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Historical fiction
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Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from
history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the main characters tend to be fictional.
Writers of stories in this genre, while penning fiction, attempt to capture the manners and social
conditions of the persons or time(s) presented in the story, with due attention paid to period detail
and fidelity. [1] Historical fiction is found in books, magazines, [2] art, television programming, film,
theater, video games and other media.
Contents [hide]

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1 Definition

About Wikipedia

2 Literature

Community portal
Recent changes

3 Media and culture

3.1 Film and television

Contact Wikipedia

4 See also

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Look up historical fiction in

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5 References
6 External links

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Definition

[edit]

Espaol

A story (can be: book, play, TV show, film and so on) with a historical setting.

Franais

Historical fiction presents readers with a story that takes place during a notable period in history, and
usually during a significant event in that period. Historical fiction often presents actual events from the
point of view of fictional people living in that time period.

Portugus

In some historical fiction, famous events appear from points of view not recorded in history, with
fictional characters either observing or actively participating in these actual events. Historical figures
are also often shown dealing with these events while depicting them in a way that has not been
previously recorded. Other times, a historical event is used to complement a story's narrative,
occurring in the background while characters deal with situations (personal or otherwise) wholly
unrelated to that historical event. Sometimes, 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 under the genre of alternate history, which is known for speculating on what
could have happened if a significant historical event had occurred differently. On a similar note,
events occurring in historical fiction must adhere to the laws

Literature

[edit]

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 20th century BC:
Ancient Egyptian Story of Sinuhe (20th century BC)
Ancient Egyptian Story of Wenamun (11th century BC)
Chariton's Callirhoe (mid-1st century AD; set 500 years earlier)
Augustan History (4th century AD)
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The Waverley Novels, by Sir Walter Scott (over 40 distinct books)

Pharaoh, by Bolesaw Prus
Mr. Tucket, by Gary Paulsen
I, Claudius, by Robert Graves
The Good Earth, by Pearl S. Buck
Eric Ambler a series of spy novels set in Europe before World War II, starting with The Dark
Frontier.
Borislav Pekic: most of his books are historical fiction, including Time of Miracles, How to quite a
Vampire and his masterpiece The Golden Fleece.
Ars Magica, by Nerea Riesco
Margaret Atwood: Penelopiad
Jean M. Auel: The Earth's Children - Series set in pre-historic Europe
Julian Barnes: Arthur & George
Caleb Carr: The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness
Willa Cather: Death Comes for the Archbishop, Shadows on the Rock, My Antonia
James Clavell: The Asian Saga
Bernard Cornwell: Sharpe series set in 19th century Europe and India, the Starbuck Chronicles,
set during the American Civil War, the Saxon Stories set in Alfred the Great's pre-England, the
Grail Quest Novels set in mid-14th century England/Normandy, and The Warlord Chronicles, set
in Arthurian Britain.
Stephen Crane: The Red Badge of Courage
Kurt Vonnegut: "Slaughterhouse-Five" real life World War II events, written from the perspective of
characters. Considered Vonnegut's autobiography.
Charles Dickens: Barnaby Rudge and A Tale of Two Cities
E. L. Doctorow: Ragtime
Maurice Druon: The Accursed Kings series
Alexandre Dumas: The Three Musketeers and sequels in the d'Artagnan series.
Dorothy Dunnett: The Lymond Chronicles, The House of Niccolo series, King Hereafter
Umberto Eco: The Name of the Rose (Il nome della rosa, 1980)
Shusaku Endo: Silence
J. G. Farrell: Troubles, The Siege of Krishnapur (1973 Booker Prize Winner) and The Singapore
Grip
Ken Follett: most of his books are historical fiction, including his bestseller The Pillars of the
Earth.
Ford Madox Ford: The Fifth Queen, a trilogy about Katherine Howard in the court of King Henry
VIII.
C. S. Forester: Horatio Hornblower series and others
George Macdonald Fraser: The Flashman Series
Alan Furst: a series of spy novels set in Europe before World War II, starting with Night Soldiers.
Michael Cawood Green: For the Sake of Silence
Patricia Reilly Giff: Nory Ryan's Song
Noah Gordon: The Physician, The Shaman
Philippa Gregory: The Other Boleyn Girl, The Constant Princess set in the Tudor era; Earthly
Joys set in 17th century England, and other works.
W.E.B. Griffin: The Corps Series - Historical fiction series taking place shortly before WWII,
through to Korea.
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles: The Morland Dynasty - Historical fiction series from the War of the Roses
currently to World War I
Angela Elwell Hunt: Legacies of the Ancient River series, The Keepers of the Ring series, The

