How Characters Are Important to a Historical Fiction Novel

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What is Historical Fiction?

Historical fiction is fiction written at least fifty years after the events described, or by someone who was not alive during the events described. It can be written as a form of escapism, putting a gloss on the past, make it more idealistic than real. Or it may revel the harsh realities of specific times and places. There is no defined degree to which historical fiction must be historical. Nor can the degree of history verses fiction be measured. There is a wide range from fiction which is thoroughly grounded in historical events, with a measure of invention at one end of the spectrum. At the other end of the spectrum is fiction set in a different time but with the historical component as a kind of window dressing.

What is the Purpose of Historical Fiction

The purpose of most works of historical fiction is usually the plot, which shows the parallels between the past and present. Showing exactly what life was like at a given time and place is usually a secondary consideration. If the author has written many works set in the same time and/or place the level of accuracy is usually higher than if this is the first or only time an author has written historical fiction. However, this is not always the case as the level of historical accuracy also depends upon the amount of knowledge the author has of the era in which their story is set. “The past is a different place, they do things differently there” as one writer noted. And all authors of historical fiction bear this in mind to a lesser or greater degree.

Historical fiction can provide an opportunity for the author to comment, and/or criticize, on a present situation, or living individuals. By setting the story in the past the author can be protected from censorship, direct engagement with the establishment, or otherwise troublesome problems which could arise from a more direct engagement with the present.

Historical fiction is a subcategory of fiction, not a subcategory of history. The blend may be largely fictional, or largely historical. It must seem to be true, unless there is a fantasy element to it. Individual works of fantasy historical fiction are, more or less, faithful to the historical record. But even with fantasy historical fiction, the question is always “if such and such happened (the fantasy part), what could have happened then.” For example if one could travel back in time (as happens in Mark Twain’s “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.”

Some historical fiction is meticulously researched down to the slightest detail. In fiction of this type the story often includes, and often focuses on the lives individuals who actually existed. Or one or more character may be invented with historical individuals, places and things incorporated into the story as a backdrop. Conversations and events may or may not be based on actual words used or events. The result is a fictionalized history which educates the reader in a serious manner.

Dialogue and the sentiments expressed in historical fiction often reflect the era in which they were written. The facts, such as the names of rulers, recent wars, and who has recently been born, married, or died in the era in which the story is set are usually accurate. The names and functions of objects (from kitchen utensils to sailing ships) as well as clothing worn are also usually accurate. But the sentiments are often contemporary, and are not infrequently inspired by contemporary opinions and sentiments. So in an era when women were expected to stay home, and female education was rarely discussed, these issues are a rarity in historical fiction. But when women’s education, right to vote and related issues were deemed important historic fiction incorporates the topic, and may even make it the central topic of the historical fiction.

Genres such as romance, detective, fantasy fiction, and fiction with multiple time frames may also defined as historical fiction if they adhere to the general definition of the genre given above.

How are Characters Important to Historical Fiction?

Authors of historical fiction deal with such questions as how much literary license can be taken when presenting real characters and how true the writer should remain to fact. Steven Pressfield has written several critically acclaimed and popular historical novels including ones on Alexander the Great and the attempt by the British to assassinate German General Erwin Rommel during World War Two. Pressfield states that historical fiction is not biography or history. The object of those genres is to provide the measure of the subject in all its colors and complexities. A novel is different. Pressfield says the most important aspect of a novel, whether historical or not, is theme. Yes, the author should attempt to remain true to the reality of the actual events and individuals included in his or her book. A writer should never deliberately alter reality. But the theme of the novel comes before rigid truth.

By way of example, Pressfield’s novel, “The Gates of Fire”, concerns the Battle of Thermopylae and includes historical characters. But the theme of the book is the resentment and jealousy the people of Athens harbored for its leaders. The central character in the book is the real Athenian general and politician, Alcibiades. Socrates is also included in the novel. But the book is not “about” Alcibiades or Socrates. The book is about the relationship between the citizenry of Athens and its leaders. Pressfield said that was why the secondary, imaginary characters were so important to him. They represent the theme of his novel. It was the scenes and the dialog involving those secondary characters that most compelled Pressfield.

In a historical novel, real-life events and actual characters can be and are omitted if they do not serve the book’s theme. The characters that make it into the novel are those that represent an aspect of the theme. In the optimal situation, the historical characters reinforce the novel’s theme. The characters in historical fiction should be depicted as true-to-reality as is known. But in the end, the purpose of the characters included in the historical novel is the same as in a non-historical novel. They are there to serve the theme of the novel.

Paddy Chayevsky, the three time Academy Award winning screenwriter, described this writing mandate. He said, “Once I figure out what the theme…is, I type it out in one sentence and tape it to the front of my typewriter. After that, nothing goes into the (work) that isn’t on that theme.”

Elizabeth Crook, the author of a historical novel set during the Texas Revolution and other historical fiction, holds that characters should not be judged by the standards and values of today. They should be allowed to be prejudiced, provincial and as repugnant in any manner that they actually were. Historical characters should be judged in the context of their time. Their personalities and characters should not be sanitized. If a historical novel passes judgment on actual characters, the book will be dated. The story that is being told needs to be related from the perspective of the characters, however offensive that view may be. The characters, both historical and fictional, provide the story’s authenticity.

Resource by F.Rosseti

I am a teacher in Michigan. I grew up in Florida and have lived here in MI for close to 15 years. I enjoy writing and skiing in my spare time.

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