7 Best Historical Fiction Novels

The Place of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

This book retells the Mahabharata from the perspective of Draupadi, one of the central characters.

Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

This is an epic novel following a group of children born at the exact moment of India’s independence.

The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh

The book revolves around the saga of a Bengali family’s experiences across the continent during the 20th century.

The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan

This book explores the story of one of India’s most controversial women in Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s harem whose determination trumped myriad obstacles.

Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh

The novel follows a group of impoverished Indians who end up on a coolie ship bound for Mauritius. The story starts with Deeti who is a simple, caring mother and housewife.

Trail of the White Mughals by Kim Wagner

This is the story of an American woman who married into the Mughal Empire in the 17 century.

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

This novel is set in Bombay during the Emergency. It is about the story of four people whose lives come together during a time of political turmoil.

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