Blogger: Etta Wilson
Location: Books & Such Nashville Office
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As you could see from the list of ACFW awards for historical fiction in Monday’s blog, an author can approach writing stories set in the past a number of ways. Those awards are based on genre or format. But as I think about how to choose a historical novel to read, one of the things I look for when the story is set. Is it an era in which I’m interested or want to learn more about?
Like many American readers, I love a good Civil War novel (though I’m getting a little tired of novels based loosely on Gone with the Wind) or a World War II novel like James Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific. One reason the cache of historical novels is increasing is because many that were written as contemporary novels have become historical as time has passed.
For those of us writing historical fiction today, a good place to start is exploring not only the masterpieces of the past (think The Scarlet Letter, 1850), but also the years which they portrayed. Then look for pockets of time and incidents in history that have not been portrayed in detail or maybe not recently.
Often a good approach to finding these unexplored areas is to read current popular nonfiction, especially biographies. A local example comes to mind in John Sieganthaler’s recent biography of President James K. Polk (one Tennessean writing about another). Reading that book yielded several good ideas for novels set in the years around Polk’s administration, 1845-1849, which lie between the War of 1812 and prior to the outburst of tensions leading to the Civil War. The settlement of the West was the big event going on in U.S. history then, and many novels are based around settlement issues. But important issues were happening east of the Mississippi and in the upper Midwest as well.
Thinking about U.S. history prior to 1950, are there periods or events that you think have been “over-exposed” in historical fiction? Is there such a thing as over-exposure of a time period in fiction, or do character and plot weigh more heavily? What do you think creates interest about a historical period?
I’m not sure a period can be over-exposed. A good story will always find readers, but when you look at the plethora of books set in the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the westward expansion that followed (prairie stories), there are so many fascinating periods that are largely ignored. I love the WWI and depression eras, I think because that was when America seemed to grow up.
I will always be interested in how the people of any period perceived their world and the issues of their time and how their response made a difference. The Bible refers to people who were strong “in their generation” or who were born “for such a time as this.” Reading such stories gives me courage to live a significant life.
Lynn, very interesting comment about WWI and the Depression being the time when America seemed to grow up. There are certainly a lot of stories about situations that demanded “courage to live a significant life.” Thanks for your insight.
I agree with Lynn. I’m not sure a period can be overexposed. If the plot and characters are good enough, I’ll read from any era. But I think there is a great concentration of stories around wartime, with the possible exception of WWI. I wonder what it is about human nature that makes us especially interested in these time periods. Is it because these intense settings provide ample opportunity for stories of tragedy, romance, courage, betrayal, heroism, etc.? A larger-context conflict is already built into the setting, giving an interesting backdrop to the smaller-context conflict of the story.
Or perhaps there is more information available about historical events during these times of great turmoil. Maybe the depth and richness of detail provides the author with the greatest opportunity to weave a realistic setting. I wouldn’t know, since I don’t write historical. But I’m glad many others do, because I love to read it! 🙂
For me personally, I don’t think a historical time period can be over-exposed. What I long to see are some broad sweeping epics in CBA (yes, I know, page length, printing cost and all that jazz).
Lindsay, in addition to your good observations, I think we tend to look back to those periods which have the most similarity to what we’re going through at the present time. Thus a novel about the Depression would have relevance for many people today. Just a thought . . .
Brenda, the books of 10-15 years ago by Brock and Bodie Thoene may be what you’re wanting now. It’s not only cost that prevents publishers from doing mega-page historicals. It’s more profitable to publish 3 books that might have been 1 major epic.
Etta, I think of my 1966 WIP as historical, although the industry standard wants to push the cut-off line back to about 1950. I guess it’s nice to know I can be 60 years old and still considered “contemporary.”
