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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Reviews

Reviews of some 25,000+ historical fiction books

Boudica’s Shadow

By Sam F. Hutchins - Published 2026

Genres:

Everybody knows the fierce redheaded queen who stood up to the Romans at the head of a confederation of British tribes in 61 CE. ...Read Review

Evangeline’s Journey

By Cathie Pelletier - By Paige Smiley (illus.) - Published 2026

Genres:

Children/Young Adult

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poetry largely fell out of high school curricula long ago, but his poem “Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie” has ...Read Review

Little Bird

By Barbara Viniar - Published 2025

Genres:

Saga

Barbara Viniar’s family saga explores Russian Jewish culture and assimilation into American life. Feige’s story from 1910 to 1917 is compassionate and honest, ...Read Review

Havisham

By Elle Machray - Published 2026

Genres:

Reimagining the lives of canonical characters has become a familiar strand of historical fiction, and Havisham joins this tradition by retelling the story ...Read Review

The Foursome

By Christina Baker Kline - Published 2026

Genres:

Biographical Fiction

Christina Baker Kline dips into her own family history for The Foursome, a compelling novel based on the true story of two North ...Read Review

And Still Her Voice

By Ruthie Marlenée - Published 2025

Genres:

Adventure Children/Young Adult

Los Angeles, 1967. Anna LeMar is the teen daughter of a pious Mexican mother and a white, abusive, alcoholic father. She’s the oldest ...Read Review

Love Lane

By Patrick Gale - Published 2026

Genres:

Saga

Love Lane is an ambitious sweep through many lives. It begins on the Canadian prairie in the early 20th century. Widower Harry Cane ...Read Review

Powder for Drying Wounds

By Peter Barrett - Published 2025

Genres:

This novel is an ambitious and original reimagining of the First World War, extending the conflict beyond 1918 into a morally depleted 1920s. The ...Read Review