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Who says historical fiction has to be dull? Historical adventure is a rip-roaring niche of the historical genre, with nothing but page turners and can’t-put-downers to choose from.
These books will take you back in time and all over the world, then they will take you on an adventure that will keep you guessing from start to finish. They’re the kind of books to take with you on a plane or during your morning commute, as they make time pass so quickly you’ll wish you had more of it so you could keep reading.
Top action-adventure fiction books
The Arabian Nights is one of the most beloved historical adventure books of all time. Also known as ‘One Thousand and One Nights’, this ancient collection of folktales are presented as stories that a woman tells her husband every night for 1,001 nights in order to keep his interest and save her life. They include famous tales such as ‘Aladdin and His Magic Lamp’ and ‘Sinbad the Sailor’, and this particular copy includes full-colour illustrations, gilt edging, and a silk ribbon bookmark.
A more modern classic is Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth. This weighty tome of a book takes us back to twelfth-century England, and follows the story of a prior of Kingsbridge who sets about building the greatest Gothic cathedral in the world. There’s ambition, power, anarchy, love, and everything in between, making those 1,100+ pages disappear beneath your fingers.
Historical adventure books
Bernard Cornwell is known around the world for his gripping historical adventure books. His Saxon Chronicles series is beloved by many, and it all begins with The Last Kingdom. This epic book follows an orphan boy raised by Vikings, who grows to be a skilled warrior and battles against outsiders. This series is now a popular television show with the same name, adding new fans to its worldwide success.
Shogun is one novel that is not just one of the most popular in the historical adventure genre, but is one of the most popular books of all time. This epic saga follows Pilot-Major John Blackthorne as he integrates into feudal Japan, starting out as a shipwrecked foreigner and working his way up the ranks. This novel has also been adapted for television, winning both Emmy and Golden Globe awards along the way.