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Historical fiction - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Heirs of Cahira O'Connor series, Magdalene

Conn Iggulden: Emperor series; Conqueror series; The Dangerous Books for Boys series and
Blackwater.
Gary Jennings: Aztec, The Journeyer
Jonathan Littell: The Kindly Ones
Morgan Llywelyn: author of books set mostly in Ireland
Frederick Marryat: Children of the New Forest
Colleen McCullough: Masters of Rome seriesnovels about the last years of the Roman Republic
Carolyn Meyer: Young Royals series and others
James Michener: 40+ epic novels, including Tales of the South Pacific.
Anchee Min: Chinese-themed sagas Empress Orchid, The Last Emperor
William Napier: Attila trilogy
Mary Novik: Conceit, a novel about the family of John Donne, set in 17th century London
Patrick O'Brian: Series of novels featuring Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin in the British Navy
set in the Napoleonic Wars
Charles Whistler: Historic fiction between 600 and 1100 AD, of English/Saxon chronicles involving
the Norse or Danish and archeological discoveries
Orhan Pamuk: My Name is Red
Arturo Prez-Reverte: Spanish author of a number of historical novels, including the Captain
Alatriste series. His books are written in Spanish, but a number have been translated into English.
Jean Plaidy: several books, mostly about European queens and princesses
H. F. M. Prescott: The Man on a Donkey - set during the dissolution of the monasteries
Linda Proud: The Botticelli Trilogy - set in Renaissance Florence.
Mary Renault: The Bull from the Sea and other novels set in ancient Greece
Ann Rinaldi: 40+ young adult historical fiction novels, primarily set in the United States.
Laura Joh Rowland mystery novels set in feudal Japan.
Edward Rutherfurd: several epic novels including Sarum, Russka, and London
Steven Saylor: Roma Sub Rosa series set in ancient Rome.
Simon Scarrow: Eagle series of Roman military fiction
Henryk Sienkiewicz: Quo Vadis
Anne Easter Smith: Wars of the Roses series
Wilbur Smith: The Courtney and Ballentyne series and independent adventure novels set in Africa
in between the 17th and 20th centuries and the 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 City of God - novels set in
early days of the Mid-Atlantic States.
Leo Tolstoy: War and Peace
Mark Turnbull: Decision Most Deadly, a novel set in London during 1641, as England plunged into
civil war.
Harry Turtledove: Alternate history fiction
Mark Twain: various works of historical fiction about the American South.
Mika Waltari: numerous works of historical fiction, best known for his magnum opus The Egyptian
(Finnish: Sinuhe egyptilinen)
Jack Whyte: Camulod Chronicles, A Dream of Eagles, set in early fifth century Britain; also
Templar Trilogy.
Lauren Willig: Pink Carnation series about spies during the Napoleonic wars
Marguerite Yourcenar: Memoirs of Hadrian
Julian Stockwin, Thomas Kydd series set in the Age of Fighting Sail

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Alan Fenton, The Return of Arthur Series set in Modern day

Bevis Longstreth, Spindle and Bow and Return of the Shade, set in Ancient Persia.
Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, set in 1863 during the American Civil War.
Walter Dean Myers, Sunrise over Fallujah, set in the 2003 Iraq War. Follows Civil Workings
company.
Phil War, Raiding Forces Series, set during World War II in France. Follows the British
Commandos.
A.F. Eleazar, Kalangitan, set during 1400 A.D in the Classical Epoch Era of the Philippines.
Richard Zimler, The Warsaw Anagrams, The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon, The Seventh Gate,
Guardian of the Dawn and Hunting Midnight
Tong Hua, Bu Bu Jing Xin, set in 18th century Qing Dynasty China, within Kangxi Emperor's later
reign and Yongzheng Emperor's ascension.

