World War II era · Biographical · ~1939–1945
Looking for historical fiction in the biographical lane set during the World War II era (~1939–1945)? World War II era biographical historical fiction books collects historical novels that match both filters—Global war, resistance, Holocaust, home fronts. Novels based on real historical figures 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.
Curated HisFic picks first, plus Open Library fills for this era + story type.
Georgia Hunter
In March 1939 the Kurc family gathers for Passover in Radom, Poland; by autumn the war has scattered Sol and Nechuma’s children from the ghetto to a Siberian camp, occupied France, and a refugee ship bound for Brazil. Georgia Hunter’s 2017 novel is World War II saga historical fiction of the years they spend trying to stay alive and find one another, drawn from the author’s own family.
World War II era · Cold War · Family saga · Biographical
Thomas Keneally
In German-occupied Kraków, womanizing industrialist Oskar Schindler runs an enamelworks on Jewish labor—then, as the ghetto is liquidated and Płaszów’s commandant turns murder into sport, he spends fortune and SS credit to keep twelve hundred names on a list that means life. Thomas Keneally’s Booker-winning novel is WWII biographical historical fiction of a war profiteer who gambled everything to pull workers out of the path of the camps.
World War II era · Biographical · Literary
Heather Morris
Based on a true story: a Slovakian Jew forced to tattoo prisoners at Auschwitz falls in love against impossible odds.
World War II era · Biographical · Romance
Roddy Doyle
Fiction · Young men · Revolutionaries · Guerrillas
Late 20th century · Biographical · Adventure & epic · Open Library
Eve Bunting
Fiction · Bridges · Juvenile fiction · Design and construction
Late 20th century · Biographical · Open Library
Laurie Notaro
Fiction · Women air pilots · History · Fiction, biographical
Late 20th century · Biographical · Open Library
Judy Reene Singer
Fathers and daughters · Fathers · Death · World War, 1939-1945
World War I era · World War II era · Biographical · Military & war · Open Library
Michael Lackey
American Novelists · Truth in literature · Realism in literature · American Historical fiction
Late 20th century · Biographical · Literary · Open Library
Stewart O'Nan
Literary · History · Historical · Biographical
Late 20th century · Biographical · Literary · Open Library
Barbara Kingsolver
Fiction · History · Subversive activities · Americans
Late 20th century · Biographical · Open Library
Naomi Wood
Fiction · American Novelists · Authors' spouses · Marriage
Late 20th century · Romance · Biographical · Open Library
Whitney Scharer
Fiction, biographical · Fiction, historical · Paris (france), fiction · Artists, fiction
World War I era · World War II era · Biographical · Military & war · Open Library
John David Pizer
German literature · History and criticism · German Biographical fiction · Appreciation
Late 20th century · Biographical · Open Library
Susan Wittig Albert
World War, 1939-1945 · Marriage · Biographical fiction · Historical fiction
World War I era · World War II era · Biographical · Military & war · Open Library
Cora Kaplan
Civilization · Criticism · English literature · Historiography
Victorian / Gilded Age · Late 20th century · Biographical · Open Library
Lucia Boldrini
HIstory and criticism · Literature and history · Historical fiction · Biographical fiction
Late 20th century · Biographical · Literary · Open Library
John F. Keener
American Biographical fiction · American Historical fiction · American fiction · Biography as a literary form
Late 20th century · Biographical · Literary · Open Library
Lars Ole Sauerberg
History and criticism · Historical fiction · Realism in literature · English fiction
Late 20th century · Biographical · Open Library
Looking for a broader list? See World War II era historical fiction or biographical historical fiction.