Popular European Historical Fiction Books
Find historical fiction books written by authors from Europe for the next part of the Read Around The World Challenge. (685)
1.
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak EN
FranceDescription:
'In the first minute following her death, Tequila Leila's consciousness began to ebb, slowly and steadily, like a tide receding from the shore. Her brain cells, having run out of blood, were now completely deprived of oxygen. But they did not shut down. Not right away . . . ' Our brains stay active for ten minutes after our heart stops beating. For Tequila Leila, each minute brings with it a new memory- growing up with her father and his two wives in a grand old house in a quiet Turkish town; watching the women gossip and wax their legs while the men went to mosque; sneaking cigarettes and Wes... continue
2.
10 minutes et 38 secondes dans ce monde étrange by Elif Shafak FR
Description:
Et si notre esprit fonctionnait encore quelques instants après notre mort biologique ? 10 minutes et 38 secondes exactement. C'est ce qui arrive à Tequila Leila, prostituée brutalement assassinée dans une rue d'Istanbul. Du fond de la benne à ordures dans laquelle on l'a jetée, elle entreprend alors un voyage vertigineux au gré de ses souvenirs, d'Anatolie jusqu'aux quartiers les plus mal famés de la ville. En retraçant le parcours de cette jeune fille de bonne famille dont le destin a basculé, Elif Shafak nous raconte aussi l'histoire de nombre de femmes dans la Turquie d'aujourd'hui. A l'aff... continue
3.
28 Days: A Novel of Resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto by David Safier EN
GermanyDescription:
Inspired by true events, David Safier's 28 Days: A Novel of Resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto is a harrowing historical YA that chronicles the brutality of the Holocaust. Warsaw, 1942. Sixteen-year old Mira smuggles food into the Ghetto to keep herself and her family alive. When she discovers that the entire Ghetto is to be "liquidated"—killed or "resettled" to concentration camps—she desperately tries to find a way to save her family. She meets a group of young people who are planning the unthinkable: an uprising against the occupying forces. Mira joins the resistance fighters who, with minimal... continue
4.
A Ballad for Georg Henig by Viktor Paskov EN
BulgariaDescription:
The poignant story of an elderly, impoverished violin maker, a master craftsman who refuses to trim his values for the modern age, as seen through the eyes of his young prot�g�. A best-seller in Bulgaria, this is one of Paskow's major works.
5.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens EN
EnglandDescription:
From the bustling, snowy streets of 19th-century London to the ghostly apparitions of Christmases past and future, award-winning artist Roberto Innocenti vividly renders not only the authentic detail but also the emotional impact of Charles Dickens's beloved Christmas tale. In both crowded urban scenes and intimate portraits of familiar characters, we gain a sense of the timeless humanity of the tale and perhaps catch a glimpse of ourselves.
6.
A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson EN
AustriaDescription:
A delicious historical romance perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs After the Russian Revolution turns her world topsy-turvy, Anna, a young Russian countess, has no choice but to flee to England. penniless, Anna hides her aristocratic background and takes a job as servant in the household of the esteemed Westerholme family, armed only with an outdated housekeeping manual and sheer determination. Desperate to keep her past a secret, Anna is nearly overwhelmed by her new duties--not to mention her instant attraction to Rupert, the handsome Earl of Westerholme. to make matte... continue
7.
A Death in Vienna by Frank Tallis EN
Description:
“[An] elegant historical mystery . . . stylishly presented and intelligently resolved” set at the dawn of psychoanalysis (The New York Times Book Review). In Vienna at the turn of the twentieth century, Max Liebermann, a contemporary of Sigmund Freud’s, is at the forefront of psychoanalysis, practicing the controversial new science with all the skill of a master detective. Every dream, inflection, or slip of tongue in his “hysterical” patients has meaning and reveals some hidden truth. When beautiful medium Charlotte Löwenstein dies under extraordinary circumstances, Max’s good friend, Detecti... continue
8.
A Dictator Calls by Ismail Kadare EN
AlbaniaDescription:
Longlisted for the International Booker Prize The Wall Street Journal, A Best Book of the Year Using a sophisticated and literary version of the ever-popular game of telephone to examine the relationship of writers with tyranny, Ismail Kadare reflects on three particular minutes in a long moment of time when the dark shadow of Joseph Stalin passed over the world In June 1934, Stalin allegedly called Boris Pasternak and they spoke about the arrest of Osip Mandelstam. A telephone call from the dictator was not something necessarily relished, and in the complicated world of literary politics it w... continue
9.
A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen EN
NorwayDescription:
Ibsen's 1879 play shocked its first audiences with its radical insights into the social roles of husband and wife. His portrayal of the caged 'songbird' in his flawed heroine Nora remains one of the most striking dramatic depictions of the late 19th century woman. This revised edition contains introductory commentary and notes by Sophie Duncan, which offer a contemporary lens on the play's gender politics and consider seminal productions of the play into the 21st century. METHUEN DRAMA STUDENT EDITIONS are expertly annotated texts of a wide range of plays from the modern and classic repertoire... continue
10.
A Family Matter by Claire Lynch EN
Description:
A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY • A Most Anticipated Book of 2025: USA TODAY, Goodreads, and Today.com A young wife following her heart. A husband with the law on his side. Their daughter, caught in the middle. Forty years later, a family secret changes everything in this “perfect” (Elin Hilderbrand) debut novel. 1982. Dawn is a young mother, still adjusting to life with her husband, when Hazel lights up her world like a torch in the dark. Theirs is the kind of connection that’s impossible to resist, and suddenly life is more complicated, and more joyful, than Dawn ever e... continue