Alice Loxton aka @history_alice recommends historical fiction books

Books can open doors to other worlds. Reading historical fiction, can also transport us back in time to explore actual real life events from the past, using a mix of history, different view points and fantasty.

BBC Bitesize asked renowned historian, author and content creator Alice Loxton to recommend some of her favourites.

Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian

What era does it cover?
Set at the beginning and during the World War ll.

What is the plot?
This charming tale follows the journey of William Beech, a boy from Deptford who is evacuated to the sleepy village of Little Weirwold. Here, he lives with Tom Oakley, a reclusive man in his sixties. Though unpromising at first, their relationship blossoms, and William settles into village life.

What does Alice say?
A wonderful, moving book, where we see the toll of wartime on the lives of ordinary people, and – in the face of immense trauma - the healing power of love.

King of Shadows by Susan Cooper

What era does it cover?
London on the cusp of the 17th Century.

What is the plot?
This thrilling time-travelling tale follows the adventure of Nathan Field, a young actor, who performs in the newly rebuilt Globe Theatre in modern-day London. When things go awry and Nat falls sick with a mysterious illness, he awakes to find himself in the year 1599. No longer an actor of the 21st century, he performs in the original Globe, starring alongside William Shakespeare himself.

What does Alice say?
As the Tudor world is brought vividly to life, Nat tries to get to the bottom of why he has he been sent to the past, and whether there’s any chance of escape.

My Enemy My Friend by Elizabeth Laird

What era does it cover?
The Crusades, approximately 200 years leading up to 1291 when the port city of Acre was retaken from Crusaders by Islamic armies.

What is the plot?
This exhilarating novel follows the journey of two boys coming together from opposing sides of a war. First, there is Adam, who is employed in the household of a local knight, and finds himself part of the Crusade to reclaim Jerusalem. Then, in the port of Acre, we meet Salim, a merchant's son, whose life is upended when news arrives that a Crusader attack is imminent, and Salim ends up in the heart of Sultan Saladin’s camp.

What does Alice say?
With both boys thrust into military campaigns, this eye-opening tale reminds us of the remarkable lives of young people in centuries past and reminds us to reconsider first impressions.

A Traveller in Time by Alison Uttley

What era does it cover?
Begins in early 1900s northern England, we’re then taken back in time to the 1580’s, when Queen Elizabeth l ruled England.

What is the plot?
We follow the adventure of Penelope, an Edwardian teenager, who is caught between past and present. After travelling to her aunt’s farmhouse in Derbyshire, Penelope is transported back in time to the 1580s, where she meets her ancestors and becomes embroiled in a failed attempt to rescue Mary, Queen of Scots from her imprisonment.

What does Alice say?
In this utterly enchanting, dreamlike tale, Alison Uttley’s writing brings the past vividly and beautifully to life and asks us to consider concepts such as freedom and fate.

Alone on a Wide Wide Sea by Michael Morpurgo

What era does it cover?
World War ll and then 60 years later, in the early 2000s.

What is the plot?
We follow the journey of Arthur, an orphaned child, who is separated from his beloved sister and sent to the other side of the world. Then, sixty years later, we join Arthur’s daughter Allie, who sails across the oceans in a quest to find her father’s long-lost sister and piece together his life.

What does Alice say?
One of Morpurgo’s most celebrated books, Alone on a Wide Wide Sea is a triumph of storytelling. Like The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge – which inspired Morpugo’s title – this tale is a fable-like story set on the ocean waves, teaching us the importance of perseverance.

Alice Loxton is a history presenter, author and content creator @history_alice, where she educates on British history, heritage and art. Her most recent books are called Eleanor and Eighteen: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives. She has worked with many organisations to bring history to new audiences, including the BBC, 10 Downing Street, The National Trust, English Heritage, and Microsoft.

This article was published in November 2025.