History Books
recommended by historians
Last updated: September 17, 2024
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1
Malintzin’s Choices: An Indian Woman in the Conquest of Mexico
by Camilla Townsend -
2
Los Conspiradores
by Jorge Ibarüengoitia -
3
The Life and Times of Pancho Villa
by Friedrich Katz -
4
Translated Woman: Crossing the Border with Esperanza’s Story
by Ruth Behar -
5
The Dope: The Real History of the Mexican Drug Trade
by Benjamin Smith
The best books on Mexican history, recommended by Timo Schaefer
The best books on Mexican history, recommended by Timo Schaefer
In Mexican history, power developed in marginal locations away from the center has often played a major role in critical historical events, says award-winning historian Timo Schaefer. He recommends some of the best books on Mexican history, from a biography of the extraordinary Malintzin (c1500-1529) to a myth-busting history of the drug trade.
The best books on Central Asia’s Golden Age, recommended by S. Frederick Starr
Central Asia’s history is rarely a focus for students in the West, but its flourishing cities and great thinkers once made it one of the world’s most dynamic and important regions. Frederick Starr, a leading expert on Central Asia and author of a number of books about it, talks us through the highlights of an area that was so much more than just a stopping place on the ancient Silk Roads.
Historical Fiction, recommended by Historians on Five Books
Historical fiction is a wonderful way to learn about history and there has never been a shortage of books written by authors who are able to combine lively imagination, beautiful or pacey writing with a sound knowledge of the primary sources. Here you’ll find our list of all the historical novels recommended by historians on Five Books.
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1
The Campaigns of Napoleon
by David G Chandler -
2
Talleyrand
by Duff Cooper -
3
With Eagles to Glory: Napoleon and His German Allies in the 1809 Campaign
by John H Gill -
4
Private Memoirs Of The Court Of Napoleon
by Louis François Joseph Bausset-Roquefort -
5
With Napoleon in Russia: Memoirs of General de Caulaincourt, Duke of Vicenza
by Armand de Caulaincourt
The best books on Napoleon, recommended by Andrew Roberts
The best books on Napoleon, recommended by Andrew Roberts
How did Napoleon Bonaparte, an upstart Corsican, go on to conquer half of Europe in the 16 years of his rule? Was he a military genius? And was he really that short? Historian Andrew Roberts, author of a bestselling biography of Napoleon, introduces us to the books that shaped how he sees l’Empereur—including little-known sources from those who knew Napoleon personally. Read more history book recommendations on Five Books
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1
The Ottomans: Khans, Caesars and Caliphs
by Marc David Baer -
2
The Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World
by Malcolm Gaskill -
3
Devil-Land: England Under Siege, 1588-1688
by Clare Jackson -
4
Going to Church in Medieval England
by Nicholas Orme -
5
God: An Anatomy
by Francesca Stavrakopoulou -
6
Fallen Idols: Twelve Statues That Made History
by Alex von Tunzelmann
The Best History Books: the 2022 Wolfson Prize Shortlist, recommended by Carole Hillenbrand
The Best History Books: the 2022 Wolfson Prize Shortlist, recommended by Carole Hillenbrand
Every year the Wolfson History Prize celebrates books that combine meticulous and original research with great writing, accessible to the general reader. Here, one of the 2022 judges, the eminent Islamic scholar Carole Hillenbrand, guides us through the shortlist to explain why each book is a must-read.
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1
The Oxford History of the British Empire, Volume I: The Origins of Empire
by Nicholas Canny -
2
Colonial Ulster: The Settlement of East Ulster 1600-1641
by Raymond Gillespie -
3
Ireland and the British Empire
by Kevin Kenny -
4
The Cambridge History of Ireland: Volume 2, 1550–1730
by Jane Ohlmeyer -
5
Map-Making, Landscapes and Memory: A Geography of Colonial and Early Modern Ireland c.1530–1750
by William J. Smyth
The best books on Ireland as a Colony, recommended by Jane Ohlmeyer
The best books on Ireland as a Colony, recommended by Jane Ohlmeyer
Ireland was Britain’s oldest colony, but also one of the first to free itself from British imperial rule. Historian Jane Ohlmeyer recommends books that focus on the history of Ireland as a colony. She argues that the colonial experience had a massive impact not only on Ireland but on the countries that Britain ruled around the world.
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1
Settlements, Trade, and Politics in the 17th Century Gold Coast
by Ray A. Kea -
2
History of the Gold Coast and Asante
by Carl Christian Reindorf -
3
State and Society in Pre-colonial Asante
by T. C. McCaskie -
4
Forests of Gold: Essays on the Akan and the Kingdom of Asante
by Ivor Wilks -
5
The Ghana Reader: History, Culture, Politics
by Kwasi Konadu and Clifford C. Campbell
The best books on The History of Ghana, recommended by Kwasi Konadu
The best books on The History of Ghana, recommended by Kwasi Konadu
Ghana’s gold coast was a magnet for Europe’s nascent colonial powers right from the very early years of European expansion. As historian Kwasi Konadu argues, the relationship between those imperial powers and what is now Ghana helped to forge the modern world as we know it—for good or ill.
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1
A History of Japanese Political Thought, 1600-1901
by Watanabe Hiroshi -
2
As We Saw Them: The First Japanese Embassy to the United States
by Masao Miyoshi -
3
Rearranging the Landscape of the Gods: The Politics of a Pilgrimage Site in Japan, 1573-1912
by Sarah Thal -
4
Japan’s Total Empire: Manchuria and the Culture of Wartime Imperialism
by Louise Young -
5
Shots in the Dark: Japan, Zen, and the West
by Shoji Yamada
The best books on Japanese History, recommended by Adam P. Bronson
The best books on Japanese History, recommended by Adam P. Bronson
From myths about Zen and spiritual fulfilment to the reality of Japan’s religious pluralism, from the impact of Confucian political philosophy to the occupation of Manchuria, historian Adam P. Bronson recommends books to get started on Japanese history.
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1
Stalingrad
by Antony Beevor -
2
The Longest Day
by Cornelius Ryan -
3
Reach for the Sky: The Story of Douglas Bader, Hero of the Battle of Britain
by Paul Brickhill -
4
To Hell and Back: The Classic Memoir of World War II by America's Most Decorated Soldier
by Audie Murphy -
5
The War: A Memoir
by Marguerite Duras
The best books on World War II Battles, recommended by Alex Kershaw
The best books on World War II Battles, recommended by Alex Kershaw
In World War II human beings were tested over and over again, and that is part of what explains its enduring fascination, says bestselling historian Alex Kershaw. He recommends five books of great storytelling that immerse you in the drama, the heroism and the tragedy of World War II and also have the benefit of being relatively short.
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The Dutch Revolt
by Geoffrey Parker -
2
The First Modern Economy: Success, Failure, and Perseverance of the Dutch Economy, 1500–1815
by Ad van der Woude & Jan de Vries -
3
The Dutch Moment: War, Trade and Settlement in the Seventeenth Century Atlantic World
by Wim Klooster -
4
Calvinists and Libertines: Confession and Community in Utrecht, 1578-1620
by Benjamin J. Kaplan -
5
Rembrandt's Universe: His Art, His Life, His World
by Gary Schwartz
The best books on The Dutch Golden Age, recommended by Maarten Prak
The best books on The Dutch Golden Age, recommended by Maarten Prak
The Netherlands witnessed a flourishing in the late 16th and first half of the 17th century, leading the world in technology, commerce and the arts, particularly painting. Historian Maarten Prak recommends five books to help you understand why the Dutch Golden Age saw the invention of stock exchanges and why it produced Rembrandt, too.