Historical FictionReaders Advisory

Innovation ExpertsApril 12, 2011

1-4 PMBecky Siegel Spratford

bspratford@hotmail.comhttp://raforall.blogspot.com

Surveying The Past

• Becky’s Ten Rules of Basic Readers’ Advisory• Historical Fiction Genre Overview• Historical Fiction Trends• Historical Fiction Subgenres and Authors• Resources• Whole Collection Options• Managing Your HF Collection• Questions, Comments, Discussion

RA Ground RulesBecky’s Ten Rules of Basic RA Service

1. Betty Rosenberg: “Never apologize for your reading tastes.”2. Suggest don’t Recommend.3. Everyone reads a different version of the same book.4. Write down adjectives about what you read; plot you can

find.5. Read widely (at least speed read widely).6. Read about books (RSS feeds).7. Share what you read- with staff and patrons.8. Never let a patron leave unsatisfied.9. Get out from behind the desk.10. Get involved in creating displays.

Historical Fiction Genre Overview

• Definitions• Genre History• Appeal• Separating the “History” from the “Fiction”• Working with fansPlease note: much of the information in this

section is from the Historical Fiction Genre Guides by Sarah Johnson.

Historical Fiction Definitions• Any fiction set in the past, no matter when it was

written?– Pride and Prejudice problem

• Written at least 50 years after the time portrayed in story?– What if the author is 80?

• Set before the author’s birth?– What if it is set when they were 5?

• Novels set before the middle of the 20th Century in which the author is writing from research, not personal experience– Suite Francaise vs Sarah’s Key

Historical Fiction Genre History

• One of oldest forms of storytelling• First HF novel: Waverly by Sir Walter Scott

(1814)• 20th Century– popularity leads to problems of

quality• 1990s-Present: HF Renaissance• See Johnson, Sarah L.

Historical Fiction: A Guide to the Genre for more details

Historical Fiction Appeal

• Fun way to learn history• Landscape: place and time• Characters: real or imagined?• Frame: details are key• Level of Historical Content/Realism• Pacing: varies although generally compelling• Language: time specific• Tone: generally celebratory

How Real Is It?

• Important but not always critical• Judging level of research– Reviews– Bibliographies or footnotes– Authors’ notes– Epilogues– Genealogical tables– Glossaries– Maps

Helping Readers

• Forget my definition—listen to theirs• Narrow down their preferences• Use subject headings where available• Offer “big name” choices to see if you are on

the right rack• Use the resources

Historical Fiction Trends

• Multiple Time Periods• Strong Female Characters• Nontraditional settings: both time and place• Genre Blending• Inclusion of social history has led to many

prestigious awards for HF titles

Historical Fiction Subgenres

• Traditional Historicals by Time Period• Historical Mystery and Thriller• Historical Adventure • Saga and Multi-Period Epics• Western Historical Novels• Literary Historicals• Historical Romance• Historical Fantasy (including Alternative History)

5 Authors to Know Right Now

• Geraldine Brooks: People of the Book (Multiple Time Periods)

• W. Michael and Kathleen O’Neal Gear: People of the Wolf (First North Americans)

• Philippa Gregory: The Other Boleyn Girl (Tudors)

• Edward Rutherfurd: Sarum (England)• Jeff Shaara: Rise to Rebellion (American

Revolution

Traditional Historicals Appeal

• Largest subgenre; most common• 2 goals: realistic and entertaining• Protagonists we root for: real and imagined• Linear plots; sometimes biographical• Long books with steady pacing• Strong female characters• Specific setting requests

Traditional Historicals• Prehistoric Europe and Asia– Jean Auel-- Earth’s Children Series

• Biblical– Eva Etzioni-Halevy

• Other Ancient Civilizations– Michelle Moran (Egypt)– Margaret George– Helen of Troy (Greece)– Steve Pressfield (Greece)– Sam Barone– Empire Series (Mesopotamia)– Robert Harris (Roman)– Colleen McCullough– The Masters of Rome Series (Roman)

Traditional Historicals Continued

The British Isles• Dark Ages (5th Century to 1066)– Jack Whyte– The Camulod Chronicles

• High Middle Ages (1066-1485)– Ken Follett– Kingsbridge Series– Stephen Lawhead– King Raven Trilogy– Sharon Kay Penman

Traditional Historicals Continued

• Tudor (1485-1603): Very popular!– Philippa Gregory– Alison Weir

• Stuart Era (1603-1714)– Susan Halloway Scott

• Georgian Era (1714-1837)– Amanda Elyot– Jean Plaidy– The Georgian Saga (many eras)

