ILS614 - Fall, 2001
Genre Projects
Historical Fiction
Historical
Fiction:
Two
Definitions
From Diana T. Herald Genreflecting:
“...historical fiction is
considered stories that begin prior to the middle of the twentieth century....
with strong plots in which the setting (time and place) also plays a prominent
and integral role in the story rather than serving simply as a
backdrop...Popular historical fiction is peopled by romantic heroes and heroines
who face adventure and emerge triumphant. It
follows the same model of other genre fiction in that a character faces and
overcomes adversity. At its best,
historical fiction makes the past come to life.”
(5th edition, 2000, p. 1)
From Joyce G. Saricks The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction:
“...Historical Fiction [is] a
novel set in the past, before the author’s lifetime and experience... Through
its serious respect for historical accuracy and detail, Historical Fiction
enhances the reader’s knowledge of past events, lives and customs.
The goal of authors of Historical Fiction is to bring history to life in
novel form.” (2001, p. 81)
Characteristics
of Historical Fiction
From Joyce G. Saricks The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction:
1. There is a wealth of accurate historical detail relating to setting (geography, customs, beliefs,culture, society, habits) as well as to characters and events.
2. Characters may be real or fictional, but they are portrayed
in such a way that they fit the times. Their
lives and actions are shaped by the historical times and details, not vice
versa.
3. Story lines may focus on a particular historical event of
time period or they may follow the life of a character (real or fictional).
Novels may raise difficult social or moral issues through the plot.
4. Historical novels are usually big books, with stories that
unfold at a leisurely pace. Even
shorter Historical Novels are usually so densely written that they must be read
slowly.
(2001, p. 82)
Historical
Fiction
Writers
to Try
If You
Enjoy....
Adventure:
Henryk Sienkiewicz
Fantasy:
Jennifer Roberson
Gentle:
Eugenia Price
Jeanne Williams
Inspirational:
Thomas B. Costain
Literary:
Michael Shaara
George Garrett
Hella A. Haasse
Romance:
Rosalind Laker
Thriller:
Margaret Birkhead
Western:
Don Coldsmith
Women’s
Lives:
Gillian Bradshaw
Molly Gloss
Claire Cooperstein
From Saricks, Joyce G. The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction. 2001, p. 92.
Authors
to Take
You Beyond
the Historical
Fiction
Genre:
Adventure:
Patrick O’Brian
Dorothy Dunnett
Gentle:
Jessamyn West
Inspirational:
Linda Chaikin
Literary:
Gore Vidal
Thomas Pynchon
Mystery:
Elizabeth Peters
Anne Perry
Psychological:
Caleb Carr
Romance:
Patricia Veryan
Thriller:
Alan Furst
Western:
Norman Zollinger
Will Henry
Women’s
Lives:
Cindy Bonner
From Saricks, Joyce G. The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction. 2001, p. 100.
Historical
Fiction
Print
Resources:
Adamson, Lynda G. Literature Connections to American History (Libraries Unlimited, 1997).
_______________. Literature Connections to World History (Libraries Unlimited, 1998).
. World Historical Fiction: An Annotated Guide to Novels for Adults and Young Adults (Oryx Press, 1998).
Adamson, Lynda G. and A. T. Dickinson, American Historical Fiction: An Annotated Guide to Novels for Adults and Young Adults (Oryx Press, 1998).
Burt, Daniel. What Historical Novel Do I Read Next? (Gale, 1997).
Contemporary Authors (Gale, 1962- ).
Fiction Catalog, 13th ed. (Wilson, 1996).
Gerhardstein, Virginia Brokaw. Dickinson’s American Historical Fiction, 5th ed. (Scarecrow Press, 1986).
Hartman, Donald K. and Gregg Sapp. Historical Figures in Fiction (Oryx Press, 1994).
Herald, Diana Tixier. Genreflecting: A Guide to Reading Interests in Genre Fiction, 5th ed.
(Libraries Unlimited, 2000).
Martin, Rhona. Writing Historical Fiction (Talman, 1995).
Oliver, Marina. Writing Historical Fiction: How to Create Authentic Historical Fiction and Get It Published (Trans-Atlantic, 1998).
Saricks, Joyce G. The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction (American Library Association, 2001).
VanMeter, Vandelia L. America in Historical Fiction: A Bibliographic Guide (Libraries Unlimited, 1997).
Vasudevan, Aruna and Lesley Henderson, eds. Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers, 3rd edition (St. James Press, 1994).
Wooley, Persia. How to Write and Sell Historical Fiction (Writer’s Digest Books, 1997).