As a history teacher, though, I was surprised to see the period around Polk characterized as “prior to the outburst of tensions leading to the Civil War.” In my mind, Polk was only elected because all the leading candidates were already mired in those tensions. To me, the most interesting person of those years was John Quincy Adams, who served as secretary to his father on diplomatic missions during the Revolutionary War, and was an ambassador in his own right during the Washington Administration. As Sec. of State under Monroe, he master-minded the Monroe Doctrine and may have been the first person to envision the modern borders of our country. He was not particularly successful as president, but then went back to serve in Congress for 17 years, during which he mentored a young Congressman Lincoln from Illinois and became the lightening-rod and grand-old-man in Congress for the anti-slavery movement.
In my analysis the Civil War was inevitable after 1832, when the Virginia legislature debated slavery and the pro-slavery side only prevailed by one vote. Andrew Jackson was president, and would have been the last person who could have prevented the war from happening, but didn’t. We wouldn’t have another strong president until Lincoln, precisely because the tensions were so strong and the voters too conflicted to settle on any dynamic leader.
The Polk years produce one of the strongest anti-war movements in our history, with Henry David Thoreau going to jail rather than pay taxes in support of war with Mexico. I’m not looking for any new projects, but for someone who might be, this would be a rich era indeed.
I agree with Lynn and Lindsay. I think that there are stories that are untold and when dug out can do homage to some amazing times and the lives of people who lived through them.
Etta’s idea of starting with biographies is excellent. When I was looking through records in the Institute of Texan Cultures (UTSA) several years ago, I came across some interesting individuals. One that stood out to me was Henry O. Flipper. He was the first African American to graduate from West Point – first black Army officer. He was a person that all young people should know about – his perserverance, integrity, and honor are an example for them. I would like to write about him.
Hey, Brian, thanks for the quick analysis of nineteenth century US history. Perhaps I should have just said prior to the first shots at Fort Sumter. As a Tennessean I find it interesting that both Jackson, “the last person who could have prevented the war from happening, but didn’t”, and Polk, whose presidency produced such a strong anti-war movement, were Tennesseans.
Brian,
I happen to be reading about that period of time right now with my oldest son (4th grade) while homeschooling. It is beyond fascinating and I never heard a thing about it in school! I agree that someone should look into this era for a setting!
Etta, the other Tennessean that I fits into that set would be Andrew Johnson. I’ve never visited Tennessee, but it’s produced some very interesting history.
Brian’s comment inspired me to jump in again a bit late. He said, “…the Civil War was inevitable after 1832…Andrew Jackson was president, and would have been the last person who could have prevented the war from happening, but didn’t.”
This is exactly why I love historical fiction! In retrospect, we can analyze why things happened, why they mattered, and how wise decisions might have influenced the outcome. History makes me more acutely aware of the present, which will be the history of our future. For example, will we one day look back and realize that a major conflict was “inevitable” because of decisions we are making today? And that we might have been the last person who could avert disaster, but didn’t?
I wonder if His-Story isn’t one of the ways the Lord teaches us to “number our days.”
Lynn, I appreciate your thoughts on the relating history to biblical truths. On another note, while historical fiction writers often perceive truth in hindsight, we need to remember that they are writing fiction based on history which is different from simply interpreting history==though sometimes the line is narrow between the two.
I have just had the wonderful opportunity to explore many parts of Connecticut. My plan had been to spend a few hours in the oldest town of the state–the town of Wethersfeld. But I ended up spending the night and staying till the very end of the afternoon. George Washington planned the battle of Yorktown and spent the night right across the street from my B&B, had a meal in the tavern a block away, and worshipped at the church at the corner where Jonathan Edwards. I felt like I was in historical overload and loving every minute. The setting for the book, “The Witch of Blackbeard Pond” took place in Wethersfeld and I am now enjoying reading this very much. I do feel there are important books to be written and stories to be told that will enrich our lives.
Angela, I didn’t know or had forgotten if I ever knew that “Witch of Blackbeard Pond” was set in Wethersfeld. That book has so much relevance for today’s culture. Thanks for the reminder.