This is perhaps the least punchy blog title of all time (and for some of you a similarly dull topic), but to me it’s fascinating! To those who are intrigued, read on.
For years, I’ve held a continuum in my head, a way to classify historical fiction divided into five categories, with a new sixth category recently added in. After talking to Augusta Scattergood about this idea*, she asked me to blog about the continuum. So here we go.
The first category in my continuum I call history light. May B. falls into this one. It’s a story with a specific historical setting (time and place) but includes no historical event or people. On the other end would be a novel like Melanie Fishbane’s Maud: A Novel Inspired by the Life of L.M. Montgomery. Not only does Maud center on a real person and is full of real events, Melanie had to be granted permission to even write the story! I’d classify a book like this as a five.
For those interested, I’ve called Jasper and the Riddle of Riley’s Mine a two and Blue Birds a three. Both have a specific setting and specific historical events. Jasper mentions historical figures, but I took liberties with the few I brought to life. With Blue Birds I had to go a step further and develop both personalities and motivations for minor characters who were nevertheless based on real people — a bit of a daunting task.
I have a future novel idea I’ve wanted to tackle for years but have avoided for a couple of reasons. I haven’t felt mature enough as a writer to try it yet. For one, it covers a good chunk of time. For another, it’s a level four-book — one with a specific setting, event, and characters who are the story’s major players. Just thinking about it makes me a bit nervous, but wow, it will be really satisfying to take on someday.
Recently I’ve added one more level that falls to the left of number one — history ultra light — moving the range from 0-5. This is the sort of book my new novel, Miraculous, is shaping up to be. Not only is there no specific historical event or people, it’s not anchored in a specific time and place. It’s in the past and deals with events that could have only taken place in a different era. Its set in the midwest (though this is never stated), in the late 1800s. That’s as specific as I get. Though I want to give the sense the story could have happened anywhere during a broad swath of time, I still had quite a bit of research to do, not about the setting but medicine shows and and cure-alls and charlatans.
I’m curious! For those of you who read or write historical fiction, have you ever thought about the genre in these ways?
* Augusta and I decided most of her books fit in category one, history light.
I have thought about the historical fiction continuum, although I haven’t been as systematic about the classifications. I like writing category 5, with real characters and events, and based on diaries, newspaper articles, and other source documents. It must be the retired librarian in me.
The Year We Were Famous – newspaper articles , family history, maps
Sweet Home Alaska – oral histories, diaries, Associated Press photographs
I love, love, love your books, Carole!
This is SO interesting, Caroline. Like Carole, I’m also a librarian and did a ton of research for GLORY BE- set during Freedom Summer. And quite a bit for THE WAY TO STAY IN DESTINY (Vietnam War, Henry Aaron). Oral histories from the Library of Congress, etc. And my newest book is totally based on real historical events, the Chinese immigrants to the South. But except for Hank Aaron and a mention of the Kennedys, no actual people made their way into any of my books. Still, I’d be hard-pressed to put a lot of the wonderful historical fiction I read into a continuum. Thinking right now about The War that Saved My life. WWII, of course, and a lot of research but no real figures in history named? Hmmmmm. 🙂
It’s totally possible this only works with my own writing in my own head!
Great post, I like your idea of placing historical fiction on a continuum, which also helps readers to know what they’re getting in a book. I think my FORBIDDEN trilogy is somewhere between a 2 and a 3. Would you agree/disagree?
I think that’s a good fit, Kim!
Thanks for this post and thank Augusta for the idea. I can use this with students as they think about historical fiction. I can ask them where they would rank the books they read.
That’s a great idea!
I am a teacher trying to explain to my middle school students the differences in historical fiction. I had the idea of a continuum, and when I Googled it, your blog popped up. Thank you for this. I will be using this in my class and giving you credit.
I love hearing this!