Fact and Fiction: How ‘True’ Should Your Historical Novel Be?
Image Source: Unsplash.com
When it comes to historical fiction, writers have to understand that there is a fine line between fiction and research. This distinction is incredibly important, especially since researchers from the University of Surrey discovered that accurate research is one of the top criteria that readers consider when evaluating historical novels. While writing quality remains the most important factor, readers highly value historical novels that are based on accurate research.
Understandably, this can be difficult if you want to exercise your freedom in creating a fictional world. While it can be difficult to strike the balance between fact and fiction, there are a few writing rules that can help you master this key aspect of historical novels.
Do the Facts Matter in Historical Fiction?
Historical fiction gives you the freedom to create new people, settings, and even problems in an event or time period from the past.
In a study on ‘Historical Fiction and Hilary Mantel’ from Andhra University, researchers emphasize that writers must understand the psychology, culture, and language of the people during that period to deliver a believable story. Author Hilary Mantel herself even stated that historical novels require intensive preparatory work, since the writers must be grounded in the culture, everyday life, and attitudes of the individuals of the time—even if you are simply using the past as a backdrop.
It may seem overwhelming to do tons of research for a fictional novel, but author Francis Spufford told the Young Writer Award that these details give your time-traveling novel authority. He recommends not just reading about the time period, but also visiting the places if possible. So, while you can make up new characters, settings, or even internal stories, you need to root the story in a historical context by understanding the culture and the experiences of the people in the past.
Good Research is the Backbone of Historical Novels
Good historical fiction is rooted in facts, so you must never compromise your research for your own novels. As a historical fiction writer, you can start your research with books related to the period that you’re writing about. History books contain great detail about each event, so you can accurately integrate these occurrences within the fictional world. But if you want to find interesting historical details, you’ll need to dig a bit deeper.
It can be difficult to find specific details from historical periods, which is why you should acquire the services of an archivist. An archivist is described by Maryville University as someone who organizes, maintains, and displays records, images, and documents. They work in universities, libraries, and museums, and will be a great source of knowledge, especially if you are looking for a specific bit of information. Not only will they speed your research up, they will be able to provide a deeper context and be able to recommend other texts and documents. As fans of history themselves, archivists will likely be more than happy to help with your research. And if they do, don’t forget to thank them in your acknowledgments.
It’s crucial to go the extra mile in your research given that the internet has plenty of inaccurate information. Our article on ‘Doing Internet Research for Your Historical Novel?’ shares that online sources showed inconsistent information about fur trader George Bonga’s year of death. While the internet provides fast and accessible data, you need to look into reliable websites and double-check each piece of information before incorporating it into your own novel.
Instead of playing it fast and loose, take the time to do actual research for your historical novel. Once you're armed with accurate knowledge about the events and customs of the time, it's so much easier to bring your fictional characters and their personal stories to life.
About the Author
Hannah Jade Aubrey fell in love with novels after reading Charlotte's Web in elementary school. This eventually inspired a passion for writing about literature, edtech, and research.