Ellen Feldman is known for her historical novels. Many of her stories unfold during or after World War II. She is particularly good at writing about women and how they navigated those turbulent times. Her books look closely at the tough moral decisions individuals had to make.
If you are drawn to novels like these, especially those that bring history to life through personal stories and well-developed characters, you might be interested in exploring other authors with a similar sensibility.
Readers who enjoy Ellen Feldman’s thoughtful portrayals of historical moments might appreciate Geraldine Brooks. Brooks is an Australian-American author known for stories that vividly reimagine historical events through intimate personal experiences.
Her novel “Year of Wonders” explores life in a small English village during the devastating plague of 1666.
Through the eyes of Anna Frith, a courageous young woman who confronts tragedy, superstition, and fear in her isolated community, the author examines humanity’s reactions to crisis.
Brooks provides depth of emotion and captures a nuanced portrait of people facing extraordinary circumstances.
Kate Morton is an Australian author who creates absorbing historical fiction with strong characters and captivating mysteries. She is great at building stories across different timelines, which will appeal to fans of Ellen Feldman’s rich historical storytelling.
In her book “The Forgotten Garden,” Morton explores the mysterious past of Nell, a woman who discovers as an adult that her origins aren’t what she believed. After her death, Nell’s granddaughter Cassandra takes on the journey to uncover family secrets.
The search leads through a maze of memories, forgotten gardens, and long-hidden truths from Australia’s shores to England’s coast. Morton weaves history and mystery beautifully to keep readers eagerly turning pages until the final revelation.
Kristin Hannah is an author who captivates readers with emotionally rich storytelling, exploring deep family relationships and personal struggles in various historical contexts.
If you’re drawn to Ellen Feldman’s powerful narratives, Hannah’s novel “The Nightingale” could appeal strongly.
This book follows two sisters in occupied France during the Second World War, each confronting the brutal realities of war and occupation through very different paths of courage and defiance.
Hannah brings a human perspective to history, portraying resilience, sacrifice, and sisterhood amid devastating circumstances. Her vivid portrayal of wartime experiences and complex familial bonds creates a narrative that’s both heart-wrenching and inspiring.
Readers who enjoy Ellen Feldman’s thoughtful style and emotional insight may also appreciate Anita Shreve. Shreve’s novels often explore complex relationships and personal histories in difficult circumstances.
Her novel “The Pilot’s Wife” follows Kathryn Lyons as she copes with the devastating news that her husband, a pilot, has died in a plane crash. As Kathryn digs deeper into his past, she discovers troubling secrets about the man she thought she knew best.
Shreve masterfully portrays Kathryn’s emotional journey, creating a realistic and moving depiction of grief, betrayal, and resilience.
Books by Martha Hall Kelly often explore the lives of women facing extraordinary circumstances during wartime, similar to themes found in Ellen Feldman’s novels. Kelly’s “Lilac Girls” follows three brave women whose lives intersect amidst the chaos of World War II.
Caroline Ferriday, a New York socialite, dedicates herself to easing suffering from abroad. Kasia Kuzmerick, a young woman from Poland, is caught up in resistance activities against Nazi occupation.
Herta Oberheuser, an ambitious German doctor, becomes involved in horrifying medical experiments. As their stories unfold, the novel portrays powerful themes of courage, compassion, and resilience in the darkest of times.
Readers who enjoy Feldman’s sensitive portrayals of historical moments will find Martha Hall Kelly’s characters equally vivid and relatable.
Beatriz Williams writes absorbing historical fiction with dramatic plots set in vivid eras. Her novels often explore themes of family secrets, war-time romance, and compelling female characters.
In her book “A Hundred Summers,” Williams brings readers into the summer of 1938, where Lily Dane returns to the Rhode Island seaside community she’s known since childhood.
Memories resurface when Lily encounters her former fiancé and best friend, now married, forcing her to confront old heartbreak amid an impending hurricane. Secrets from the past slowly unravel, creating tensions that threaten the fragile surface of their glamorous world.
Readers who enjoy Ellen Feldman’s nuanced storytelling and intricate historical settings may connect strongly with Williams’ evocative portrayal of love and betrayal in a beautiful seaside setting.
Lisa Wingate is an author who creates deeply moving historical stories about forgotten parts of American history. If you enjoyed Ellen Feldman’s thoughtful approach to hidden histories, you’ll likely connect with Wingate’s novel, “Before We Were Yours.”
This book explores a heartbreaking scandal from mid-century America: the Tennessee Children’s Home, where many children were unlawfully taken from their families and adopted out for profit.
Through two intertwined timelines, Wingate brings readers into the lives of a group of siblings fighting to stay together in the past and a modern-day woman slowly uncovering family secrets that link directly to these tragic events.
