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Home Syllabus Course Plan Course Pack Bibliography |
Writing
Historical Fiction
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Ballard, Allen
B. (Professor of History and Africana Studies, SUNY-Albany). Writing History / Writing Fiction: A Virtual Conference
Session. History and MultiMedia Center,
University at Albany-SUNY. Essay: http://www.albany.edu/history/hist_fict/ballard/ballardes.htm Virtual Conference Discussion URL: http://www.albany.edu/history/hist_fict/Discussion/Discussion.htm |
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| "[Should] one should
feel free to distort the actual facts of an event or events in pursuit
of fictional goals of plot or character development[?]"
History professor and novelist Allen Ballard says, no, "this should
never be done with a real character or event. One can make up a
character, put him or her into a historical stew and let him or her do
as he or she wishes, but if an event took took place on March 23, 1862,
that’s the way it should be in the historical novel. If General x was
at a certain spot on January 20, 1915, he should remain there forever,
even in the novel. Thus my preference for creating a fictional character
without the actual name of the real person whose actions may serve as
the basis for the actions of the fictional character in the novel. Once
one has created the fictional character, all bets are off. One can do
with that person as one wishes, and even create embellishments in the
events in which that person participated, so long as the general
contours of the action--be it a battle, or a political debate--are
described accurately."--Allen Ballard,
Virtual
Conference Discussion. ø |
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Bass, Cynthia. “You Don’t Need a History Degree to Write Historical Fiction.” Writer 112.11 (Nov. 1999): 20 (3pp). Rpt. EBSCOHost Academic Search Elite, 2001: AN [Item number] 2407965. [NOTE: COCC Library subscribes to EBSCOHost] |
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| Abstract: Readers
of historical fiction “hope to relive the past. They expect accuracy;
they value atmosphere; they search for interesting bits of
information.” But writers
of historical fiction need not be historians, and Bass offers advice for
historical novelists, including “invaluable” primary sources. ø |
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Leibo, Steven (Director,
International Studies Program, Russell Sage College). "Do
It Yourself Historical Fiction." Writing History / Writing
Fiction: A Virtual Conference Session. History
and MultiMedia Center, University at Albany-SUNY URL: http://www.albany.edu/history/hist_fict/Leibo/Leiboes.htm [last accessed March 2002]. |
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| Cora's Abstract: In an
effort to bring Chinese history alive for his college students, a
college history teacher writes his own historical novel and starts his
own online publishing company. Read two chapters from Leibo's novel Tienkuo: The Heavenly Kingdom. (Silk Screen Press, 1994): http://www.albany.edu/history/hist_fict/Leibo/Tienkuo.htm ø |
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| Martin, William. "First-Person Narrators in Historical Fiction." Writer 113.2 (Feb. 2000): 7 (5pp). Rpt. EBSCOHost Academic Search Elite, 2001: AN [Item number] 2705104. [NOTE: COCC Library subscribes to EBSCOHost] | |
| Cora's Abstract: Martin discusses first-person narrative
techniques used in historical fictions and compares the focus of historians
and novelists. ø |
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| Martin, William. “Writing Historical Fiction.” Writer 109.7 (July 1996): 6 (4pp). Rpt. EBSCOHost Academic Search Elite, 2001: Article Number 9606215211. [NOTE: COCC Library subscribes to EBSCOHost] | |
| Abstract: Martin
begins: “Never let the facts get in the way of a good
story." Martin offers various general observations about
writing historical fiction, discusses its advantages for the writer,
emphasizes that facts should not cloud character and plot, and explains
his approach to writing his novel Annapolis. ø |
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Mitchell, Reid (Univ.
