A novel set among actual events or a specific period of history Historical Fiction A novel set among actual events or a specific period of history

A type of Fiction The setting is a vital detail of Historical Fiction stories Typically, these types of stories are written by someone who did NOT live during the specific time period and therefore, only uses research to construct the story and maintain accuracy, not first-hand accounts

A type of Fiction con’t Despite the required research, the setting, plot and characters MAY be fictitious The setting, story and characters MUST be portrayed as if they could have POSSIBLY happened during the specific time period

Sometimes, famous events appear from points of view not recorded in history, showing historical figures dealing with actual events while depicting them in a way that is not recorded in history

Other times, the historical event complements a story's narrative, occurring in the background while characters deal with events (personal or otherwise) wholly unrelated to recorded history

However… If the author deviates too much from the historical accuracy of the time period or event, it may not be considered Historical Fiction, but may then fall into the genre of alternate history, which is known for speculating on what could have happened if a significant historical event had gone differently

Book Examples (+25 years) Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell Beloved by Toni Morrison To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Book Examples (past 25 years) Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen The Book Thief by Markus Zusak The Help by Kathryn Stockett

American Historical Fiction This genre began during colonial times in America Then, it follows the development of America through the Frontier times, the Civil War, Reconstruction, WWI and WWII, to current American events

Historical Fiction in other countries Most countries have their own variations of this genre that traces the beginning of their country to present day Time periods include Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome and The Renaissance

Prizes for Historical Fiction There are no awards specifically designated to this genre, but several books from this genre have won various awards For example, Gone with the Wind (novel) won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1937 The movie won 10 Academy Awards

Famous Historical Fiction Movies Gone with the Wind Casablanca The Sound of Music The Godfather Raiders of the Lost Ark Inglourious Basterds

Music Crosby, Stills and Nash “4 Dead in Ohio” was based on the Kent State shootings in 1970 Bob Dylan’s song “Hurricane” was written in protest of Rubin “Hurricane” Carter’s imprisonment

Finally… On a similar note, events occurring in historical fiction must adhere to the laws of physics. Stories that extend into the magical or fantastic are often considered a historical fantasy

Summary So, Historical Fiction is a type of story that is set among actual events or a specific period in history, although EVERY detail of the story may not be 100% true

Works Cited Booklists - American Historical Fiction. The Public LIbrary of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Apr. 2003. Web. 21 Aug. 2011. <http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/booklists/?id=americanhistoricals>. Donsbach, Margaret. Over 5000 Historical Novels Listed by Time and Place. HistoricalFiction.info, 2011. Web. 16 Aug. 2011. <http://www.historicalnovels.info/>. “Gone with the Wind.” Internet Movie Database. imdb.com, 2011. Web. 21 Aug. 2011. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031381/awards>. Historical Fiction - Box Office History. The Numbers, 2011. Web. 21 Aug. 2011. <http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/series/HistoricalFiction.php>. “Library Booklists: Historical Fiction.” Library Booklists. N.p., 18 Nov. 2008. Web. 21 Aug. 2011. <http://librarybooklists.org/fiction/adult/historical.htm#histams>. Popular Historical Fiction Books. Goodreads Inc., 2011. Web. 21 Aug. 2011. <http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/historical-fiction>.