American Historical Fiction discussion
Introductions
message 751:
by
Kaaren
(new)
Jul 06, 2015 07:51AM
Hello, everyone! I'm a newbie to this group--reader, writer, lover of history and historical fiction. In this context, my current passions are the Gilded Age in America, and the American Revolutionary War Era from roughly 1763 through 1790. I'm looking forward to the discussions--especially your suggestions on good fiction covering these time periods. Currently, I'm revisiting the old Kent Family Chronicles by John Jakes, published around the time of the U.S. Bicentennial. Glad to be part of this group!
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Welcome - Loved the Kent Family Chronicles, but have never went back for a re-read. I mostly write and read the American west, living in Wyoming that might be a given.
Kaaren wrote: "Hello, everyone! I'm a newbie to this group--reader, writer, lover of history and historical fiction. In this context, my current passions are the Gilded Age in America, and the American Revolution..."Kaaren, take a look at American Revolutionary War fiction listed here: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
Thanks for direction to the list. What a great resource!
Great list. Those by Jeff Shaara are a "must read", in my opinion.
In "Rise to Rebellion" Jeff Shaara's account of the events of April 19, 1775 (leading to the Battles of Lexington and Concord and ending with the British army's retreat to Charlestown), is incredibly irresponsible. For example, Shaara doesn't even mention Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh, Earl Percy, in command of approximately a 1,000 soldiers sent to rescue the original force of 700 sent by General Gage to seize and destroy gunpowder, etc. stockpiled at Concord. It was Percy's leadership that enabled a third of Gage's Boston garrison to get back to safety. This aspect of the day's events merited one paragraph of Shaara's narration. One paragraph! He makes a number of historical errors and omissions in these two chapters. People who don't know the details of the events of that day are not cognizant of Shaara's irresponsibility.
Harold wrote: "In "Rise to Rebellion" Jeff Shaara's account of the events of April 19, 1775 (leading to the Battles of Lexington and Concord and ending with the British army's retreat to Charlestown), is incredib..."Harold, I read Rise to Rebellion over a decade ago, well before my interest in the Revolution really kicked in. Having researched the events of April 19th quite a bit for This Glorious Cause, I have to agree with your assessment: the Concord party would never have made it back to Boston had Percy not come to their rescue.
Herein lies one of the dangers of historical fiction, especially the Michael/Jeff Shaara sort: the fictional version can become the version that embeds itself in the public consciousness. That is certainly the case with The Killer Angels and the movie "Gettysburg." I am a huge fan of Joshua Chamberlain, and have walked the ground at Little Round Top several times, but neither the book nor the movie do justice to the heroic actions that took place a few dozen yards away on Little Round Top, or in many other places on that day. Shaara made Chamberlain the hero, but we never hear the names of people like O'Brien or Jefferds, who accomplished as much, at greater personal cost.
I take this danger very seriously when I write. Personally, the goal for my historical fiction is to get people interested in reading actual history!
Robert wrote: "Harold wrote: "In "Rise to Rebellion" Jeff Shaara's account of the events of April 19, 1775 (leading to the Battles of Lexington and Concord and ending with the British army's retreat to Charlestow..."Robert, it also bothers me when a historical novelist chooses to limit a reader's understanding of a very important event by relating the event through the point of view of a single character. Jeff Shaara chose in "Rise to Rebellion" to narrate the Battles of Lexington and Concord from Major John Pitcairn's viewpoint. Indeed, Pitcairn was at the very center of the musket fire at Lexington from start to finish and he was present at Concord and during the retreat thereafter. But, Shaara has Pitcairn, whom he identifies as "Thomas Pitcairn," go outside the town to the North Bridge, where the initial fighting started. That didn't happen. Pitcairn never left the center of town. To main his single character only point of view narration, Shaara has to have Pitcairn at the North Bridge. My criticism of Shaara is, therefore, not limited to omission of facts. Shaara falsifies. Another example. He has Paul Revere rowed across the Charles River not knowing if the British army is to leave Boston by land or sea. When he gets across the river, arriving at Charlestown, he looks back at the Christ's Church steeple to see how many lanterns are being displayed. Again, that is wrong. Revere knew ahead of time what the British planned to do. He had instructed Robert Newman at the church how many lanterns to display before he was rowed across the river. The lanterns were to inform Charlestown militia leader Colonel Conant what route the British army was in the process of taking, Revere fearing that he might be arrested before he could tell Conant in person. If that were to happen, Revere wanted Conant to send a messenger into the interior to tell village militias of General Gage's intention. There are other glaring errors in Shaara's narration. Every time I see Shaara extolled as a wonderful historical novelist I see red.
