R.F. Delderfield was an esteemed English novelist best known for historical drama and family sagas. His respected works include the acclaimed novel A Horseman Riding By, noted for its depth and engaging storytelling.
If you enjoy reading books by R.F. Delderfield then you might also like the following authors:
Ken Follett is great at bringing history alive with clear storytelling and strong characters. His novels often follow relatable individuals caught up in big historical events.
If you liked the vivid historical settings and intricate characters of R.F. Delderfield, you might enjoy The Pillars of the Earth, a rich story about the building of a cathedral in medieval England.
Edward Rutherfurd tells history through family sagas that span generations. His books are full of detailed narratives, clear language, and relatable lives shaped by historical events.
Fans of R.F. Delderfield's intergenerational storytelling might appreciate Rutherfurd's powerful novel Sarum, about the evolution of Salisbury, England, over thousands of years seen through the eyes of different families.
Winston Graham creates memorable characters and emotional dramas set against compelling historical backdrops. His novels combine romance, family struggles, and historical depth in engaging plots that resemble the writing of R.F. Delderfield.
Readers could particularly enjoy Graham's Ross Poldark, the first in his Cornwall-set series exploring family and social tensions in late-18th-century England.
John Galsworthy captures the fine details of family dynamics, societal shifts, and character interactions with thoughtful writing and emotional honesty.
His most notable work, The Forsyte Saga, tells the multi-generational story of an upper-middle-class English family facing changing times. Fans of R.F. Delderfield's careful examinations of society's changing norms and family relations will find much to appreciate.
Maeve Binchy writes warmly and compassionately about everyday life, relationships, and communities. Known for character-driven storytelling, her novels immerse readers in realistic characters facing believable challenges and changes.
If you enjoy R.F. Delderfield's insightful depiction of communities and human connections, you might like Circle of Friends, Binchy's celebration of friendship in a small Irish town.
Rosamunde Pilcher writes warm and engaging novels about family relationships that unfold in beautiful settings, particularly the English countryside or coastal Scotland. She crafts characters deeply affected by love, friendship, and life's trials.
Her story The Shell Seekers beautifully explores family bonds, regrets, and the search for happiness across generations.
Susan Howatch's novels often combine historical detail with drama and complex family dynamics. She creates strong character-driven narratives set against vivid historical backdrops.
One of her best-known works, Penmarric, tells of a family's power struggles over several generations in Cornwall, full of romance, ambition, and deeply-held secrets.
If you enjoy illuminating family sagas and compelling plots like Delderfield's, Jeffrey Archer might appeal to you. His books blend ambitious characters and unexpected twists with well-researched historical periods.
His series, beginning with Only Time Will Tell, follows one character's dramatic life journey and family conflicts in the 20th century, filled with suspense, success, failure, and relationships tested by circumstances.
Penny Vincenzi writes intricate family dramas that span decades, richly detailed with secrets and romance. She tells stories of strong, often privileged families and uncovers their private backgrounds beneath a polished public appearance.
One popular book is No Angel, beginning her Spoils of Time trilogy, which chronicles love, ambition, and rivalry in the family that owns a successful publishing house.
Barbara Taylor Bradford is known for sweeping, emotional family dramas featuring strong female characters who rise above challenges. Her novel A Woman of Substance introduces Emma Harte, a determined, self-made woman whose struggles and triumphs span multiple generations.
Readers who enjoy Delderfield's thoughtful, character-focused storytelling should appreciate her style.
Catherine Cookson writes heartfelt stories about families and ordinary working-class people overcoming hardship. Her novels capture struggles, determination, and emotional strength with clear, vivid storytelling.
If you enjoyed Delderfield's family sagas, you might like The Fifteen Streets, Cookson's moving tale of love, class conflict, and survival.
Howard Spring offers a thoughtful look at lives shaped by ambition, social change, and personal relationships. Readers appreciating Delderfield's historical scope and detailed character portrayals may enjoy Spring's storytelling as well.
His novel Fame Is the Spur is an engaging story following a politician's rise and gradual loss of ideals in early 20th-century Britain.
Nevil Shute creates engaging and thoughtful novels centered on ordinary characters caught up in extraordinary circumstances. His stories are clear and optimistic, exploring humanity, courage, and resilience during challenging times.
Fans of Delderfield may appreciate A Town Like Alice, a captivating story of love and survival in the aftermath of World War II.
Elizabeth Jane Howard is admired for insightful and empathetic portrayals of family life and relationships in mid-20th-century England. Her style is clear and gently observant, capturing the complexity of human connections over time.
Readers familiar with Delderfield's appreciation for multi-generational stories might appreciate the rich narrative of Howard's series beginning with The Light Years, following the intricate lives of the Cazalet family.
James Herriot writes warm-hearted and humorous accounts of his experiences as a country veterinarian in rural England. With gentle storytelling, he shares anecdotes filled with warmth, humor, and compassion for animals and rural communities.
If Delderfield's authentic portrayal of English countryside life appeals to you, consider reading All Creatures Great and Small, Herriot's beloved memoir filled with delightful, memorable characters and scenes.