The 18th century marked a historical period in which rapid changes occurred, especially in the rise and fall of empires as revolutions and Enlightenment ideals spread throughout the second half of the century. At the beginning of the century, Saint Petersburg was founded under Peter the Great, the Asante Empire rose in what is now Ghana, and the Act of Union merged the Scottish and English Parliaments. Empires continued fighting over colonies, with the Seven Years’ War drawing in many of the major world powers, and there was the beginning of British imperial rule in India through the East India Company.
As the 1700s continued, Enlightenment ideals and revolutions led to massive changes in government: the colonies that would become the United States declared independence from Britain, the French Revolution removed King Louis XVI from power, and the economic transformation of the Industrial Revolution began. The 1700s included the births of Beethoven, Jane Austen, Toussaint Louverture, and Bernoulli, as well as many others who would go on to shape culture, government, and science in the coming years.
The historical fiction books below will give you a glimpse into this packed period of history. From the island of Saint-Domingue to the freezing woods of Nova Scotia, these stories take you inside the lives of historical figures in a variety of settings. Explore the court politics of Korea, journey to a Scotland that has just been joined with England, and dig into the mysterious backstory of a man in colonial New York City. Whichever part of the century you visit, you’re sure to enjoy the read.
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Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel AllendeMasterful storyteller Isabel Allende weaves together the life of Zarité, known as Tété, on the island of Saint-Domingue. Tété has spent her life enslaved on a sugar plantation where Toulouse Valmorain arrives in 1770 to run in his father’s place. Through the next four decades, Allende tells us the story of Tété’s heartbreaks, losses, loves, and struggles. |
 Fireflies in Winter by Eleanor ShearerSet in the frozen world of Nova Scotia in 1796, Fireflies in Winter is a story of love and survival. Cora, newly arrived from Jamaica, is desperately trying to survive the cold in her new home when she notices a woman among the trees. It is Agnes: a woman on the run from her former life who has learned to survive in the woods. As Cora and Agnes’ relationship deepens, they find themselves falling in love, but forces from the past are lurking. |
 The Vanished Days by Susanna KearsleyFans of the Scottish history in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series will want to pick up Kearsley’s story of 1700s Scotland. Set against the tumultuous world of a Union with England, Queen Anne’s commissioners, rising Jacobite support, and exiled rulers, the young widow of a Darien expedition sailor has come forth to collect her late husband’s wages. Assigned to her claim is one of the commissioners, who is starting to worry his feelings will interfere with his investigation. |
 The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-RobinsonOrphaned in 1730s Cornwall, Red has been entrusted with her father’s technique, known as the square of sevens, for predicting the future. Red’s upbringing is entrusted to a wealthy benefactor, and she enjoys a comfortable upbringing in Bath. But her questions about her parents drive her to travel England in search of an answer to the mysteries, and mysterious enemies, that follow her family. |
 Golden Hill by Francis SpuffordWhat was New York City like before the American Revolution? In 1746, the mysterious Mr. Smith arrives on the island of Manhattan with an order for a thousand pounds and a fuzzy explanation as to what’s brought him to the colony. While the setting may be historical, the theme of a young man arriving in New York to seek his fortune and escape his past is timeless. |
 The Red Palace by June HurAs an illegitimate daughter in 1758 Korea, there are few options for Hyeon. When she is hired as a palace nurse, she is determined to do a good job and keep to herself. But when four women are murdered at the palace, and Hyeon’s mentor becomes the prime suspect, she finds herself confronting the dark world of palace intrigue. |
If you’re looking for more historical fiction, be sure to check out Book Riot’s historical fiction archives, where you can find lists of historical horror, historical romances, and plenty more!