An Introduction to Historical Fiction

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And you may not know this, or you might (depends how long you've been following this blog) but there is a genre that I've been trying to delve into more in the last couple of years. 

Historical fiction. 

Basically, aside from wanting to find out more about the historical events that have led to the life we lead today, I knew there were some fantastic historical fiction books in the world that I hadn't yet encountered. 

And I now think that I've read enough historical fiction to write this post. 

An introduction to the genre of historical fiction. 

Enjoy. 

1. The Kingdom of Back, by Marie Lu 

I chose The Kingdom of Back because it isn't so much as a historial fiction, it's a mix between a historical fiction and a fantasy novel. This was what actually got me interested in this, that and the fact that this story follows a real historical figure. The Kingdom of Back follows Wolfgang Mozart's older sister Nannerl as she grows, constantly overlooked by her younger brother's genius talent. She is told, because she is female, she cannot pursue music as more than a talent, and only until she is married. It was a very unique perspective, in a time period that I haven't read about before, with a fantastical twist embedded in the story. This is perfect for fans looking for an entry into historical fiction, but want some magic and intrigue thrown in too. Marie Lu is an autobuy author of mine, and knowing I could trust her, I throughly enjoyed this. 

2. The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak 

I should really re-read this. Genuinely, it's been 5 years since I read this, and it was one of the first books I thought of when I thought to do this post. The impact this book will give you- it's unreal. I'm not going to lie- this isn't an easy book to read, because of the time period it's set in. Beautifully written, hard subjects discussed, but hope is weaven in it's pages as we follow Leisel, sent to a foster family, with a love of words and language. But these are dangerous times. When Leisel's foster family harbours a jew, her world opens up and closes down. A fantastic novel full of love, sacrifice and tears (from the reader mostly.) One of the best historical fiction novels ever written, in my opinion. 

3. The Light Between Worlds, by Laura Weymouth 

This one isn't as well known, but this one rang true on a more personal level to me, as opposed to The Book Thief. The Light Between Worlds follows the POV's of two sisters, Phillipa and Evelyn. Desperate to escape the terror of the bombings (set in WWII) the two sisters, along with their two brothers are transported away to the Woodlands, where they will be able to dwell during the war. When they return, nothing has changed, except themselves. Now, years later, Phillipa is determined to find a place in this world, to forget the Woodlands. Evelyn, on the other hand, is longing to return to the Woodlands- the only place she was happy. And she'll do whatever it takes. This book deals with such a realistic interpretation of depression, illness and disordered eating, amongst other themes, which is why I felt this book on such a personal level. It's also a mix of historical fiction and magical realism, which I honestly thought was blended together so fantastically. If you can deal with the kind of issues this book discusses, I highly recommend this. 

4. The Diary of A Young Girl, by Anne Frank 

This one kind of speaks for itself. There is a series of books that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime. The Diary of A Young Girl is one of them. This is the real life story of someone hiding in an annex in World War II. If that's not enough to convince people, I don't know what is. 

5. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, by Stuart Turton 

Although I consider this a book to go into without knowing too much about it, this is what The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is about. A person jumps from the POV of seven guests throughout the week and tries to figure out who killed Evelyn Hardcastle. That's the bare bones of it, but there is so much more to it than that. I'll compare it to Cluedo. It's remembering and keeping track of what you know with each character, and then something unexpected happens. The writing was exquisite, even if the story was a slow burner. It took me a while to get through but I absolutely devoured it. It's a murder mystery, with the rules and restriction of old fashioned England. Although the setting isn't the main focus, there are little hints that indicate the time period, which lended so much to the story, which is why it's on this list. 

6. The Lie Tree, by Frances Hardinge 

I chose this book because although there are elements that could be considered similar to other books, regarding the fact that the protagonist is a young female in a historical setting, it sets itself apart in a bunch of different ways. For one, this female is a young scientist- involved in her father's research- until he is found dead under mysterious circumstances, anyway. It's amazing to see what the scientific research was, and the scientific side to this story, especially when this book is set- Victorian Era England. Secondly, it doesn't just appeal in the scientific sense or the historical fiction sense either, but the subject matter of the lie tree, which grows and flourishes based on the secrets that Faith spreads around. There are so many nuances that appeal to several authors, I'm surprised more people haven't read this yet. I'm ashamed to say that I've only read the one Frances Hardinge book, and I plan to change that soon because, even four years later, I still remember this book as being excellent. 

Okay! That's all I have for you all today! 

I very much enjoyed writing about these wonderful novels, so if you have any thoughts, feel free to share them in the comment section below! 

I hope you have a wonderful evening, and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx