Historical fiction

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Historical fiction is a sub-genre of fiction that often portrays alternate accounts or dramatization of historical figures or events. Stories in this genre, while fictional, make an honest attempt at capturing the spirit, manners, and social conditions of the person or time they represent with attention paid to detail and fidelity.^[1] Historic fiction is found in books, magazines,^[2] art, television, movies, games, theater, and other media.

1 Definition
2 Literature
- 2.1 Authors
3 Media and culture
- 3.1 Film and television
4 See also
5 External links
6 References

[edit] Definition

Historic fiction presents readers with a story that takes place during a notable period in history, and usually during a significant event in that period.

Historic 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 is not recorded in history. Other times, the historical event complements a story's narrative, occurring in the background while characters deal with events (personal or otherwise) wholly unrelated to recorded history. Sometimes, historical fiction can be for the most part true, but 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 into the genre of alternate history, which is known for speculating on what could have happened if a significant historical event had gone 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 often considered historical fantasy.

[edit] Literature

For more details on this topic, see historical novel.

Historical literature includes the works of authors that epitomize a specific period in history. Historical literature has been written since at least the 11th century BCE.

Egyptian Story of Wenamun
The Waverley Novels, by Sir Walter Scott (over 40 distinct books)
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Pharaoh, by Bolesław Prus
Mr. Tucket, by Gary Paulsen

[edit] Authors

Jean M. Auel: The Earth's Children Series set in pre-historic Europe
Adam Bagdasarian: Forgotten Fire
L.E. Butler: Relief
Caleb Carr: Wrote The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness
James Clavell: The Asian Saga
Bernard Cornwell: Sharpe series set in 19th century Europe and India, and other works set elsewhere.
E.L. Doctorow: Ragtime
C. S. Forester: Hornblower series and others
Philippa Gregory: The Other Boleyn Girl, The Constant Princess set in the Tudor era; Earthly Joys set in 17th century England, and other works.
Conn Iggulden: Emperor series and Conqueror series
Morgan Llywelyn: author of books set mostly in Ireland.
Colleen McCullough: Masters of Rome series of novels about the last years of the Roman Republic
James Michener: 40+ epic novels, first famous work was Tales of the South Pacific.
William Napier: Wrote Attila trilogy
Patrick O'Brian: Series of novels featuring Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin. Seen as one of the greatest recent exponents of the genre
Jean Plaidy: several books, mostly about European queens and princesses
Boleslaw Prus: Pharaoh
Erich Maria Remarque: All Quiet on the Western Front, The Night in Lisbon.
Ann Rinaldi: 40+ young adult historical fiction novels, primarily set in the United States.
Edward Rutherford: several epic novels including Sarum, Russka, and London
Simon Scarrow: Eagle series of Roman military fiction
Henryk Sienkiewicz: Quo Vadis (novel)
Anne Easter Smith: Wars of the Roses series
Wilbur Smith: Ancient Egypt Series
Indu Sundaresan: The Twentieth Wife and sequel The Feast of Roses, fictionalized story of the Mughal empress Noor Jehan, set in 16th and 17th century Mughal Empire, India.
Beverly Swerling: City of Dreams, City of Glory, Shadowbrook, and the forthcoming City of God" -- novels set in early days of the Mid-Atlantic States
Harry Turtledove: Alternate history fiction
Mark Twain: Various works of historical fiction about the American South.
Jack Whyte: Camulod Chronicles / A Dream of Eagles, set in early fifth century Britain; also Templar Trilogy

[edit] Media and culture

Works of historical fiction are not reserved exclusively to literature. Many films have been created which attempt to use a historic event or setting as a backdrop and actors portray fictional or historic figures set in these events. Below are a few notable examples.

[edit] Film and television

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles - George Lucas' TV series involves the fictional character Indiana Jones with many major people and events of the early 20th Century, with a focus on World War I.
The Tudors - A dramatic television series observing the reign of Henry VIII.
Flags of Our Fathers/Letters from Iwo Jima directed by Clint Eastwood
Memoirs of a Geisha - A fictional account of the life of a Geisha set in World War II Japan. Based on the book of the same name.
Forrest Gump directed by Robert Zemeckis - A simple man is woven into major American historical events from the 1950s to the turn of the century.