About
- Established in 1997, the Historical Novel Society is an international literary society devoted to promotion and advocacy for the genre of historical fiction.
Membership
- Historical Novel Society members include authors, readers, librarians, editors and industry professionals – membership is entirely open, and anyone enthusiastic about the genre is welcome.
Events
- Our worldwide membership loves to meet. Many travel thousands of miles to attend our conferences in person; many more enjoy our virtual options from home. Others form member connections in their area through regular Local Chapter meet-ups. Discover what’s on with conferences, Local and Virtual Chapters, and more.
Book Reviews
- Our exclusive, members-only print magazine, the Historical Novels Review, publishes reviews of hundreds of historical fiction books each quarter, in addition to features and columns. Become a member to receive the magazine and enjoy all our other benefits.
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Articles
- We publish articles in our members-only print magazine, Historical Novels Review, as well as web features exclusive to this site. All are original pieces, commissioned by our Features Editors based on topics of interest to members – interviews with historical fiction authors, publishers, and agents; explorations of novels and subgenres; guides, and regular columns on historical fiction market news, debut authors, and more. Articles are written by vetted contributors, most of whom are Society members. If you’re a member interested in joining the team, Contact Us.
Awards
- HNS Awards have helped discover authors and launch their careers (e.g., Michel Faber, Ruth Downie, Nikki Marmery, Hilary Green, Elizabeth Macneal, and many more) and provided vital support for others. Our ARA Award is one of the most generous of all literary prizes. If you’d like to partner to sponsor an award, Contact Us.
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Alternate History

Maybe Marilyn

By Lois Cahall - Published 2026

Genres:

Sent to a Hollywood nursing home to interview its residents, Tom Hogan thinks he is on a dead-end assignment until a retired Los ...Read Review

We Meet Apart

By Martha Conway - Published 2026

Genres:

Alternate History

Imagine two versions of World War II history. In one, Ireland is invaded by the Nazis. In the other, following the historical record, ...Read Review

Few and Far Between

By Jan Carson - Published 2026

Genres:

Alternate History

This rural Northern Ireland gothic is based on a historical “what if”: What if Irish prime minister Terrence O’Neill had gone ahead ...Read Review

Now I Surrender

By Alvaro Enrigue - By Natasha Wimmer (trans.) - Published 2026

Genres:

Alternate History Literary Western

Past and present come together to tell a very different story of how the West was won in Álvaro Enrigue’s brutal yet ...Read Review

The Beheading Game

By Rebecca Lehmann - Published 2026

Genres:

Alternate History

On May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn’s head is struck from her body by a professional swordsman. Then she wakes in the Tower, escapes carrying ...Read Review

The Hope Not Plot: A Novel of Churchill’s Final Farewell

By David R. Stokes - Published 2025

Genres:

Alternate History Thriller

This is an energetic and meticulously engineered alternative-history thriller built around a real event: the 1965 state funeral of Winston Churchill. The novel posits ...Read Review

Felix Grey and the Descendant

By Mario Theodorou - Published 2025

Genres:

Alternate History

Felix Grey is the youngest Prime Minister since Pitt in an alternate history set in 1904. Economically Britain is doing well, but rapid industrialisation ...Read Review

Tobacco Republic

By R.A. Moss - Published 2025

Genres:

Alternate History

Tobacco Republic is an enthralling work of alternative history that underscores just how improbable the creation of the United States truly was. The ...Read Review