Historical fiction takes readers to another time or place either in real world or in an imaginary world. Historical fiction is a balanced research and creativity and it offers fiction writers to tell a wholly unique story. This literary genre deals with the story of past. The origin of Historical fiction dates back to the early 19the century. Sir Walter Scoff, Honored de Balzac, Leo Tolstoy were among the novelists who tried to write on historical setting on their own concept. Homer’s The IIiad and The Odyssey were the first written historical novel in the 18th century BC. The genre had its origin in ancient times but it wasn’t until 19th century. In 19th century Sir Walter Scoff’s Ivanhoe was the popular novel of this genre.

Historical fiction is set of real place sat a culturally recognizable time. The details in the story can be mix of actual event or the author’s imagination, characters can be pure fiction and based on real people or imaginary (or both), everything about them, their look, their language should match the era. Historical fiction is often called documentary fiction and it is of 6 types:

1. Biographical historical fiction- This fiction tells the story of real person’s life, their history, their lifestyles and their groups.
2. Historical series and epics- It consist of stories of various eras, ancient tales of Kings and their rulings.
3. Historical mysteries and thrillers- It consist of all elements of this contemporary genre, they set totally in past. Jess Kidd’s Things in jars written in 2019 is the best example historical mysteries, it takes the reader to Victorian London where detective divine rescue of valuable child.
4. Historical romance- it takes the reader to burning love stories of the past.
5. Historical adventures- It recounts the past triumphs and adventures by air, sea, land of the past.
6. Historical Fantasy- It gives the author a license to change the details of the past. Philip Roth’s The plot against America written in the year 2004 takes you back with time travel to stop the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

One of the best historical non fiction novel of all the time is “Hiroshima” written by John Hersey. This book is brilliant piece of journalism, it is an artistic achievement as well as threat of this still unsettled world. On 6th August, 1945 the first atomic bomb is dropped from an American plane on the residents of Hiroshima, Japan. Many cities are destroyed and thousands of inhabitants died and only 6 people survived. This novels contains the story of six survivors at the Hiroshima attack: Miss Sasaki(a clerk), Dr. Fiji(a physician), Mr Nakamura (a Tailor’s widow), father Kleinsorge( a great German Jesuit), Dr. Sasaki(a young Red Cross doctor), the Reverend Tanimoto(a Pastor). They lived a dozen lives and saw more death in their life than they ever imagined, they saw terror of death, suffering. This novel demonstrates the suffering of thousands of people and their wound’s and burns caused by the bomb and how the survivors struggled to endure and help each other. At that time Hiroshima was ball of flame and the park was filled with radiation rain and whirlwind.

Historical genre plays an important role in building the world and also it narrates the stories of the past. This genre demonstrates the importance of a specific aspect to create a bridge between the readers with the past world and helps us to know our past culture, rituals and our customs.

 

Priya Singh @Samacharline