a wild west beset by demons and ghosts―and where death is always just around the bend. Kansas, Post-Civil War: A folk horror epic about a ragtag posse that must track down a witch through a wild west beset by demons and ghosts―and where death is always just around the bend. Show less

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American Daughters

American Daughters

A Novel

by Huguley, Piper

Book - 2024

America, 1901-1930: At the turn of the twentieth century, in a time of great change, two women—separated by societal status and culture but bound by their expected roles as the daughters of famed statesmen—forge a lifelong friendship. America, 1901-1930: At the turn of the twentieth century, in a time of great change, two women—separated by societal status and culture but bound by their expected roles as the daughters of famed statesmen—forge a lifelong friendship. Show less

America, 1901-1930: At the turn of the twentieth century, in a time of great change, two women—separated by societal status and culture but bound by their expected roles as the daughters of famed statesmen—forge a lifelong friendship. America, 1901-1930: At the turn of the twentieth century, in a time of great change, two women—separated by societal status and culture but bound by their expected roles as the daughters of famed statesmen—forge a lifelong friendship. Show less

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Boys in the Valley

Boys in the Valley

by Fracassi, Philip

Book - 2023

Pennsylvania, 1905: Orphaned Peter finds a home at a Pennsylvania orphanage, but when a visitor arrives harboring an ancient evil, the boys are turned against each other in a fight for survival. Pennsylvania, 1905: Orphaned Peter finds a home at a Pennsylvania orphanage, but when a visitor arrives harboring an ancient evil, the boys are turned against each other in a fight for survival. Show less

Pennsylvania, 1905: Orphaned Peter finds a home at a Pennsylvania orphanage, but when a visitor arrives harboring an ancient evil, the boys are turned against each other in a fight for survival. Pennsylvania, 1905: Orphaned Peter finds a home at a Pennsylvania orphanage, but when a visitor arrives harboring an ancient evil, the boys are turned against each other in a fight for survival. Show less

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The Great Divide

The Great Divide

A Novel

by Henríquez, Cristina

Book - 2024

Panama Canal, 1907: The Great Divide weaves together the stories of those impacted by the the construction of the Panama Canal. From a Panamanian fisherma...Show more Panama Canal, 1907: The Great Divide weaves together the stories of those impacted by the the construction of the Panama Canal. From a Panamanian fisherman and his son to a resourceful Barbadian girl and a dedicated scientist, the novel explores themes of ambition, loyalty, and the human cost of progress. Show less

Panama Canal, 1907: The Great Divide weaves together the stories of those impacted by the the construction of the Panama Canal. From a Panamanian fisherma...Show more Panama Canal, 1907: The Great Divide weaves together the stories of those impacted by the the construction of the Panama Canal. From a Panamanian fisherman and his son to a resourceful Barbadian girl and a dedicated scientist, the novel explores themes of ambition, loyalty, and the human cost of progress. Show less

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The Fox Wife

The Fox Wife

A Novel

by Choo, Yangsze

Book - 2024

Manchuria, 1908: Detective Bao investigates the death of a woman rumored to be a victim of fox spirits. As he delves deeper, the line between myth and rea...Show more Manchuria, 1908: Detective Bao investigates the death of a woman rumored to be a victim of fox spirits. As he delves deeper, the line between myth and reality blurs, forcing him to confront a world of magic and vengeance where a vengeful fox spirit may be lurking in plain sight. Show less

Manchuria, 1908: Detective Bao investigates the death of a woman rumored to be a victim of fox spirits. As he delves deeper, the line between myth and rea...Show more Manchuria, 1908: Detective Bao investigates the death of a woman rumored to be a victim of fox spirits. As he delves deeper, the line between myth and reality blurs, forcing him to confront a world of magic and vengeance where a vengeful fox spirit may be lurking in plain sight. Show less

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A Master of Djinn

A Master of Djinn

by Clark, P. Djèlí

Book - 2021

Cairo, 1912: A resourceful young woman with a mysterious connection to Djinns must outsmart a ruthless magician to protect her city and her family. Cairo, 1912: A resourceful young woman with a mysterious connection to Djinns must outsmart a ruthless magician to protect her city and her family. Show less

Cairo, 1912: A resourceful young woman with a mysterious connection to Djinns must outsmart a ruthless magician to protect her city and her family. Cairo, 1912: A resourceful young woman with a mysterious connection to Djinns must outsmart a ruthless magician to protect her city and her family. Show less

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The Laundryman's Boy

The Laundryman's Boy

A Novel

by Lee, Edward Y. C.

Book - 2024

St. Catherine's, 1913: Torn from his scholar's dream, 13-year-old Hoi Wing works in a Canadian laundry, facing bullies and racism, when a friendship with a kind maid and a chance to learn English rekindles his hope for a brighter, educated future. St. Catherine's, 1913: Torn from his scholar's dream, 13-year-old Hoi Wing works in a Canadian laundry, facing bullies and racism, when a friendship with a kind maid and a chance to learn English rekindles his hope for a brighter, educated future. Show less

St. Catherine's, 1913: Torn from his scholar's dream, 13-year-old Hoi Wing works in a Canadian laundry, facing bullies and racism, when a friendship with a kind maid and a chance to learn English rekindles his hope for a brighter, educated future. St. Catherine's, 1913: Torn from his scholar's dream, 13-year-old Hoi Wing works in a Canadian laundry, facing bullies and racism, when a friendship with a kind maid and a chance to learn English rekindles his hope for a brighter, educated future. Show less

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The House of Special Purpose

The House of Special Purpose

A Novel of the Romanovs

by Boyne, John

Book - 2011

Russia, 1915: An aged survivor of the Tsar's court, haunted by a bygone era, embarks on a final journey to confront the secrets and tragedies of a crumbli...Show more Russia, 1915: An aged survivor of the Tsar's court, haunted by a bygone era, embarks on a final journey to confront the secrets and tragedies of a crumbling Russia in the face of revolution. Love, loss, and the fall of an empire intertwine in this tale of the Romanovs' last days. Show less

Russia, 1915: An aged survivor of the Tsar's court, haunted by a bygone era, embarks on a final journey to confront the secrets and tragedies of a crumbli...Show more Russia, 1915: An aged survivor of the Tsar's court, haunted by a bygone era, embarks on a final journey to confront the secrets and tragedies of a crumbling Russia in the face of revolution. Love, loss, and the fall of an empire intertwine in this tale of the Romanovs' last days. Show less

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The Warm Hands of Ghosts

The Warm Hands of Ghosts

A Novel

by Arden, Katherine

Book - 2024

Halifax, 1918: During the Great War, a combat nurse searches for her brother, believed dead in the trenches despite eerie signs that suggest otherwise, in this hauntingly beautiful historical novel with a speculative twist. Halifax, 1918: During the Great War, a combat nurse searches for her brother, believed dead in the trenches despite eerie signs that suggest otherwise, in this hauntingly beautiful historical novel with a speculative twist. Show less

Halifax, 1918: During the Great War, a combat nurse searches for her brother, believed dead in the trenches despite eerie signs that suggest otherwise, in this hauntingly beautiful historical novel with a speculative twist. Halifax, 1918: During the Great War, a combat nurse searches for her brother, believed dead in the trenches despite eerie signs that suggest otherwise, in this hauntingly beautiful historical novel with a speculative twist. Show less

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