15 Historical Universes To Get Lost In This Holiday Season

Historical novels and TV series FTW!

1. Outlander

Aimee Spinks / ©Starz / Courtesy Everett Collection

🐑You'll get sucked into this show as quickly as Claire travels through the stones... back in time to 18th century Scotland that is. Don some plaid and see if Claire makes it back to 1940s England, or if she's forever trapped amongst the clans.

Where to watch it: STARZ and Netflix 

2. God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen by Rhys Bowen

Berkley / Rhys Bowne / Via amazon.com

🔎Looking for history with a side of mystery? Rhys Bowen has done it again in her Royal Spyness series, with a festive new title out just in time for the holidays. Set in 1930s England, Georgie, who also happens to be a member of the Royal Family, has quite the talent for amateur sleuthing. What is she up to this time? 

Buy it here.

3. Reign

Ben Mark Holzberg / ©The CW / courtesy Everett Collection

👸🏻 My Netflix viewing history doesn’t lie. I’ve watched this show too many times to count. Mary Queen of Scots will inspire you like no other! With a little bit of fantasy, and a lot of incredible costumes and music (have Shazam ready), you’re likely to end up addicted to Reign like me.

Where to watch: Netflix

4. Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

Mark Sullivan / Lake Union Publishing / Via amazon.com

✨ A truly beautiful tale, set during WWII — Pino Lela will change you forever. Based on an incredible true story about conscience and conviction, this novel is also being adapted into a movie starring Tom Holland! You must read.

Buy it here.

5. The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen

Rhys Bowen / Lake Union Publishing / Via amazon.com

If you enjoy learning about the WWII era, you can’t miss The Tuscan Child, which explores the period through the Tuscan countryside. 🌳Joanna sets out to uncover secrets about her estranged father, and makes some surprising discoveries.

Buy it here. 

6. The Spanish Princess

Nick Briggs / ©Starz / Courtesy: Everett Collection

💃🏻 Can I hear it for the ladies? Strong women is the name of the game in The Spanish Princess. Catherine of Aragon finally gets a chance to shine in this incredible drama, which offers a peek into Tudor court and the downfall of it all. Run as quickly as you can to the nearest TV to watch!

Where to watch: Starz and Hulu Premium

7. The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki

Allison Pataki / Howard Books / Via amazon.com

I accidentally stumbled upon this book and it was AMAZING. You will be swept away by the beautiful Empress Sisi of Austria and Queen of Hungary. A striking time in history, Sisi takes you along on her journey, full of emotion, heartbreak and triumph. 👑

Buy it here. 

8. Victoria

©PBS/ITV / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Learn about boss Queen Victoria, portrayed by the beautiful Jenna Coleman, and pivotal moments across British history. Aesthetically, the show is next level and the theme song will be stuck in your head forever (it’s really pretty). 🎶

Where to watch: Prime Video

9. The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen

Rhys Bowen / Lake Union Publishing / Via amazon.com

WOW. Another Rhys Bowen book... you can’t go wrong! This one explores the impact of WWII yet again through the lens of the beautiful and mysterious Venice. 🎭 Caroline seeks to uncover secrets hidden in her great-aunt Letti’s sketchbook, and her life will never be the same.

Buy it here. 

10. ANY Julia Quinn Novel

Julia Quinn / Via amazon.com

I will neither confirm nor deny whether I have read all of Julia Quinn’s novels. BUT, considering I’m a subject matter expert, trust me when I say these books are the thing you didn’t know were missing in your life. Quick reads filled with plenty of romance, witty characters, and amazing dialogue, they are set in the early 1800s. The Bridgerton series has famously been turned into a Netflix TV series so you can continue your obsession, or vice versa. 🤪

Buy them here. 

11. The Last Kingdom

Adrienn Szabo / ©Netflix/Carnival Film & Television / Courtesy Everett Collection, Bbc America / ©BBC America/Courtesy Everett Collection

Uhtred, son of Uhtred. 😍 Before there was England, there were Vikings. Set before the year was even 1000, learn about this incredible period in history as told through the eyes of Uhtred who is on a mission to reclaim his birthright. The filming has major vibes and the series is adapted from Bernard Cornwell’s The Last Kingdom book series, so you can continue the adventure after you are done binging the show.

Where to watch: Netflix

12. The Fairmile Series (Tidelands & Dark Tides) by Philippa Gregory

Philippa Gregory / / Via amazon.com

Oh Philippa, how I do love your novels. Ladies and gents, she’s back with a new series set in mid-1600s England, featuring Alinor. Filled with mystery and hardship, you’ll journey along as her life unfolds with the rising and falling tides of the coastal marshlands. 🌊

Buy them here.

13. The Designer by Marius Gabriel

Marius Gabriel / Lake Union Publishing / Via amazon.com

Two words: Christian. Dior. 👜 The story of this creative genius unfolds through the lens of Copper Reilly. The pair must work to realize their own destinies, following the conclusion of WWII. A tale just as beautiful as his creations.

Buy it here.

14. The Unkillable Kitty O’Kane by Colin Falconer

Colin Falconer / Lake Union Publishing / Via amazon.com

Kitty is a lady unlike any other. Learn about some of the most poignant moments in history, like the sinking of the Titanic 🚢, the storming of the Winter Palace by the Bolsheviks, and the Irish Civil War. This is a journey you don’t want to miss, told by a very inspiring woman!

Buy it here. 

15. The Queen’s Fortune by Allison Pataki

Allison Pataki / Ballantine Books / Via amazon.com

By now I’m sure you’ve noticed a pattern... I get hooked on certain authors. Yet another incredible story from Pataki about Desiree Clary, who once was engaged to Napoleon Bonaparte. 💍 See the rise and fall of the French Empire through the eyes of a truly captivating woman.

Buy it here.