Historical Fictionistas discussion
The Front Parlor
>
How did you get into Historical Fiction?
message 251:
by
Gary
(new)
Feb 28, 2017 08:43AM
In terms of what I wrote about . . . I lived it! 1956 - 1976 West Germany. My earlier experiences influenced me to explore the Sudetenland crisis' effect on WWII resident Germans in Czechoslovakia after the war.
reply
|
flag
I've always loved history,only the girlish aspects fashion,beauty,mysterious tidbits etc I was never interested in war and politics.I watched nothing but costume dramas and bbc history documentaries my entire twenties.Im still a great antiquarian like my fourth great grandfather(yes I'm into family history too).
Strangely despite all this I had never read historical fiction,I had always seen it but I just don't read novels, but now I've started and I really love it.
My favourite periods are Victorian,Edwardian and ancient Celtic.
I've had so many dreams of past lives,that to me it's simply that I come from other times that I'm so antiquated.Also that the past is just so much more romantic.
Loved studying the Tudors and reading about English and Irish history.
N.B. wrote: "There isn't much going on in the modern world that makes a good story plot in my opinion. Sounds like a sweeping statement, I know, but it's too close to real life. I like a bit of escapism and I l..."I tend to agree. Something about the complacency and dehumanization of the modern era.
I got into historical fiction after traveling to Italy. I became enthralled in 13th and 14th century history leading up to the Italian Renaissance. I searched for books from the time period but never quite found the book I wanted. So I decided to write one. Dumas has probably had the greatest influence on me in terms of scope, style, and prose. There's a kind of nobility amidst drastic circumstance that grips me.
P.S. wrote: "N.B. wrote: "There isn't much going on in the modern world that makes a good story plot in my opinion. Sounds like a sweeping statement, I know, but it's too close to real life. I like a bit of esc..."Hmm, I'm afraid I have to disagree here. Powerful stories are unfolding every day in peoples' lives all over the world. I know for me, what draws me to HF is escapism. I can read about very serious issues and events, but with the knowledge that, however they turned out, they're complete; finished; in the past. In my comfortable life, it's easy to see the small-scale, and be complacent, but tides and patterns are moving in the larger world all the time: suffering and nobility are played out every day, we just can't see the forest for the trees sometimes.
I love reading history and historical fiction. There is so much of real history I want to know about. The real characters and incidents of the final chapter of the War of the Roses (Edward, Elizabeth Woodville, Warwick, Clarence, Richard and Anne) are unbeatable by any mere fiction.
I've always been interested in the history of things. Growing up my grandmothers friend owned an antique stored and I loved spending afternoons looking at what the past left behind. Then growing up during family road trips I always loved passing through old towns and hearing how people lived- but, what brought me barreling into reading historical fiction was probably the book "The help". Even though I grew up reading little house on the prairie it wasn't until this book that sent me steam rolling into wanting to read more about anything before 1970. Over the last year my collection of books as grown through all different genres.
I’m delighted to see a younger person taking an interest in things before 1970, Timmy! Sometimes we old folks feel as if our formative experiences just don’t matter anymore—and yet they have so much to do with who we as a people are today. Read on!
To me, the everyday things of past eras are as fascinating as the leaders, wars, and sweeping events. I love to find firsthand accounts of people in their daily lives, and then to work those mundane things into the framework of a story.
I’m with you, Loyd! A person’s everyday existence is what really comes alive for me. The major historical events are fine as a backdrop, but it’s the mundane I connect with. That’s what inspired the stories I am working on now—accounts of ordinary people living in a small town, as they were recorded by the local historical society.
My father bought history/mythology picture books into the house instead of fairy tales. I was the only kid in the first grade who knew who Homer was. It began there. I never turned back. The downside - I was ten before I realized there was no such thing as a cyclop.
I have always (since I was a kid) been a fan of historical fiction. I powered through all of Thomas Costain's work before I graduated high school. Then there is my appetite for future history--Robert A. Heinlein (The Long Family Chronicles) and Isaac Asimov (Foundation Trilogy then Series). Heinlein inspired my belief in the "World as Myth" modality where the act of writing fiction creates a new reality universe. Finally Natalie Zemon Davis' "The Return of Marin Guerre"inspired me to work the hidden discourse and subaltern history (see my 'lessers and betters') in my stories. Bringing both the Bennets and the Hills to life creates, I believe, a deeper texture and context within which the central story can flourish. This broadening also offers a more gritty and realistic counterpoint to the often anodyne life of the "betters" in Regency novels where the only crises are illness and broken hearts.