Traditional Historicals Continued

• Victorian Era (1837-1901)– Elisabeth McNeill– Storm Series

• Twentieth Century– Morgan Llywelyn– The Irish Independence Series

Traditional Historicals Continued

Europe• Middle Ages (476-1492)– Donna Woolfolk Cross– Pope Joan– Cecelia Holland– Corban Loosestrife Series

• Renaissance and Reformation (1492-1648)– Jeanne Kalogridis– Thomas Quinn– The Venetians Series

Traditional Historicals Continued

• Early Modern and 20th Century Europe– Robert Alexander (Russia)– Rita Charbonnier– Mozart’s Sister– Carolly Erickson (France)

• World Wars I and II– Jeff Shaara-- WWII Trilogy– Mary Doria Russell– A Thread of Grace

Traditional Historicals Continued

United States• Pre-Contact Native Americans– Kathleen O’ Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear– The First

North Americans Series• Colonial America– George Robert Minkoff– In the Land of Whispers Series

• American Revolution (1775-1783)– Howard Fast– Jeff Shaara– Revolutionary War Series

Traditional Historicals Continued• Early United States: Lots of single titles– Max Byrd– Barbara Chase-Riboud– Sally Hemmings Series

• The Civil War: Almost a popular as the Tudors– Michael and Jeff Shaara– The Killer Angels– Shelby Foote– Shiloh

• Reconstruction– Patricia O’Brien– Harriet and Isabella

• 20th Century– Sandra Dallas and Pete Hamill

Traditional Historicals Continued

The Middle East and North Africa• Gillian Bradshaw• Jack Whyte– The Templar TrilogyAsia, Africa, and the Antipodes• Thalassa Ali– Paradise Trilogy• John Speed– Temple Dancer Series

Historical Mystery and Thriller Appeal

• Mystery: puzzle to solve; series; just about every time period possible; no forensics; VERY popular; own reference book

• Thriller: may have crime angle; intelligent heroes in perilous situations; compelling pace; moral judgments

• For both: consider genre appeals and time period

Historical Mystery Key Authors

• Lindsey Davis– Marcus Didius Falco (Rome)• Steven Saylor– Roma Sub Rosa Series (Rome)• British:– Michael Jecks– Medieval West Country – Peter Tremayne– Sister Fidelma Series – Karen Harper– Queen Elizabeth Mystery Series– Anne Perry- multiple series– Laurie King– Mary Russell Series– Charles Todd– Ian Rutledge Series– Jacqueline Winspear– Maisie Dobbs Series

HM Key Authors Continued

• United States– Victoria Thompson– Gaslight Mysteries – Rys Bowen– Molly Murphy Mysteries

• Mideast– Elizabeth Peters– Amelia Peabody

• Asia, Africa and the Antipodes– Kerry Greenwood– Phryne Fisher Series (Australia)– Jaura Joh Rowland- Sano Ichiro Samurai (Japan)

Historical Thrillers Key Authors

• Umberto Eco– The Name of the Rose• David Liss– Benjamin Weaver Series• Matthew Pearl• Iain Pears– An Instance of the Fingerposts• Caleb Carr• Ariana Franklin• Dan Simmons• W.E.B. Griffin– Men at War Series• Alan Furst

Historical Adventure Appeal

• Heroic protagonists• Fast paced• Great settings; often exotic or wartime• Focus on the journey both literal and

metaphorical• Protagonists live and die by a code• Characterizations less strong• Men: both writers and readers

Historical Adventure Key Authors

• Bernard Cornwell• Dorothy Dunnett• Arturo Peres-Reverte– Captain Alatriste Series• David and Stella Gemmell• C.S. Forester and Patrick O’Brien (Naval

Adventure)• James Clavell-- Asian Saga• Wilbur Smith

Sagas and Multi-Period Epics Appeal

• Culture seen from beginnings to today• Chronological “snapshots” or follow

something passed down through centuries• Comprehensive picture• Setting and historic detail are key• Large books, big series, but compelling pace• Sagas follow families—emotionally invested

Saga and Multi-Period Epics

• Key Authors Epics– Steven Saylor (Rome)– Edward Rutherfurd (Whole World)– James Michener (North America)

• Key Authors Sagas– Howard Fast– The Immigrants (US)– Catherine Cookson (British)– Alex Haley– Rots (African American)– John Jakes– North and South Trilogy (US)

Western Historical Novels Appeal

• Time and place• Themes of freedom, opportunity, and strength

of character• 2 categories: Historical Westerns and

Traditional Westerns– Historical: accurate setting; entire range of

western exploration; diversity of subjects– Traditional: end of CW to turn of Century; hero

rides in, cleans up town, rides out.

