Fiction about real figures from history

Learn more about the names you half-remember from school, with these compelling novels about real people from history.

Cover image for The Tower
Paperback

The Tower

Flora Carr

A fiery feminist retelling of Mary, Queen of Scot's darkest hour for fans of Matrix and The Silence of the Girls

$34.99

In stock at 5 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 5 shops

Cover image for Saltblood
Paperback

Saltblood

Francesca de Tores

Breathing life into the Golden Age of Piracy, Saltblood is a wild adventure, a treasure trove, weaving an intoxicating tale of gender and survival, passion and loss, journeys and transformation…

$32.99

In stock at 8 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 8 shops

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Cover image for Hamnet
Paperback

Hamnet

Maggie O'Farrell

Two extraordinary people. A love that draws them together. A loss that threatens to tear them apart.

$22.99

In stock at 8 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 8 shops

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Cover image for The Fraud
Paperback

The Fraud

Zadie Smith

From acclaimed and bestselling novelist Zadie Smith, a kaleidoscopic work of historical fiction set against the legal trial that divided Victorian England, about who deserves to tell their story -…

$34.99

In stock at 8 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 8 shops

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Cover image for Iris
Paperback

Iris

Fiona Kelly McGregor

Acclaimed and bestselling literary novelist Fiona Kelly McGregor dives into the criminal underground of 1930s Sydney and the life of petty criminal, prostitute and murderer Iris.

$34.99

In stock at 5 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 5 shops

Cover image for A Dictator Calls
Hardback

A Dictator Calls

Ismail Kadara, John Hodgson (trans.)

A fascinating meditation on Soviet Russia, authoritarianism, power structures and a period of great writers.

$34.99

In stock at 3 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 3 shops

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Cover image for Booth
Paperback

Booth

Karen Joy Fowler

A major new novel from million-copy bestselling author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves.

$32.99

Available to order, ships in 3-5 daysAvailable to order

Cover image for Joan: The stunning feminist retelling of Joan of Arc
Hardback

Joan: The stunning feminist retelling of Joan of Arc

Katherine J. Chen

Girl. Warrior. Heretic. Saint? A stunning feminist reimagining of the life of Joan of Arc, perfect for fans of Cecily and Alison Weir.

$49.99

In stock at 2 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 2 shops

Cover image for The Paris Bookseller
Paperback

The Paris Bookseller

Kerri Maher

The captivating story of a trailblazing young woman who fought against incredible odds to bring one of the most important books of the twentieth century to the world.

$22.99

In stock at 4 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 4 shops

Cover image for Wolf Hall (Thomas Cromwell, Book 1)
Paperback

Wolf Hall (Thomas Cromwell, Book 1)

Hilary Mantel

 The first book in Hilary Mantel’s award-winning Wolf Hall trilogy, with a new cover design to celebrate the publication of the much anticipated The Mirror and the Light.    

$22.99

In stock at 6 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 6 shops

Cover image for The Language of Food
Paperback

The Language of Food

Annabel Abbs

Eliza Acton, despite having never before boiled an egg, became one of the world’s most successful cookery writers. Her story is fascinating, uplifting and inspiring. With recipes that leap to…

$22.99

Available to order, ships in 10-14 daysAvailable to order