It must have been a relief for you, Paul, to learn there was no such thing as a cyclops! As opposed to the sorrow some children feel when they learn that (view spoiler)
Abigail wrote: "It must have been a relief for you, Paul, to learn there was no such thing as a cyclops! As opposed to the sorrow some children feel when they learn that [spoilers removed]"Actually I was bit disappointed when I found out cyclops didn't exist. Dad never explained the difference between history, religion and mythology. It took a while to sort it all out.
Well, you could always choose to continue to believe. I for one refuse to accept that Pan is dead.
Pauline Gedge- Egypt books. Then I found Elizabeth Chadwick, and started reading about England too.
New to the group, but I love the "stand and testify" tone of this thread. All of us who have gotten the historical fiction religion - or would that be, literally, the "old-time religion"? Two factors led me to historical fiction, starting when I was a young teenager back in the '70s. First, I grew up in a fly-over town in the heart of fly-over country. As far back as I can remember, I ached--physically ached--to get out. We had a beautiful Carnegie library two blocks from my house and I checked out every age-appropriate (and a lot of age-inappropriate) books on ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, Renaissance Europe, any book about any place other than where I was. Second, my parents subscribed to Book of the Month Club and in the '70s, BOTM loved James Michener. So Michener was my historical fiction threshold drug. I just wrapped myself up in those door-stopper length books of his and couldn't get enough. Since he was, IMHO, one of the true masters of the genre, he set the bar mighty high for me. I've been reading (and now writing) historical fiction for the last 40+ years.
“Old-time religion” carries a suitably pagan tone for one who steeped himself in ancient Greece and Rome at an impressionable age! It is indeed tough to flex one’s standards when one starts at the pinnacle of a genre, as you did with Michener. And I see from your profile that for many years you read Pride and Prejudice annually—a solid foundation for your authorial voice. Glad to have you on board in this group!
Abigail wrote: "“Old-time religion” carries a suitably pagan tone for one who steeped himself in ancient Greece and Rome at an impressionable age! It is indeed tough to flex one’s standards when one starts at the ..."Thanks, Abigail. That's very kind. In full disclosure--and at the opposite pole to dear Jane A--I've also read every word ever written by Ernest Hemingway. At least once. Even his handful of published and truly execrable poems. (There's a very good reason one doesn't think of Papa H as a poet...)
Don wrote: "I have always (since I was a kid) been a fan of historical fiction. I powered through all of Thomas Costain's work before I graduated high school. Then there is my appetite for future history--Robe..."Totally agree about the focus on rich people and nobility. The whole "Downton Abbey" aesthetic is wonderful spin sugar candy and fun, but not very nourishing and you get sick of it soon enough.
I get some of this same reaction to HF writers who have to--just HAVE TO--have their characters meet and interact with every famous person imaginable from their era. (Looking at YOU, Ken Follett!) It comes across so contrived most of the time. I mean, if Winston Churchill had spent as much time with as many improbable people as the quantum of WW1 and WW2-era HF novels would have us believe, he'd have had not time to sleep, let alone govern.
I’ll try not to think less of you for reading so much Hemingway, Jeffrey! Me, I can only take the spoofs. When I was a senior in high school and my English teacher supplied a list of possible term paper topics, he included one just for me: Why Hemingway should not have received the Nobel Prize.A friend of mine wrote a spoof with Winnie the Pooh characters speaking Papa-ese. Truly sublime.
My older sister has told me for years I should be utterly ashamed that I love Hemingway, but she forgives me because I've also read everything by Dickens and Hardy. To make matters worse, I went to the bullfights in Spain, of course... and loved them. I may be completely irredeemable, I'm afraid.
Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "Think you meant to link Ken Follett - will combine that page, though, now that I see it."Sorry about that, but honest mistake!
No, I'm glad you did it - it enabled me to clean the database a little.
I'm an old guy and I began reading at an early age, decades before book sellers concerned themselves with genre. When I went to a book store or a library there was fiction and non-fiction. Oh wait! There was also science fiction, which was too disreputable in those days to be put with fiction for decent people. It was usually hidden behind the adult reading section in the back of the store. :)The fiction section was organized alphabetically by author with no divisions at all for westerns, mysteries, historical fiction, etc. This was probably in the early 1950s or maybe earlier. I don't recall how old I was then. I was born in 1940.
