Historical Fiction

The definition and scope of historical fiction

Historical fiction is a captivating literary genre that weaves fictional elements with actual historical events and settings, emphasizing historical accuracy. At its core, historical fiction is defined by its setting in the past, adhering to the norms and realities of the time period it portrays.

The origins of historical fiction can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where storytellers would blend myth and history to create compelling narratives. Today, historical fiction has evolved into a diverse genre with various subgenres, each bringing its own unique flavor to the table. For instance, historical romance focuses on romantic relationships set against historical backdrops, while historical fantasy combines historical settings with elements of magic and the supernatural.

Whether you’re drawn to the intrigue of historical mysteries or the imaginative worlds of historical fantasy, the genre’s most important feature is its ability to transport readers to a different time, making the past come alive in vivid detail.

Historical fiction is a rich genre filled with inspirational real-life characters and fascinating historical contexts that make us think again about the way we live now. But when you decide to write it, how do you get started? For those seeking recommendations, exploring the best historical novels can provide emotional insight and an immersive experience.

Many swoon-worthy romantic novels are set in the past, for example. There are even less obvious crossovers for exploration, too: consider a science fiction story spearheaded by a kooky Victorian doctor, or a high-concept fiction novel where a character is reborn again and again during World War II.

Historical fiction is that rare beast in publishing: both a commercial genre, as evidenced by the chart-topping success of historical fiction writers like Jessie Burton and Stacey Halls (both of whom have written great blog posts for us on endurance and on being edited), and a genre with respected and award-winning prowess—think of celebrated authors such as Hilary Mantel, who demonstrated the genre’s popularity and immense literary merit.

Yes, historical fiction is relevant today

Think of Bridgerton, adapted as a series for Netflix from the popular books by Julia Quinn and streamed by 82 million households in its first month. Sexy and frothy and fun, it’s about as far from dry and dusty as you can get. It wasn’t just the bodice-ripping that people seemed to enjoy, either. Its evocation of a society that put a huge emphasis on appearance, conformity and notoriety also spoke to a modern audience.

The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.
—L.P. Hartley

Being taken back in time is the ultimate escapism for readers and novelists alike, and much more tantalizingly exotic than a book set thousands of miles away. Elon Musk will probably get to Mars if he throws enough money at it, but he ain’t going back to the 1920s or the 1530s!

Why write historical fiction?

Before you get started writing historical fiction, interrogate whether this is really the genre you want to write.

• Why fiction rather than non-fiction?
• Why set it in the past and not a contemporary genre setting?
• Where will you set it?
• How will your story resonate with a modern reader?
• Will you use historical figures?

Why fiction?

The late author of the Booker Prize-winning historical fiction novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, Hilary Mantel, said:

Like a historian, I interpret, select, discard, shape, simplify. Unlike a historian, I make up people’s thoughts.
—Hilary Mantel

Fiction, by its very definition, demands that you make up stuff.

If you’re writing about historical events but feel you can’t deviate from the record, even when not doing so detracts from the reader’s experience and spoils a good story, then consider writing it as non-fiction.

With all the contradictory confusion and tantalizing blanks that real history throws up, creative non-fiction can be a thrill to write. (Caveat: non-fiction should still be a work of judicious editing and emphasis—have you noticed how many bestsellers in this corner of the market are lauded as being ‘as compelling as fiction’?)

Why do you want to set your story in the past?

Don’t just ask yourself why you are writing historical fiction at all, but why that specific period in time?

Understanding the historical context is especially important if you’re setting your story in the very recent past. Why choose the past over now? Is it because your plot falls apart in an era of mobile phones and the internet? That probably isn’t a good enough reason! Remember that you probably need more than a plotting impasse as your motivation for writing historical fiction.

Choosing a specific historical event can provide a rich backdrop for your narrative, adding depth and authenticity to your story.

Historical novels set in various locations and time periods can offer readers an immersive experience, accurately depicting daily life and intertwining history with regional culture and narratives. Generally, the social attitudes of the past provide terrible conflict in which to mire your characters and are reason enough.

Aspects of the past we find abhorrent now—the dehumanization of the slave trade, women with anxiety and depression locked up in asylums, the majority of a country’s citizens not allowed to vote—inspire stories that obviously need to be told and arguably offer a more powerful lesson than a more remote history book might.

