My Ideal Historical Fiction

On this blog I’ve written a lot about different periods of history, archaeological sites, historical people, and my own journey in writing historical fiction. I’m a writer and historian, after all. This is my virtual crate of amphora on which to stand.

But I’m also a reader who loves the genre (and variations on it), and I’m a Taurus, which I’ve been told makes me very stubborn and opinionated. Perhaps just a little.

And why not? I read what I like and make my reading decisions carefully. I don’t have the extra dosh to burn and more importantly, time is precious.

In writing my own books, I’ve discovered what I really like in historical fiction. ‘Write what you know and love,’ as the saying goes. Ok, so I’ve tweaked that saying a little.

I’ve been reading historical fiction/fantasy for a long time now. Writing it too.

So, here are the things that I (Adam) am looking and hoping for when I pick up a new work of historical fiction:

I – Historical Period

We all have our favourite historical period(s). I’m not going to pick up a novel set in any historical age.

I like ancient Greece and Rome (obviously!) and the early Middle Ages, in Britain and Europe in particular. I love the Arthurian period, or rather the ‘Dark Ages’, that bridge period between the classical and medieval worlds. If a book takes place in this broad span of time, I’m interested.

That’s not to say I don’t have any interest in the Renaissance or Victorian ages, for instance. There is much to be learned from all history. It just means that as far as reading, I prefer those mentioned above.

II – Voice and Writing Style

This applies to all reading, but it’s so very important that I thought I should include it here. Before buying something, I’m going to download a sample or read a few pages to make sure I like how the author is saying what he or she has to say. I need to ‘click’ with the author and their style, and this could vary from series to series by the same author.

For example, I loved the Dream of Eagles series by Jack Whyte (Camulod Chronicles in the US). It remains one of the best series I’ve ever read. However, when it came to Mr. Whyte’s Templar series, I just couldn’t do it. I didn’t go beyond book one. It’s very subjective, but I have to love an author’s voice and style.

III – Battles and One-on-one Combat

My main area of interest and study for ancient and medieval history has always been warfare. I was never overly interested in the codes governing the Benedictine order of monks, for instance. Therefore, one thing I do enjoy reading about is battle on a large or small scale.

Not only do battles add some nice action to a novel, they can also be turning points in stories (in history!) that have far-reaching consequences for the characters, and sometimes the world. I love the upheaval a battle causes in a story and, well, they are just plain cool!

IV – Heroes and Heroines

I want a hero or heroine that I can relate to. They have to be someone that I want to root for, someone for whom I will be utterly sad when they experience tragedy. This may seem obvious – after all, this is at the heart of good storytelling – but there have been many instances in which I didn’t care about the hero one way or the other.

My preferred heroes and heroines must go on some kind of journey. They must learn and achieve something, and in so doing, inspire me, the reader. If you want to read more about this, check out my previous post The Hero’s Journey.

V – Romance

Hey, it’s not all about blood and guts. Some of the greatest stories in history have to do with great love affairs. Love is a goddess that has governed the hearts and minds of people for ages and cannot be ignored.

If I read a book that is all action, and blood, and tragedy, I don’t feel fulfilled. I won’t be satisfied with my read. And don’t think that having your main grunt head down to the local brothel to make googoo eyes at his favourite whore is sufficient. That’s not romance, that’s lust and a bit of titillation. Some sex is good by me. Why not? Let’s have fun! But I prefer that a writer leaves the cubiculum door closed most of the time. Let the reader’s imagination fill in the blanks. There is a time and place. There is erotica and there is historical fiction.

I’ve touched on this in an older post, Oh,Behave! Read that to find out about an embarrassing episode of mine in a writing workshop. Ouch!

In all seriousness, I’m talking about a true connection between a man and a woman, the real deal for which one would willingly die. I’d say all the great stories have Love at the heart of them.

If a book doesn’t have this element, at least in some measure, then I’m likely to leave disappointed.

VI – Pacing

There has been a lot of talk about action-packed page-turners lately, that this is the way to captivate an audience and garner readers. I agree to an extent, but when a book is just page after page of action, slaughter and mayhem, I find it exhausting.

