The Mirror & the Light
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

For absorbing historical fiction set in the Tudor period, read these series by Hilary Mantel and Ford Madox Ford. The writing styles differ, but both prominently feature Thomas Cromwell and provide intimate character portraits of Henry VIII and his courtiers. -- Katherine Johnson

While the Wolf Hall trilogy concentrates on the time of Thomas Cromwell and the Tudor novels approach the Tudor period in its entirety, both series bring the English monarchy sharply into focus, covering everything from political intrigues to romantic entanglements. -- Mike Nilsson

Though the Wolf Hall Trilogy is set in Tudor England and Kristin Lavransdatter in medieval Norway, these well-researched historical series both create flawed, sympathetic central characters whose emotionally engaging lives open windows into the entirety of a richly detailed past. -- Michael Shumate

Atmospheric and character-driven, these historical fiction series render the Tudor dynasty in thoughtful detail. In addition to the notorious Henry VIII, both series closely follow well-known figures in his orbit including Mary I, Anne Boleyn, and Thomas Cromwell. -- Basia Wilson

These series have the theme "court intrigue"; and the subject "courts and courtiers."

These series have the theme "court intrigue"; the subjects "courts and courtiers," "political corruption," and "british history"; and characters that are "sympathetic characters" and "authentic characters."

These series have the theme "court intrigue"; and the subjects "courts and courtiers," "british history," and "english history."

These series have the theme "court intrigue"; and the subjects "courts and courtiers," "english history," and "royal houses."

These series have the theme "court intrigue"; the genre "biographical fiction"; and the subjects "courts and courtiers," "british history," and "english history."

Hilary Mantel and Andrew Miller produce novels that often focus on compelling individuals in order to illustrate more universal concepts, especially as regards a particular period of history, since both enjoy following the lives of their protagonists within an immersive historical milieu. -- Bethany Latham

In complex, character-driven literary fiction using real historical figures as their locus, Beryl Bainbridge and Hilary Mantel bring the past urgently to life through meticulous research, precise prose, and convincing period dialogue. Bainbridge's work pivots between the eighteenth and the twentieth century, while Mantel travels as far back as the sixteenth. -- Mike Nilsson

Although Sigrid Undset and Hilary Mantel write in multiple literary genres, they are best known for their richly detailed, character-driven historical fiction. Both bring keen psychological insight to intriguing protagonists who move against a backdrop of large casts of characters and realistic historical world-building. -- Michael Shumate

These authors' works have the appeal factors stylistically complex, well-researched, and sweeping, and they have the genre "biographical fiction"; the subjects "courts and courtiers," "british history," and "english history"; and characters that are "complex characters."

These authors' works have the appeal factors melancholy, stylistically complex, and nonlinear, and they have the subjects "ambition," "courts and courtiers," and "women's role."

These authors' works have the subjects "courts and courtiers," "british history," and "english history."

These authors' works have the subjects "courts and courtiers," "british history," and "english history."

These authors' works have the appeal factors well-crafted dialogue and sweeping, and they have the genre "historical fiction"; the subjects "british history" and "english history"; and characters that are "sympathetic characters," "complex characters," and "flawed characters."

These authors' works have the subjects "political corruption," "courts and courtiers," and "royal houses."

These authors' works have the appeal factors stylistically complex and unconventional, and they have the subjects "courts and courtiers," "british history," and "english history"; and characters that are "complex characters."

These authors' works have the subjects "courts and courtiers," "british history," and "english history."

These authors' works have the appeal factors cinematic, leisurely paced, and sweeping, and they have the genre "biographical fiction"; the subjects "courts and courtiers," "british history," and "english history"; and characters that are "sympathetic characters" and "complex characters."