When do you want to set your story?

Think about what the period you’re choosing has to say about how we live now. When you write historical fiction, you’re setting up a dialogue between the past and the present.

If you do have a theme, and you want to make a point about how much certain things have or haven’t changed, it would seem best to be sly about it and choose a period that is quite starkly different in certain respects.

The bonus of writing historical fiction is that you have a ‘ready-made’ world, so unlike with fantasy or sci-fi, you can work with a set of knowns and so can your readers. Is there a time and place for your current idea-in-progress which is just right to say what you want or show an absence or a surfeit of something important to your story?

Where do you want to set your story?

Building historical settings is a crucial aspect of writing historical fiction. A well-crafted historical setting can transport readers to a different time and place, immersing them in the sights, sounds and smells of the past. To achieve this, authors must conduct extensive research on the historical context of the time period they are writing about. This includes delving into the culture, politics and social norms of the era to ensure authenticity.

Historical settings offer a unique opportunity to explore historical events, figures and cultures within the framework of world literature. By accurately depicting the environment in which their characters live, authors can provide readers with a deeper understanding of the past. For instance, a novel set during the American Civil War can vividly portray the turmoil and strife of the period, offering insights into the lives of those who experienced it.

Descriptive language is key to bringing historical settings to life. Imagine describing the bustling streets of Victorian London, with the clatter of horse-drawn carriages, the smell of coal smoke in the air, and the sight of gas lamps flickering in the fog. These details can make the setting feel real and immediate, drawing readers into the story.

By meticulously researching and vividly describing historical settings, authors can transport readers to another time, making the past come alive in their minds.

Familiar settings can help you get started writing historical fiction

Historical novels set in very famous, culturally significant periods of a real place and time where there is a wealth of literature will need to be meticulously explored through historical research.

In her latest novel of historical fiction set in Renaissance Italy, The Marriage Portrait, Maggie O’Farrell would have needed to read the literature and history of the period as well as other books set in the same era before beginning. Most historical fiction authors will choose eras and places they already feel they know quite well. They will have a feel for the times and setting before they can get on exploring their characters’ voices and dive into the writing process.

But when our historical fiction writing coach Kate Riordan wrote The Stranger, set in Cornwall during Britain’s ‘Darkest Hour’ of 1940, she already had a large stock of images flickering in her mind. These came chiefly from Mary Wesley’s The Camomile Lawn (and the racy BBC adaptation she watched avidly as a young teenager), from Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca (obviously), and from myriad other home-front dramas and books she’d read and watched for pleasure.

And if your favorite period is well-trodden ground? Find a shadowy corner that’s been overlooked and tell it from that perspective. Practice developing characters that we haven’t heard from, or perhaps even seen, before. You don’t need to feature grand historic events in your novel; sometimes bringing characters’ lives and lived experiences to light from a new perspective can bring fresh life to the genre. Just think about all the wonderful retellings of the last few years.

What might it be like for us to spend a day seeing things through the eyes of Anne Boleyn? Or a week in New York through the eyes of the early settlers? You can also bring historic events from defining epochs to a place near you! In Ken Follett’s Kingsbridge series, we see the impact of the industrial revolution upon one small village in England.

How will your historical fiction resonate with a modern reader?

Your story will ideally shine a subtle light on the preoccupations of today.

Witnessing social change in a historical novel can educate and enlighten us, not just about where we’ve come from, but about where we might be going next—using hindsight to look for patterns in human behavior.

It stands to reason that historical fiction about women not having control over their bodies (from the aforementioned asylums to novels about witch-hunts) will hit particularly hard at a time when reproductive rights are being so radically eroded in the U.S.

Witnessing social change in a historical novel can educate and enlighten us, not just about where we’ve come from, but about where we might be going next.

Are you comfortable telling a story based on historical figures?

There are two groups of writers we see regularly writing historical fiction at The Novelry.

There are those writing stories about actual events that have captured their imaginations, and there are those fictionalizing lives from within their own family histories. Either one is a common source of consternation among our writers and, when boiled down, these worries are a blend of wanting to get it right and not wanting to get into trouble.

