The Greatest Historical Fiction Series
This selection of twenty-two historical fiction series is based on the continuing research carried out for The Greatest Literature of All Time and additional research into historical fiction acclaimed by the world's readers, writers, critics and scholars.
For The Greatest Historical Fiction Series list a series is defined as having at least three historical novels or novellas by the same author with shared characters, themes or storyline.
The list is continually updated as new works are discovered and appreciation of older works evolves. Please note the current revision date when citing the list.
Latest update: December 21, 2024
1872–1912
National Episodes
by Benito Pérez Galdós, Spain
Novel series, originally Episodios Nacionales, includes Trafalgar, Bailéri, Zaragoza, Gerona, Cádiz, The Battle of Salamanca, and others.
1905–1940
The Scarlet Pimpernel
by Baroness Orczy, England
Novel and story series
1908–1922
The Long Journey
by Johannes V. Jensen, Denmark
Novel series
1920–1922
Kristin Lavransdatter
by Sigrid Undset, Norway
Novel series includes The Wreath, The Wife, The Cross.
1932–1942
Josephus trilogy
by Lion Feuchtwanger, Germany
Novel series
1937–1967
Horatio Hornblower
by C.S. Forester, England
Novel series
1949–1959
The Emigrants
by Vilhelm Moberg, Sweden
Novel series, originally Utvandrarna, includes The Emigrants, Unto a Good Land, The Settlers and The Last Letter Home.
1956–1957
The Cairo Trilogy
by Naguib Mahfouz, Egypt
Novel series
1965–1989
Lord Ramage series
by Dudley Pope, England
Novel series
1967–2000
Narratives of Empire
by Gore Vidal, United States
Novel series includes Burr, Lincoln, 1876, Empire, The Golden Age, and others.
1969–1999
Aubrey–Maturin series
by Patrick O'Brian, England
Novel series includes Master and Commander, Post Captain, HMS Surprise, The Mauritius Command, Desolation Island, and others.
1975–2011
The Bolitho Novels
by Alexander Kent, England
Novel series
1977–1994
Cadfael Chronicles
by Ellis Peters, England
Novel series
1980–1989
To the Ends of the Earth
by William Golding, England
Novel series includes Rites of Passage, Close Quarters, and Fire Down Below.
1991–1995
The Regeneration Trilogy
by Pat Barker, England
Novel trilogy includes
Regeneration,
The Eye in the Door, and
The Ghost Road.
It may seem odd an acclaimed series of novels near the end of the twentieth century should feature characters from the period of the First World War. Or that issues from that war time should continue to resonate with.... Critique • Quotes • Buy
1991–2021
Outlander series
by Diana Gabaldon, United States
Novel series
1996–2011
Captain Alatriste series
by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Spain
Novel, originally Las aventuras del capitán Alatriste
2002–2010
The Taj Mahal Trilogy
by Induu Sundaresan, United States
Novel series includes The Twentieth Wife, The Feast of Roses, and Shadow Princess.
2003–2004
The Baroque Cycle
by Neal Stephenson, United States
Novel series
2003–2013
Emperor
by Conn Iggulden, England
Novel series
2007–2011
Conqueror
by Conn Iggulden, England
Novel series
2007–2017
The Adventures of Hector Lynch
by Tim Severin, England
Novel series
