The Greatest Portuguese, Canadian, Russian "Fiction, Historical fiction" Books Since 1970

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This list represents a comprehensive and trusted collection of the greatest books. Developed through a specialized algorithm, it brings together 305 'best of' book lists to form a definitive guide to the world's most acclaimed books. For those interested in how these books are chosen, additional details can be found on the rankings page.

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Fiction

Historical fiction

Historical fiction is a genre of literature that combines fictional stories with real historical events, settings, and characters. These books often take place in a specific time period and are based on research and factual information, but also include imaginative elements to create a compelling narrative. Historical fiction allows readers to experience the past in a unique and engaging way, while also providing insight into the social, cultural, and political issues of the time.

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  1. 1. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

    "The English Patient" is a story of four diverse individuals brought together at an Italian villa during the final days of World War II. The narrative revolves around a severely burned man who can't remember his name or past, a young Canadian nurse who tends to him, a Sikh British Army sapper, and a Canadian thief. As they navigate their own traumas and losses, the past of the mysterious patient slowly unravels, revealing a tale of love, identity, and betrayal.

    The 480th Greatest Book of All Time
  2. 2. Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman

    "Life and Fate" is a sweeping epic that explores the human condition during the Siege of Stalingrad in World War II. The novel delves into the lives of a wide range of characters, from soldiers and scientists to children and victims of the Holocaust, providing a stark and unflinching portrayal of the horrors of war, the brutality of totalitarianism, and the resilience of the human spirit. At the same time, it also examines themes of love, loss, and the struggle for freedom and dignity in the face of overwhelming adversity.

    The 439th Greatest Book of All Time
  3. 3. Obasan by Joy Kogawa

    The book is a semi-autobiographical novel that tells the story of a Japanese-Canadian woman named Naomi, who reflects on her experiences during World War II. As a child, Naomi was forced into internment along with thousands of other Japanese-Canadians, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The narrative explores the themes of racism, identity, silence, and the power of memory, as Naomi grapples with the trauma of her past and the impact of her cultural heritage on her present life.

    The 848th Greatest Book of All Time
  4. 4. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

    The novel is a complex narrative that weaves together the story of two sisters in early 20th century Canada, one of whom publishes a scandalous novel that leads to her suicide. The surviving sister, now an elderly woman, reflects on their lives, revealing family secrets, heartbreak, and the truth behind the scandalous novel. The narrative is interspersed with excerpts from the controversial book, a science fiction story within a story, adding layers of intrigue and mystery.

    The 854th Greatest Book of All Time
  5. 5. The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis by José Saramago

    The novel is a metaphysical narrative about a doctor named Ricardo Reis who returns to Lisbon, Portugal after learning about the death of his friend. He finds himself in a society on the brink of dictatorship, and as he navigates through his daily life, he encounters his deceased friend's ghost and a hotel maid with whom he begins a love affair. The book explores themes of identity, love, and the nature of reality, set against the backdrop of political turmoil.

    The 1030th Greatest Book of All Time
  6. 6. Baltasar and Blimunda by José Saramago

    "Baltasar and Blimunda" is a historical love story set in 18th century Portugal. The narrative follows a maimed soldier, Baltasar, and a young clairvoyant woman, Blimunda, as they navigate the hardships of life during the Inquisition. Their love story is intertwined with the construction of the Convent of Mafra, a grandiose project initiated by the King. The novel explores themes of love, faith, human resilience, and the struggle against political and religious oppression.

    The 1108th Greatest Book of All Time
  7. 7. The Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies

    "The Deptford Trilogy" is a series of interconnected novels that explore the life of a man from a small Canadian town named Deptford, and the ripple effects of a single childhood event that shaped the lives of three boys. The narrative weaves themes of love, guilt, art, and the complexity of human nature. The story is told from multiple perspectives and spans several decades, providing a deep exploration of the characters' psychological and spiritual development.

    The 1182nd Greatest Book of All Time
  8. 8. Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels

    "Fugitive Pieces" is a novel that explores the life of a Holocaust survivor who is rescued as a young boy by a Greek geologist. The boy grows up to become a poet and translator, haunted by his traumatic past and the loss of his family. The story also includes the perspective of a young professor who is obsessed with the poet's work, digging into the poet's past to understand his own life. The novel delves into themes of memory, loss, and the power of language.

    The 1511th Greatest Book of All Time
  9. 9. Fifth Business by Robertson Davies

    The novel follows the life of Dunstan Ramsay, a man haunted by a childhood accident that he believes he caused. The book explores his guilt and its impact on his life, as well as his relationships with others, including a woman he loves but cannot have, a brilliant but troubled friend, and a saintly fool. Throughout his life, Ramsay seeks redemption and understanding in the realms of history, mythology, and religion.