From a general, legal point of view, you can’t libel the dead. However, most of you will want to set the bar rather higher than this. You want to do a really good job—portraying people who are no longer able to speak for themselves with sensitivity and accuracy; to reach back through time in order to retrieve something as near as dammit to the truth.

But consider how much you will be constrained by writing about family members, true events, and the uncomfortable realities of those things when your primary real purpose is to honor those people.

As an author, your overriding objective should be to tell a story, and in fiction, the facts need to bend a little to serve the story. It is much easier when you can allow your main character to take their own path within the narrative of the story rather than having to slavishly follow actual events of less interest so as to please the family!

How much research should you do, and when?

While historical fiction readers expect (and sometimes demand) historical accuracy, the actual research process can vary quite a bit when you’re writing about historic events, even among the most successful writers in the genre.

It all comes down to personal choice. Some writers of historical fiction enjoy the research as much (if not more) than the writing itself, and this camp will want to lose themselves in libraries or down internet rabbit holes for a long time.

That’s fine, but beware of using research as a respectable excuse for procrastination. Try not to mix the very distinct jobs of writing and researching. Do you—mid-scene, in the thick of a writing session—really need to spend half an hour Googling how much a meat pie would have cost in 1820s London? Can you make it a penny for now, and look it up later? After all, this business is creative writing, and you don’t want to sacrifice your flow to minute details.

The late Helen Dunmore, who evoked Leningrad under siege and Rome under Augustus, once told me that the trick with researching historical fiction was to write your novel first, and only start digging for facts once it was absolutely clear from the gaps in your emotionally satisfactory story what you needed to find out. If I’d done that, however, I would never have stumbled on the random details that so enriched my eventual stories, actually adding turns to their plots: before and after photographs of a two spirits Cree shaman stripped of their dignity and forced into ill-fitting western clothes, and a little blue bottle with a silver lid supplied to TB patients for use as a portable spittoon.
—Patrick Gale

What to research before writing historical fiction

A critical issue for the budding historical writer is researching historical sources within the appropriate historical context. The best approach is to be as efficient as possible. You don’t want to spend months researching in a scattergun way and never using most of it. That would make for a very frustrating writing journey.

Don’t let the research take over. If you have exhaustively studied a particular period for a decade, it’s going to be difficult to leave enough of it out so that it doesn’t suffocate your story. All those facts you’ve squirreled away are going to want their moment on the page and this is when you have to be extremely self-disciplined (or get a good editor).

If you have exhaustively studied a particular period for a decade, it’s going to be difficult to leave enough of it out so that it doesn’t suffocate your story.

Read a few well-respected social histories about a particular period or issue to ‘get your eye in’ before you disappear into writing the story. Once that’s drafted and you’ve got your story set, you can think about checking all those ‘meat pie’ specifics.

Of course, you may be drawing on a well of books and films you’ve consumed throughout your life. You may have read lots of fiction and non-fiction alike about the Victorians, the Edwardians and around the two World Wars, and much of this may have seeped into your brain and taken root there. You will already be able to take a decent stab at your characters’ patterns of speech; you may know roughly what they would have worn and something of its exotic vocabulary, too: all those whalebone stays and cloche hats and bombazine mourning gowns. This can help you on your way to writing quickly, and fact-checking the details later.

If you don’t have unlimited time and money for years of research (not to mention the stamina) as you get started writing historical fiction, consider a past you already feel familiar with and passionate about. What date would you plug into a time machine? Go there.

What to research while writing historical fiction

Move the story forward in your daily writing, and keep notes on the detail you need to research outside of that creative time. Go get ’em in the afternoons or weekends, or even at second draft, in the edit.

But how about when you’re in the thick of it? In a nineteenth-century homestead and wondering how they make dinner?

If you’re not sure how much detail is needed, try moving a scene to the present day. If your protagonist is being kissed by someone for the first time, is she noting what iPhone her paramour owns? Is she wondering if he’s on a 24-month mobile phone contract? You need to strike a balance between your reader’s comprehension of a time they have no firsthand experience of and a story that feels naturalistic. Beware of clunky exposition, especially in dialogue, at all times.

And if it doesn’t advance the story, leave it out.

Really, the ideal combination is to know a lot, and then have the confidence to leave most of it out.

