Readers Advisory Presentation for SELCO 11/8/2012

1. Historical
Fiction
Kimberly Edson, Rochester Public

2. Audience participation
encouraged!

3. • Between 2000 and 2007, one-third of
Booklist Editors’ Choice titles in adult
Fiction were historical Novels
• Topics reflect trends in history

4. Historical Fiction:
definition
Historical fiction presents a story set in the past, often during a significant time
period. In historical fiction, the time period is an important part of the setting and
often of the story itself. Historical fiction may include fictional characters, well-
known historical figures or a mixture of the two. Authors of historical fiction
usually pay close attention to the details of their stories (settings, clothing,
dialogue, etc.) to ensure that they fit the time periods in which the narratives take
place. In some historical fiction, famous events appear from points of view not
recorded in history, showing historical figures dealing with actual events while
depicting them in a way that is not recorded in history. Other times, the historical
event or time period complements a story's narrative, forming a framework and
background for the characters' lives. Sometimes, historical fiction can be for the
most part true, but the names of people and places have been in some way
altered. As this is fiction, artistic license is permitted in regard to presentation and
subject matter, so long as it does not deviate in significant ways from established
history.

5. If events should deviate significantly, the story may then fall into the genre
alternate history, which is known for speculating on what could have
happened if a significant historical event had gone differently. On a similar
note, events occurring in historical fiction must adhere to the laws of
physics. Stories that extend into the magical or fantastic are often
considered historical fantasy. (definition from Good Reads)

6. Not all historical fiction is created equally!
• Presents a well-told story • Poorly researched
that doesn't conflict with • Too much history in
historical records the text
• Portrays characters • Dialogue or voice
realistically sounds phony
• Presents authentic • Setting isn’t specific
settings enough to show where
• Artfully folds in historical the story takes place
facts • Today’s world creeps
• Avoids stereotypes and into the story
myths.

7. Historical fiction overlaps with
many other genres
• Historical Romance
• Historical Mystery
• Historical Christian
• Western

8. What do historical fiction
readers look for?
• Stories that evoke the past with period
detail including customs, food, clothing,
religious beliefs, architecture, etc.
• To immerse themselves in the day-to-tay
loves and mindsets of those who lived in
earlier eras.
• To be entertained.

9. Appeal Factors
Time Period : Reader is specific about the
era or time period they want to read about.
Geographical Setting: Reader is interested
in a particular place or setting.
www.historicalnovels.info
Provides over 5000 Historical Novels listed by Time and Place

10. Appeal Factors
• Amount and type of historical content
• Level of realism
• Author
• Pacing
• Type of character

11. Appeal Factors
• Characterization
• Subject and theme
• Dialogue
• Language
• Violence and sexual content

12. Discovery Tools
• http://www.bookmarksmagazine.com/historical-fiction-
masters-past/sarah-l-johnson
• http://www.goodreads.com/genres/historical-fiction
• http://www.pbclibrary.org/read-historical.htm
• http://www.prattlibrary.org/locations/fiction/index.aspx?id
=17462#Guides

13. Your Turn