of Maryland, Baltimore). "Imaginary
Evidence: The Historical Fiction of Alice Munro." Writing
History / Writing Fiction: A Virtual Conference Session. History
and MultiMedia Center, University at Albany-SUNY URL: http://www.albany.edu/history/hist_fict/Mitchell/Mitchelles.htm [last accessed March 2002]. |
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| "[T]he historical method, which begins
with collecting fragmentary evidence, like an archaeologist his
potsherds or the paleontologist his few bones of some great beast, does
not have to smooth contradictions and ambiguity into conventional
narrative. Like much 20th century fiction, it can instead leave much of
the work to the readers, deny them the authorial voice, and ultimately
leave the complete story unknown. Most historians prefer to leave the
reconstructions and ambiguities to the footnotes and cloak their
interpretations in authority. But the writer of historical fiction
should see opportunity where the professors fear to tread. Writers such
as Alice Munro have used the imprecision of history to create a
literature of uncertainty, fiction in which the author refuses to
reassure us that we know for sure what really happens....Alice
Munro's "A Wilderness Station" is a particularly fine example
of how imaginary evidence may be used. It is told entirely by 'documents':
letters written in the 1850s, recollections in a 1907 newspaper, and a
reminiscence written in 1959...." ø |
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“It’s not history.
It’s fiction.” |
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| Rainbolt,
William (Dept. of English, Univ. of Albany-SUNY).
"He
Disagreed with the History, But He Liked the Story."
Writing History / Writing Fiction: A Virtual Conference Session.
History and MultiMedia Center, University at Albany-SUNY URL: http://www.albany.edu/history/hist_fict/Rainbolt/Rainboltes.htm [last accessed March 2002]. |
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| Dr. Rainbolt, a creative writer, journalism
teacher, and Ph.D. in history, considers various definitions of the
genre and discusses his own approach to writing historical fiction. He
"write[s] historical fiction with three principles in mind: The
Runciman Desire, the Oates Gambit, and the Ellison Mandate." He
maintains that the imaginative experience is "not escaping, but
confronting life through literature." ø |
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| Vreeland, Susan. "Artful Research." Writer 115.1 (Jan. 2002): 41 (4pp). Rpt. EBSCOHost Academic Search Elite, 2001: AN [Item number] 5577851. [NOTE: COCC Library subscribes to EBSCOHost] | |
| Cora's Abstract: Vreeland presents advice to fiction
writers, especially novel writers, for conducting research prior to
writing, with discussion of ten valuable research approaches and sources, such
as paintings, diaries, travel books, newpaper archives, recorded oral
histories and interviews, maps, and photographs. "For me, research
gives directions, depth and authority to the writing...." Vreeland
discusses the value of early research in writing her own fiction, including Girl
in Hyacinth Blue, "which traces an alleged Vermeer painting in revise
chronology through the centuries, showing how defining moments in people's
lives are lived under its influence." The article includes "A
Wish List for Historical-Fiction Writers" of especially valuable
resources. Earlier Vreeland advises, "Don't get bogged down with
fears of historical inaccuracy when writing a first draft." ø |
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| Student
Created Historical Fiction. Sixth grade students
of Hillside Elementary School, Cottage Grove, MN. (No date.) URL: http://hillside.coled.umn.edu/1994-95/ww2/Historical.html [last accessed March 2002]. |
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"Motivated by the memories of several WWII survivors on the Memories
Listserv the Hillside sixth grade students created their own Historical Fiction."
The related Historical
Fiction: Lesson Information states, "Historical Fiction is
one of the most exciting types of literature to teach about because
students enjoy reading about the adventures of people from the
past." |
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| Brown, Joanne (Associate Professor of English,
Drake Univ., Des Moines, Iowa). "Historical
Fiction or Fictionalized History? Problems for Writers of
Historical Novels for Young Adults." The ALAN
Review 26.1(Fall 1998). [ALAN = The Assembly on
Literature for Adolescents of the National Council of Teachers of
English.] Digital Library and Archives
(Special Collections Department, University Libraries, Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University Libraries, Blacksburg,
VA). URL: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/fall98/brown.html [last accessed March 2002]. |
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Historical Fiction or Fictionalized History?
Problems for Writers of Historical Novels for Young AdultsJoanne Brown
Joanne Brown is an Associate Professor of English at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. She is the author of Presenting Kathryn Lasky (in press), a volume in the Twayne series, Writers for Young Adults.
Reference Citation: Brown, Joanne. (1998). "Historical Fiction or Fictionalized History? Problems for Writers of Historical Novels for Young Adults." The ALAN Review, Volume 26, Number 1.
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Historical Fiction
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Last Updated: 16 May 2004
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