Lonesome Dove
Larry McMurtry
Aging Texas Rangers drive cattle north in an epic, funny, heartbreaking Western.
Victorian / Gilded Age · Adventure & epic · Family saga
Victorian / Gilded Age · Adventure & epic · ~1837–1901
Victorian / Gilded Age adventure & epic historical fiction books
Looking for historical fiction in the adventure & epic lane set during the Victorian / Gilded Age (~1837–1901)? Victorian / Gilded Age adventure & epic historical fiction books collects historical novels that match both filters—Industry, empire, class, American boom (broader 19th c.). Sweeping quests, voyages, and large-canvas history 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.
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
Shaman
Noah Gordon
A doctor’s life on the American frontier (SAH / Cooper Prize 1993).
Victorian / Gilded Age · Literary · Adventure & epic
I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871
Lauren Tarshis
Great Fire, Chicago, Ill., 1871 · Adventure and adventurers · Juvenile fiction · Fiction
Victorian / Gilded Age · Adventure & epic · Open Library
The mostly true adventures of Homer P. Figg
W. R. Philbrick
Brothers · Adventure and adventurers · Orphans · Fiction
Civil War · Victorian / Gilded Age · Military & war · Adventure & epic · Open Library
Airman
Eoin Colfer
Flying-machines · Adventure and adventurers · Juvenile fiction · Fiction
Victorian / Gilded Age · Adventure & epic · Open Library
Big River's Daughter
Bobbi Miller
River boats · Pirates · Buried treasure · Adventure and adventurers
Victorian / Gilded Age · Adventure & epic · Open Library
Powder Monkey
Theresa Dowswell
Juvenile fiction · Fiction · Sea stories · Naval History
Regency / Napoleonic · Victorian / Gilded Age · Military & war · Adventure & epic · Open Library
Secrets in the Hills
Kathleen Ernst
Mexican Americans · Fiction · History · Buried treasure
Victorian / Gilded Age · Mystery · Biographical · Open Library
The outcasts
Kathleen Kent
Fiction · History · Historical · Brothels
Victorian / Gilded Age · Romance · Adventure & epic · Open Library
Under a painted sky
Stacey Lee
Adventure and adventurers · Chinese Americans · Juvenile fiction · Slavery
Victorian / Gilded Age · Adventure & epic · Open Library
Danny Blackgoat
Tim Tingle
Conduct of life · Indians of North America · Adventure and adventurers · Navajo Indians
Victorian / Gilded Age · Adventure & epic · Open Library
Fire storm
Andrew Lane
Mystery and detective stories · Missing persons · Juvenile fiction · History
Victorian / Gilded Age · Mystery · Adventure & epic · Open Library
Gnat Stokes and the Foggy Bottom Swamp Queen
Sally M. Keehn
Fiction · Cats · Magic · Adventure and adventurers
Victorian / Gilded Age · Adventure & epic · Open Library
Epic suggestion in the imagery of the Waverley novels
Christabel Forsyth Fiske
Classical and English · Comparative Literature · English and classical · English language
Victorian / Gilded Age · Adventure & epic · Literary · Open Library
Snake bite
Andrew Lane
Kidnapping · Juvenile fiction · Seafaring life · Fiction
Victorian / Gilded Age · Civil War · Mystery · Adventure & epic · Open Library
Trembling earth
Kim L. Siegelson
Georgia Civil War, 1861-1865 · Slavery · Fathers and sons · Fiction
Civil War · Victorian / Gilded Age · Military & war · Adventure & epic · Open Library
Wanderville
Wendy McClure
Orphans · Fiction · Homeless persons · Adventure and adventurers
Victorian / Gilded Age · Late 20th century · Adventure & epic · Open Library
Other story types in Victorian / Gilded Age
Looking for a broader list? See Victorian / Gilded Age historical fiction or adventure & epic historical fiction.