Learning from Historical Fiction

This week I spent three days at a fantastic event known as the Ontario Library Association Super Conference with 5000 delegates, mostly librarians, and all of them lovers of the written word. It was brilliant.

I was there in my capacity as a 'day-jobber'. However, one of the perks of my work is that once a year I can shrug my cubicle for a few days to interact with a group of people whom it is a privilege to know.

Librarians know their stuff and are some of our most precious community resources. They help patrons of all ages with an infinite number of valuable things like research, job search, small business startup info, early learning etc. etc. The list goes on.

One thing they are very good at is readers' advisory. Sometimes people just don't know what to read, so they ask the librarian.

That seems like a regressive statement in the face of all they do, but to a writer and lover of fiction it's highly relevant.

While sitting in one of the crowded corridors between sessions, I bumped into someone who also happens to be an Eagles and Dragons fan and avid reader of historical fiction.

Big shout out to Jim!

We got to talking about historical fiction, of course, and some of our favourite reads. During our talk, he reminded me of something that I sometimes take for granted.

He said that historical fiction a wonderful way to learn about, and teach, history.

EUREKA!

This stuck with me afterward, resonated in my mind for the rest of the day. I remembered that this was one of the reasons I began writing historical fiction.

Historical Fiction is, if done well, the BEST way to learn about history. I believe that.

Take the Roman world, for example. I've been researching that period and writing in that world for years now. I think in that space and time so much that the lines between present and past become a little blurry.

And I love it!

But for the average person who doesn't know much about the Roman world, or the lives of people in ancient Rome, reading a work of historical fiction can be a very rich, rewarding and entertaining experience.

It can be far more engaging that the sad dry lectures of, I'm sorry to say it, far too many school and university educators who only end up turning students off of history.

Reading a well-researched work of historical fiction can teach the reader about everything from home life and food to politics, warfare and the events that shaped the world. You can get inside the head of a Caesar, or a slave.

The fact that historical fiction helps to connect you with the past on a visceral or emotional level, only helps to cement your knowledge even more. 

But therein lies the great responsibility of the author of historical fiction - the author has the power to shape people's vision of the past, especially if their book is the reader's only exposure to history.

However, ancient and medieval history have come down to us with more holes than a gladiator's sparring post. So there will always be a need for the author to fill in the gaps.

I always try to do that honestly and make sure to say so in the author's note.

One of my greatest joys has been when a reader told me they learned so much about Roman history and life by reading one of my books. That made me feel fantastic.

I also felt good because I could rest easy in the knowledge that I had done my research so that someone could learn about the past in an accurate and entertaining way.

Historical fiction is indeed the best way to learn about the past. I know that owe much to authors such as Steven Saylor and Colleen McCullough for their brilliantly researched and written work. For those, and other novels like them, I'm grateful.

So, if ever there has been a historical fiction novel that helped to enlighten you and switch you on to history, no matter the period, be sure to let others know.

As ever, thank you for reading.

Podcast Histories

I’ve just discovered podcasts.

What? you might say. You’ve JUST discovered them? They’ve been around for years now!

I know. Pretty sad. It was just something I didn’t explore. Better late than never, right?

In truth, I’ve been listening to some podcasts for authors for some time now (The Creative Penn and The Self-Publishing Podcast are brilliant!) but it’s only recently that I discovered some fantastic history-related podcasts that I think are worth sharing.

The days get very full, very quickly. Between the all-important family time, writing, publishing, trying to stay fit and finally the presence of a day-job, there really is little or no time to sit down and peruse a reference book on the ancient world or even watch a documentary.

That’s why I love podcasts. I can listen to them whilst at work, commuting, doing the dishes or working out. And they’re FREE! At the same time, I’m immersing myself in the ancient world, getting new ideas and learning some new information.

So, here are my recommendations for history podcasts:

The History Network

This is the latest one I have discovered and it has a wide range of podcast subjects from the ancient

world to the modern era. You can peruse the back list and download the ones that interest you. I listened to one on Drusus the Elder (brother of future Emperor Tiberius) and learned a lot about that Roman hero who made headway along the Rhine frontier. Currently, I’m listening to an episode on the Varus disaster in the Teutoberg forest. There are others I’ve downloaded as well, such as an episode on the Albigensian wars in the Languedoc of medieval France. There is something for everyone on The History Network.

However, if you want to be entertained by a fast-paced narrator, this may not be the podcast for you. It is definitely more academic and so far, the episodes I have listened to have only one narrator whose voice is a little too monotone for my liking. That said, the information you get is brilliant and well-researched. If you are looking to increase your knowledge in a specific area, this is well worth a listen.

Ancient Warfare Podcast

This podcast is actually put on by the same History Network organization that puts on the previous podcast, but is more specific and a bit more refreshing as far as delivery. There are episodes on all aspects of ancient warfare from the campaigns of Alexander and the Wars of Succession to the use of cavalry in the ancient world and much more.

