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Categorizing Fiction
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(last edited Jan 15, 2010 04:00PM)
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Jan 15, 2010 03:59PM
This will likely seem like a silly question, but I'm a curious little badger at times so you'll hopefully just excuse that. Do you categorize fiction that is about a historical figure or historical figures separately from fiction with fictional characters in a historic setting?
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I didn't before I joined Goodreads. Now I call the first one Historical Fiction, and the second one Period Fiction. Does that make sense? Actually, the Historical Fiction includes both fiction about a historical figure/figures AND fiction about an actual historical event. Anything that is about fictional characters in a general historical setting would be period fiction.
I just have a list of books. Mine are not specifically categorized.
Lyn M wrote: "I didn't before I joined Goodreads. Now I call the first one Historical Fiction, and the second one Period Fiction. Does that make sense? Actually, the Historical Fiction includes both fiction a..."
Ooh, that is a good way of seperating that. I like that. I see some shelf organizing in my future.
Ooh, that is a good way of seperating that. I like that. I see some shelf organizing in my future.
I don't separate these two types of fiction. Both contain some amount of fact as well as fiction. Both should be well-researched. I admit that my favorite historical fiction does tend to be about real historical personages, but there are exceptions. I also love fictional characters that have become legends such as Zorro and figures who may or may not have existed such as Robin Hood. I will also be very impressed by books with unusual concepts even if they are about completely fictional characters.
I thought Robin Hood did exist. He's an Anachronism card and the Anachronism game uses real people.
You know, I admit that I do not know much about King Arthur's legend. Was he real?
Fiona wrote: "He's a bit like Robin Hood, most of his 'history' is in fact just folklore - great for stories and the like but whether he really did exist - who knows. Maybe he did, but obviously not in the way w..."
I knew that some aspects of his story were fabricated and that is why it was considered "legend" but I figured there had to be aspects to the story that were true. You're right, Fiona, it really must be something to consider what these men would have actually been like to inspire the stories we know and love today.
How do you categorize books about legendary figures in historical times? Like King Arthur or Robin Hood?
I knew that some aspects of his story were fabricated and that is why it was considered "legend" but I figured there had to be aspects to the story that were true. You're right, Fiona, it really must be something to consider what these men would have actually been like to inspire the stories we know and love today.
How do you categorize books about legendary figures in historical times? Like King Arthur or Robin Hood?
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I agree with Shomeret here. :)
King Arthur did exist. I looked it up but there isn't much on him. He lived in the time of the Saxons. In fact, I am starting "Avalon High". There are nonfiction books on King Arthur. I believe Robin Hood existed.
I will still believe they existed. :)
I really hope he did. Someone has to stick up for the "little people". We can use a Robin Hood in our times. An extra of $300 or so would really come in handy. :)
Re finding a book on Robin Hood-- My favorite Robin Hood novel is Sherwoodby Parke Godwin. It takes place soon after the Norman Conquest. I find it more believable for Robin Hood to have existed in that period.
well he would have lived during King Richard III's reign during the Crussades right?
Richard III is much later, Jayme. He's the last Plantaganet king at the end of the War of the Roses. The king you're looking for is Richard I, the Lion Hearted. That's the period when the conventional Robin Hoods are located. But all the Saxons vs. Normans conflict that's also part of the conventional legend wouldn't have been happening then. It's too late. The Normans and the Saxons inter-married over time. By Richard the Lion Hearted nobody thought in terms of Saxons vs. Normans. That's why I like the Norman Conquest period for Robin Hood. For me, Robin Hood is a revolutionary, not just an outlaw.
grrr to many fricking people with the same name
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Anastasia, thought that was a princess. I have a book on Henry VIII and it has an extensive family tree. It also includes the Plantagent family tree but it doesn't include Richard the Lion Heart in the family tree.
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yes but we haven't had an English Anastasia and Henry VIII did marry Anne of Cleves and then there was Anne Boelyn and you forgot Jane, there were a few of those.
Becky wrote: "Shaquifah?"
I prefer Bonqueesha. That's very regal.
I prefer Bonqueesha. That's very regal.
Mod
We could have had an Arthur if Henry VII's brother didn't kick the bucket. Imagine what history might've been like if that had happened. Hmm?
yeah Kathrine of Aragon would have been married to him since they were married but he died before they had any kids. Maybe she would have given birth to a son that could have lived.
Speaking of King Arthur, I started a book called "Avalon High" by Meg Cabot.
Jayme wrote: "Anastasia, thought that was a princess. I have a book on Henry VIII and it has an extensive family tree. It also includes the Plantagent family tree but it doesn't include Richard the Lion Heart in..."Henry VIII was a Tudor. His father Henry VII was the first Tudor on the throne. Richard the Lion Hearted was not related to him. I know it's complicated and confusing.
I didn't say he was, but the Plantagents were the rival family to the Tudors. 
Fiona wrote: "It is about time the British monarchs started getting inventive with their naming. I mean it's all Charles's, John's, William's, James's Henry's, Edwards, Richard's, oh and one Phillip well that's...."i watched this really good tv made dvd called a royal family, all about the decendents of christian ninth of denmark, it had interviews with the Queen of Denmark and her sons, the ex king of greece, romania some french princesses and prince michael of kent and the king of Sweden, v interesting. The Danish kings were all christians and Fredericks and another one to come so i think the royals just stick to the formula with naming!. Anyway.. so All of Christian ninths children all went on to be kings and queens, one daughter married the Tsar, one married Edward the either Queen vics son, one went to be king of greece, i forget the rest but v interesting.. so shows how interelated they all are now. The Queens great great grandmother was Queen Alexandra the daughter of Christian and Philips great great grandfather was her brother, so they both have the same great great great grandparents! Queen Margerite came across v well in it.
So - going back a bit. If you think that European and British royalty are short on the names bit (BTW you forgot Victoria for Queens), you should check out the Egyptians. As Cleopatra says (actually Margaret George writing about Cleo) Egyptian Royalty only has 4 names --Ptolemy and Alexander for boys, and Cleopatra and Berunice for girls. In fact, Cleopatra's oldest sister was named Cleopatra also, and her father, uncle, and both of her brothers were all named Ptolemy.
doesn't that get a little confusing?
That's what Cleo said. She also said that her family had no imagination! (Actually, she didn't, but the author did through her character in the book.
yeah, I noticed that when I read a YA book of Cleopatra and they had a family tree. There were two Cleopatras so you wonder which one they were talking about.
Lyn M wrote: "So - going back a bit. If you think that European and British royalty are short on the names bit (BTW you forgot Victoria for Queens), you should check out the Egyptians. As Cleopatra says (actua..."well Bernice is unusual lol
Ya, Jon that one surprised me, too. Didn't know it was an Egyptian name!
I just use historical fiction as an umbrella shelf
