Authors of Historical Novels

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Taylor Caldwell wrote historical novels set in various times and places, from Biblical settings to American history; her work often included Christian themes; she died in 1985.

Victor Canning was a British author of thrillers and contemporary and historical novels; he died in 1986. Website

Caleb Carr writes nonfiction and literary historical thrillers set in the nineteenth century.

Philippa Carr is the pen name under which the prolific author Eleanor Burford Hibbert wrote the "Daughters of England" historical romance series; she also used the pen names Jean Plaidy and Victoria Holt.

Forrest Carter was the pen name of Asa Earl Carter, a white segregationist whose 1976 novel The Education of Little Tree purported to be the memoir of a Cherokee man; he also wrote Westerns.

Willa Cather was an American literary novelist whose career spanned the years from 1903, when she published a volume of poetry, to her death in 1947; most of her novels were set in the American Midwest where she grew up, thus are not historical fiction, but they remain classics about pioneer life in the Great Plains; Cather is perhaps best-known for her historical novel, Death Comes for the Archbishop, set in nineteenth century New Mexico

Jonatha Ceely writes a series about a nineteenth century Irish girl who immigrates to the United States. Website

Michael Chabon writes contemporary and historical literary fiction and is known for his humorous adventure novels with Jewish protagonists. Website

Elizabeth Chadwick writes romantic historical novels set in medieval England. Website

Joanna Challis writes contemporary and historical romantic suspense. Website

Robert Challoner has written historical novels about nautical warfare.

Megan Chance writes literary historical novels set in Colonial and nineteenth century America, as well as historical romance novels. Website

Jerome Charyn has written memoirs and detective novels, as well as two historical novels, one set in Stalinist Russia, the other on Manhattan Island during the Revolutionary War. Website

Barbara Chase-Riboud is a sculptor, poet and author of historical novels about the experience of slavery, from Thomas Jefferson's slave mistress to harem women in the Ottoman Empire.

Tracy Chevalier is a bestselling literary author known for her novels on art and the creative process. Website

Frederick J. Chiaventone, a retired cavalry officer, is a screenwriter and novelist who has written novels set in the Old American West. Website

Winston Churchill (not to be confused with England's noted Prime Minister) was an American author of historical and contemporary novels; he died in 1947.

Joan Clark has written a novel about Viking exploration in the New World.

Walter van Tilburg Clark is best known for his 1940 novel The Ox-Bow Incident set in the Old American West; he died in 1971.

Lindsay Clarke writes historical novels and contemporary novels in which history plays a significant role. Website

Susanna Clarke is an author of historical short stories and a literary novel about magic set in Britain during the Napoleonic Wars. Website

Philippe Claudel is a French author of contemporary and historical fiction.

James Clavell wrote novels set in Japan at various periods from the sixteenth century to World War II; he died in 1994.

Roy Clews is a British author of historical fiction who served in the Royal Marines and the Foreign Legion; he also writes under the pen name Sara Fraser.

Jon Clinch is the author of a novel about Huckleberry Finn's father. Website

Hannah Closs is best known for her trilogy of literary novels about the Cathars in thirteenth century France; she died in 1953.

Michael Clynes is a pen name for Paul Doherty, for a mystery series set in Tudor England.

John Coates wrote a 1958 novel completing an unfinished story fragment by Jane Austen.

Humphrey Cobb wrote the 1935 novel Paths of Glory, set during World War I.

Andrei Codrescu is a Romanian-born American poet, essayist and novelist who has written historical novels set in eastern Europe. Website

Susan Cokal writes historical novels set in various times and places, from medieval France to the Old American West.

Rebecca Collins is the author of sequels to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

Maryse Condé is a Caribbean-born author who has also lived in France, Africa and the U.S.

Robert J. Conley is a Cherokee author who writes about the Cherokee before and after the coming of Europeans to the American continent. Website

Tom Connery is a pen name of David Donachie, who writes novels about naval warfare.

Bruce Cook wrote a humorous novel about Shakespeare; under the pen name Bruce Alexander he also wrote a mystery series set in Elizabethan England; he died in 2003.

Elizabeth Cook published primarily nonfiction before writing her debut novel about Achilles.

J. California Cooper is a playwright and author of contemporary and historical fiction.

James Fenimore Cooper was a nineteenth century author of romantic novels, best known for his 1826 novel The Last of the Mohicans, set during the French and Indian War.

Bernard Cornwell is best known for his historical series novels about warfare. Website

Thomas B. Costain was a journalist who embarked on a successful career as a historical novelist at age 57; his novels (most published in the 1940s and 1950s) were set in various times and places, and some included Christian themes; he died in 1965.

Bryce Courtenay is an Australian author of historical novels set in various periods, from Medieval Europe to the Korean War. Website

Stephanie Cowell is a former opera singer who has written novels set in Elizabethan England, as well as one about Mozart. Website

Harold Coyle writes historical and speculative fiction, usually about warfare.

Charmaine Craig is a literary author whose debut novel is about the medieval French Cathars. Website

Stephen Crane did not write historical fiction, but his unromanticized novels of contemporary nineteenth century life, including his Civil War novel The Red Badge of Courage, have become classics; he died in 1900.

Michael Crichton writes popular novels set in various time periods, from contemporary and futuristic to historical; his novel Timeline was about time-travelers in medieval France. Website

Elizabeth Crook is a Texas author of literary novels set in the Old American West. Website

Donna Cross is a journalist whose novel Pope Joan is about a ninth century German woman who may have become a pope. Website

Elaine Crowley is an Irish writer of memoir and contemporary and historical fiction.

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