Hi, I like lots of books about history, including musical history. But as far as historical fiction goes, my favorite is a recent ebook, When Saigon Surrendered, which is really not about the Vietnam War as such, but captures a window in time when an American family is caught up in the aftermath of the war just ended. It is a whole different kind of treatment of war and I really liked the characters, including a Korean War vet. Check it out, if you want to try something a little different that covers the 1970s.
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Welcome to the group - seems that Bali is a long way from my home in Wyoming. Hope you find some good stuff and some online friends here.
Hi my name is Don. I like to read and write about anything American Civil War. I love to talk about it also.
Jenny wrote: "Hi Don! Welcome to the group!"Thanks for the welcome.
Hello all. My name is Vince - I enjoy a variety of historical fiction. I've read a number of Jeffrey Shaara's books, from his Revolutionary War cycle, to several on the Civil War, up through WW II; and, I've also read/enjoyed several of James Michener's books, among others. I don't necessarily stick to one genre (or period with respect to historical fiction) - but I look forward to interacting with some of you on here and getting your recommendations
Hello History Buffs,Now in retirement, my interests include reading, writing, playing duplicate bridge and fishing in the beautiful Tennessee River. Almost finished with Herman Wouk's "The Winds of War," I plan on diving into his "War and Remembrance" next.
Looking forward to some lively discussions, I am Robert Walker
Robert wrote: "Hello History Buffs,Now in retirement, my interests include reading, writing, playing duplicate bridge and fishing in the beautiful Tennessee River. Almost finished with Herman Wouk's "The Winds ..."
Welcome Robert. Close to retirement myself--high school English teacher. Avid fly fisherman--heading to Wyoming and Montana soon--getting out of killer (literally) heat in Phoenix.
Marty wrote: "Robert wrote: "Hello History Buffs,Now in retirement, my interests include reading, writing, playing duplicate bridge and fishing in the beautiful Tennessee River. Almost finished with Herman Wou..."
Thank you Marty, My grandson lives in Bozeman, MT. and is living the life of a carefree single man. He works of course, but fishes, snowboards and kayaks in the whitewater streams. Oh to be 50 years younger.
Welcome, Robert. I'm a reader of history and writer of historical fiction. I live in Mississippi.
Charlsie wrote: "Welcome, Robert. I'm a reader of history and writer of historical fiction. I live in Mississippi."Hi Charlsie,
There is a lot of history in Mississippi. What historical fiction have you written?
Let me add my welcome to this great group. Too many to mention since my last welcoming post. It's a good group. Enjoy.
Robert wrote: "Charlsie wrote: "Welcome, Robert. I'm a reader of history and writer of historical fiction. I live in Mississippi."Hi Charlsie,
There is a lot of history in Mississippi. What historical fiction ..."
The Devil's Bastard set in 18thC Natchez; Wolf Dawson, close of Congressional Reconstruction in Adams County; Epico Bayou, close of 19th C MS gulf coast; River's Bend, end of 19thC Adams Co/Natchez; Camellia Creek, Presidential Reconstruction, Claiborne Co (Port Gibson); & Honor's Banner, sequel to Camellia Creek. Thanks for asking. What do you write?
Steven wrote: "Let me add my welcome to this great group. Too many to mention since my last welcoming post. It's a good group. Enjoy."Thank you Steven.