The nice thing about this podcast is that there is always more than one person. The host’s voice is less monotone and there are usually invited guests, experts and authors, who add to the discussion which is, in fact, quite good. Of course, I haven’t listened to all the podcasts but I’m happy with what I’ve heard so far. The list of episode titles is like a candy store for the historian in me. Lots of good stuff!

Hardcore History

Of all the podcasts that I have listened to thus far, this one is far and away the best yet. Dan Carlin, the host, has a great personality and is a dynamic speaker. His enthusiasm is catching and his passion for the subject is evident. He is also very knowledgeable, though he does call himself an ‘amateur historian’. He has a knack for explaining situations using hypothetical, modern-day equivalents that help to listener to get a sense of what was happening in the period about which he is talking.

Hardcore History looks at all periods of history from the ancient world to the modern. Needless to say, I have been focussing on the ancient world, beginning with his series of podcasts on the Death Throes of the Roman Republic. Carlin intersperses his narrative with excerpts of text from ancient writers, contemporaries of the period, and reads them out in the style of news broadcasts during the World Wars of our modern era, except this newscast focuses on the battles between the populares and the optimates or the intense political back and forth between Sulla and Marius.

Dan Carlin also explores themes such as ‘toughness’ and what that means for successive generations. He asks pointed questions like What is the price of peace? and In a war, could we beat our grandparents’ generation? Unorthodox questions like these lead to some very fresh ideas and discussion and are very entertaining. You might not agree with everything Dan Carlin says but you definitely can’t dismiss the fact that he makes history accessible, interesting and entertaining. If you’ve been reading my posts for any length of time, you will know that making history accessible and entertaining is something I really believe in.

I highly recommend Hardcore History!

So, those are my top three podcast histories. As I find more, I will let you know.

Do you have any podcasts that you would like to share?

Let us know about them in the comments boxes below!

Happy listening!

Big Up the History!

Renaissance Fair
Marketplace

The school year is now in full swing and as many parents heave a sigh of relief now that they have a few hours to themselves or enjoy a real, hot cup of coffee, millions of children find themselves back in orderly classroom rows. The troops are in training and elementary and secondary school centurions are urging them on. The homework has begun, as well as the early morning battles for what to wear and how much to eat. Legions can’t go far on empty stomachs!

I am still traumatized by early September, the memories of the end of Summer still all too vivid in my mind. I remember detesting school. Yes, it’s true. Sadly, most of my teachers were just bitter and had been at it far too long to get any joy out of it. I used to feel chained to my desk during the day. The ultimate terror, of course, was the threat of being called to the front of the class to answer some math problem that was more confusing to my primary school mind than deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs. And sadly, when it came to history lessons, everybody groaned.

History does not have to be boring!

I’m always trying to find ways to entertain and teach my own kids about history and, in truth, it is not very difficult because they love it. Of course, travelling to ancient or medieval sites and telling stories about those sites is one of the best and most fun ways to learn – turn it into an adventure! But, unless you live in the UK and Europe, this won’t exactly work as a weekend outing.

However, there are many fun things you can do. How about dressing up the kids (and yourself if you dare) and hitting the local Renaissance Fair where you can roam the marketplace looking for historical replicas, plush swords and of course the standard smoked turkey leg. Or you could head out to your local museum where, especially at the biggies, you can see suits of armour, swords and lots of gold. If your kids like to draw, bring along some paper and markers and have them sketch.

Kids love stories too and there are so many tales from mythology, ancient and medieval traditions, that you can tell a different one every day. Some are bloodier than others so you may have to tone it down for the wee ones but for older kids, that may just be the thing to grab their interest.

And that’s what it is all about, grabbing their interest.

Many people don’t like the idea of using films to teach history but I have always been a big fan of this. Kids are very visual and need visual aid. Movies, whether Robin Hood, Braveheart or Ben Hur, can ignite interest and spur a whole load of questions which can be encouraged thereafter. It doesn’t have to be academic, just interesting. Once they are into it they will read all on their own. Just be sure to highlight what things are real and what are made up at times. Listen to some period music (or ‘Castle Music’ as my kids call it) and look at a reference book with coloured pictures. Have a medieval meal at home with clay cups and all or, if you can handle it, take everyone down to Medieval Times to eat chicken with your hands and watch the staged combat. The kids will love it and, if you let loose and yell along with the crowd, so will you.

If you need some ideas there are many resources on-line that offer some great suggestions. The BBC History  has a lot of great information and even some colouring pages for different periods from Stonehenge to the Vikings and more.

The National Geographic Archive on-line also has some great teacher aids that could also be adapted to guide you at home. If you want something ancient, they even have lessons on practical topics such as Greek and Roman Land Use, handy if your kids are learning about history and the environment at school.

If ancient Rome is your thing, Kidipede has several links to info on the ancient world that you can check out. These are just a few examples of what you can find on-line. There are thousands more!

Basically, the idea is to be creative when approaching history and it will be fun for everyone. It does not have to be boring. In fact, it can, and should be, infinitely more exciting than most subjects. Then again, I am biased.