From HNN:
6 of Salon’s best books of the year involve history. Three novels make the list, two biographies, and one history book.
NOVELS
Tree of Smokeby Denis Johnson
The Yiddish Policeman’s Unionby Michael Chabon
The Father of All Thingsby Tom Bissell
BIOGRAPHY
Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nationsby Georgina Howell
HISTORY
Legacy of Ashes: A History of the CIAby Tim Weiner