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2025 Decades Challenge - Book Girls' Guide (Official Version) - hosted by bookgirlsguide

January - Book Set in the 1880s-1890s

Curated book recommendations with descriptions are available at https://bookgirlsguide.com/books-set-in-the-late-1800s/


The books added by others below are NOT the same as the curated list linked above. We spend a lot of time selecting highly-rated books that meet each prompt and recommend sticking to the books on the official list as often as possible for maximum challenge enjoyment. 
All books added
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Calpurnia Tate #1

Jacqueline Kelly

340 pages • hardcover • 2009

fiction childrens historical middle grade young adult emotional funny reflective slow-paced
The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale

The Mad Girls of New York

Nellie Bly

Maya Rodale

324 pages • paperback • 2022

fiction historical mystery adventurous emotional informative medium-paced
The Cure for Women: Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi and the Challenge to Victorian Medicine That Changed Women's Lives Forever by Lydia Reeder

The Cure for Women: Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi and the Challenge to Victorian Medicine That Changed Women's Lives Forever

Lydia Reeder

336 pages • hardcover • 2024

nonfiction health history science informative inspiring reflective slow-paced
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Kindred

Octavia E. Butler

288 pages • paperback • 1979

fiction classics historical literary science fiction dark emotional tense medium-paced
Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

Hester

Laurie Lico Albanese

320 pages • digital • 2022

fiction historical literary emotional reflective medium-paced
Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President

Candice Millard

354 pages • digital • 2011

nonfiction biography history politics informative medium-paced
The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

The Bullet Swallower

Elizabeth Gonzalez James

257 pages • hardcover • 2024

fiction historical literary magical realism adventurous challenging dark medium-paced
These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901, Arizona Territories by Nancy E. Turner

These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901, Arizona Territories

Sarah Agnes Prine #1

Nancy E. Turner

384 pages • paperback • 1998

fiction historical romance adventurous emotional sad medium-paced
Yours from the Tower by Sally Nicholls

Yours from the Tower

Sally Nicholls

5 hours, 30 minutes • audio • 2024

fiction historical young adult funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
The House on Vesper Sands by Paraic O'Donnell

The House on Vesper Sands

Inspector Henry Cutter and Sergeant Gideon Bliss #1

Paraic O'Donnell

403 pages • hardcover • 2018

fiction historical mystery mysterious slow-paced