Historical Fiction in Literature

Introduction: Historical Fiction in Literature

Historical fiction in literature is a genre that artfully melds the past with creative storytelling. It offers readers a unique lens through which to explore historical events, places, and people, bringing the past to life compellingly and vividly.

Authors of historical fiction in literature painstakingly research and recreate specific periods, incorporating the customs, social norms, and significant events of the era into their narratives.

Through well-drawn characters and engaging plots, historical fiction not only provides historical accuracy but also offers contemporary insights, making it a powerful tool for both historical education and entertainment. This genre allows readers to immerse themselves in bygone worlds, fostering a deeper understanding of the human experience throughout history.

Subgenres of Historical Fiction in Literature

Subgenre	Definition	Example
Historical Romance	Stories that combine historical settings with romantic themes and character relationships.	Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Historical Mystery	Narratives where historical contexts are interwoven with mystery, detective work, or crime-solving.	The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
Historical Adventure	Novels that focus on action, exploration, and adventure within historical time periods.	The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
Biographical Historical Fiction	Novels based on the real lives of historical figures, often exploring their personal journeys and achievements.	The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone
Historical Fantasy	A blend of historical settings with elements of magic, myth, or fantasy.	Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Alternate History	Stories that imagine alternative historical outcomes or events, exploring “what if” scenarios.	The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
Historical War Fiction	Novels set during specific wars, often emphasizing the experiences of soldiers and civilians.	All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Historical Thriller	Fast-paced narratives with suspenseful and thrilling elements set in historical times.	The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Regency Romance	A subgenre of historical romance set in the Regency era in England, known for its social conventions and manners.	Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Historical Western	Stories set in the American Old West, featuring cowboys, outlaws, and the frontier life.	Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
World War II Historical Fiction	Narratives set during World War II, often exploring the impact of the conflict on individuals and society.	The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Historical Family Saga	Novels that span generations, following the lives and trials of a family through a historical backdrop.	One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
Historical Gothic Fiction	Stories with dark, eerie, and mysterious elements set in historical settings, often in grand estates or old castles.	Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Victorian Historical Fiction	Narratives set during the Victorian era, known for its social norms, manners, and class distinctions.	Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Ancient World Historical Fiction	Novels set in ancient civilizations such as Greece, Rome, or Egypt, often featuring myths and legends.	The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Pirate Historical Fiction	Stories focused on pirates, their adventures, and the high seas during the Age of Piracy.	Pirates! by Celia Rees

Historical Fiction in Literature and Literary Theories

1. Historical Contextualization: Historical fiction is inherently tied to its temporal and cultural setting. New Historicism and Cultural Criticism analyze how historical novels reflect the time in which they are written, highlighting the socio-political and cultural influences that shape the narrative.
2. Feminist Criticism: Feminist literary theory explores the portrayal of women in historical fiction and how authors challenge or reinforce traditional gender roles and norms. It examines how female characters navigate historical constraints.
3. Postcolonial Critique: Postcolonial theory assesses how historical fiction addresses colonialism, imperialism, and the repercussions of these historical forces. It also looks at the perspectives of colonized peoples and their narratives.
4. Reader-Response Theory: Historical fiction often engages readers in a dialogue between the past and the present. Reader-response theory focuses on how readers’ interpretations and emotional responses to historical narratives shape the meaning of the text.
5. Psychoanalytic Criticism: Psychoanalytic theory can be applied to historical fiction to analyze the psychological motivations and conflicts of characters within the historical context, providing insights into their behavior and decisions.
6. Marxist Criticism: Marxist literary theory looks at class dynamics, economic systems, and social inequalities in historical fiction, exploring how these elements are portrayed and critiqued within the narrative.
7. Narratology: Narratological theories can examine the structure and narrative techniques in historical fiction. This includes the use of multiple perspectives, narrative voice, and the interplay of time in the storytelling.
8. Postmodern Critique: Postmodernism challenges traditional historical narratives by questioning notions of truth, objectivity, and the authority of historical accounts. Historical fiction often incorporates postmodern elements that blur the lines between fact and fiction.
9. Structuralism and Semiotics: These theories focus on the use of symbols, signs, and language in historical fiction. They can reveal hidden meanings and cultural codes within the narrative.
10. Deconstruction: Deconstruction theory can be applied to historical fiction to unearth contradictions, ambiguities, and tensions within the text, particularly related to historical accuracy and representation.

Historical Fiction in Literature and Criticism

·  The Help by Kathryn Stockett – Feminist Critique:

• Critique: Set in the racially segregated American South during the 1960s, The Help portrays the lives of African American maids during the Civil Rights era. While it provides historical insight into this tumultuous period, a feminist critique suggests that it oversimplifies the complex power dynamics of the time. The novel’s predominantly white authorship and limited agency given to the African American characters have raised concerns among feminist critics, as it may inadvertently reinforce a white savior narrative.

·  Les Misérables by Victor Hugo – Marxist Critique:

• Critique: Taking place in post-revolutionary France during the 19th century, Les Misérables offers a vivid portrayal of social injustices in the historical context. However, from a Marxist perspective, the novel idealizes the revolutionary working class while overlooking the systemic issues of class struggle and economic inequality. It emphasizes individual heroism, such as in the character of Jean Valjean, which somewhat obscures the structural forces at play during that historical era.

·  Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy – Deconstructionist Critique:

• Critique: Blood Meridian engages in a deconstruction of conventional Western and historical narratives, presenting a brutal and unvarnished view of the Old West during the 19th century. While it is historical in its portrayal of the ruthless frontier, a deconstructionist critique acknowledges McCarthy’s success in destabilizing traditional historical narratives. It reveals the dark, violent underbelly of Western expansion. However, it also highlights that the novel’s extreme violence and unconventional narrative structure might challenge some readers’ engagement and comprehension.

Suggested Readings

1. Genette, Gérard. Narrative Discourse: An Essay in Method. Translated by Jane E. Lewin, Cornell University Press, 1983.
2. Hutcheon, Linda. A Theory of Adaptation. Routledge, 2013.
3. McHale, Brian. Postmodernist Fiction. Routledge, 2003.
4. Palmer, Alan. Fictional Minds. University of Nebraska Press, 2004.
5. Porter, Dennis. Haunting Modernity and the Gothic Presence in British Modernist Literature. Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.
6. Todorov, Tzvetan. The Fantastic: A Structural Approach to a Literary Genre. Translated by Richard Howard, Cornell University Press, 1975.