Opinion: The Art of Historical Fiction

By: Nithya K., Grade 10

I’m an avid reader of fiction, and I usually find myself gravitating the most towards sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery. However, I’m selective with my historical fiction. Once in a while, I will find a truly wonderful book, and over time, I’ve come to realize that the best historical fiction novels share a few important traits.[

Well-researched and historically accurate.

No one likes to find historical or cultural inaccuracies in a novel. A single inaccuracy can unravel a narrative; you are not able to focus on the plot or the character development, but are instead fixated on investigating the setting for further mistakes. You begin to doubt whether any of the plot events have any basis in reality, and the joy of reading the book and entering a new world is diminished. Research is always a great idea. It adds another dimension of complexity and detail to the book, enriching the reading experience. 

Interesting events and characters.

My main pet peeve when reading novels from this genre is that authors may focus too much on minute details, rather than the plot, character development, and big picture. When I read a historical novel, I expect that the quality of the character development and plot will be equal to any other novel, and the setting and worldbuilding will be very realistic and detailed. I do not read it simply to learn information about that time period; I could accomplish that with an online search or by reading a nonfiction book. I applaud authors for spending time researching novels thoroughly—in my opinion, research is the most difficult part of writing in this genre—but adding too many small details and references takes away from the pacing and tone. The setting is meant to serve as just that: a backdrop to the lives of the characters. Two good examples of books that focus on characters and the plot while still being historically accurate are Lovely War by Julie Berry and The Rose Code by Kate Quinn.

Parallel plotlines.

This is a controversial subject. Many historical novels, like Lovely War, incorporate parallel plotlines or perspectives, sometimes even in different time periods. People tend to be wary of parallel plotlines because they can clutter up the book and make it confusing to read. I myself have read many books where I struggled to keep track of the various simultaneous events. Switching between time periods awkwardly can definitely cause confusion and take away from the pacing of the book. It’s very difficult to execute parallel plotlines skillfully, but when written carefully, they can make a story very enticing. The pieces of the puzzle should fit together seamlessly, and transitions between perspectives or time periods should be at the correct points in the book. Examples of books that execute this well are, again, Lovely War, as well as The Paris Agent by Kelly Rimmer — it switches between both time periods and perspectives.

Social situations and the human experience remain the same.

Whether you’re in ancient Egypt or the twenty-first century, friend drama stays the same. Core human experiences persist throughout cultures and time periods, uniting readers from many different backgrounds. If you think about it, books are composed of social interactions: dialogue fills the majority of a book. When switching time periods, some language may change (obviously, people in the 18th century would not use modern slang), but the overall message and scenario should remain constant. These common experiences transcend language barriers or time period switches. This connection bridges the gap between past and present, making characters feel more relatable. They don’t seem so far removed if they act the same and have similar problems as the reader. 

Historical fiction novels are a wonderful way to immerse yourself in another world without completely straying from reality. They are the perfect combination of fiction and nonfiction; they keep the plot fun and original while also referencing fascinating parts of history.