The Human Touch of Historical Fiction

When seeking vibrant lives to read about in the future, your first stop should be the bones of the past.

Many of us are familiar with the idea that, through history, we can avoid previous mistakes, and indeed learn from them. However, most of us would also admit that it is not always a simple as that. Some mistakes seem fated to be repeated, despite our observations of history’s patterns. However, a reason why we should still be so interested in the past can be seen on a more personal level.

Most genre’s offer us a form of escapism from the real world (something particularly valued today) while also entertaining and even educating us. Being able to escape to new worlds, live through the lives of others, and become embroiled in an incredible plot is always one of the joys of reading. Historical fiction has all of these benefits, whilst also containing the (sometimes) comforting fact that it is based on reality. As we are reading, we can know a character’s triumphs, no matter how large or small, were made by an actual person. Likewise, and perhaps even more importantly, we can be reassured by the fact that their mistakes were also very real too.

It is easy to read other genre’s yet feel disconnected by the fact that it is a fabricated world – even if it is a particularly convincing one. Although historical fiction is not always historically accurate, it is nevertheless based on our past. Something real. As a reader, we can therefore appreciate the genuine struggles people went through in the past, and even how their mindset and decision process was influenced by their surroundings. Relieving this information in the guise of a story truly immerses us into different settings in a way that other genres may struggle to replicate.

Throughout history, people have had to overcome terrible hardships, brutal regimes, constant war and famine, large-scale injustice and perhaps worse. However, life carried forwards, and incredible feats were achieved. These achievements do not have to involve conquering kingdoms or building wonders, but instead the personal struggles and sacrifice that brought these things to fruition. In entertainment, we often surround ourselves with incredible fictional conflicts, waiting to be resolved, yet history holds moments of such huge importance that many of us (such as myself) are not fully aware of, and can learn a great deal from.

Just as archaeologists piecing together the ruins of a Saxon burial chamber can infer a great deal about the owner of a sword, historical writers can imbue their characters with authentic details that make them more human. More familiar.