Historical fiction is is a sub-genre of fiction that often portrays fictional accounts or dramatization of historical figures or events. Writers of stories in this genre, while penning fiction, nominally attempt to capture the spirit, manners, and social conditions of the persons or time(s) presented in the story, with due attention paid to period detail and fidelity.[1] Historical fiction is found in books, magazines,[2] art, television, movies, theater, and other media. [edit] Definition Historical fiction presents readers with a story that takes place during a notable period in history, and usually during a significant event in that period. Historical fiction often presents actual events from the point of view of people living in that time period. 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 complements a story's narrative, occurring in the background while characters deal with events (personal or otherwise) wholly unrelated to recorded history. Sometimes, 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 of 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 a historical fantasy. [edit] Critical reception Unusually for a fiction genre, much historical fiction has been enthusiastically embraced by the mainstream cockasaurs rex critical community. In 2009, several of the novels on the Booker Prize longlist were historical fiction.[3] [edit] Literature Historical literature includes the works of authors that epitomize a specific period in history. Historical literature has been written since at least the 11th century BC. [edit] Authors - Conn Iggulden: Emperor Series; Conqueror Series; The Dangerous Books for Boys Series and Blackwater.
- Dianne Ascroft: Hitler and Mars Bars - Fiction set against the backdrop of Irish Red Cross project, Operation Shamrock.
- Jean M. Auel: The Earth's Children - Series set in pre-historic Europe
- Adam Bagdasarian: Forgotten Fire
- L. E. Butler: Relief
- Caleb Carr: Wrote The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness
- Willa Cather: Death Comes for the Archbishop, Shadows on the Rock, My Antonia
- James Clavell: The Asian Saga
- Bernard Cornwell: Sharpe series set in 19th century Europe and India, and other works set elsewhere.
- Naomi C. Desiderio: Hell at Sea is set aboard a German U-Boat during WWII.
- Mark Turnbull: Decision Most Deadly, a novel set in London during 1641, as England plunged into civil war.
- E. L. Doctorow: Ragtime
- Maurice Druon: The Accursed Kings series
- Dorothy Dunnett: The Lymond Chronicles, The House of Niccolo series, King Hereafter
- Suzannah Dunn: The Queen's Sorrow and others
- Umberto Eco: The Name of the Rose (Il nome della rosa, 1980)
- Shusaku Endo: Silence
- J. G. Farrell: Troubles'(1970)', The Siege of Krishnapur (1973 Booker Prize Winner) and The Singapore Grip (1978)''
- Ken Follett: most of his books are historical fiction, including his bestseller The Pillars of the Earth.
- C. S. Forester: Hornblower series and others
- George Macdonald Fraser: The Flashman Series
- Noah Gordon: The Physician / The Shaman
- Philippa Gregory: The Other Boleyn Girl, The Constant Princess set in the Tudor era; Earthly Joys set in 17th century England, and other works.
- W.E.B. Griffin: The Corps Series - Historical fiction series taking place shortly before WWII, through to Korea.
- Cynthia Harrod-Eagles: The Morland Dynasty - Historical fiction series from the War of the Roses currently to World War I
- Angela Elwell Hunt: Legacies of the Ancient River series/The Keepers of the Ring series/The Heirs of Cahira O'Connor series/Magdalene
- Jessica James: Author of Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia - Historical fiction set during the Civil War.
- Gary Jennings: Aztec, The Journeyer
- Morgan Llywelyn: author of books set mostly in Ireland
- Lloyd Lofthouse: Used Sir Robert Hart, 1st Baronet as protagonist for My Splendid Concubine
- Colleen McCullough: Masters of Rome series of novels about the last years of the Roman Republic
- Carolyn Meyer: "Young Royals" and others
- James Michener: 40+ epic novels, first famous work was Tales of the South Pacific.
- Anchee Min: Chinese-themed sagas Empress Orchid, The Last Emperor
- William Napier: wrote Attila trilogy
- Mary Novik: author of Conceit, a novel about the family of John Donne, set in 17th century London
- Patrick O'Brian: Series of novels featuring Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin. Seen as one of the greatest recent exponents of the genre.
- Scott O'dell: Island of the Blue Dolphins
- Arturo Pérez-Reverte: Spanish author of a number of historical novels, including the Captain Alatriste series. His books are written in Spanish, but a number have been translated into English.
- Jean Plaidy: several books, mostly about European queens and princesses
- H. F. M. Prescott: author of The Man on a Donkey - set during the dissolution of the monasteries.
- Chris Priestley: Battle of Britain
- Linda Proud: author of The Botticelli Trilogy - set in Renaissance Florence.
- Boleslaw Prus: Pharaoh
- Erich Maria Remarque: All Quiet on the Western Front, The Night in Lisbon.
- Mary Renault: wrote many novels set in ancient Greece
- Ann Rinaldi: 40+ young adult historical fiction novels, primarily set in the United States.
- Edward Rutherfurd: several epic novels including Sarum, Russka, and London
- Simon Scarrow: Eagle series of Roman military fiction
- Lawrence Schonover: The Schonover Collection European Historical and Biographical Novels fiction "Spain" and "Turkey"
- Henryk Sienkiewicz: Quo Vadis
- Anne Easter Smith: Wars of the Roses series
- Wilbur Smith: The Courtney and Ballentyne series and independent adventure novels set in Africa in between the 17th and 20th centuries and the Ancient Egypt series
- Indu Sundaresan: The Twentieth Wife and sequel The Feast of Roses, fictionalized story of the Mughal empress Noor Jehan, set in 16th and 17th century Mughal Empire, India.
- Beverly Swerling: City of Dreams, City of Glory, Shadowbrook, and the forthcoming City of God" - novels set in early days of the Mid-Atlantic States.
- Harry Turtledove: Alternate history fiction
- Mark Twain: various works of historical fiction about the American South.
- Mika Waltari: numerous works of historical fiction, best known for his magnum opus The Egyptian (Finnish: Sinuhe egyptiläinen)
- Jack Whyte: Camulod Chronicles / A Dream of Eagles, set in early fifth century Britain; also Templar Trilogy.
- Lauren Willig: Pink Carnation series about spies during the Napoleonic wars
- Sandra Worth: author of the Rose of York trilogy, Lady of the Roses, and The King's Daughter: A Novel of the First Tudor Queen (Elizabeth of York), all novels about England's War of the Roses.
- Marguerite Yourcenar: author of Memoirs of Hadrian.
- Margaret Atwood: Penelopiad
- Julian Barnes: Arthur & George
- S. J. A. Turney: Marius' Mules, based on Caesar's invasion of Gaul.
- Patricia Reilly Giff: Nory Ryan's Song
[edit] Media and culture Works of historical fiction are not reserved exclusively to literature. Many films have been created which attempt to use a historic event or setting as a backdrop and actors portray fictional or historic figures set in these events. Below are a few notable examples in the chronological order that the events took place. [edit] Film and television [edit] See also [edit] References - ^ Search Results for historical fiction - Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia
- ^ See, e.g., Paradox Magazine, which publishes short stories in the historical fiction sub-genre.
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jul/28/booker-prize-longlist-me-cheeta
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