There’s a lot to explore on the topic of genre—what structures and conventions help us easily categorize one genre or another? How are genre descriptors used to sell a book? In today’s Modern Readers episode, we’re focusing our discussion on historical fiction, and, more specifically, an emerging subgenre: literary historical fiction.
This fall publishing season ushers in plenty of award-worthy historical novels, so it’s the perfect time to think about what makes this popular genre so appealing. In today’s episode, we discuss our differing definitions of historical fiction, key differences between general-women’s-and literary historical fiction, and share a bunch of book recommendations (as is our way).
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5 Nonfiction Titles Paired with Fabulous Historical Novels
If you enjoy reading engrossing and thought-provoking historical fiction, we have a few nonfiction recommendations to pair with some of the books discussed in today’s episode.
For Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi….
The 1619 Project created by Nikole Hannah Jones. The 1619 Project was a critical and groundbreaking history of the origins of slavery in America and its reverberating consequences. This collection expounds further upon the original collection published by the New York Times. The 1619 Project helps further contextualize the generational topics explore in Gyasi’s debut novel.
For Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell…
Will in the World by Stephen Greenblatt. The lack of historical documents that shed light on the life of Agnes “Anne” Hathway and her three children made for a prime opportunity in O’Farrell’s brilliant imaginings. For those interested in the details we do have about Shakespeare and hearing about Elizabethan life, you can check out Stephen Greenblatt’s Pulitzer Prize finalist biography.
For Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry…
The Legacy of Conquest by Patricia Nelson Limerick. For those who loved Larry McMurtry’s sprawling award-winning tome. Gone are the more romantic notions of moving out West, as Limerick establishes the economic reality of the time and regions while interpreting the Wild West’s real cast of characters in new ways, including trappers, traders, Indigenous tribes, farmers, oilmen, cowboys, and sheriffs of the Old West.
For The Fraud by Zadie Smith…
The Victorian City: Everyday Life in Dickens’ London by Judith Flanders. A nearly perfect pairing to give even more insight into the everyday life of a Victorian city is this history of 19th century London by Judith Flanders. No stone is left unturned in her detailed history of the city Dickens called home for many years.
For Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro…
Servants: A Downstairs History of Britain from the Nineteenth Century to Modern Times by Lucy Lethbridge. For those who are particularly curious about Stevens’ unwavering loyalty to Lord Darlington, this history and social study aims to help us understand the complex relationship between the server and served, shedding a light on British Society from the Edwardian period to present day. This is an illuminating read for anyone wanting to understand the rich history of service staff.
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Final Notes
We hope you enjoyed today’s discussion on historical fiction. Let us know in the comments below: what conventions come to mind when you think about historical or literary historical fiction? We can’t wait to hear your thoughts.
Until then, we declare after all, there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book.
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Love the pairings! The Ishiguro is a curious one... It reminds me that I read something about Kazuo Ishiguro being unsatisfied with the film version because it treated the novel like a period drama. He felt it was not supposed to be read as a book about the historical period, but an analogy for thinking about universal truths and experience. Which I guess might be what makes it "literary historical fiction"? In the same way, Hamnet is about the universality of grief, and Wolf Hall is about... well many many things, but more than the Tudor court.