Best Historical Fiction Books Made Into Movies: 5 Compared

The best historical fiction books made into movies give you the story twice: once on the page, once on the screen. We compared five books by subject, page count, publisher and film connection, using only what each listing publishes.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The Wettest County by Bondurant	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Once Upon a Time by Tarantino	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
3	The Winthrop Woman by Seton	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	The Things We Cannot Say	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

The Wettest County by Bondurant

Matt Bondurant·9.7/10 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 Prohibition-era novel of bootlegging brothers, for readers who want the true story behind the film Lawless.

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Pros

• The inspiration for the major motion picture Lawless
• Based on the true story of the author's grandfather and granduncles
• 312 pages, reprint edition from Scribner

Cons

• Published December 29, 2009
• The description names violence and murder, a parent should check first
• No reading age or grade level is stated

2

Once Upon a Time by Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino·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 ›

Tarantino's novel of 1969 Hollywood, for readers who want the film's world expanded on the page.

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Pros

• Based on the Oscar-winning movie, per the title
• 416 pages, the longest read here
• Includes a foreword by Walter Kirn

Cons

• A novelization direction: the film came first
• The description names murder and mature themes, a parent should check first
• No reading age or grade level is stated

3

The Winthrop Woman by Seton

Anya Seton·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 colonial America novel of a bold woman, for readers who want early American history in fiction form.

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Pros

• Classic historical novel from Mariner
• Published April 22, 2014
• Colonial America setting with a female lead

Cons

• No page count is stated in the listing
• No film connection is stated in the listing
• No reading age or grade level is stated

4

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Margaret Mitchell·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 960-page epic the listing states won the Pulitzer Prize, for groups ready to commit to a long Civil War saga.

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Pros

• The listing states it won the Pulitzer Prize.
• 960 pages of Civil War and Reconstruction drama gives a group months of material.
• The 2011 Scribner reissue edition is stated.

Cons

• At 960 pages, the longest pick by far; a real commitment.
• The description references war and tangled passion; check before assigning to younger readers.
• No reading age is stated on the listing.

5

The Things We Cannot Say

Kelly Rimmer·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 WWII novel set in Nazi-occupied Poland, 432 pages, published March 19, 2019.

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Pros

• 432 pages of Nazi-occupied Poland
• 2019 edition
• Dual timeline: 1942 and modern

Cons

• WWII; not a WWI novel
• Sales claims in the description are the publisher's
• Lies and grief; heavy themes

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More picks to compare

• All the Light We Cannot See by DoerrWWII novel now a Netflix series, 544 pages.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 23 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, and value. None of the five list a reading age or grade level, so the reading-age score is zero across the list. 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 made into movies

Book first or film first

The Bondurant novel inspired the film Lawless, while the Tarantino novel is based on his film. Decide which direction you prefer: read the book first, or watch the film and then expand the story. More adaptations sit on our best historical fiction drama books list.

Long read or short

The Tarantino is 416 pages and the Bondurant 312; the Seton lists no page count. Pick the long one for a deep dive and the short one for a quicker read. For more long-form historical novels, see our best historical fiction novels about japan list.

Check the edition

The Bondurant is a 2009 reprint from Scribner, the Tarantino a 2021 later edition from Harper Perennial, and the Seton a 2014 Mariner edition. Match the edition to your shelf: these are the current listings here.

Before you buy

• Check the edition and print length on the listing: the Tarantino runs 416 pages, the Bondurant 312.
• No listing here states a reading age or grade level, so match the book to the reader yourself.
• The Tarantino novel is based on the film; the Bondurant book came first. The two title-only picks list no film details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best historical fiction books made into movies?

The Bondurant novel inspired the film Lawless, and the Tarantino novel expands his 1969 Hollywood film. Both are on this list.

What is an example of a historical fiction book?

The Wettest County in the World is a Prohibition-era novel of bootlegging brothers in Franklin County, Virginia.

Should I read the book or watch the movie first?

The Bondurant book came first; the Tarantino novel came after the film. Pick the order that suits you.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe Wettest County by Bondurant

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Related lists

See every book club pick list and all fiction lists.

More lists: book club picks, best historical fiction books of the decade, best historical fiction books like the women.