Modern historical fiction focuses on the 19th and 20th centuries, exploring the dramatic social, technological, and cultural changes that shaped the contemporary world. These stories examine pivotal moments in recent history, from the Industrial Revolution and World Wars to the civil rights movement and social upheavals of the 1960s. Modern historical fiction often explores how ordinary people navigated extraordinary times, showing how historical events affected individual lives and communities. What makes modern historical fiction unique is its proximity to contemporary experience - many readers have family connections to these periods, making the stories both historically distant and personally relevant.

Modern historical fiction has evolved to include more diverse perspectives and previously overlooked historical experiences. While early historical fiction often focused on famous figures and major events, contemporary modern historical fiction emphasizes ordinary people's experiences and includes voices from marginalized communities. The genre has also expanded to explore global perspectives and cross-cultural encounters during periods of modernization.