With the historical novel, it would seem that there is something of a dichotomy between the writer, who wants to concentrate on the story through a free flow of imagination, and the historian who must adhere to the known facts. To produce a successful historical novel, the author must embody both creative vision and accuracy.
Table of Contents
- Writers and Historians
- Point of View
- Character
- Authenticity
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this commentary is to analyze the work of three historical novelists – Philippa Gregory, Hilary Mantel, and C. J. Sansom – examining their approaches to crafting historical fiction. The commentary explores the interplay between creative vision and historical accuracy, the challenges of balancing fact and fiction, and the techniques employed to create believable and engaging characters within a historical context.
- The balance between historical accuracy and creative license in historical fiction.
- The effective use of point of view in historical novels.
- Techniques for developing believable and engaging historical characters.
- Achieving authenticity in setting, language, and character behavior.
- The challenges and rewards of writing historical mysteries.
Chapter Summaries
Writers and Historians: This introductory chapter establishes the connection between reading and writing, emphasizing the apprenticeship involved in mastering the craft of historical fiction. It introduces the three authors – Philippa Gregory, Hilary Mantel, and C.J. Sansom – who will be analyzed throughout the commentary, highlighting their approaches to blending historical research with creative storytelling. The chapter emphasizes the importance of both imaginative vision and meticulous research in creating a successful historical novel, arguing that the authors being studied embody both qualities despite their different backgrounds and writing styles. The chapter also touches on the inherent dichotomy between the writer's imaginative freedom and the historian's adherence to established facts, setting the stage for further discussion of this tension.
Point of View: This chapter delves into the complexities of point of view in historical fiction, using Philippa Gregory's works as a primary example. It discusses the strengths and limitations of first-person narration, particularly highlighting the challenges posed by restricting the narrative to a single character's perspective, as seen in *The White Queen*. The chapter contrasts this with the use of third-person narration and analyzes the authorial choices made by Gregory in shifting perspectives to overcome the limitations of a singular viewpoint. The narrative also contrasts different perspectives in Gregory's *The White Queen* and *The Red Queen*, showing how two opposing viewpoints provide rich dramatic effect rather than redundancy.
Character: This chapter examines the creation and development of historical characters, emphasizing the importance of their backstories and motivations. It uses Hilary Mantel's portrayal of Thomas Cromwell as a model of deeply researched character development, contrasting Mantel's approach with that of Philippa Gregory. The chapter showcases the significance of understanding a character's past experiences and how they shape their actions and beliefs. It further explores how authors can make historical characters relatable to modern readers by focusing on universal human experiences, like love, hate, and revenge, while acknowledging the considerable differences in social attitudes across time. The chapter also touches on the contrasting portrayals of Anne Neville in Philippa Gregory’s and Anne O’Brien’s works, highlighting the use of humor and sharp observation to make historical characters more engaging.
Authenticity: This chapter focuses on achieving authenticity in historical fiction. It explores how authors can successfully create a believable historical world, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the setting and period. The chapter discusses the use of vivid imagery, sensory details, and historically accurate language to enhance authenticity. The use of metaphors and imagery as seen in Hilary Mantel's *Bring Up the Bodies* is examined as a technique to transport the reader to another time and place. The chapter also touches upon the importance of historical accuracy while recognizing that some creative liberties may be taken. The contrasting viewpoints of Hilary Mantel and C.J. Sansom concerning historical accuracy are used to highlight this tension.
Keywords
Historical fiction, historical novels, character development, point of view, historical accuracy, authenticity, Philippa Gregory, Hilary Mantel, C. J. Sansom, narrative techniques, research, storytelling.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Historical Fiction
What is the focus of this commentary?
This commentary analyzes the work of three historical novelists – Philippa Gregory, Hilary Mantel, and C. J. Sansom – examining their approaches to crafting historical fiction. It explores the interplay between creative vision and historical accuracy, the challenges of balancing fact and fiction, and the techniques employed to create believable and engaging characters within a historical context.
What are the key themes explored in this commentary?
Key themes include the balance between historical accuracy and creative license, the effective use of point of view, techniques for developing believable characters, achieving authenticity in setting and language, and the challenges and rewards of writing historical mysteries.
What authors are discussed in this commentary?
The commentary focuses on the works and writing styles of Philippa Gregory, Hilary Mantel, and C. J. Sansom.
What topics are covered in each chapter?
Writers and Historians: This chapter establishes the connection between reading and writing historical fiction, introduces the three authors, and highlights the importance of both imaginative vision and meticulous research. It also addresses the inherent tension between a writer's freedom and a historian's adherence to facts.
Point of View: This chapter analyzes the complexities of point of view in historical fiction, using Philippa Gregory's works as examples. It discusses the strengths and limitations of first-person and third-person narration and the impact of shifting perspectives.
Character: This chapter examines character creation and development, using Hilary Mantel's portrayal of Thomas Cromwell as a model. It explores the importance of backstories, motivations, and making historical characters relatable to modern readers.
Authenticity: This chapter focuses on achieving authenticity in setting, language, and character behavior. It discusses the use of vivid imagery and sensory details, and the balance between historical accuracy and creative liberties.
What are some of the key techniques discussed in creating believable historical fiction?
The commentary discusses techniques such as mastering the craft through apprenticeship, effective use of point of view (first-person vs. third-person), deeply researched character development focusing on backstories and motivations, the use of vivid imagery, sensory details, and historically accurate language to create authenticity, and balancing historical accuracy with creative license.
What are the main challenges and rewards highlighted in writing historical fiction?
The commentary highlights the challenge of balancing historical accuracy with creative freedom, the difficulty of creating believable and engaging characters within a historical context, and the challenges posed by restricting the narrative to a single character's perspective. The rewards include creating immersive and engaging narratives that transport readers to another time and place.
What are the keywords associated with this commentary?
Keywords include: Historical fiction, historical novels, character development, point of view, historical accuracy, authenticity, Philippa Gregory, Hilary Mantel, C. J. Sansom, narrative techniques, research, storytelling.
- Quote paper
- Sandra Spirling (Author), 2013, The Historical Novel. Writers and Historians, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/304104
