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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HNR Issue 67 (February 2014)

The Girl Who Came Home

By Hazel Gaynor - Published 2014

Genres:

Maggie Murphy is being taken to America to begin a new life with her aunt, and she is unsure about leaving her Irish ...Read Review

The World’s Smallest Bible

By Dennis Must - Published 2014

Genres:

Literary

The World’s Smallest Bible is an impressive work of literary fiction that chronicles the life of Ethan Mueller, over a span of 43 ...Read Review

Babayaga

By Tony Barlow - Published 2013 Published 2014

Genres:

Historical Fantasy

Babayaga is in some sense an historical novel, in that it is set in Paris in the late 1950s at the height of ...Read Review

Miss Milton Speaks Her Mind

By Carla Kelly - Published 2014 Published c1998

Genres:

Romance

While this novel is most definitely a Regency romance, its title character, Jane Milton, is not caught in a standard love triangle. Kelly’...Read Review

The Maid of Milan

By Beverley Eikli - Published 2014

Genres:

Why should frail Adelaide Leeson, three years married to Lord Tristan, so dread a visit from his friend, James, now Viscount Dewhurst and ...Read Review

The Kept

By James Scott - Published 2014

Genres:

Thriller

James Scott’s debut novel is far from the work of a novice. After earning a fistful of honors for his short fiction ...Read Review

Necessary Lies

By Diane Chamberlain - Published 2013

Genres:

Set in the rural American South of 1960, Necessary Lies tells the parallel stories of Ivy Hart, a fifteen-year-old tenant on a tobacco farm ...Read Review

The Museum of Extraordinary Things

By Alice Hoffman - Published 2014

Genres:

The occasion of a new Alice Hoffman novel is always cause for celebration. In her latest, the pivotal setting of New York City ...Read Review

Unmentionables

By Laurie Loewenstein - Published 2014

Genres:

In August 1917, the traveling Chautauqua assembly is filling tents all over the Midwest with programs designed to edify and entertain small-town audiences. Marian ...Read Review