I don’t want to be exhausted. I read fiction for relaxation.

By all means get in some good action sequences. Stir things up. But, as a reader, I want things balanced out with something soothing, or scary etc. In my opinion, if the words and setting are well-chosen, it’s ok to be still. Balance is everything.

VII – Research

This is what sets historical fiction apart from other genres. It usually requires more research than other genres because the writer needs to transport the reader to another age.

To me, the books I pick up are time machines. I want to escape. I want to live in another period of history, and for that to happen the research needs to be meticulous.

But here’s the rub: the historical details of the time and place have to take a back seat to the story itself. This is tricky.

When I first started writing, the historian in me was front and centre. My brain wanted to purge every single historical detail onto the page. I was beating my readers over the head with history lessons disguised as fiction.

Then I toned it down only to be told that I needed more description. It’s a sharp sword edge to walk along. I’ve found that it helps, before writing, to immerse myself in the history of a period and become familiar with everyday details and objects. Then, when I begin writing, I focus on story and the history (and archaeology) adds texture to the story.

I was reminded of this recently by Stephen King. I’ve been reading his fabulous book On Writing and in it he says this:

“When you step away from the ‘write what you know’ rule, research becomes inevitable, and it can add a lot to your story. Just don’t end up with the tail wagging the dog; remember that you are writing a novel, not a research paper. The story always comes first.”

That’s great advice and it took me a long while to get that as a writer. Lately, a reader e-mailed me to say that she had read Children of Apollo and learned a lot about the history and world of ancient Rome without even noticing. I was really happy about that e-mail. It took me a while (and many drafts) to get there, but it was certainly worth the struggle. As a reader, I want exactly that too.

VIII – Description

A lot of readers and writers are down on description and think that it’s boring.

I love description in a novel and I don’t mind it being lengthy if it is beautiful and really does transport me. If someone is writing a story set one or two thousand years ago, you need description to transport the reader. Otherwise, why read historical fiction?

I started reading a book about Hannibal a few years ago. It had sounded amazing to me and I couldn’t wait to get into it. But, I was very disappointed when it became obvious that the story could have been taking place in any century. Sure, perhaps the writer developed the character of Hannibal psychologically, but what about Hannibal’s world? I got tired of the book and didn’t even finish it – a rare occurrence indeed.

For me, description adds beauty and gives the reader a richer sense if his or her surroundings. A couple of examples of wonderful description that spring to mind are John Cowper Powys’ descriptions of Wales in his massive book Porius, and the brilliant, dreamlike descriptions of the Underworld, or Hades, in Alice Borchardt’s The Silver Wolf. There was a lot of description in these novels and I loved every word.

Description, to me, is especially important when taking a reader to a period, and place, with which they are not altogether familiar.

IX – Religion

When it comes to religion, especially pre-Christian religion, many writers steer clear and play it safe. Perhaps this is because it’s unfamiliar, controversial, or even uncomfortable.

I feel very strongly about this because in the ancient and medieval worlds, Faith was often foremost in people’s minds. I’ve covered this before in the post Writing Ancient Religion.

If a writer tells a story set in ancient Egypt, Greece or Rome, for instance, and then leaves out religious beliefs and practices or even the smallest of what we might call ‘superstitions’, it does a great disservice to the reader.

A writer owes it to a reader to give them the full picture, or as close to it as possible. There is a lot that we don’t know about ancient religious practices, but that can be a good thing. Where there are gaps, we can approximate, make an educated guess. You can even make it up and then say so in the historical note at the end.

The ancients believed that the Gods were involved in, or affected, all aspects of their everyday lives. As a result, people were constantly ‘interacting’ with their deities whether by making offerings, erecting statues, or praying etc. etc.

In his book, Latro in the Mist, author Gene Wolfe has gods, goddesses, nymphs and other such beings coming in and out of the story, interacting with Latro. Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin, The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and The Adventures of Oddyseus series by Glyn Iliffe are all great examples of historical fiction/fantasy that let the Gods in through the front door. As a result, I found reading those books to be a wonderfully rich experience.

The majority of people today may not be very religious or faith-driven, but in the ancient or medieval worlds, most were. I really believe that should be reflected in historical fiction.

