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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One More Chapter

Daughter of the Titanic

By Caroline Cauchi - Published 2026

Genres:

Cauchi’s fictional biography introduces Helen Melville (Mel) Russell Cooke in 1973, when researcher, Dr Catherine Haynes, having come across a 1959 David Rolt portrait, ...Read Review

The League of Lonely War Women

By Andie Newton - Published 2026

Genres:

Saga

The Second World War continues to furnish novelists with inexhaustible plots, its vast machinery of conflict creating space for both grand strategy and ...Read Review

The Ghost House

By Andie Newton - Published 2025

Genres:

I don’t usually relate to the paranormal, but a good book is a good book, and this is one of those ghost ...Read Review

The Queen’s Necklace

By Adrienne Chinn - Published 2025

Genres:

Adrienne Chinn’s latest novel is a dual-time narrative which explores the relationship between Anne and Mary Boleyn in the Tudor court of ...Read Review

Ship of Dreams

By Donna Jones Alward - Published 2025

Genres:

This novel approaches the familiar tragedy of the Titanic not with melodrama but with the poise of carefully crafted historical fiction. It is ...Read Review

The Scandal of the Season (Fairfax Sisters, 2)

By Michelle Kenney - Published 2025

Genres:

Romance

The Scandal of the Season is set in 1821 and follows the relationship between Lord Dominic Hugo Rotherby and Sophie Fairfax. Rotherby is handsome, ...Read Review

The Wordsworth Key

By Julia Golding - Published 2025

Genres:

Mystery/Crime

England, 1812. Set predominantly in the Lake District, this third in series presents seasoned ex-military doctor Jacob Sandys and fellow ‘investigator’, ballsy ex-actress Dora ...Read Review

The Mismatch of the Season (Fairfax Sisters)

By Michelle Kenney - Published 2025

Genres:

Romance

1820. Faced with the prospect of marrying an earl old enough to be her father, Phoebe Fairfax embarks on a last bid for freedom. ...Read Review

The Orphan’s Secret Library

By Glynis Peters - Published 2024

Genres:

Mystery/Crime

Alice Carmichael is an orphan living with her grandmother in Norfolk during the Second World War. Alice tries to escape from the trauma ...Read Review