These titles are staples of the saga genre. Their appeal lies in their feel-good, uplifting narratives and endings, and plots which often centre around female and working class characters and their challenges. These are works of historical fiction, commonly set in Britain, in the immediate period before, during, or after one of the Great Wars of the 20th Century. Themes include overcoming adversity, gentle romance, the strength of family bonds, and finding happiness; but also the challenges of working-class life, domestic unrest, and the plight of women. A Christchurch City Libraries list.
Taking place at the turn of the 20th Century, ‘The Liverpool Matchgirl' features a young lady who finds her world in turmoil when she must suddenly fend for herself and surmise whether a new man in her life has her best interests at heart. Lyn…
'The Blessed Child' is a typical example of Rosie Goodwin's work, being an uplifting tale of a family in turmoil, and is in keeping with the saga tropes of overcoming adversity and seeking happiness. Rosie Goodwin writes about a range of…
Featuring warm, relatable characters in historical settings, Margaret Dickinson is a master of the saga genre. 'The Buffer Girls' is a well-researched novel set in Sheffield, England, post-World War I. It is full of family drama, romance, adapting…
Three young ladies form a singing trio and become popular amongst army and navy crowds. Naturally, good things never last and they soon find themselves faced with a series of conundrums which will see them going down a rocky path. Friendship is the…
Dilly Court writes heartwarming, uplifting historical sagas. Like other books in this list, the characters in 'The Orphan's Dream' must overcome great challenge and hardship, but eventually they find harmony and happiness. This book has gentle…
Ellie Dean has a writing style which really draws you in. With relatable, likeable characters and a strong sense of place in history, this saga series is an enjoyable, engrossing read. Set at the opening of World War II, it follows two siblings who…
Kate Atkinson takes all the ingredients of a historical saga and introduces an intriguing plot device: Born in 1910, Ursula Todd gets to live her life over and over again, each time in slightly different circumstances. Far from repetitive, this…
Jenny Holmes writes sagas of romance and friendship in the vein of 'Call the Midwife.' The Telephone Girls' is set in 1930's Yorkshire, England, and follows a group of ladies who work at a local telephone exchange. Surprisingly though this novel…
A classic upstairs-downstairs saga following two families living in Cavendon Hall: the aristocratic Inghams, and their dedicated servants, the Swanns. Set in Yorkshire at the onset of WW1 and continuing over the next 16 years, loyalties between the…
Set in 19th century Durham, this charming story follows the unlikely friendship between spinster sweet-shop owner Alice Lee, and Zebediah Bailey, a young boy convicted of a terrible crime. 'The Guardian Angel' is a Christian historical saga with…
Set during the onset of the Depression in 1930's Lancashire, orphan Leah Turner enters into a marriage of convenience with a Great War invalid after struggling to earn enough money to provide for her little sister. Moving to the idyllic village of…
Katie Flynn is the author of many popular historical sagas, usually set around World War II. She deals with a wide range of social issues including orphans, refugees, life after war, male/female relationships, and family drama. 'An Orphan's…
