Best Historical Fiction Books for Dads (2026)

Shopping for the best historical fiction books for dads means matching the era to the reader: a World War II siege, a medieval crusade, or the Western frontier. We compared five novels by author, publisher, publication date, page count and series position, using only what each listing publishes.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	City of Thieves by Benioff	9.6/10	Buy
2	The Winds of War by Wouk	9.5/10	Buy
3	King by Kane	9.5/10	Buy
4	Old Cowboys Never Die by Johnstone	9.5/10	Buy
5	Hero Dad by Hardin	9.2/10	Buy

1

City of Thieves by Benioff

David Benioff·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 272-page World War II adventure of two young men hunting a dozen eggs through besieged Leningrad, for dads who like war stories with humor.

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Pros

• 272 pages from Penguin Books, published March 31, 2009
• World War II siege setting with a friendship at its center
• Coming-of-age story with a contemporary feel, per the description

Cons

• Wartime siege and deprivation run through the description
• 272 pages is shorter than the 320-page Western on this list
• Published March 31, 2009, older than the Kane and Johnstone titles

2

The Winds of War by Wouk

Herman Wouk·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of a 2-book World War II epic following one American family through the war, for dads who want the grand sweep.

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Pros

• Book 1 of a 2-book World War II epic
• Follows one American family through the war's major events
• First edition stated in the listing

Cons

• No page count is stated in the listing
• Book 1 of 2, so the story continues in a second volume
• Wartime tragedy is part of the description

3

King by Kane

Ben Kane·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 3 of the Lionheart series, following Richard the Lionheart from crusade to captivity, for dads who like medieval battle epics.

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Pros

• Book 3 of the Richard the Lionheart series, from crusade to captivity
• Published May 26, 2022, the second newest of the five
• Publisher Orion stated

Cons

• No page count is stated in the listing
• Book 3 of 3, so start with the first book of the series
• Battle and captivity themes run through the description

4

Old Cowboys Never Die by Johnstone

William W. Johnstone·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of a new Western series, 320 pages, about two retired cattle drivers pulled into one last job, for dads who like Westerns.

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Pros

• 320 pages, the longest of the five
• Book 1 of 3 in a new Western series
• Published May 23, 2023, the newest of the five

Cons

• The plot turns on a robbery and outlaw life
• Co-authored by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone
• Western setting only, so WWII or medieval fans should look elsewhere

5

Hero Dad by Hardin

Melinda Hardin·9.2/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 24-page picture book about military dads, reading age 2 to 5, for dads to read aloud rather than to read themselves.

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Pros

• 24 pages with watercolor-and-pencil illustrations, per the description
• Reading age 2 to 5 years and grade level Preschool to 2 stated
• Makes military service accessible to small children, per the description

Cons

• A children's picture book, the wrong level for dads reading for themselves
• 24 pages, the shortest of the five by far
• No series position or edition details beyond the 2012 publication

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Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 20 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for a dad reader, contents and edition, and value. Only the Hero Dad listing states a reading age and grade level, both aimed at small children, so the other four score zero on that part. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best historical fiction books for dads

Match the era to the reader

Two of the five are World War II novels: City of Thieves in besieged Leningrad and The Winds of War across the whole war. King follows Richard the Lionheart from crusade to captivity, and Old Cowboys Never Die rides the Western frontier. Hero Dad is the outlier, a picture book for dads to read aloud. For group reading, browse book club books.

Check the series position

Three of the five sit inside a series: The Winds of War is Book 1 of 2, King is Book 3 of 3, and Old Cowboys Never Die is Book 1 of 3. If the series is new to the reader, start with Book 1 rather than jumping in mid-story. For more era-spanning choices, see our best historical fiction books of the decade list.

Before you buy

• Check the series position: two are mid- or late-series books, so buy Book 1 first if the series is new to the reader.
• Check the page count: 24 pages for Hero Dad up to 320 pages for Old Cowboys Never Die; two listings state no page count.
• Check the publication date: March 31, 2009 to May 23, 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book should a dad start with?

City of Thieves by David Benioff, a 272-page World War II adventure published March 31, 2009, centered on a friendship forged in besieged Leningrad.

Which of these are part of a series?

The Winds of War is Book 1 of 2, King is Book 3 of 3 in the Lionheart series, and Old Cowboys Never Die is Book 1 of 3.

Is there a book for younger readers on this list?

Hero Dad by Melinda Hardin, 24 pages with a stated reading age of 2 to 5 years, marked as from customers: a picture book for dads to read aloud.

Still deciding? Our top pickCity of Thieves by Benioff

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Related lists

See every book club list and all fiction lists.

More lists: historical fiction books of the decade, historical fiction like Kristin Hannah and historical fiction ancient history.