Historical Fiction

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. I used to think that it sounded SO boring, but then I actually read a historical fiction novel, The Other Boelyn Girl. This was my first of many. I realized that historical fiction can still be full of drama and action, it is just set in a different era. I have learned to love the genre for how it transports me to another time and place. After reading Outlander, I was seriously sad to finish the book! This post will discuss historical fiction and how to evaluate it.

Historical fiction is set in the past. While the past is the past, history is relevant depending on perspective. Because of this, older teachers may see an event as something that happened during their lifetime whereas to students it is labeled as history because it occurred before their birth. This is something to consider when labeling books as historical fiction in the library.

A librarian has a handful of questions to carefully consider when determining and evaluating the merit of a historical fiction book for his/her collection.  First, the historical elements should be woven into the framework of the plot. The setting should impact the story, but not BE the story. A good piece of historical fiction implies the history accurately within the bounds of the story’s plot. This leads us to the second consideration. Is the information about the setting/events/characters accurate given the era of the setting? Good historical fiction is both accurate and authentic. A librarian may review the annual list of Notable Trade Books in the Social Sciences to see if a particular book made the cut, demonstrating its accuracy and authenticity. The third criteria stems from the authenticity of the book. The librarian ought to ask whether or not the book highlights the values of the time. As years go by, public opinion changes and value systems shift. Is this portrayed through the plot or characterization of the novel? In addition to values, the librarian should ask whether other details reflect the era, such as what the characters dress, how they talk, what they do, where they live. If the book meets all of the above criteria, it is indeed accurate and authentic. However, a librarian must ask one final question to see if this book is of use to modern readers. Does this book ,which is set in the past, have themes that are universal and still relevant to contemporary readers? The theme(s) of a good historical fiction book, though displayed through an historic setting, should pertain to individuals living in our modern world and culture.