Historical
Fiction
Electronic
Resources:
General Historical Fiction:
http://worldhistoricalfiction.com - World Historical Fiction - bestsellers, reviews, article archive, links, lists by location and time period
http://www.angelfire.com/il/ofagespast - Of Ages Past, online magazine for historical fiction
http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~soon/histfiction - Soon’s Historical Fiction Site - reference sources, newsgroups, bibliographies, links
http://www.downersgrovelibrary.org/pages/histfiction.html - see also
http://www.downersgrovelibrary.org/pages/histnovels.html - Downers Grove (IL) Library - extensive reading lists with book summaries
http://www.bookbrowser.com/Reviews/RevHist.html - BookBrowser - reviews of historical fiction
http://www.edsbookreview.com/histfict - Ed’s Internet Book Review - Historical Fiction - signed book reviews
http://www.slco.lib.ut.us/histor-fic.htm - Salt Lake County (UT) Library - Historical Fiction - lists, reviews, links, American historical fiction booklist arranged chronologically
http://arts.searchbeat.com/Literature/Genres/HistoricalFiction - Search Beat - author index, reviews, links
http://www.multnomah.lib.or.us/lib/ref/books.html - see also
http://www.multcolib.org/books/index.html - Multnomah County (OR) Library - recommended reading lists
http://www.webrary.org/rs/rsmenu.htm - Morton Grove (IL) Library - includes Fiction_L, mailing lists, websites bibliographies and pathfinders
http://www.simegen.com/reviews/historical - Historical related book reviews, chat rooms and listserv
http://members-http-3.rwc1.sfba.home.net/albeej/pages/Historical.html - Many links to websites plus tools
http://www.authorsden.com/categories/cat.asp?catID=26 - Author’s Den - brief author biographies, booklists, news
http://www.noblenet.org/wakefield - Wakefield (MA) Public Library’s Readers’ Advisory - Historical Fiction - historical fiction booklists according to time and place; also has Readers’ Advisory page and reviews
http://www.overbooked.org - Overbooked - weblinks, reviews and reading lists
http://www.northstarnet.org/mpkhome/mppl/RA/genrefic.htm - Mt. Pleasant (IL) Public Library Readers’ Advisory service and booklists by fiction genre
http://www.cantonpl.org/services/genre/histfic.html - Canton (MI) Public Library - links to other websites
http://www.armchairhistorian.com - Armchair Historian - site being developed - reviews of historical fiction, lists of historic fiction and non-fiction links
http://www.nsn.org/wlkhome/wlkpl/historic.html - Willmette (IL) Public Library - booklist
http://BookSpot.com/genres/historicalfiction.htm - Book Spot - links to websites and author links by category
http://dannyreviews.com/s/historical_fiction.html - Danny Yee’s Book Reviews
http://www.evanston.lib.il.us/library/bibliographies/bd13.html - Evanston (IL) Public Library - historical fiction by category, author list
http://dir.yahoo.com/arts/humanities/literature/genres/historical_fiction - Links to websites
Alternative History:
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/alternative_history - Exploring what might have happened if...?
Celtic/Irish History:
http://www.dominy.com/ierne - Ierne: Celtic Historical Fiction and all things Celtic
http://www.ancient-ireland.com/book.htm - Ancient Ireland - mostly travel and information - Book of the Month, monthly review of books about ancient Ireland, mostly non-fiction but some fiction
Christian Historical Fiction:
http://www.tracysbooknook.com - Tracy’s Book Nook - Christian historical fiction, lists, reviews, author profiles
Ancient Rome:
http://www.stockton.edu/%7Eroman/fiction - Fictional Rome - devoted to ancient Rome - authors and reviews, glossary, historical figures, reference works, booklist, timeline, discussion group, links
http://heli.best.vwh.net/roman - The Detective and the Toga - bibliography of mystery novels and short stories set in ancient Rome
Historical Mystery:
http://members.home.net/monkshould/hmas-index.html - Historical Mystery Appreciation Society, part of Sue Feder’s Magical Mystery Tour
http://members.tripod.com/~BrerFox/historicalmystery.html - historical mystery
Historical Romance:
http://www.literary-liasons.com - Literary Liasons - historical romance
Prehistoric Fiction:
http://www.trussel.com/f_prehis.htm - Prehistoric Fiction - history of, roots of, bibliography and links, author profiles, reviews, prehistoric news timeline
http://pages.ivilllage.com/novels - Historical Novels, 3500 BC to 1000 AD: A Current Guide
http://www.downersgrovelibrary.org/pages/prehistoric.html - Downers Grove (IL) Library - Prehistoric fiction reading list
Recorded Books:
http://www.recordedbooks.com/library/template7.cfm?core=CC012 - Lists of recorded books of historical fiction with prices
Renaissance Historical Fiction:
http://www.keeline.com/RenBooks - Renaissance Historical Fiction - adult site still under construction but looks interesting
Swashbucklers:
http://www.virtur.nu/willcaine/swashfrm.htm - Swashbucklers website
