Period drama page-turners
Love diving into stories set in the past? You’re in luck. Kicking off the year, there’s a host of new escapist historical fiction that will immerse you in a bygone era
THE GIFTS by Liz Hyder out 17 February
Set in 1840, this tale stretches from the remote islands of Orkney to the bustling streets of London, following four women – Etta, Natalya, Annie and Mary – as they seek freedom and purpose in a world built for men. There’s sisterhood, pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a woman and even a spot of magic. A unique and captivating read that we truly adored.
THE HEMLOCK CURE by Joanne Burn out 10 February
The Hemlock Cure tells the story of the women of Eyam, a Derbyshire village battling the plague. Mae is attempting to practise medicine, supported by the village midwife, Isabel. Despite potions, witchcraft and the fact that it’s eerily narrated by Mae’s dead sister, it’s hard to ignore the story’s parallels to today’s world. It touches on religion (Mae lives with her father, a religious fanatic), the double standards faced by women and, not to mention, the fact that the village is attempting to quarantine itself against a deadly disease. Sound scarily familiar?
THE FLAMES by Sophie Haydock out 17 March
Set in early 20thcentury Vienna, it’s easy to dive into this story thanks to its colourful descriptions of the era. The book is full of scandal, love, betrayal and heartache, inviting readers to view the world how it was back then through the imagined viewpoints of real-life women. Artist Egon Schiele’s muses – Adele, Gertrude, Vally and Edith – are given voices that come through loud and clear as they navigate a society that’s hard on women. It’s interesting to imagine what their lives were like and the risks they took to be painted by an artist hell-bent on becoming the best of his time.
DEVOTION by Hannah Kent out 3 February
Hanne, a teenager reluctantly entering womanhood, lives among a quiet community of secretive Old Lutherans in a Prussian village in 1836. Ever the outsider, Hanne finds her life changed by the arrival of newcomer Thea and her family. The two embark on a tumultuous journey when the chance to emigrate to Australia presents itself. The odd word in German and having to pause to research historical events for context is a bit distracting, but the book is a poetic story of friendship, nature and what it means to step into a new world – both physically and spiritually.
THE LEVIATHAN by Rosie Andrews out 17 February
Set in a cold and stormy Norwich in 1643, The Leviathan is a spooky novel that takes place during and after the English civil war. Dealing with issues of superstition, religion and witchcraft, it puts you right next to ex-soldier Thomas Treadwater as he returns from battle and tries to untangle a mystery surrounding his sister and their servant, Chrissa Moore. The political backdrop really grounds the novel in reality – references to the fight between Puritans and Royalists took us right back to school history lessons... but in an infinitely more thrilling and engaging way.