Traditional Historical Novels
These are novels that are often the typical
books that readers envision when they think of historical fiction. They involve characters, both real and
fictional, that readers can identify with and cheer for, all while being
transported to another time and place.
While there really isn’t any sort of pattern that all traditional
historical novels follow, they tend to unfold in a traditional linear fashion
with a definite beginning, middle, and end, as well as tending to be long books
that push over 300 pages long. An
example of this can be seen in Colleen McCullough’s works, as well as works of
Phillipa Gregory, Jean Plaidy, and certain Bernard Cornwell novels.
Multi-Period Epics
The idea behind this subgenre is that
readers can view a period, a region, or a people all the way from its early
beginnings to where it is today. The
setting in these novels acts almost as the main character itself rather than
the human characters contained in the novel.
While many historical novels are often over 300 pages in length,
multi-period epics can easily be over 500 pages. Readers who are interested in multi-period
epics might also want to look into the subgenre of sagas. One of the most popular and prolific authors
of the multi-period epics is James Michener with titles such as Alaska,
Chesapeake, Hawaii, and Texas.
Sagas
Similar in scope to multi-period epics,
sagas tend to focus more on the lives of the characters, their family trees,
their everyday dealings, and relationships. The point of these novels is to draw the
reader in emotionally and allow them to identify with the main characters. Like multi-period epics, they tend to be
lengthy tomes that can be well over 500 pages.
They often contain elements of romance and adventure and fans of
historical romances might also enjoy this genre. One of the authors that really came to be
known for his historical sagas is John Jakes who authored both the Crown Family
Saga about an immigrant family in Chicago spanning two centuries, as well as
the North and South Trilogy about the strains of the Civil War on two 19th
century families.
Historical Romance
Historical romance novels are designed
specifically to draw readers in emotionally to the romance of the main
characters, with a historical setting as a backdrop. While being engrossed in a love story,
readers can also experience the politics, social upheaval, and daily drama of
an earlier time. Like the romance genre
itself, many of these stories are designed to end happily for the protagonists. One of the authors who is known for this
particular subgenre is Elizabeth Chadwick who, with her works The Champion, The
Conquest, and Daughters of the Grail writes historical romances set in medieval
times.
Western Historical Novels
The thing that makes western historical
novels unique is that they not only are required to take place in a certain
time and a certain setting, but they also tend to have several common themes
that run throughout them. There is a
fine line between traditional Westerns and historical Westerns. Historical westerns tend to be longer than
their traditional counterparts. Rather
than simply focusing on traditional
elements of freedom, opportunity, and western expansion, historical Westerns
have historically accurate settings, are often well researched, and they don’t
shy away from realistic elements.
Characters may deal with issues such as the often strained relationship
settlers had with the Native Americans and the struggles of women on the frontier.
Authors of the historical Western
include Louis L’Amour and his Sackett Family Series as well as Larry McMurty
novels such as the Lonesome Dove Saga.
Historical Mysteries
As with almost all mystery novels,
historical mysteries present readers with a plot that needs untangling,
typically in the form of a murder that needs to be solved. As with many traditional mysteries,
historical mysteries often take place in a series which allows the reader to
get to know the detecting party through a number of novels. Set against a backdrop of a historically
accurate time and place, readers must follow along with the protagonist to
tease out the plot and discover the guilty party. An excellent example of these kinds of novels
can be found in Steven Saylor’s Roma Sub Rosa series which features Gordianus
the Finder, a detective of ancient Rome.
Historical Adventures
Historical adventure novels can be defined
by their usually heroic main characters, well-researched backgrounds, and can’t-put-it-down
pace. As with many adventure-type
stories, there is often a lot of movement, be it in the form of travel or
battle. Bernard Cornwell is a popular
author in this subgenre with his Richard Sharpe adventures set during the
turmoil of the Napoleonic Wars. The
novel Sharpe’s Riffles is an example of this.
Historical Thrillers
In historical thriller novels, the
protagonist finds themselves constantly placed in perilous situations in which
they must escape and outrun danger. By
definition, the pace of historical thrillers is somewhat fast and they can
easily be defined as page turners.
Phillip Kerr’s Dark Matter: The Private Life of Isaac Newton is a great
example of this subgenre.
Literary Historical Novels
Novels that fall into this subgenre often
use historical settings to explore what are often thinly veiled contemporary
ideas and themes. These themes are
sometimes universal and seem to transcend the time period they are set in,
allowing modern audiences to relate to the characters and their struggles. Works such as these are often critically acclaimed
and/or prize winning novels. It is worth
noting that literary historical novels, with their often complex themes that
can be examined on a number of different levels, are sometimes good choices for
book group readings. The works of Gore
Vidal with his novels Creation and Julian are good examples of this subgenre.
Christian Historical Fiction
This genre is just what the title suggests:
characters placed in historical setting and situations, and who are brought
into conflict in a way that promotes Christian beliefs. Characters often face numerous struggles,
question God’s plan for them, and must work on their faith throughout the
novel. While many might assume that
works of Christian historical fiction are set during biblical times, numerous
novels of this genre are set in America perhaps during the Great Depression or
during WWII. Authors who are popular in
this subgenre include Lynn Austin, Jane Kirkpatrick, and Catherine Marshall.
Time-Slip Novels
Time-slip novels often use some sort of
literary device to bring a modern character to the past or otherwise have them experience
an earlier historical time period. Time
travel seems to be a popular device to accomplish this. Examples of this subgenre can be seen in
Connie Willis’ The Doomsday Book and Michael Crichton’s Timeline.
Alternate History
Novels such as these explore what the world
would be like had history happened differently.
What if the Japanese had taken over Pearl Harbor? What is Abraham Lincoln had survived assassination? Novels that approach topics such as these
are often well suited to readers who enjoy exploring the cause and effect of
various historical events. Robert
Harris’ Fatherland, in which the Third Reich has won WWII is an especially good
example of this subgenre.
Historical Fantasy
These are novels that mix history with
elements of fantasy, often magic.
Although they are firmly set in the past, the fantastic elements often
represent customs of the time and place in which they are set. For example, novels set during the time in
which King Arthur is said to have lived often have characters that utilize magic
because powers such as these could have commonly been believed to have existed
in that time and place. It would seem
that there are times in which the dividing line between historical fiction and
fantasy can be difficult to define. One
of the classic works in this subgenre is Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists of
Avalon.
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