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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Corvus

Silk Road

By Colin Falconer - Published 2011

Genres:

The Knights Templar and the Mongol Empire have both been popular topics among historical novelists in recent years; this novel has them both ...Read Review

Mozart’s Last Aria

By Matt Rees - Published 2011

Genres:

Mystery/Crime

Cross-genre novels used to be considered unpublishable, but no more. Mozart’s Last Aria could be defined as historical mystery laced with strong ...Read Review

The Emperor’s Gold

By Robert Wilton - Published 2011

Genres:

Thriller

This is a promising debut. Robert Wilton has used his knowledge of government to concoct a story of betrayal and deceit set in 1805, ...Read Review

Vespasian: Tribune of Rome

By Robert Fabbri - Published 2011

Genres:

Adventure

At the age of 16, Vespasian leaves the family home along with his brother, Sabinus, to journey to Rome with a view to finding ...Read Review

The Beauty Chorus

By Kate Lord Brown - Published 2011

Genres:

Saga

The title is a slang term for the female volunteers of the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) who in World War II moved aircraft ...Read Review

Matterhorn

By Karl Marlantes - Published 2010

Genres:

Military

Historical novels of young men at war play a critical role in popular acceptance of this genre. First-time novelist Karl Marlantes’s lengthy ...Read Review