Historical Fiction Panel - July 18, 2012 discussion
What interests you about your era of history?
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Hi Linda,Wonderful question! History is not black and white, and set in stone. Historians spend lifetimes arguing with one another about what really happened, and how it really happened – and when! This even applies to battles that changed the course of history.
The more you know about history, the more you realize how much you don’t know because the further way we get from an event, the less confident we can be about how it came about. Those who say they know they’re right about this or that are forgetting that documents are lost or damaged, eye-witnesses report different accounts, and truth gets distorted over time.
It’s hard enough to establish truth in a modern court of law - and that’s when we have living eye-witnesses to cross-examine. How much harder when eye-witnesses are dead, and documents destroyed (or forged) and truth twisted for political reasons. If Hitler had won the WWII, I always think to myself, what would FDR’s reputation be today? It’s always good to keep this in mind.
That said, I strive for historical “accuracy” as much as I can.
Sandra
Amanda, for me it's definitely the character, not the place. Sandra
Sandra wrote: "Hi Linda,Wonderful question! History is not black and white, and set in stone. Historians spend lifetimes arguing with one another about what really happened, and how it really happened – and whe..."
Great response, Sandra! I had never really thought about your last statement: taking "what if" into account.
Jean V. wrote: "Do you ever find yourselves exhausted with the period you have written about previously? And if so- how do you decide what to write about next?"Hi Jean, what began with Richard III for me ended with the death of the Yorkist pretender to the throne, the so-called "Perkin Warbeck." I needed to move on, and I did – to someone who had long claimed another corner of my heart! I first learned about him as a child, and decades later, I remembered dates and events as if I were reading them off the page, so the connection ran deep for me. I never thought that one day I'd be writing his story and it's been a long and grand journey to the Eastern Roman Empire - one I hope I can pass on to my readers.
Sandra
Jen (RevJen) wrote: "How often do you consider moving outside of your preferred era? Would you move from the Renaissance to World War I, as an example? Or do you remain within the specified period perpetually?"I love changing time periods. My first novels were set in 14th century Italy. The next thing I wrote was set in Rome and Judea in the 1st century. Then a Tudor novel. I have a WWII novel in mind, and one set in Spain in the early 16th century. And I've long noodled an idea for a novel set during the 4th Crusade.
For me, the period is not the focus. It's the story. If I have an idea for the story, I'll dive into the period and learn everything I can. Just today I signed on to co-author a play about Napoleon, despite most of my knowledge of that period coming from the English side. Part of the joy of historical fiction is learning, and then sharing our interpretations of what we've learned.
Lori wrote: "Piggy-backing on my first question, what has been the most exciting primary source document you can remember finding/seeing?"The original deed of sale signed in 1353 by Dante's son Pietro, purchasing the Villa Ronchi outside Verona. I was gasping. There was my lead character's own handwriting, right before me. And he spelled his name the same way I had in the novel. Wonderful.
Lori wrote: "I assume you've traveled to some of the places you write about. How do you feel when you're standing where the people you write about have stood, and where was the most intense place you have trave..."Standing in the catacombs beneath Verona, which had been newly excavated (the "Scavi Scalageri"). I had imagined them before I even knew they actually existed, and was transported with delight to see Roman artifacts and structures had actually survived.
Anne wrote: "C.W. wrote: "Jinny wrote: "Have you ever (or how often have you) started research on one person or event and ended up writing the story about a different person or topic in that period of history? ..."Really? I like Mary of Scots. I'm always up for reading another book on her :)
E wrote: "Adding to that question: What are some of your favorite resources for research? (Favorite helpful libraries, books that really helped? Books and resources you might recommend as an intro?)"There are always specific books that become touchstones (Allen's History of Verona, Greenblatt's Will in the World), but there are some more general works that I always refer back to. Asimov's Guide to the Bible is one, and his Guide to Shakespeare is another. I actually make frequent use of Colleen McCullough's glossary at the back of The First Man In Rome. There's a whole book of ancient maps - I can't lay hands on it this second - that is a tremendous help. And there's a truly fantastic map in A World Lit Only By Fire that has travel times to places all over Europe. To name just a few.
Patrick wrote: "For the authors: what first interested you about the era of history you write about in your fiction? Was there an initial story or character you found particularly fascinating?"Yes. For The Master Of Verona, I had the initial idea for the story, but it was reading about Cangrande della Scala that clinched the time and place. For Colossus, I know where it all ends - I mean the precise date and time - and worked backwards from there. And that one came about because of a single man's sacrifice, in defiance of the Roman Emperor. There are moments like that where a whole world is born inside my head, and I know I can't rest until I set in on paper. (Actually, I often resent those moments, seeing how often they come, and how long they take to set down properly...)
Carol wrote: "Do any of you find inspiration in music while writing and if so, what are your favorites?"I personally find it impossible to listen to music when I'm writing: it gets too noisy with all those voices in my head :) But when I'm not actually working, I love classical music from the era and do listen to it to relax.
Carol wrote: "Do any of you find inspiration in music while writing and if so, what are your favorites?"Carol, I agree with CW: I find it hard to listen to anything while I'm writing. I sometimes listen to music before I write a particularly difficult scene, to get pumped up for it.
Ditto for me, Christopher. As long as you make appointments (at least you should do so in etiquette-conscious England!) with historians or curators before you go, they are really kind and eager to help.Warning: if you want to look in special collections, such as the British Library, you must have a letter of introduction from your publisher or a university/college you are affiliated with.