    The 1829th Greatest Book of All Time
  10. 10. Summer in Baden-Baden by Leonid Tsypkin

    "Summer in Baden-Baden" is a unique blend of fact and fiction that intertwines the author's own travels to Leningrad with a reimagining of Fyodor Dostoevsky's summer in Baden-Baden, Germany. The narrative shifts between the two journeys, exploring themes of obsession, identity, and the power of literature. The author's fascination with Dostoevsky serves as a lens through which he examines his own life and experiences as a Jew in Soviet Russia, while also providing a fresh perspective on the famous Russian author's life and works.

    The 1844th Greatest Book of All Time
  11. 11. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood

    This historical fiction novel centers around the true story of Grace Marks, a 19th-century Irish-Canadian maid who was convicted of the brutal murders of her employer and his housekeeper. The narrative is told from the perspective of Grace herself, as well as a young psychiatrist who is trying to determine whether Grace is truly guilty. The book explores themes of memory, culpability, and the treatment of women in society.

    The 1952nd Greatest Book of All Time
  12. 12. August 1914 by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

    "August 1914" is a historical novel set during the early days of World War I, focusing on the disastrous Battle of Tannenberg on the Eastern Front. The book provides a detailed portrayal of the Russian army's defeat, largely due to incompetent leadership and lack of communication. The narrative also delves into the lives of the soldiers and civilians involved, offering a broad examination of Russian society and the impending revolution.

    The 2411th Greatest Book of All Time
  13. 13. The Diviners by Margaret Laurence

    "The Diviners" is a novel about a woman named Morag Gunn who grows up in small-town Manitoba, Canada, and becomes a successful novelist. The story follows Morag's life from childhood to adulthood, exploring her relationships, struggles, and personal growth. The narrative delves into themes of identity, memory, and the importance of understanding one's past. The protagonist's journey to self-discovery and acceptance is interwoven with the broader cultural and historical context of Canada in the mid-20th century.

    The 2454th Greatest Book of All Time
  14. 14. The Great Victorian Collection by Brian Moore

    "The Great Victorian Collection" is a captivating novel that follows the journey of a wealthy collector who becomes obsessed with acquiring a vast collection of Victorian artifacts. As he delves deeper into his obsession, he becomes entangled in a world of deception, greed, and scandal. Set in the backdrop of 1950s London, this thought-provoking and atmospheric tale explores the dark side of obsession and the consequences it can have on one's life.

    The 2627th Greatest Book of All Time
  15. 15. The Wars by Timothy Findley

    "The Wars" is a historical novel that follows the life of a young Canadian soldier, Robert Ross, during World War I. The narrative explores Ross's experiences in the war, his struggles with his own morality, and the harsh realities of the battlefield. The book also delves into the psychological impact of war on soldiers, as well as the effects of war on animals, which Ross is particularly sensitive to. Through non-linear storytelling, the novel provides a visceral and poignant commentary on the brutality and senselessness of war.

    The 2748th Greatest Book of All Time
  16. 16. The Gospel According To Jesus Christ by José Saramago

    This novel offers a provocative and humanized retelling of the life of Jesus Christ, diverging from traditional biblical narratives. It presents a Jesus who is all too human, grappling with the complexities of life, love, and a sense of destiny. Through a blend of biblical lore and imaginative fiction, the story explores themes of divinity, free will, and morality, challenging readers to reconsider the foundations of faith and the nature of storytelling itself. The narrative delves into Jesus's relationships, his encounters with figures such as God and the Devil, and ultimately portrays a deeply philosophical and introspective version of a figure central to Western civilization.

    The 2930th Greatest Book of All Time
  17. 17. The Land At The End Of The World by António Lobo Antunes

    This novel is a poignant and harrowing account of the Angolan War of Independence from the perspective of a disillusioned Portuguese medic. Through a series of barroom confessions to an unnamed interlocutor, the narrator recounts his experiences of the brutal conflict, the horrors he witnessed, and the impact it had on his psyche. The narrative is a blend of vivid war memories and reflections on the post-war life, exploring themes of love, loss, and the haunting legacy of colonialism. The author's rich, poetic language and innovative storytelling techniques create a powerful, immersive experience, capturing the futility of war and the indelible scars it leaves on individuals and nations alike.

    The 3022nd Greatest Book of All Time
  18. 18. Fado Alexandrino by António Lobo Antunes

    "Fado Alexandrino" is a complex narrative that follows the lives of four Portuguese men who meet at a dinner in Lisbon to commemorate their return from the colonial war in Mozambique ten years prior. Each man, representing different social classes, recounts his life before, during, and after the war, revealing their personal struggles and the impact of the war on their lives. The novel also reflects the political and social changes in Portugal from the dictatorship era to the revolution and its aftermath.

