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historical FICTION or HISTORICAL fiction?
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From: Patricia Pfitsch <pfitsch>
Date: Fri, 7 May 2004 08:56:44 -0500
On 5/7/04, Monica R. Edinger wrote:
This is certainly one of the most fascinating and dangerous (as in controversial) aspects about history, especially historical fiction. In researching for my books, I've found that what established history texts provide as 'fact' is often not the only interpretation of what happened and sometimes not what happened at all according to reliable primary sources. The poster who mentioned "Daughter of Time" touched on this; history is written by the victors. "Spin" is a modern term, but humans have been 'spinning' the presentation of events for as long as we've been in existence.
Sometimes, the 'powers that be' are not willing to allow other interpretations. Sometimes historical fiction is the only way we can actually get at the 'truth' of history. That's one of the things I love about it.
Patty Pfitsch
Date: Fri, 7 May 2004 08:56:44 -0500
On 5/7/04, Monica R. Edinger wrote:
This is certainly one of the most fascinating and dangerous (as in controversial) aspects about history, especially historical fiction. In researching for my books, I've found that what established history texts provide as 'fact' is often not the only interpretation of what happened and sometimes not what happened at all according to reliable primary sources. The poster who mentioned "Daughter of Time" touched on this; history is written by the victors. "Spin" is a modern term, but humans have been 'spinning' the presentation of events for as long as we've been in existence.
Sometimes, the 'powers that be' are not willing to allow other interpretations. Sometimes historical fiction is the only way we can actually get at the 'truth' of history. That's one of the things I love about it.
Patty Pfitsch
-- Patricia Curtis Pfitsch http://www.pfitsch.com From Simon & Schuster Riding the Flume (2003 Edgar Nominee!) Keeper of the Light The Deeper SongReceived on Fri 07 May 2004 08:56:44 AM CDT