Anyway with no concept of genre I just read books. I read paperbacks almost always and I picked my books based mostly on whether the description on the back cover seemed interesting.
A lot of the books I enjoyed took place in the long past, often in biblical times and even much earlier. I never really thought of them has "historical novels". I just read them and enjoyed them.
I don't think I became aware of historical novels until sometime in the mid 1970s and 1980s when bookstores began getting serious about dividing their shelves into genres.
By then I'd read a lot by authors such as Frank Slaughter, Lloyd C. Douglas, Frank Yerby, Mika Waltari, Mary Renault, Pearl S. Buck as well as books like "Ben Hur", "Quo Vadis". I never really realized when I read these that they were historical novels. I just read them and enjoyed them.
I've never become fond of the idea of genre. It seems like a watered down approach to reading. I'm stuck with it now and I try to make the best of it.
I probably read more novels that take place in the present than in the past but I read a lot of both. I still don't think of that when I go looking for a book. In fact my current book, a book that takes place in 17th century New England, caught my eye by chance when I was really thinking of finding a mystery.
When I think back on the best books I've read a lot of them are historical novels, maybe most of them, so maybe I am a historical novel fan.
Barry
Yeah, when I was growing up, in the 70s and 80s, the only practical division seemed to be "adult fiction" vs. "juvenile fiction." (YA was not even a concept.)
I’m with you, Elmer/Barry! :-) I hate genre boundaries, and violate them whenever I can.
Christine wrote: "P.S. wrote: "N.B. wrote: "There isn't much going on in the modern world that makes a good story plot in my opinion. Sounds like a sweeping statement, I know, but it's too close to real life. I like..."well said, I agree
I have always been fascinated with U.S. history and an avid reader. When I can combine the two I am in heaven.
Tammy wrote: "Christine wrote: "P.S. wrote: "N.B. wrote: "There isn't much going on in the modern world that makes a good story plot in my opinion. Sounds like a sweeping statement, I know, but it's too close to..."I feel much the same, although my writing focus is in Old China. China's dynastic history interests me much much more than its modern history. My reading interests cover world history though.
I don't think I've ever picked a favorite time or place to be a favorite for the stories I read. To me stories are about people and if they're people in a different time that changes the flavor of the story but it's really the people in the story that matter.A good story can take place in any time or any location. It's what happens and who it happens to and how it happens that makes it a good story.
Barry
It's the "why it happens" that intrigues me most. What were the emotional and rational drivers behind deeds and acts of historical personages as flesh and blood humans in a certain race and culture? Are those drivers similar or different from their counterparts in other races and cultures? And are we prone to repeat history as humans?
My sister brought home a historical fiction romance when I was about 13 years old. I've been a devoted reader of it ever since (40 years! Gasp!) I love historical fiction because it takes me away to time and place I can never visit in real life. I enjoy all settings and time periods for the most part. Now I'm writing about antebellum Texas and I've learned SO MUCH about slavery, plantation life, etc. I wouldn't have wanted to live in that era, but it is fascinating.
Barry wrote: "I don't think I've ever picked a favorite time or place to be a favorite for the stories I read. To me stories are about people and if they're people in a different time that changes the flavor of ..."I love that last line of your post, Barry. I write historical fiction, so it really resonates with me. I'm going to stick this up on the wall of my office: "A good story can take place in any time or any location. It's what happens and who it happens to and how it happens that makes it a good story."
In 11th grade my history teach loved historical fiction and she had us read James Michner's Centeniel and Taylor Caldwell's Captains and Kings. I fell in love with historical and haven't stopped reading it though all these years.
I loved history at school, but pretty much left it there. Then in 2005, my father died unexpectedly, and my brother and I took over the family antique shop. I'd worked there on and off since I was a child, and had always helped out at antique fairs, so I already had a love of all things old. Ten years working in the shop really solidified my love of history, and the things in the shop were what inspired me to write historical fiction.
I grew up in Europe, and like my grandparents they lived through those horrible times. Anyway, I always loved history, and with some encouragement from my family, I decided I'll write one.
