Historical FictionA brief introduction

Historical Fiction Described Historical fiction presents readers with a view and

experience of the past, with its issues, beliefs, traditions, practices, behaviors, cultural expectations, and the like.

It brings these things to life in ways that non-fiction accounts may often fail to do: it gives us characters with whom we can empathize (if not actually identify); it gives us something to care about and to understand within a context.

Illustrations: we might understand a particular prejudice or an

improbable belief much better if we see it in the context of a character whom we like and whose behavior makes sense when seen in depth and detail

if we see sexism in a particular context, we can understand how reasonable people might have felt that way

superstitions may work the same way

Illustrations: The work of a midwife becomes much more

important and much more emotionally engaging if we have a sense of the women and babies whose lives and happiness are at stake than if we simply learn about midwifery in the abstract.

The Appeal of Historical Fiction Vicariously experience events and feelings Confront some universal truths Discover core values in characters’ lives See differences, not only in clothing and

conditions but also in beliefs, attitudes Understand prejudices and biases of

another time

The Appeal of Historical Fiction See what we have in common with people in

other times Come to understand that when and where people

live influences where they are Satisfy our curiosity about the past See how different perspectives affect our sense of

the past Experience in an immediate and compelling way

historical events that might otherwise seem a bit boring.

from Children’s Literature by Diana Mitchell, p. 275.

Connecting plot and past For historical fiction to make any sense at all,

there have to be connections between the historical setting and such key elements of the novel as setting, plot, and characters. The writer’s style may or may not be connected with the time and place, and the themes may be universal. But if setting, plot, and characters aren’t connected to the time, there’s no point in having an historical novel.

Asking about the past and the plot With any historical fiction, we can ask

questions that try to articulate these connections.

Doing so will help readers understand the historical period and will help them understand the ways in which the elements of the novel work.

What makes a good historical novel?

the same things that make any novel good: appealing plot and characters effective use of setting inclusion of historical details in a way that seems

natural and appropriate

historical accuracy!

Accuracy! Details need to be correct: not just a

question of what might have been available at the time, but what would have been commonly available to characters and in circumstances such as those we see in the book.

Accuracy! Line between facts and fiction needs to be

clear especially true in a novel that blends historical

events and characters with ficitonal ones

Accuracy! Novel must avoid distorting the past.

language, attitudes, opportunities, behaviors, and so on should be appropriate to the time and place and society

most common error is probably with language most serious error is making characters in

historic settings present twentieth- and twenty-first-century attitudes

Evaluating Historical Fiction Is fact distinguished from fiction? Does the book itself make clear the extent

and nature of the research the author conducted? Are sources listed?

Do actions and the plot develop out of the time period?

Do the characters come to life? Do we feel connected to them?

Evaluating Historical Fiction Do characters express attitudes and beliefs

consisted with the time period? Are historical settings and events woven

into the story in seamless ways, or do they characters spout history lessons?

Are the themes significant ones? Does the writing bring the story to life? Is the story authentic and language, details,

and the spirit of the times?

from Diana Mitchell, Children’s Literature, 288.

The End