Why like historical fiction??

[guytwo]

Isn't historical fiction an oxymoron?

I very much prefer history but I have a casual friend that reads historical fiction. I don't understand why, am I missing something?

Like Mark Twain said, "Truth is stranger than fiction but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; truth isn't."

[Fran]

Personally I love historical fiction but I am also a lover of "straight" history books. I think the attraction of the best historical fiction is that building the story around fictional characters while using a historical setting or historical events makes it more realistic and I find it easier to identify with the events and the actions or inactions of historical personalities. History of course is written entirely focused on major figures and events but historical fiction permits an opportunity to identify with the "ordinary" people who must also have been a part of the story of great events or personalities and very often more deeply impacted by those events.

[guytwo]

... History of course is written entirely focused on major figures and events but historical fiction permits an opportunity to identify with the "ordinary" people who must also have been a part of the story of great events or personalities and very often more deeply impacted by those events.

Thank you for your response! I do see your point, but there are books with the "ordinary" people represented in history. The non-fiction writer Eric Larson has written several books about historic events with "ordinary" people as the main character. Agreed that he is probably the exception.

[MoreCowbell]

Something I really like about historical fiction is that it can describe things in an interesting way that would normally be quite dry, like how houses were built, what food was gathered/hunted/eaten, how clothes were made, what types of things people did for fun, what the religion or politics of a society was like...it puts me "there" a lot more easily than a straight history book, although I definitely prefer historical fiction that has been researched for years, like that of Jean Auel. I love the way historical fiction makes in interested in things that I never would've been interested in before. If you would like to expand your horizons you might check out:

The Clan of the Cave Bear series by Jean Auel
Books by Michael and Kathleen O'Neal Gear, especially People of the Mist
1916 by Morgan Llewellyn
Dreamland by Kevin Baker

Holocaust memoirs are also a wonderful way to see history through someone's eyes; I highly recommend Alicia: My Story by Alicia Appleman-Jurman.

[guytwo]

CowBell I bet you would like this book; "Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern" by Joshua Zeitz

An easy read and very entertaining, great grandma was a wild child! The sexual revolution didn't start in the 1960's, it started in the 1920's.

Edit: Because this nonfiction book mentioned F.Scott Fitzgerald so much as the leader of the "Flapper Pack" I got 2 of his fiction books and didn't much like either one.

[Pinkpaper]

I have to admit historical fiction doesnt appeal to me as I HAVE to know which bits are 100% true and which arent. I can completely see why people love them and I did like the other boleyn girl,although I then did my own research into it to see which bits were true (I also do this after watching the Tudors.

The only problem with it is that some people really do believe its all true. I do actually have a work colleague who does believe Philippa Gregory is a actual historian, this is the fault of my colleague rather than philippa Gregory though.

One of my favourite types of books is where you have fictional characters with real historical events used as a backdrop but I dont think I would classify this as historical fiction?

[guytwo]

Why fictional character in real (historical) events?? Straight fiction, OK; science fiction, I get it. But I have no interest in historical fiction and don't get why people do; but anyway - From Wikipedia:
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 has not been previously recorded. Other times, a historical event is used to complement a story's narrative, occurring in the background while characters deal with situations (personal or otherwise) wholly unrelated to that historical event. 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 under the genre of alternate history, which is known for speculating on what could have happened if a significant historical event had occurred 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 considered historical fantasy.

EDIT: Remember that historical fiction is still fiction.

[jemado]

I think part of the appeal of historical fiction is that you can get a sense of what it was like for people to live in a certain time period without having to read a history book. I'm a history major in college and I've read plenty of history books that can be a bit bland. They sometimes merely present basic facts in a pretty boring way. In reading historical fiction, you can still get a pretty good idea of what life was like in a particular time period, just in a more fun way.

I myself enjoy both history and historical fiction. I tend to prefer my historical fiction to be about fictional people rather than fictional stories about real people. I agree that if I'm reading a book about a real person, I'd rather just read a biography or history book. Although historical fiction can sometimes skew people's views of the past, well-written historical fiction can help people get a grasp of the basics of history without being bogged down with a lengthy account of the time period.

But that's just my two cents

[goldah]

Isn't historical fiction an oxymoron?

I very much prefer history but I have a casual friend that reads historical fiction. I don't understand why, am I missing something?

Like Mark Twain said, "Truth is stranger than fiction but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; truth isn't."

i agree. i don't get the hang of historical fiction.

[guytwo]

A history major that likes historical fiction!!!??Shame on you Jemado.



I guess goldah and I will have to beat you with our book marks.

[Daily Alice]

Why shouldn't I like The Three Musketeers by Dumas or The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Hugo or War and Peace by Tolstoy or Barnaby Rudge by Dickens?

These four novels are just a few examples of historical fiction. Historical fiction has been written since about the 11th century.

[jemado]

A history major that likes historical fiction!!!??Shame on you Jemado.



I guess goldah and I will have to beat you with our book marks.

Hahaha. Guess I'm a disgrace to the whole field of history, huh?

[guytwo]

Why shouldn't I like The Three Musketeers by Dumas or The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Hugo or War and Peace by Tolstoy or Barnaby Rudge by Dickens?

These four novels are just a few examples of historical fiction. Historical fiction has been written since about the 11th century.

Great books I'm sure, but not for a history major!

A history major that likes historical fiction!!!??Shame on you Jemado.



I guess goldah and I will have to beat you with our book marks.

Hahaha. Guess I'm a disgrace to the whole field of history, huh?

Well, I guess you've been punished enough for now. Time for you to read this nonfiction book and I bet you would like it; "Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern" by Joshua Zeitz

BTW: I'm now reading a book about the original "It girl" Clara Bow. A 1920's film star wild-child.

[jemado]

A history major that likes historical fiction!!!??Shame on you Jemado.



I guess goldah and I will have to beat you with our book marks.

Hahaha. Guess I'm a disgrace to the whole field of history, huh?

Well, I guess you've been punished enough for now. Time for you to read this nonfiction book and I bet you would like it; "Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern" by Joshua Zeitz

BTW: I'm now reading a book about the original "It girl" Clara Bow. A 1920's film star wild-child.[/quote]

Oddly enough I actually have "Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern". I bought it a few months ago and it's on my to-read list. I'm really looking forward to it. I love 1920's history.

[guytwo]

Let me know how you like the Flapper book! I really enjoyed it, I guess because I like strong & wild women. I just don't remember why. A great book about the Roaring 20's.

Right now I'm reading Clara Bow - Running Wild By David Stenn. I've already read Silent Star Colleen Moore Talks About Her Hollywood by Colleen Moore. I also have a book about Louise Brooks on hand but may change subjects after Clara's book. I tend to get on a trend, or rut.

A book that should follow the Roaring 20's is The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan. It's about the Dust Bowl of the 1930's. Rough times, and a tad long.