The same applies at sentence level: you only need a hint of old-fashioned language. Always avoid going the full Dickens. This way, your recreation of the period will feel innate rather than show-offy. Instead of your reader picturing you beavering away at the British Library, you will disappear entirely. The reader, in safe and invisible hands, will relax happily into the story. Your historical setting will become, for a little while, real.

Fact or fiction? The non-negotiable actual events

There are certain aspects of the fact versus fiction debate that are non-negotiable, regardless of your subgenre or the percentage of research with which you imbue your narrative. Let’s take a look.

Major events

This probably goes without saying, but you can’t move wars, battles, natural or manmade disasters, political snafus, and other such set-in-stone dates. These sorts of events are immovable and will, frankly, make you look like an amateur if you do move them. The only exception to this rule is with fantasy, à la George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones. 

Lesser-known but important dates

If it’s a much lesser-known event that’s not significant to the historical record, you might be able to wiggle your story around it, but I’d mostly advise against it. If someone can look up the date and pinpoint it, and there are enough ripple effects in terms of societal mores and movements from said event, it’s better to stick to the original date. 

Personalities

If you’re writing about a true-to-life person, it’s important to portray their character traits as they were. It’s certainly acceptable to emphasize certain aspects of a person’s character that haven’t yet been emphasized, particularly if new research comes to light. But in general, it’s important to be true to who this character was in real life, even if they’re less than likable (which is the real challenge in writing biographies). 

Societal norms, fashions and inventions

Unless you’re writing steampunk or historical fantasy, these aspects of world-building must be true-to-life, or you’ll be dinged by readers. I hate to say it, but there’s a contingent out there that enjoys emailing authors to tell them what they got wrong.

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Fact or fiction? The negotiables

The good news is there are also negotiable components of writing a historical novel. These facets of historical fiction are where the writer can truly play, have fun and spread their wings.

Dialogue

Go to town! Dialogue is where a lot of the fun comes in as long as, again, you stay as close as possible to the true-to-life person’s character, manner of speaking, and other mannerisms.

Descriptions

This is one of the best parts of writing historical fiction. You can really build out the world, making it as vibrant and sensory-filled as possible. Just remember to ensure the descriptions are colored by the emotional lens of the main character(s). Gothic novels do this extremely well. They combine a sense of mystery, rich and beautiful aspects of darkness, and a haunted quality to the descriptions.

For another example, consider a fine banquet set in a gilded château. The character is an aristocrat, and when they arrive, they use their cunning to network to secure some favor or other. They hardly notice the silver trays of champagne and amuse-bouches or the table laden with sweet treats. They are plotting, and all they can see is a chessboard of people before them. Enter a pauper, and suddenly the view of this same room is completely different. It’s temptation in the extreme. The rich smells make their stomach ache; the champagne is liquid gold on their tongue and the sweets are bursts of heaven in their mouth. They hardly notice the people. All they see is abundance, and they are thrilled to eat their fill. Now, this isn’t particularly beautiful wording since it’s a quick example, but you can see how the descriptions of the very same room change. Use them to not only build a world but to reveal something about your characters.

You can really build out the world, making it as vibrant and sensory-filled as possible. Just remember to ensure the descriptions are colored by the emotional lens of the main characters.

Tone and mood

This will depend on the subgenre of historical fiction that you’re writing as well as the setting—wartime novels, natural disasters, glamorous city scenes, royal novels, etc. But it also depends on the author’s natural voice and style so, again, it’s playtime!

Crafting historical characters

Crafting historical characters is a delicate balance between fact and fiction. While historical characters can be based on real people, authors must also ensure historical authenticity by using their imagination to fill in the gaps and create a compelling narrative. This blend of reality and creativity is what makes historical fiction so captivating.

Historical characters must be consistent with the time period in which they live. This means reflecting the social norms, cultural values, and events of the age.

For example, a young woman in the nineteenth century would have very different experiences and expectations compared to a woman in the twenty-first century. Authors need to ensure that their characters’ actions and attitudes are believable within the context of the time period. People would have held different expectations of their possibilities in life dependent on their gender, race and class than they do today, and you need to be mindful of historical appropriation as much as cultural appropriation. Consider too, by the way, whether this story is really yours to tell?

