About Us

The Historical Novel Society was founded in 1997 and aims to promote all aspects of historical fiction. Membership is open to all: we welcome anyone who is enthusiastic or curious about the genre. We offer support and opportunities for new writers, we provide information for students, booksellers and librarians, and we are a community for authors, agents and publishers.

 The society publishes the quarterly Historical Novels Review magazine. The Historical Novels Review aims to review every new work of historical fiction released in the USA or the UK. Selected titles from Canada and Australia are also reviewed, for a grand total of over 800 reviews per year. It is the only magazine of its kind, the best and most complete guide to the latest historical fiction in the world. 

'The Historical Novels Review is where I find out what’s happening in the historical fiction market.' – Carole Blake, Blake Friedmann Literary Agency.

 The society also publishes the twice yearly magazine Solander. Solander features interviews with current authors (eg. Sarah Waters, Sharon Penman, Beryl Bainbridge) as well as retrospectives on the great names of historical fiction (eg. Georgette Heyer, Alfred Duggan, Rosemary Sutcliff, Mary Renault). We also publish original fiction by new and established authors (eg. Michel Faber, Elizabeth Chadwick).          

'I've just read Solander - it's a triumph!'  - Bernard Cornwell.

We organise an annual UK Conference, and are planning a first North American conference for 2005.

Our web-site aims to answer your first questions about the society, but if you have any further queries, please write.

And if you are an enthusiast for historical fiction, please JOIN the society. It is good value for money, it is a strong and supportive community, and it is THE best place to find out about new historical fiction.