Historical fiction takes the reader on a trip through time. Letting them see, hear, and feel what it was like to live in the past. In 2020, many great historical fiction books came out, and each one gave a different view of the past. From the racial tensions of the 1950s in the United States to the bubonic plague in Elizabethan England. To demonstrate the complication of history, these books use the life stories of interesting characters. However, in this article, we'll look at four of the best historical fiction books 2020.
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
This book is about twin sisters who grow up in a small black community in the South in the 1950s. When they are teenagers, they run away to New Orleans, where their lives take very different turns. One marries a black man and has a daughter, while the other pretends to be white and has a daughter. The white doesn't know anything about her black heritage. However, the book spans several decades as the sisters' lives diverge and come back together. This book is among one of the best critically acclaimed and best best historical fiction books 2020.
A Chinese Entrepreneur by Irene Tai
This book tells us about life during and after World War II. It reminds us of some important Chinese values and traditions. It is an interesting and thought-provoking book that tells us how traditions and customs affect us as people. Irene Tai helps us remember where we came from and helps us make our own decisions. The book is about the main character, Sek Lung. It tells about how he wanted to live and fought to save his family from the horrible things the Japanese did to them. It also shows how he used his creative mind and understanding of how people work to do well in business after the war.
The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
It is the last book in Hilary Mantel's trilogy that talks about the life of Thomas Cromwell.He is a key figure in the court of King Henry VIII. The book follows Cromwell's rise to power and eventual fall. Moreover, it also follows the turbulent events of the Tudor court in the middle of the 16th century. This book is among one of the best historical fiction books 2020 based on the 16th century.
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
This book occurred in Dublin in 1918, during the Spanish flu pandemic. It is about a nurse named Julia, who works in a makeshift hospital for pregnant women with the flu. Over three days, Julia cares for her patients and deals with her fears and desires. However, Donoghue's writing is vivid and immersive, and she captures the desperation and uncertainty of a world in the grip of a deadly pandemic. By far, this book is one of the best best historical fiction books 2020.
Conclusion
These four best historical fiction books 2020 show how historical fiction can take readers to different times and places and shed light on universal themes and experiences. However, from the racial tensions of mid-century America to the bubonic plague in Elizabethan England, each book gives a unique and compelling look into the past.