My dad is a very big history buff, and growing up, he always immersed us kids in it--taking us places like Gettysburg and such. And if I'm honest, I got into reading historical fiction because I discovered the American Girl and the Dear America books. I thought it was so cool to find books about all different historical periods. I started reading historical fiction and never turned back!
Jessika wrote: "My dad is a very big history buff, and growing up, he always immersed us kids in it--taking us places like Gettysburg and such. And if I'm honest, I got into reading historical fiction because I di..."Oh, Jessika! Don't feel the least bit self-conscious about admitting that your HistFic 'gateway drug' was the "American Girl" series. My daughter devoured those, too. And since it's true confession time, I think my 'gateway drug' to reading ANY great literature was the "Classics Illustrated" comic books!
Jeffrey, the Classics Illustrated were my gateway drug as well. Every summer I'd go through my Uncle John's old box of CI comics, until one summer they'd been thrown out and replaced by Playboys.... that's an entirely different story.
Wayne wrote: "Jeffrey, the Classics Illustrated were my gateway drug as well. Every summer I'd go through my Uncle John's old box of CI comics, until one summer they'd been thrown out and replaced by Playboys......"Yep, been there, too. They were my dad's Playboy's. Took me a few more years to learn to say, "I only read it for the movie reviews" with a straight face.
Jessika wrote: "My dad is a very big history buff, and growing up, he always immersed us kids in it--taking us places like Gettysburg and such. And if I'm honest, I got into reading historical fiction because I di..."I got into historical fiction via American Girl, too! Who was your favourite character? Mine was Felicity.
My great-great grandfather was a Texas Ranger and sergeant in the Civil War. I grew up hearing tales of his life when I was a youngster and was naturally fascinated. About seven years ago I set out to write a fictional short story about a real life Indian raid he experienced on his homestead outside Austin, Texas. Little did I know this decision would transform into a full length novel that needed room to grow. Over six years later the short story was completed in the form of a historical fiction trilogy that centered on the trials and tribulations of life as a Texas Ranger in the Texas Hill Country after the Civil War. I've always loved the historical story of the American West and creating this trilogy helped me satisfy my yearning to bring this period to life in an authentic style that other folks could enjoy.
I think children's historical fiction is very important! For me it was Robert Louis Stevenson (I was a lone girl in a house of boys) and Johnny Tremaine and The Witch of Blackbird Pond.
Anthony wrote: "My great-great grandfather was a Texas Ranger and sergeant in the Civil War. I grew up hearing tales of his life when I was a youngster and was naturally fascinated. About seven years ago I set out..."And a good trilogy it is. If people are interested in Westerns, they should read the "hard land to rule" books..... just saying.
Since I grew up in the Midwest, I was taught frontier history in the U.S. and librarians suggested Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Little House on the Prairie series. Then I had teachers who were critics of the author because the books became part of public school discourse and why just this author's books was a big question.
I also read Classics Illustrated as a kid. Until then I was reading things like Hardy Boys and the Tarzan books but when I found Classics Illustrated I also read some of the novels those stories were based on.I can't imagine being embarrassed about having read something. When I was young I tried everything. Some of it was real garbage and some of that I liked. I read the Shell Scott books by Richard S. Prather as a kid and loved them. I reread one a few months ago to see if I'd still like it and it wasn't bad at all. I have a couple more of those. They're mindless thrillers about a detective who judges women by how much their behind spreads when they sit down, but they're really fun. I see nothing to be ashamed about.
I even read a few romance novels to see if I liked those. I'm not ashamed of reading them although if I'd liked that kind of tricky and dishonest writing I'd sure have been ashamed. And I won't be ashamed at the sort of feedback I'll probably get for that mean remark. :)
Reading is fun. Guilty pleasures need calories and sugar and books have neither. :)
Barry
Wayne wrote: "Anthony wrote: "My great-great grandfather was a Texas Ranger and sergeant in the Civil War. I grew up hearing tales of his life when I was a youngster and was naturally fascinated. About seven yea..."Thanks, Wayne. Much appreciated and best wishes to you.
Historical Fictionistas
Books mentioned in this topic
The Amethyst Ring (other topics)Shōgun (other topics)
The Captive (other topics)
The Feathered Serpent (other topics)
Shōgun (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Laura Ingalls Wilder (other topics)John Jakes (other topics)
Alexandra David-Néel (other topics)
Ann Rinaldi (other topics)
Ken Follett (other topics)
More...
