Notes with In-Text Notes with In-Text CitationsCitations

By: Everett AckermanBy: Everett Ackerman

What truths are best What truths are best communicated through communicated through the historical fiction the historical fiction genre?genre? Some common themes communicated Some common themes communicated

through the historical fiction genre are through the historical fiction genre are seeking new frontiers is an adventurous seeking new frontiers is an adventurous deed, the aftereffects of war can influence a deed, the aftereffects of war can influence a live greatly and the past can influence a live greatly and the past can influence a person, who influences a city or region person, who influences a city or region (Professor; Wulffson; Hamill).(Professor; Wulffson; Hamill).

These are fairly common themes and These are fairly common themes and introduce readers to an environment and introduce readers to an environment and setting which attracts them and allows them setting which attracts them and allows them to immerse themselves in the story to immerse themselves in the story (Professor; Hamill).(Professor; Hamill).

How do historical fiction How do historical fiction writers persuade their writers persuade their readers?readers? Historical fiction writers persuade their readers by Historical fiction writers persuade their readers by

bringing their imaginations to another time. A way to bringing their imaginations to another time. A way to escape from the troubles of our lives and into the lives escape from the troubles of our lives and into the lives of another. “Historical fiction should feature of another. “Historical fiction should feature characters who look and sound like people of a characters who look and sound like people of a particular historical era. Historical fiction should particular historical era. Historical fiction should adhere to established history but can also make adhere to established history but can also make reasonable changes for the sake of character and plot. reasonable changes for the sake of character and plot. Historical fiction should depict the values, virtues and Historical fiction should depict the values, virtues and prejudices of a historical era accurately, especially prejudices of a historical era accurately, especially where these affect the plot” (“Historical Fiction Genre where these affect the plot” (“Historical Fiction Genre Characteristics”).Characteristics”).

Historical fiction writers also persuade readers by Historical fiction writers also persuade readers by creating a world where it lets readers participate in creating a world where it lets readers participate in the hopes, fears, passions, mistakes and triumphs of the hopes, fears, passions, mistakes and triumphs of the people who lived it (“Over 5000”).the people who lived it (“Over 5000”).

How much research does How much research does it takes to develop a it takes to develop a historical fiction novel?historical fiction novel? Historical fiction authors need to do a lot of Historical fiction authors need to do a lot of

research to develop a historical fiction novel. research to develop a historical fiction novel. The authors need to immerse themselves The authors need to immerse themselves into the setting and time period they're into the setting and time period they're writing about. They also need to know key writing about. They also need to know key details such as dialogue, speech, and social details such as dialogue, speech, and social ways of the culture they are researching. By ways of the culture they are researching. By doing this the author can immerse the doing this the author can immerse the readers into the story due to the writers readers into the story due to the writers massive amount of knowledge on the subject massive amount of knowledge on the subject (“Crowes Nest”; “Historical Fiction Genre (“Crowes Nest”; “Historical Fiction Genre Characteristics”).Characteristics”).

What is the relationship What is the relationship between historical fiction between historical fiction and truth? and truth? Historical fiction and the truth are similar by Historical fiction and the truth are similar by

historical fiction being actual events in history, historical fiction being actual events in history, but with a few made-up qualities (“Seminar”).but with a few made-up qualities (“Seminar”).

An example of this is with the novel Soldier X. An example of this is with the novel Soldier X. A historical fiction novel based on a true story A historical fiction novel based on a true story in World War II. The true qualities in this novel in World War II. The true qualities in this novel are the main conflict between during WWII and are the main conflict between during WWII and the main characters while the plot is mostly the main characters while the plot is mostly made up (Wulffson). Another example for the made up (Wulffson). Another example for the relationship between truth and historical fiction relationship between truth and historical fiction novels is from the novel Forever. Forever is has novels is from the novel Forever. Forever is has a true setting and a few true characters while a true setting and a few true characters while the main character and everything else is the main character and everything else is made up (Hamill).made up (Hamill).

How much do authors How much do authors make up in writing a make up in writing a historical fiction novel?historical fiction novel? Authors who write historical fiction authors Authors who write historical fiction authors

need to establish a background and setting of need to establish a background and setting of an actual time period. They can however make an actual time period. They can however make up facts such as plots, characters and conflicts. up facts such as plots, characters and conflicts. Although some of these made up things can be Although some of these made up things can be true. Historical fiction novels need to be true. Historical fiction novels need to be plausible to the plot and the time period, while plausible to the plot and the time period, while also being entertaining and keeping the reader also being entertaining and keeping the reader hooked on the story. Once the setting is hooked on the story. Once the setting is established as an actual place the writer can established as an actual place the writer can begin to weave a story through real or fake begin to weave a story through real or fake characters, with either real of fake events. This characters, with either real of fake events. This “weaving” can bring the reader into the story “weaving” can bring the reader into the story (“Seminar”; “Historical Fiction Genre (“Seminar”; “Historical Fiction Genre Characteristics”).Characteristics”).

How do historical fiction How do historical fiction authors hook and hold authors hook and hold readers?readers? Authors do this by creating a novel that is inviting and attractive to

readers. For example Forever, gives the main character feelings and conflicts from which the reader feels emotions towards the character. These emotions hook the reader into the book. “Cormac sees New York ‘being shaped by a restless unknown hand, a godlike artist who is never satisfied,’ and jokes that ‘on the final day, after due warning to the citizens, the god of New York will lift his creation into the sky,’ the ultimate skyscraper. 'You could see that New York from Africa,' he tells the babalawo, explaining that he has lived to see all memory, ‘African, Irish, Italian, Jewish, German, Polish, English, all memory of injury and insult, all nostalgia for lost places and smashed families, all yearning for the past: saw all of it merge into New York.’ The city of filth and corruption is also the wellspring of the mythology of America” (Hamill; Green, Michelle Erica ).

Historical Fiction allows the reader to lose himself/herself in another time. Their leisurely pacing and attention to detail allows for a submersion experience. They give the reader the opportunity to compare historic eras and past events to the present day. Female characters in historical fiction are often strong, independent characters (“Adult Reading Round Table”).