Media and culture

[edit]

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 historical
figures set in these events. Below are a few notable examples in the chronological order that the
events took place.

Film and television

[edit]

Main article: Epic film

They are expensive and lavish to produce, because they require elaborate and panoramic settings,
on-location filming, authentic period costumes, inflated action on a massive scale and large casts of
characters. Biographical films are often less lavish versions than this genre. They are often called
costume dramas, since they emphasise the world of a period setting: historical pageantry, costuming
and wardrobes, locale, spectacle, decor and a sweeping visual style. They often transport viewers to
other worlds or eras: ancient times, biblical times, the Middle Ages, the Victorian era, or turn-of-thecentury America. [3]
Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. (1951)
Spartacus (1960)
Cleopatra (1963)
Braveheart (1995)
Hercules (1997)
Titanic (1997)
Hornblower (TV series) (1998-2003)
The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999)
The 13th Warrior (1999)
Gladiator (2000)
Attila (2001)
Asoka (2001)
Alexander (2004)
King Arthur (2004)
Spartacus (TV miniseries) (2004)
Troy (2004)
Deadwood (2004-2006)
Rome (2005-2007)
The New World (2005)
Tristan + Isolde (2006)
Apocalypto (2006)
The Tudors (2007 - 2010) (TV)

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Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

300 (2007)
Agora (2009)
Spartacus: Blood and Sand (2010) (TV)
Centurion (2010)
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
The Eagle of the Ninth (2011)
Amaya (TV series) - (2011)
The Borgias (2011) (TV)
A Weaver on the Horizon (2010) (TV)

See also

[edit]

Alternate history
Historical fantasy
Historical novel
Historical romance
Sword and sandal
Historical whodunnit
Category:Historical fiction awards

References

[edit]

1. ^ Search Results for historical fiction - Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia

2. ^ See, e.g., Paradox Magazine stories in the historical fiction sub-genre.
3. ^ http://www.filmsite.org/epicsfilms.html

External links
Period Dramas.com

[edit]
a costume-drama movie database based around a historical timeline.

Historical Fiction recommended reading

Historical Fiction database

, divided by time period.

Audio Archives from "Historical Fiction and The Search for Truth"
Seminar
Narrative

vde
Character
Plot

- 2009 Key West Literary

[hide]

Antagonist/Archenemy Characterization Deuteragonist False protagonist Focal character

Foil character Protagonist Supporting character Tritagonist Viewpoint character
Climax Conflict Dnouement Dialogue Dramatic structure Exposition Falling action
Plot device Subplot Trope-Clich

Setting

Dystopia Fictional city Fictional country Fictional location Fictional universe Utopia

Theme

Leitmotif Moral Motif

Style

Diction Figure of speech Imagery Literary technique Narrative mode Stylistic device
Suspension of disbelief Symbolism Tone

Form

Fable-Parable Fabliaux Fairy tale Flash story Folktale-Legend Hypertext Novel Novella
Play Poem Screenplay Short story List of narrative forms

Genre

Adventure Comic Crime Docufiction Epistolary Erotic Faction Fantasy Historical

Horror Magic realism Mystery Paranoid Philosophical Political Romance Saga Satire
Science Speculative Superhero Thriller Urban

Narrator
Tense

Alternating person First-person Second-person Third-person (Limited Objective Omniscient

Subjective) Stream of consciousness The narrative types of the narrator Unreliable
Past tense Present tense Future tense

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Historical fiction - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Medium

Screenwriting

Related

Audience Author Fiction writing Creative nonfiction Literary theory Narrative structure
Narratology Other narrative modes Rhetoric Storytelling
Literature portal

Categories: Literary genres

Film genres

Television genres

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