The characters feel real, their struggles haunting—making the story unforgettable.
If you enjoy Ellen Feldman’s historical narratives about strong, real-life characters, Paula McLain is another author you’ll appreciate. Her novel “The Paris Wife” explores the complicated marriage of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson.
Set in Jazz Age Paris, the story reveals the challenges Hadley faces as she navigates her husband’s rising fame, their passionate but tumultuous relationship, and the bohemian literary scene.
McLain skillfully blends fact and fiction, crafting an emotional portrait of love and ambition in the lively yet unstable atmosphere of 1920s Paris.
Fiona Davis writes absorbing historical fiction that combines strong characters with vivid settings, often focusing on iconic New York landmarks. Her novels offer the same thoughtful and detailed historical atmosphere found in Ellen Feldman’s work.
For instance, “The Lions of Fifth Avenue” brings readers into the New York Public Library in two separate timelines—1913 and 1993. It follows Laura Lyons, a determined writer living within the library building itself in the earlier timeline.
Decades later, Laura’s granddaughter Sadie finds herself caught up in a mystery surrounding rare stolen books. Family secrets, intriguing mysteries, and strong female leads make Fiona Davis’s work a perfect next read for fans of Feldman.
Lauren Willig is an engaging historical novelist whose work often combines real events with vibrant fictional characters. If you enjoy Ellen Feldman’s seamless blend of history and storytelling, you might find yourself absorbed by Willig’s “The Summer Country.”
Set in colonial-era Barbados, this novel tells the intertwined stories of families caught in the struggles surrounding plantations, lost fortunes, and secretive pasts.
Tension and mystery abound as Emily Dawson travels from England to Barbados after she unexpectedly inherits a neglected plantation.
As Emily uncovers the plantation’s hidden history, long-held family secrets slowly surface, challenging the foundations of everything she believed about her family. Readers can expect a blend of history, romance, and intrigue that brings the past vividly to life.
If you enjoy Ellen Feldman’s historical fiction filled with fascinating characters and emotional depth, you might appreciate Melanie Benjamin. Benjamin brings history vividly to life through complex personalities and captivating stories.
Her novel, “The Aviator’s Wife,” is a gripping portrayal of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, wife of the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh. It explores Anne’s private struggles and courage amid her husband’s public triumphs and scandals.
Benjamin carefully weaves personal emotion and historical detail into a narrative full of insight about marriage, fame, and women’s roles in early 20th-century society.
Allison Pataki writes historical fiction that draws readers into vivid stories about strong and often overlooked women.
Her novel “The Queen’s Fortune” brings to life the rise and fall of Désirée Clary, a merchant’s daughter who becomes entangled with Napoleon Bonaparte before marrying his rival.
As Désirée navigates shifting political loyalties and personal betrayals, her story reveals Napoleon from a new and personal perspective.
Pataki carefully weaves romance, politics, and history into an engaging story that fans of Ellen Feldman will appreciate for its clear insight and emotional depth.
If you enjoy Ellen Feldman’s novels, Susan Meissner may become one of your next favorites. Meissner’s stories skillfully weave emotional depth with historical detail. Her book “Secrets of a Charmed Life” follows two sisters separated by World War II’s bombing of London.
Decades later, an American student interviews an elderly woman whose story reveals hidden truths from that wartime tragedy. Through powerful characters and beautiful storytelling, Meissner crafts a tale about love, loss, and the complexity of human choices.
Jennifer Robson is an author known for historical novels that bring life to significant moments in the twentieth century, focusing particularly on wartime and its aftermath.
Much of her writing highlights strong female characters who navigate love, ambition, and courage during times of turmoil. In “The Gown,” Robson explores post-WWII Britain through the eyes of two seamstresses selected to work on Princess Elizabeth’s iconic wedding dress.
The novel portrays friendship and hidden struggles beneath the glamour and celebration, threading together themes of resilience, hope, and personal triumph during a period of recovery and change.
Readers who enjoy Ellen Feldman’s deep exploration of historical events through intimate personal stories will appreciate Robson’s nuanced portrayals and vivid period details.
Readers who appreciate Ellen Feldman’s carefully researched historical novels may also enjoy the work of Elise Hooper. Hooper brings lesser-known historical women to the forefront in a clear and inviting way.
In her book “The Other Alcott,” she tells the story of May Alcott, the younger sister of the famous author Louisa May Alcott. May struggles to rise above the shadow of her well-known sibling and desires to become a recognized painter.
Hooper highlights not only May’s artistic journey but also the complicated bond between sisters. Readers familiar with Feldman’s skill in illustrating overlooked figures of history will find similar satisfaction in Hooper’s engaging storytelling.