Here’s what I mean: you can write a book of practically any genre (mystery, romance, thriller) and put it in a historical setting. The only thing that truly defines a historical novel is its presence in a historical period. For example, we could conceivably take Inception or The Bourne Identity, re-stage them during the American Revolution or the Great Depression, and boom! suddenly they’re historicals.
But, somewhat contradictionally, simply moving a story to a historical period isn’t enough to make it a good historical novel. The bottom line is this: the historical period must be integral to the story.
For example, if you write a story set during the Alaskan gold rush, but the gold rush itself and/or the Alaskan setting isn’t really that important to your story, then that setting is extraneous. Worse, if your characters’ actions in this story would make just as much sense in modern-day Manhattan, then you’re failing to take advantage of your historical era.
The point of all this is two-fold:
1. For all that a historical setting is just a setting, it’s really much more than that. Don’t disappoint readers who are looking for an immersive historical experience if your story could just as easily take place in the modern day.
2. Do your research. Make your historical setting pop off the page. You want readers to feel as if they’re living in this foreign time and place. Most of the time, the little details much more than the big ones are what bring historical novels to life and anchor their characters and plots within the setting.
Wordplayers, tell me your opinions! Is your setting integral to your historical novel? Tell me in the comments!
