Writing Historical Fiction
There is a hypothesis that there are only
seven basic plots. This should not deter novelists, who can devise their own
special twists in the tale and write from the heart.
What is Historical Fiction? The
Historical Novel Society’s definition is: ‘The novel must have been written at
least fifty years after the event, described, or written by someone who was not
alive at the time, and who therefore only approached them by research.’
I think novelists, who set their books in
times past, are under an obligation to readers to transport them into another
time based on fact. My characters, other than historical figures, are
imaginary. To ground my novels, I weave real events into my plots and themes.
To recreate days gone by, I study non-fiction and, before covid, visited places
of historical interest, including museums.
There are many excellent novelists who
write, historical fiction and genre historical romance, etc. Unfortunately,
there are others who cause me, and, presumably, other readers, to suspend
belief. I was torn between shock and hysterical laughter when I read a medieval
romance in which, the hero, a knight in full armour, galloped to a castle to
rescue a proverbial maiden in distress. Without putting aside his shield and
weapons, he flung himself off his horse and scaled stone walls with no
handholds or footholds. He then climbed through a window - impossible as a
castle in that era only had narrow apertures. When he gained access through the
mythical window, not affected by her ideal the fair heroine asked: ‘Would you
like some eggs and bacon and a nice cup of tea,’ as though she were offering
him a modern-day English breakfast. The sense of the ridiculous overcame me. I
lost faith in the author and did not read on.
Of course, the above is an extreme
example from a novel accepted by a mainstream publisher. However, I am
frequently disappointed by 21st characters dressed in costume, who have little
in common with those who lived in previous eras. Over the centuries, emotions,
anger, hate, jealousy, love etc., have not changed, but attitudes, clothes, the
way of life and speech has. A historical novelist should study these and do
their best to verify the facts.
Misnamed characters also make me pause
when reading. The first pages of a medieval novel held my attention until I
reached the part when the heroine’s name was Wendy, which, J. M. Barry invented
for his novel Peter Pan. I daresay I’m not the only historical novelist, who agonises
over characters’ names. I recommend The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian
Names, an invaluable resource.
In conclusion, a skilful historical
novelist should hold the readers’ attention from the first page to the last and
take them into the realm of fiction on an accurate, enjoyable journey.
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