Traditional Western Authors

• Louis L’Amour• Elmer Kelton• Robert B. Parker• Richard Wheeler• Don Coldsmith– Spanish Bit Series (Native

Americans)

Western Historical Novels Authors

• Sandra Dallas• Ivan Doig• Larry McMutry• Willa Cather• Molly Gloss

Literary Historicals Appeal

• Combine historical setting, eloquent language, and multi-layered plots

• Not always linear• Interesting styles; shifts in pov• Critically acclaimed; great for book discussions• Darker• Character, not plot, driven• Authors not thought of as historical novelists

Literary Historicals Key Authors & Titles

• Anita Diamant– The Red Tent• Tracy Chevalier• A. S. Byatt– Possession• Sarah Waters• Ian Mcewan- Atonement• Geraldine Brooks• Sarah Dunant• Karen Essex• Salman Rushdie• Sena Jeter Naslund• Anchee Min• Lisa See

• Susan Vreeland• Emily Barton– Brookland• Isabel Allende• Jon Clinch• Charles Frazier• E. L. Doctorow• Robert Hicks– The Widow of

the South• Thomas Mallon• Arthur Phillips- The

Egyptologist

Historical Romance Appeal

• Celebrate both history and love story• Not always “happily ever after”• 3 major categories– Romantic Epics: sweeping drama, vivid settings, star-crossed

romances; often exotic or war; longer– Romantic Historicals: historical (first) with strong romantic

elements; real life couples, courtship of past– Historical Romances: formula romances with detailed

history; will be “happily ever after;” shorter• Many traditional historicals have strong romantic

subplots

Historical Romance

• Romantic Epics Key Authors– Sara Donati– Wilderness Series– Diana Gabaldon– Outlander Series– Margaret Mitchell– Gone with the Wind

• Romantic Historicals Key Authors– Susan Carroll– Daughters of the Earth Series (British)– Lauren Willig– Pink Carnation Series (Napoleonic

Wars)

Historical Romance

• Historical Romance Key Authors– Helen Kirkman– Warriors of the Dragon Banner

(Viking)– Roberta Gellis– The Roselynde Chronicles (British)– Monica Mcarty– Highlander Series (Scottish)– Georgian and Regency

• Eloisa James; Georgette Heyer; Mary Balogh; Jane Austen sequels

– Amanda Quick– (19th Century British)– Linda Lael Miller– Western US Romances

Historical Fantasy Appeal

• Types– Time Travel– Alternative History: What if?– Arthurian– Specific Time Periods or Sagas

• General Appeal:– History with a little something special– Sense of place is key in both genres– Varied pacings and characterizations

Historical Fantasy Key Authors

• Time Travel:– Diana Gabaldon– Outlander Series– Connie Willis– M. J. Rose– Reincarnationist Series

• Alternative History– Harry Turtledove– Newt Gringrich and William Forstchen– Stephen Baxter– Eric Flint

Historical Fantasy Authors Continued

• Arthurian and Celtic Fantasy– Marion Zimmer Bradley–Avalon Series– Juliet Marillier– The Bridei Chronicles

• Time Period Fantasy; including sagas– Susanna Clarke– Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell– Naomi Novik– Sara Douglass– The Troy Game– Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

Historical Fiction Resources

• One stop shopping at Sarah Johnson’s Reading the Past– Historical Fiction: A Guide to the Genre– Historical Fiction II: A Guide to the Genre

• NoveList– “Getting Up to Speed”– Patrons with specific requests

• When all else fails…Gnooks

Historical Fiction Awards

• RUSA Genre Awards• Langum Prize for American Historical Fiction• Walter Scott Prize• Various Western, Mystery, and Romance

awards given in their genre

Whole Collection Options

• Western (mentioned previously)• Fantasy: its all about the created world and the

journey– sound familiar?– George R. R. Martin– J.R.R. Tolkien

• Nonfiction– Pick a time period, any time period…

• Play off subgenre appeals– Like historical adventure…try another adventure

Managing Your HF Collection

• Stickers don’t work• Lists and displays• Staff training• Genre studies• Use HF in book discussions• Readalikes for popular time periods not just

popular authors

Back to the Present

• What are your favorite HF time periods or authors?

• What are your patrons asking for?• Other questions• Share what you learned with your staff and

patrons• Go to raforall.blogspot.com for resources• bspratford@hotmail.com to contact me