Most Popular Historical Fiction Books of the 1980s

Kingsbridge #1

The Pillars of the Earth

Ken Follett

Historical Fiction

October 1, 1989

The Name of the Rose

Umberto Eco

Crime Fiction · Historical Fiction · Mainstream · Mystery · Thriller

1983

The Eight #1

The Eight

Katherine Neville

Historical Fiction · Mainstream · Mystery · Thriller

December 27, 1988

Gilgamesh the King

Robert Silverberg

Fantasy · Historical Fiction

1984

Traveller

Richard Adams

Fantasy · Historical Fiction · Mainstream

July 1988

The Stress of Her Regard Universe #1

The Stress of Her Regard

Tim Powers

Fantasy · Mythopoeic Awards · Historical Fiction

1989

Soldier Series #2

Soldier of Arete

Gene Wolfe

Fantasy · Historical Fiction

1989

Dave Robicheaux #3

Black Cherry Blues

James Lee Burke

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Edgar Allan Poe Award · Historical Fiction · Mystery

1989

Dave Robicheaux #2

Heaven's Prisoners

James Lee Burke

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

1988

Dirk Pitt #9

Treasure

Clive Cussler

War & Military · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

1988

Dave Robicheaux #1

The Neon Rain

James Lee Burke

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

1987

Dirk Pitt #8

Cyclops

Clive Cussler

War & Military · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

1985

Dirk Pitt #7

Deep Six

Clive Cussler

War & Military · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

1984

Dirk Pitt #1

Pacific Vortex!

Clive Cussler

War & Military · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

1983

Dirk Pitt #6

Night Probe!

Clive Cussler

War & Military · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

1981

On Stranger Tides

Tim Powers

Fantasy · Historical Fiction

1987

Soldier Series #1

Soldier of the Mist

Gene Wolfe

Fantasy · Locus Award · Historical Fiction

1986

Lady of Hay

Barbara Erskine

Fantasy · Historical Fiction · Romance

1986

The Sharpe Series #13

Sharpe's Company

Bernard Cornwell

Historical Fiction

1982

Kingdom of Shadows

Barbara Erskine

Fantasy · Historical Fiction · Romance

1988

The Book of Kells

R. A. MacAvoy

Fantasy · Historical Fiction

1985

Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish

Morgan Llywelyn

Fantasy · Historical Fiction

1984

Pillar of the Sky

Cecelia Holland

Paleofiction · Historical Fiction · Mainstream

1985

The Firebrand

Marion Zimmer Bradley

Fantasy · Historical Fiction

1987

Birds of Prey

David Drake

Science Fiction · Historical Fiction

1984

Badge Of Honor #2

Special Operations

W.E.B. Griffin

Crime Fiction · War & Military · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

October 1, 1989

Red Phoenix #1

Red Phoenix

Larry Bond

War & Military · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

June 6, 1989

The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #17

The Potter's Field

Ellis Peters

Crime Fiction · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

September 1, 1989

The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #16

The Heretic's Apprentice

Ellis Peters

Crime Fiction · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

February 1, 1989

Bernie Gunther #1

March Violets

Philip Kerr

Crime Fiction · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1989

On the Edge

Peter Lovesey

Crime Fiction · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1989

Sherlock Holmes and the Brighton Pavilion Mystery

Val Andrews

Crime Fiction · Sherlock Holmes · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

August 18, 1989

The Sharpe Series #19

Sharpe's Revenge

Bernard Cornwell

Historical Fiction

1989

Silk Road

Jeanne Larsen

Fantasy · Historical Fiction

1989

Badge Of Honor #1

Men in Blue

W.E.B. Griffin

Crime Fiction · War & Military · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1988

Brotherhood of War #8

The Aviators

W.E.B. Griffin

War & Military · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Thriller

August 15, 1988