    The 3038th Greatest Book of All Time
  19. 19. Signs Of Fire by Jorge de Sena

    "Signs of Fire" is a historical novel set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War and the onset of World War II, exploring the coming-of-age of a young Portuguese man. The protagonist, caught between the expectations of his bourgeois family and his own political awakening, grapples with the tumultuous events of the era, his personal relationships, and his burgeoning intellectual and ideological convictions. As he navigates love, friendship, and the struggle for meaning in a world on the brink of chaos, the novel delves into themes of identity, resistance, and the impact of historical forces on individual lives.

    The 3241st Greatest Book of All Time
  20. 20. The History of the Siege of Lisbon by José Saramago

    This narrative revolves around a proofreader named Raimundo Silva, who, while working on a historical text about the Siege of Lisbon, decides to alter history by adding a single word to the text, turning the factual account into a fictional one. This act of rebellion leads him into a relationship with his boss, Maria Sara, and together they explore the consequences of questioning historical facts and narratives. The story also delves into the power of language and storytelling, and the blurred lines between history and fiction.

    The 3435th Greatest Book of All Time
  21. 21. Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

    In a land where a ruthless sorcerer has erased the name and history of a once-proud province, a group of rebels fights to reclaim their identity and homeland. The story unfolds in a richly detailed fantasy world where magic and political intrigue intertwine, and the power of memory and the resilience of the human spirit are central themes. The rebels, each with their own personal vendettas and dreams, must navigate complex alliances and confront their own pasts as they strive to restore the name of their province and free it from the grip of tyranny. Their quest is fraught with challenges, as they face not only the sorcerer's formidable powers but also the difficulties of uniting a fractured people under a forgotten banner.

    The 4039th Greatest Book of All Time
  22. 22. The Burn: A Novel in Three Books : (late Sixties--early Seventies) by Vassily Aksyonov

    "The Burn: A Novel in Three Books : (late Sixties--early Seventies)" is a historical novel that explores the cultural and political landscape of the Soviet Union during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The book follows a group of intellectuals, artists, and dissidents who are striving to preserve their individuality and freedom in a society that is increasingly oppressive and conformist. The narrative is punctuated by surreal and fantastical elements, reflecting the characters' struggle to maintain their sanity and dignity in a world that seems to be spiraling into madness.

    The 4053rd Greatest Book of All Time
  23. 23. The Faculty of Useless Knowledge by Yuri Dombrovsky

    "The Faculty of Useless Knowledge" delves into the life of a historian caught in the oppressive atmosphere of Stalinist Russia. The narrative explores the intellectual and emotional turmoil of the protagonist, who is ensnared in the brutal machinery of the Soviet state's ideological and bureaucratic control. Through his experiences and reflections, the book examines themes of memory, history, and the struggle to maintain intellectual integrity in a repressive society. The protagonist's journey is a poignant commentary on the value of knowledge and the human spirit's resilience against totalitarian forces.

    The 4078th Greatest Book of All Time
  24. 24. Farewell To Matyora by Valentin Rasputin

    The book is a poignant exploration of the tension between progress and tradition, set in a small Siberian village that is doomed to be submerged by the construction of a hydroelectric dam. As the government mandates the relocation of the village's inhabitants, the narrative delves into the lives of the villagers who are grappling with the loss of their ancestral home and way of life. The story is a meditation on the cost of modernization, the deep connection between people and their land, and the inevitable passing of time that brings change, often at the expense of cultural heritage and personal identity. Through the villagers' resistance and sorrow, the novel examines themes of environmental impact, the clash of ideologies, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of displacement.

    The 4094th Greatest Book of All Time
  25. 25. De Niro's Game by Rawi Hage

    The novel delves into the lives of two childhood friends navigating the treacherous landscape of war-torn Beirut. As the city crumbles under the weight of the Lebanese Civil War, the young men find themselves drawn into the violence and chaos that surrounds them. One chooses the path of emigration, seeking a new life abroad, while the other becomes embroiled in the militia warfare that dominates the streets. Their friendship is tested by the brutality of their environment, as they grapple with the moral complexities of survival, loyalty, and the devastating impact of conflict on the human spirit.

    The 4096th Greatest Book of All Time

Reading Statistics

Click the button below to see how many of these books you've read!

Download

If you're interested in downloading this list as a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet application, you can easily do so by clicking the button below. Please note that to ensure a manageable file size and faster download, the CSV will include details for only the first 500 books.

Download