Historical figures can serve as inspiration for characters, but it’s important to remember the differences between fact and fiction. While it’s tempting to stick strictly to historical records, adding fictional elements can enhance the story and make it more engaging. For instance, an author’s imagination might breathe new life into a well-known historical figure by exploring their inner thoughts and emotions, which are often not documented in historical records.

Historical characters can also be used to explore themes in depth, providing an intimate perspective on the past, allowing us to engage with a less-conventional side of history through their personal experience. By placing their characters in the midst of actual events, authors can delve with more freedom into the fuller human experience.

The role of secondary characters

Secondary characters, whether pure fiction or based on real people, are such a great tool to help portray more nuanced aspects of a main character by acting as a mirror or a foil for the protagonist. In particular, they’re helpful in biographical fiction when the protagonist isn’t the most likable human being and has some fairly abhorrent traits or habits.

Take the Sherlock Holmes novels. Though Sherlock Holmes is a fictional example and not biographical fiction, the results are the same: a secondary character is mighty useful and can be used to help buffer some of the more unlikable traits a protagonist exhibits. Holmes is an analytical machine, a compulsive-obsessive. He isn’t particularly likable or even sympathetic. Watson, on the other hand, is an ‘everyman,’ wounded in the war and discharged. He has a sense of humor and an open nature, and is dedicated to helping Holmes be successful. He is also Holmes’s only friend, likely because most find him insufferable and difficult to talk to. By bringing in Watson, Conan Doyle makes the reader believe that Holmes is someone worth knowing.

Story scope

Story scope is one of the most important elements of what makes your novel unique and stand out from others, especially when there are other books that center on the same or similar topics as yours. For example:

• How many points of view are you incorporating?
• What’s the story you’re aiming to tell?
• What themes are you hoping to underscore?
• What’s the date range for the story? Three months? Thirty years? Three days?

In other words, use these negotiable elements to make your story unique.

Tweaking the record

Very occasionally, you may find that you need to tweak a fact to make your story or a particular scene work. In general, it’s best to avoid this and rework your story so that it aligns with the research. That said, if it’s a fairly insignificant detail, you can get away with it on a small scale but be sure to mention it in the author’s note at the end of the book.

For example, you might adjust a minor detail in the story of a young Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied Paris to better fit your narrative.

Fact or fiction? The author’s note

All hail the author’s note! This section of the novel is the historical fiction writer’s best friend. Should you need to tweak any facts, you can document them here for those eagle-eyed readers who may potentially be experts on your topic.

No matter how many times you comb your manuscript, deciding which research details should stay in the book and which should be cut, no matter how many critique partners and editors have read your book, the fact remains: you will make mistakes. You will also occasionally have readers email you about said mistakes. But remember, you’re not perfect, and you’re not writing non-fiction. You also probably aren’t a historian. So when a mistake is spotted, let your publisher know so you can update it for the next print run, take a deep breath, and forgive yourself. You’re only human.

In the end, remember it’s your novel. You can take poetic license where you choose to. Just be sure to cover your bases and document any changes or fabrications so the reader will never feel duped.

Don’t be afraid to be fallible

Story first! However thoroughly you think you’ve checked your details, however eagle-eyed your copy editor, however many experts you bring in to read early drafts, there will be things which slip through the editorial net.

Readers like nothing better than writing to point out one’s mistakes. Our writing coach Heather Webb tells how in A Place Called Winter she had her hero catching a train to Liverpool from King’s Cross instead of Euston. Author Patrick Gale tells how in Mother’s Boy he had his character buying a woman friend a bitter lemon six years before Schweppes first launched the drink. It’s absolutely fine. You’re using an author’s imagination to tell a great story and can be allowed a little artistic license.

One of the beauties of ebooks is that your novel’s electronic version, at least, can be swiftly corrected (and presumably magically corrects itself on anyone’s e-reader when they connect to the internet).

Subgenres of historical fiction, including historical romance

Explore the different subgenres before you decide

Historical fiction is a rich and varied genre, encompassing a wide range of subgenres, each with its own unique characteristics and themes. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular subgenres within historical fiction.