I could probably add a few more points to my list above, but in truth that would be overdoing it. It is rare that I find a book that has every one of the nine elements that I’ve noted.

However, when I do find a book that does have all of those things, it certainly is one that I shall never forget.

But this is just my personal list of what I look for in historical fiction as a reader.

If you have something different to add, I’d love to hear about it.

What is the makeup of your ideal work of historical fiction?

Popular Historical Shite? – Bring it on!

I loved the movie, Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves.

I still do.

There. I’ve said it. You may laugh now. It’s ok. I’ve got a good set of armour on.

For me that movie, Kevin Costner's accent and all, was a game changer. It gave my life some much needed direction in the confusing dark times of my early teenage years.

I’ve heard Robin Hood, Excalibur, Braveheart, Gladiator, the shows Hercules and Xena, and others, all called ‘popular crap’, ‘ridiculous’, ‘inaccurate drivel’, and loads of other names mostly by academics from the dusty upper floors of their ivory towers.

The critics pan these movies and shows, citing the poor acting, sad story lines and over-stretched budgets that somehow mark them as unworthy of viewing. Gladiator was the only one to garner any respect (less so for Braveheart) and that was probably due to the Oscars it rounded up (that was fantastic BTW!).

Robin Hood tends to lay gutted on the bottom of the pile of popular historical 'shite', bleeding into memory – that movie that was so ‘bad’, the one that Kevin Costner ‘butchered’.

You know what? I don’t care. I thought that film was brilliant and magical. Here’s why:

When the movie came out in 1991 I was fifteen going on sixteen and trying to navigate that utterly depressing world known as High School – which, for the record, I loathed.

I was hanging out with some questionable characters, not doing very well in class and had no real idea or vision for the future, my future.

Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t beaten or fed plates of gruel. I’m one of the fortunate ones who had a caring home life, parents who listened and a brother with whom it did not often come to outright fisticuffs. Swords yes, but rarely fists.

However, I did lack an interest to give me direction.

Then one Friday night, my dad comes home and hands me a video tape of Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves.

“Look what I’ve got,” he says. “Let’s watch it tonight. I think you’ll like it.”

Being a black-clad teenager, I grunted in response and hunkered down in silence on the sectional for a couple of hours.

If I remember correctly, I was hooked right from the beginning as the opening credits rolled images of the Bayeux Tapestry depicting the Norman Conquest. 

Scene from the Bayeux Tapestry

Of course, I didn’t know what the Norman Conquest was at the time, or that the year 1066 was any more significant than a thousand other dates.

It was the power of those images, the heroic music by Michael Kamen, and of course the fantastic story of Robin Hood that pulled me in and didn’t let go.

I can still remember sitting there that first time. Oh yes, I think I was a ‘popular historical’ virgin up to that point. I was so hooked that I watched that movie every day for six days straight, enjoying it every single time.

I watched Robin’s skill with blade and bow with awe, thrilled to his duel with the Sherriff of Nottingham, expertly played by Alan Rickman. The romantic in me was even awakened by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio with whom I had fallen desperately in love.

History, and an ancient story, had spoken to me and I was having an epiphany – I loved it and that was what I wanted to do. I then decided that history was what I wanted to study.

As it turned out, that summer I had the opportunity to go to England with my mom to visit family. That first journey across the pond only served to fuel the fires of my enthusiasm.

I wanted to walk through every castle and manor house I saw, touch every suit of armour and look closely at every nicked sword blade on display in every museum. I was insatiable.

Carcasonne - France
Where part of Robin Hood was filmed

When I returned home, my parents bought me all the books (new and used) that I wanted on the Middle Ages, ancient world, swords, armour, the Crusades, you name it. I got a used book on the Bayeux Tapestry that I still have to this day. Biographies of kings and queens, chivalric ideals and stories of King Arthur, Robin Hood and others abounded. I also took up archery and fencing.

What is the point of all this?

My point is that without having seen that supposedly ‘crappy’ movie, I might not have become interested in all of this. I might not have improved my grades in high school, or gone on to undergrad studies in medieval history, a Master’s in Dark Age studies, or to work in museums or archaeology.

