Historical fiction is a great way to capture an era, whether it is the elegant Victorian era or the swinging pace and sizzle of the Jazz era. Unlike contemporary novels or even fantasy where all a writer needs is their imagination, historical fiction requires meticulous research and often the options are overwhelming. Here are five research titles to discover the world of the 1930s.

The Dark Valley: A Panorama of the 1930s by Piers Brendon

A grim but nonetheless necessary look at how pivotal the 1930s were to the creation of many of the more totalitarian governments that still have an effect on the world today, long after their demise. Focusing mainly on Europe and Asia, Brendon manages to explore the mindset of the people of the time, who, recovering from The War to End All Wars, look for a firm hand to lead them, not knowing that the firm hand may also do irreparable harm.

Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition by Daniel Okrent

While the Jazz age may be more well known for Prohibition, the amendment itself lasted all the way to 1933 and in The Last Call Okrent details the rise and fall of one of the most fascinating historical moments in the early 20th century, showcasing how the amendment was cobbled together from a bizarre mix of alliances from progressives to the KKK. Okrent also details its eventual downfall and the rise of the Mob. With short readable chapters, Last Call by Daniel Okrent is easy to absorb.

The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan

The Dust Bowl ravaged five states during the 1930s, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma, when after years of unsustainable land management, coupled with a record drought and strong winds, disaster struck. While many of those affected moved west to California, Egan details the live of farmers who stayed during those hard years. He tells stories of “Dust Pneumonia” that killed family members and left their bodies packed full of dust. It was a hard existence and Egan does a good job of bringing those stories to life.

Screen Style: Fashion and Femininity in 1930s Hollywood by Sarah Berry

In Screen Style, Susan Berry reveals the impact Hollywood divas like Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Mae West and the like had on filmgoers. Especially when women saw them as fashion role models in a time when self-determination and women's suffrage were gaining new heights. Presenting it side by side with the rapid social change going on all over the world, Screen Style is perfect for authors looking to find out how a woman's style affected her outlook during the time between wars.

The Third Reich in Power by Richard J. Evans

In Europe, the Third Reich was gaining steam and Richard J. Evans does a masterful job at distilling decades of research from both English and German sources as he details the German rise to power during the years of 1933-1939. While most of his sources are secondary, Evans does use some primary sources to create a work that even the most avid World War II history buff can learn from.

For authors looking to draft rich and well researched works of literature, they can do no wrong with picking up a copy of Evans' work.