Historical romance

This subgenre focuses on romantic relationships set against the backdrop of historical events. The tension and drama of the time period often heighten the stakes of the romance, making for a compelling read.

Historical fantasy

Combining historical settings with speculative elements, historical fantasy introduces magic, supernatural creatures, and alternate worlds into the mix. This subgenre allows authors to play with history while adding a layer of imaginative storytelling.

Historical mystery

Also known as historical whodunnits, this subgenre involves solving a mystery or crime set in the past. The historical context adds an extra layer of intrigue, as characters navigate the challenges and limitations of their time.

Documentary fiction

This subgenre incorporates real historical characters and events, often blending factual reports with fictional narratives. It provides a unique perspective on historical events, making them more accessible and engaging for readers.

Historical fiction by time period

Historical novels can be set in any time period, from ancient civilizations to modern times. They often explore significant historical events, figures and cultures, offering a unique perspective on a country’s history. For example, novels set during the American Civil War provide a panoramic view of a nation in crisis, while those set in Renaissance Italy or Revolutionary France offer insights into the cultural and political upheavals of those times.

Historical fiction allows authors to explore historical figures and events in a more personal and intimate way. Fictional biographies, for instance, focus on the life and experiences of a historical figure, providing a nuanced and thought-provoking exploration of their life and times. Feminist historical novels can offer a fresh perspective on the contributions and experiences of women throughout history, challenging traditional narratives and highlighting their often-overlooked roles.

Ancient historical fiction

Ancient historical fiction is a fascinating subgenre that transports readers to the distant past, exploring the lives and cultures of ancient civilizations within their historical context. These historical novels often delve into the mythology, politics and social structures of societies such as ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. Whether set during the Golden Age of Athens or the height of the Roman Empire, these stories offer a rich tapestry of historical figures and fictional characters.

For instance, Mary Renault’s The King Must Die retells the myth of the Minotaur and the labyrinth, blending historical events with legendary tales. Similarly, Robert Graves’s I, Claudius provides an intimate look at the life of the Roman Emperor Claudius, weaving historical facts with imaginative storytelling. These popular historical novels not only bring ancient history to life but also offer insights into the human experience across millennia.

Medieval historical fiction

Medieval historical fiction plunges readers into the tumultuous and vibrant world of the Middle Ages. This subgenre explores the politics, social structures and mythology of medieval Europe, covering events such as the Crusades, the Black Death, and the rise of kingdoms and empires. Whether set in the High Middle Ages or the Late Middle Ages, these historical fiction books provide a window into a time of knights, castles and epic battles.

Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth is a prime example, focusing on the construction of a cathedral in twelfth-century England and the lives intertwined with it. Sharon Kay Penman’s The Sunne in Splendour retells the story of Richard III and the Wars of the Roses, blending historical figures with richly developed characters. These novels offer readers a chance to experience the drama and intrigue of medieval life, making history feel immediate and relevant.

Modern historical fiction

Modern historical fiction brings the last century or early years of this century to life, exploring the lives and cultures of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. This subgenre delves into the politics, social structures and significant events of modern history, including the World Wars, the Cold War, and the rise of modern nation-states. Whether set during the Roaring Twenties or the turbulent 1960s, these historical novels provide a nuanced look at the forces that have shaped our contemporary world.

Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See is a poignant example, telling the story of a young German boy and a blind French girl during World War II. Acclaimed as one of the best historical novels of all time, Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall offers a detailed portrayal of Thomas Cromwell and the court of Henry VIII, blending historical figures with compelling fictional narratives. These novels not only illuminate the past but also resonate with modern readers, offering insights into the human condition and the complexities of history.

By exploring different time periods, historical fiction allows readers to journey through the ages, experiencing the triumphs and tragedies of humanity. Whether you’re drawn to the ancient world, the medieval era or modern times, there’s a wealth of stories waiting to transport you to another time and place.

Writing historical novels at The Novelry

Fear not! The past may be a foreign place but you can make it feel like home and enjoy precious writing time in another world, and another time, daily with our one-hour-a-day writing method. Find out more about our unique approach to writing fiction and discover how it works here. If you’re just starting to write historical fiction, you can work with bestselling novelists and publishing editors to help you come up with the idea, plot and pace your novel, and get the detail right.

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