Charlsie wrote: "Robert wrote: "Charlsie wrote: "Welcome, Robert. I'm a reader of history and writer of historical fiction. I live in Mississippi."Hi Charlsie,
There is a lot of history in Mississippi. What hist..."
Your writings prove me right Charlsie, there's a lot of history in Mississippi.
Robert, I can't find the msg you sent on pro-South CW books, but here's my response of sorts in the wrong spot: My interest deals more with causes of the War and aftermath (Reconstruction). If you're looking for actual information on battles, I'm probably not the best person to ask. The War itself depresses me--afterall, the good guys lost. So let me know if you have interests that parallel mine.Charlsie
Hi, I'm Sarah, a reader and writer just finishing up the first in my historical series, set just before the start of the American Revolution and ending after the end of the French Revolution. Most of the action in this first one takes place in colonial Georgia. The series follows the principles of a merchant trading company and takes place all over the world. The second one is set mainly in Morocco. As a reader my tastes have always been eclectic, but historical fiction and historical romance have been favorites since I was a kid. I used to be fascinated by ancient Greece and Rome and read everything I could on the subject. Then I discovered Georgette Heyer and, with the exception of 5 or 6 years when I first lived abroad and couldn't find or afford much in English, I've been reading it ever since.
Looking forward to participating here and seeing what the rest of you are up to!
Hi Sarah and welcome. Is your work published yet? Colonial Georgia perks my interest
I have enjoyed reading all of your posts for some time. Today, I have one of my own to post/brag: "Grog Wars", my most recent release and winner of Literary Classics Int'l Book Awards Silver Medal, has just been announced a Finalist for Chanticleer's Dante Rosetti Award for YA. But there's more...(we fiction writers tend to bury the lead, don't we?) Yesterday I received word that my unpublished, just-finished sequel, "Grog Wars, Dos", is a contender in the BookLife Prize in Fiction! I never knew if my writing was good until I submitted it to a publisher and it sold. This is the first time I have entered a raw manuscript in a writing competition in order to get feedback. I am totally psyched (and a little buzzed on celebratory Peach-aritas)!
Congratulations, Anne, on all that good news.
Thanks Charlsie and Jenny!No, the book's not out yet- still aiming for the beginning of November, but family concerns have taken me away from editing the last month or so. Hopefully I'll get back into it now!
Anne, congratulations!
Sarah wrote: "Thanks Charlsie and Jenny!No, the book's not out yet- still aiming for the beginning of November, but family concerns have taken me away from editing the last month or so. Hopefully I'll get back..."
Sarah wrote: "Thanks Charlsie and Jenny!
No, the book's not out yet- still aiming for the beginning of November, but family concerns have taken me away from editing the last month or so. Hopefully I'll get back..."
Let me know
Hello I'm Sondra. I joined this group a few days ago. I love historical fiction more than Amy other genre, although I am diverse in my reading. I joined in the hopes to find more books from my favorite genre. My favorite historical period is American history 1700s-reconstruction. I recently finished a few great books from this period:
Mrs. Poe
Hanging Mary
Fates and Traitors
The Kitchen House
The Gilded Hour
I'm always ready for recommendations from that time period, but have hit a wall looking for fiction surrounding the JFK era.
Hi Sondra and welcome. That's my period, too. Charlsie
Hi, I'm Patricia, I write and read historical fiction. Because i'm an Irish emigrant I tend to veer toward stories that have that theme, like Brroklyn by Colin Toibin. I understand both the Irish and the American side of the story. Knowing both cultures is almost like speaking two languages. My own trilogy starts in 1866 right after the Civil War. The first novel is called Kilpara. I love stories about the Civil War especially since I live in WV where many families were split between both sides of the conflict.
American Historical Fiction
Books mentioned in this topic
Fortitude (other topics)Black City Demon (other topics)
Black City Saint (other topics)
Bridget, A Father's Daughter (other topics)
The Winds of War (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
J. Arthur Moore (other topics)Robert Krenzel (other topics)
Robert Krenzel (other topics)
Roy Underhill (other topics)
John Jakes (other topics)
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