First published in an English translation in 2013, this novel by a prize-winning Chinese author covers 90 years in the life of an Evenki woman (a nomadic people living in the mountainous forests of China and Russia). The unnamed narrator tells the story as an old woman whose way of life has almost disappeared. Each of the four sections of the book (Dawn, Mid-Day, Dusk, and The Last Quarter of the Moon) begins with an italicized section that takes place... Read More Read More

HerStory Novels | Historical fiction by women, about women

01.02.2025

The House of Eve, by Sadeqa Johnson - HerStory Novels

One reason I enjoy historical fiction is the opportunity to experience, vicariously, the lives of people from past time periods, and to learn about cultures and sub-cultures that are unfamiliar to me. The House of Eve, first published in 2023, gives readers glimpses of African-American experiences that many of us might not have known about. The novel starts in 1948 and is told from the point of view of two young Black women: Ruby, who lives in North Philadephia, and... Read More Read More

HerStory Novels | Historical fiction by women, about women

02.03.2025

A Woman of Pleasure, by Kiyoko Murata - HerStory Novels

A Woman of Pleasure takes place in Japan and follows the story of Ichi, who in 1903 at the age of 15 is sold into prostitution by her father. She comes from a remote island (Iojima) and when she arrives in Kyushu, she is dazzled by the large houses she sees. Although she has come so far away from home, and although she is raped as soon as she enters the large brothel, she seems oddly accepting of what is... Read More Read More

HerStory Novels | Historical fiction by women, about women

31.03.2025

The Most, by Jessica Anthony - HerStory Novels

I read The Most twice, back-to-back. This novella (133 pages) seems simple on the surface: it concerns a housewife, Kathleen, in 1957 who decides to spend all day in the swimming pool of the Newark, Delaware apartment complex where she lives. The first time I read it, I was pulled in by the question of why she is spending the whole day in the pool. By the end, I didn’t quite have an answer, so I read it again to... Read More Read More

home›HerStory Novels | Historical fiction by women, about women

HerStory Novels | Historical fiction by women, about women

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The Last Quarter of the Moon, by Chi Zijian - HerStory Novels

The House of Eve, by Sadeqa Johnson - HerStory Novels

A Woman of Pleasure, by Kiyoko Murata - HerStory Novels

The Most, by Jessica Anthony - HerStory Novels

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HerStory Novels | Historical fiction by women, about women