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Historical
  Fiction


Kimberly Edson, Rochester Public
Audience participation
    encouraged!
• Between 2000 and 2007, one-third of
  Booklist Editors’ Choice titles in adult
  Fiction were historical Novels
• Topics reflect trends in history
Historical Fiction:
                             definition
Historical fiction presents a story set in the past, often during a significant time
period. In historical fiction, the time period is an important part of the setting and
often of the story itself. Historical fiction may include fictional characters, well-
known historical figures or a mixture of the two. Authors of historical fiction
usually pay close attention to the details of their stories (settings, clothing,
dialogue, etc.) to ensure that they fit the time periods in which the narratives take
place. In some historical fiction, famous events appear from points of view not
recorded in history, showing historical figures dealing with actual events while
depicting them in a way that is not recorded in history. Other times, the historical
event or time period complements a story's narrative, forming a framework and
background for the characters' lives. Sometimes, historical fiction can be for the
most part true, but the names of people and places have been in some way
altered. As this is fiction, artistic license is permitted in regard to presentation and
subject matter, so long as it does not deviate in significant ways from established
history.
If events should deviate significantly, the story may then fall into the genre
alternate history, which is known for speculating on what could have
happened if a significant historical event had gone differently. On a similar
note, events occurring in historical fiction must adhere to the laws of
physics. Stories that extend into the magical or fantastic are often
considered historical fantasy. (definition from Good Reads)
Not all historical fiction is created equally!
• Presents a well-told story     • Poorly researched
  that doesn't conflict with     • Too much history in
  historical records               the text
• Portrays characters            • Dialogue or voice
  realistically                    sounds phony
• Presents authentic             • Setting isn’t specific
  settings                         enough to show where
• Artfully folds in historical     the story takes place
  facts                          • Today’s world creeps
• Avoids stereotypes and           into the story
  myths.
Historical fiction overlaps with
        many other genres
•   Historical Romance
•   Historical Mystery
•   Historical Christian
•   Western
What do historical fiction
        readers look for?
• Stories that evoke the past with period
  detail including customs, food, clothing,
  religious beliefs, architecture, etc.
• To immerse themselves in the day-to-tay
  loves and mindsets of those who lived in
  earlier eras.
• To be entertained.
Appeal Factors
Time Period : Reader is specific about the
era or time period they want to read about.

Geographical Setting: Reader is interested
in a particular place or setting.
www.historicalnovels.info
Provides over 5000 Historical Novels listed by Time and Place
Appeal Factors
•   Amount and type of historical content
•   Level of realism
•   Author
•   Pacing
•   Type of character
Appeal Factors
•   Characterization
•   Subject and theme
•   Dialogue
•   Language
•   Violence and sexual content
Discovery Tools
• http://www.bookmarksmagazine.com/historical-fiction-
  masters-past/sarah-l-johnson

• http://www.goodreads.com/genres/historical-fiction

• http://www.pbclibrary.org/read-historical.htm

• http://www.prattlibrary.org/locations/fiction/index.aspx?id
  =17462#Guides
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Historical fiction

  • 1. Historical Fiction Kimberly Edson, Rochester Public
  • 3. • Between 2000 and 2007, one-third of Booklist Editors’ Choice titles in adult Fiction were historical Novels • Topics reflect trends in history
  • 4. Historical Fiction: definition Historical fiction presents a story set in the past, often during a significant time period. In historical fiction, the time period is an important part of the setting and often of the story itself. Historical fiction may include fictional characters, well- known historical figures or a mixture of the two. Authors of historical fiction usually pay close attention to the details of their stories (settings, clothing, dialogue, etc.) to ensure that they fit the time periods in which the narratives take place. In some historical fiction, famous events appear from points of view not recorded in history, showing historical figures dealing with actual events while depicting them in a way that is not recorded in history. Other times, the historical event or time period complements a story's narrative, forming a framework and background for the characters' lives. Sometimes, historical fiction can be for the most part true, but the names of people and places have been in some way altered. As this is fiction, artistic license is permitted in regard to presentation and subject matter, so long as it does not deviate in significant ways from established history.
  • 5. If events should deviate significantly, the story may then fall into the genre alternate history, which is known for speculating on what could have happened if a significant historical event had gone differently. On a similar note, events occurring in historical fiction must adhere to the laws of physics. Stories that extend into the magical or fantastic are often considered historical fantasy. (definition from Good Reads)
  • 6. Not all historical fiction is created equally! • Presents a well-told story • Poorly researched that doesn't conflict with • Too much history in historical records the text • Portrays characters • Dialogue or voice realistically sounds phony • Presents authentic • Setting isn’t specific settings enough to show where • Artfully folds in historical the story takes place facts • Today’s world creeps • Avoids stereotypes and into the story myths.
  • 7. Historical fiction overlaps with many other genres • Historical Romance • Historical Mystery • Historical Christian • Western
  • 8. What do historical fiction readers look for? • Stories that evoke the past with period detail including customs, food, clothing, religious beliefs, architecture, etc. • To immerse themselves in the day-to-tay loves and mindsets of those who lived in earlier eras. • To be entertained.
  • 9. Appeal Factors Time Period : Reader is specific about the era or time period they want to read about. Geographical Setting: Reader is interested in a particular place or setting. www.historicalnovels.info Provides over 5000 Historical Novels listed by Time and Place
  • 10. Appeal Factors • Amount and type of historical content • Level of realism • Author • Pacing • Type of character
  • 11. Appeal Factors • Characterization • Subject and theme • Dialogue • Language • Violence and sexual content
  • 12. Discovery Tools • http://www.bookmarksmagazine.com/historical-fiction- masters-past/sarah-l-johnson • http://www.goodreads.com/genres/historical-fiction • http://www.pbclibrary.org/read-historical.htm • http://www.prattlibrary.org/locations/fiction/index.aspx?id =17462#Guides

Editor's Notes

  1. Topics reflect trends in history - a shift from political to social history – a focus on the characters in the background
  2. Defining it is tricky. How far back in the past? 50 years, more? Depends upon the readerWhat about works that were written in the past? Great Gatsby, Jane Austen? With this definition, any contemporary title could become historical fiction. However, this isn’t usually what reader’s mean when asking for historical fiction. Usually the novel takes place before the author’s life and times. Depends on interest of the reader
  3. During the past several decades, the market has been flooded with historical fiction. Not all of it good or accurate.