Lucinda Byatt
The Swerve: How the Renaissance Began
There was something serendipitous about reading this book in a week that modern scientists took a step closer to the…
The Tea Lords
Haasse’s books have achieved classic status in her native Netherlands, and this is the first to be translated for 15…
The Popes: A History
Anyone with a passing interest in church history – and that really means European, indeed world history – will be…
The Favourite: Sir Walter Ralegh in Elizabeth l’s Court
Lyons’ account of Ralegh, a “self-seeking, self-publicizing butterfly”, his early life and meteoric rise to become Elizabeth’s favourite also offers…
Venetian Navigators: The Voyages of the Zen Brothers to the Far North
Strands of serendipity weave through the various levels on which this book is written: to start with di Robilant’s chance…
Catherine of Aragon, Henry’s Spanish Queen
This major biography adds a refreshing new focus by using extensive material from Spanish sources. The picture that emerges of…
Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened One
This fascinating book pieces together what little is known about Gautama, the historical Buddha who lived – in accordance with…
The Venetian Secret: 1620
This is the debut novel of Annemette Fogh, who has carried out research on primary documents, as well as drawing…
The Elephant’s Journey
Editors' choice
It is hard to know which sentiment dominated my reading of this book: sadness at the passing of such a…
Hancox: A House and a Family
The author grew up and still lives in a house that has been in her family since 1888. Yet Hancox…
About our Reviews
Over the last 15 years The Historical Novels Review (the society’s print magazine for our members) has published reviews of some 12,000 historical fiction books. We plan to upload them all and make them searchable here.