Without Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves, I might not be writing!

Throughout my years in university and academic circles, I’ve always heard the same old argument that popular history is rubbish and a complete waste of time. “Stay away from that stuff!” one of my professor’s said one day after Braveheart had hit the big screens.

But you know what? That so-called ‘popular shite’ sparks more interest in young people’s minds than any lame, snoot-nosed history teacher who lectures their students without caring whether or not they are capturing their listeners’ imaginations.

It’s no wonder that movies like Robin Hood or Gladiator have left increased enrollment in medieval and ancient history courses in their wakes. They got people excited. What a concept!

I’ve been fortunate enough to have a couple of good history teachers who did capture my imagination, who loved anything having to do with history. Sadly, most were not so good, but I’m glad that didn’t deter me.

I’ve been told by several of my readers that my writing makes history interesting to them, and THAT pleases me to no end.

This applies not only to movies but to all forms of popular historical fiction.

In the current issue of the Historic Novels Review, Richard Lee, the founder of the Historic Novel Society, notes that he has “heard EVERY type of historical fiction ridiculed for being untrue to the history. Sometimes the spite that is unleashed is phenomenal… My own view is that all kinds of historical fiction have value.”

I couldn’t agree more. Whether it is the period of history, or the format (book, TV or film), the sad truth is that popular history has often been frowned upon, locked out of the academic castle.

However, the numbers are far greater outside the walls of that castle and it is my hope that the gates will eventually be battered down so that the people can flood in, not to massacre, but to live together with the few in their towers.

Academia has its purpose, which is of utmost importance to our knowledge of the past. But there is also a place for popular historical fiction, a purpose in gathering people around, firing their interests and setting them on the path to learning more. It’s all good!

To quote Morgan Freeman’s character, Azeem, in Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves:

“Allah loves wondrous variety.”

What's your favourite popular historical?

Picture Postcard #11 - The Sincerity of Offerings

Spring is my favourite time of year, not crispy autumn or damp winter. Not even heated summer. 

Spring: that time when the grass is at its greenest and sweetest, when multi-hued blossoms pop out of the ground at my feet. Fresh water tumbles from the mountains and the bees set about honeying the hills.

One particular spring stands out, and I remember it clearly. To think of it makes me jump for no apparent reason.

The smell of the cedar trees wafted down the hill to where we were playing in the olive groves. Sunlight spotted the ground from between the twitching leaves. A stranger appeared, dressed in white, robed like a cloud. I went up to him and asked if he wanted to play with us on such a fine day. He did not answer, but he did smile. I remember that. He motioned for me to follow. So I did.

I’m glad I did. There were all sorts of people I had never seen before: men and women, boys and girls. 

They were all happy. They welcomed me by singing beautiful songs as they washed me and gave me food and drink. 

Little girls and ladies placed perfect flowers around my head and neck, and we walked together, singing all the while. I couldn’t understand the song, but I felt special. I knew my brothers and sisters would be very jealous.

It was a long walk up the hill, but I did not care, especially when I saw the shiny round white house with the red clay roof. There were more people waiting there, also singing and smiling and showering me with scented petals. I tried to pick some of them up, but we were moving too quickly toward the white house.

A tall man stepped out of the house followed by smoke which then swirled into the blue sky. He wasn’t smiling like the rest, but he stroked my head, and said something soothing as he looked up at the sky. I didn’t know what he was holding but it looked cold and curved, like new shoots just as they break the surface of spring mud. The man made me look up too. People sang and flowers fell.

I felt a sudden sharp pinch and then I could not see any more.

When I awoke, very well-rested, I was in a new place. It was neither hot nor cold, but just the way I like it. The sun shone perfectly.

A group of others stared at me.

“Do you want to play?” one of them asked.

“Of course,” I answered before running off with them.

I stopped then, and looked behind me to see a river. I had not seen that river before. It was wide and still and black as black can be. Beyond the river were dark mountains and angry clouds where a storm raged. I was sad for anyone who lived on the other side because here it was spring and there was a lot of green grass for me to play around in and eat. I kicked up my hooves and joined the others.

I can still hear the people singing, wherever they are.