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This week: Historical Drama Edited by: Kit  
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Bringing history to life is hard work. It takes time, effort, and a lot of research. The result, however, can be thoroughly rewarding, not just for your readers, but also for yourself.
This week's Drama Newsletter, then, is all about historical fiction.
kittiara |
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There are novels in a book lover’s life that will be read again and again. Sometimes they rest on a shelf for years, but they are never forgotten, never thrown out or given away, and sooner or later they are opened once more. One such a novel in my bookcase is Ciske de Rat (Ciske the Rat) by Dutch author Piet Bakker.
The novel (which is actually a trilogy), is the first-person account of a teacher called Bruis, and follows the story of a boy, Ciske, who is transferred to his school and his classroom. Ciske is a damaged child from a poor, dysfunctional family. His mother is a horrible woman who raises him without love and affection, and Ciske responds to this by acting out and getting into trouble. Fortunately, the teacher takes an interest in the child. He soon becomes Ciske's guardian and even when the child becomes the man, their lives remain entwined.
The trilogy contains a lot of historical fact – the realities of life in Amsterdam during that time period, the educational system, the justice system, and, in the third novel, the start of the Second World War and the battle at the Grebbeberg. Ultimately, it's a tale of love, friendship, faith, loyalty and redemption.
I love historical fiction. After I reread “Ciske”, I dug up Désirée by Annemarie Selinko. The story of Désirée begins during the French Revolution. She meets a man called Napoleon, and they fall in love and get engaged. When he moves to Paris to further his career, and he doesn't return for a year, she follows him, only to discover that he plans on marrying another woman, Josephine. Written as a diary, Désirée shares with us the events of the Revolution, the rise of Napoleon and how she ends up becoming the Queen of Sweden.
One of the benefits of reading historical fiction is that it's very possible to bump into beloved (or not so beloved) characters or, at least, the reminders of them. When in Paris, I've stopped by the Musée de l'Armée to see the paintings and the armour of the soldiers, and visited Napoleon's tomb and the graves of his and Désirée's family members. A bit morbid? Perhaps, but it didn't feel that way.
I realise, of course, that the real people may have been very different to those in the story. They may well have had completely different personalities and motivations. The events that marked their lives, however, are remembered, and will be remembered centuries on, whether that's through history books or interpretations.
That's where a historical writer comes in. Writers of historical fiction breathe life into historical figures, or historical events, or both. It's not an easy path for a writer to take. It's hard work, it takes hours, months or even years of research, but the result is thoroughly rewarding, not just for the readers who reap the benefits of their efforts, but for the writers themselves.
Victoria Holt took a fascinating approach to her novel The Queen's Confession. Apart from her general research on the time period she was writing about, she used actual letters written by Marie Antoinette, her family, and those around her, to base her story on, and to shape the character of the (quite possibly) misunderstood Queen of France. Extracts of these letters are included in the novel.
Naturally, this was not possible for Jean M. Auel, whose Earth's Children books are set in prehistoric Europe. Instead, she traveled across Europe, visited prehistoric sites and has met with and corresponded with many experts in the field.
If you're planning on writing historical fiction, it may be a good idea to pick a time period you're already fascinated with, or at least interested in. You're going to have to get it right, because there will be readers who also have a keen interest in that same time period, and who will notice any errors. It's a daunting prospect, but it will keep you on your toes.
One big reward is that you may well inspire some of your readers to go on their own historical exploration. Victoria Holt and Annemarie Selinko sparked in me an enduring interest in the French Revolution, Napoleon's reign, and the surrounding events. They brought me to Paris many years ago, and I recently completed a course on the Revolution.
A good writer can influence their readers. That's a big responsibility. If you use it well you, too, will be remembered, and one day in the future, a fascinated author may research and share your story.
kittiara |
Here are some of the latest additions to the Drama Genre:
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Tribute pastiche of Daenerys Stormborn from G.O.T. with melody from Frozen's "Let It Go."
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The Drama Newsletter Team welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in! 
Ẃeβ࿚ẂỉԎḈĥmas  ~ Kittiara, I'm so sorry to hear about your recent losses. I understand grief only too well when my mom passed, last year. Expressing your grief does not make a newsletter depressing, it actually reaches out to each one of us, for surely there have been experiences that have taken our breath away in a deeply sad way.
I must agree with you about books that throw so many negative obstacles in the protagonists path, that it wears us down. You start begging out loud, "when will it end?" After a point, you start to lose your connection with the character and wish the book would lighten-up quickly. I find that it takes me too long to read those tragic novels, as I need to handle it in small bites at a time.
You hit the nail on the head with this nl, with that observation.
My thoughts and prayers are with you,
 WW
Many thanks for your kind words, WW . I am sorry to hear about the loss of your mom. I hope that your pain is easing up a bit.
You've perfectly summed up my feelings about such books. That's exactly it, you want it to end! Which is never a good thing - for all that it's wonderful when a story makes you feel emotionally involved, reading should, on the whole, be an enjoyable experience.
~~~
Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Drama Newsletter Team |
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Drama: September 24, 2014 Issue [#6568]
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