The Underground Railroad
Colson Whitehead
An enslaved woman’s escape reimagines the Underground Railroad as a literal train—and faces America’s brutal history.
Civil War · Victorian / Gilded Age · Literary · Adventure & epic
Civil War · Literary · ~1861–1865
Literary historical fiction books: Civil War
Looking for historical fiction in the literary lane set during the Civil War (~1861–1865)? Literary historical fiction books: Civil War collects historical novels that match both filters—American Civil War, secession, emancipation, home fronts. Character- and prose-forward novels set in the past HisFic is a free historical fiction discovery app: open a full reading journey with the same era and story-type filters, then add region, themes, or audience. Shelves mix curated historical fiction picks with Open Library titles so even thin combinations still have books to explore.
Shelf · 18 titles
Curated HisFic picks first, plus Open Library fills for this era + story type.
Conjure Women
Afia Atakora
A healer’s daughter navigates slavery’s end and dangerous secrets (SAH Prize 2021).
Civil War · Victorian / Gilded Age · Literary · Family saga
Days Without End
Sebastian Barry
An Irish immigrant and his partner fight in the Indian Wars and Civil War (Walter Scott Prize 2017).
Civil War · Victorian / Gilded Age · Military & war · Literary
Paradise Alley
Kevin Baker
The New York Draft Riots through intertwined immigrant lives (SAH Prize 2003).
Civil War · Literary · Military & war
Cold Mountain
Charles Frazier
Wounded Confederate soldier Inman walks home across North Carolina toward Ada, who is learning to keep a mountain farm alive as the Civil War wrecks the Blue Ridge. Frazier’s National Book Award winner is Civil War historical fiction of desertion, survival, and a love story paced to the land.
Civil War · Literary · Romance
Shades of gray
Carolyn Reeder
Uncles · Orphans · History · Conscientious objectors
Civil War · Military & war · Open Library
Settling accounts
Harry Turtledove
Fiction · Historical Fiction · History · United States Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War · Late 20th century · Military & war · Open Library
Through the Storm
Beverly Jenkins
Fiction · Historical Fiction · Romance · American Civil War (1861-1865) fast (OCoLC)fst01351658
Civil War · Romance · Military & war · Open Library
I Survived The Battle of Gettysburg, 1863
Lauren Tarshis
Gettysburg, Battle of, Gettysburg, Pa., 1863 · Gettysburg, Battle of (Pennsylvania : 1863) fast (OCoLC)fst01404274 · Brothers and sisters · Juvenile fiction
Civil War · Late 20th century · Military & war · Adventure & epic · Open Library
A Light in the Storm
Karen Hesse
Delaware Civil War, 1861-1865 · Diaries · Fiction · Historical Fiction
Civil War · Military & war · Open Library
Abner & me
Dan Gutman
Baseball · Baseball cards · Fiction · Gettysburg, Battle of, Gettysburg, Pa., 1863
Civil War · Military & war · Time-slip · Open Library
North and South
John Jakes
Causes · Fiction · History · United States Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War · Military & war · Open Library
Battle Flag
Bernard Cornwell
Bull Run, 2nd Battle of, Va., 1862 · Fiction · Historical Fiction · History
Civil War · Military & war · Adventure & epic · Open Library
Grant Comes East
Newt Gingrich
War stories · Generals · Fiction · United States Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War · Military & war · Open Library
Gods and Generals
Jeff Shaara
Generals · Fiction · United States Civil War, 1861-1865 · Historical Fiction
Civil War · Military & war · Open Library
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Ernest Hemingway
Spain in fiction · Fiction · History · Spanish Civil War
Civil War · World War II era · Military & war · Open Library
Rebel
Bernard Cornwell
Virginia Civil War, 1861-1865 · Nathaniel Starbuck (Fictitious character) · War stories · Fiction
Civil War · Military & war · Adventure & epic · Open Library
The Guns of the South
Harry Turtledove
Alternative histories · Fiction · Historical fiction · History
Civil War · Military & war · Open Library
Other story types in Civil War
Looking for a broader list? See Civil War historical fiction or literary historical fiction.