Thursday, 13 October 2011

Fictionalising History


One of my earliest reading delights was learning about different periods of history through novels - so much more interesting and digestible than history lessons. All through my teenage years, I devoured the novels of Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and Charles Dickens, who wrote during their actual eras, and Georgette Heyer, Victoria Holt, Jean Plaidy and H Rider Haggard, who placed the reader so convincingly in different times. Then I moved on to the medieval murders of Ellis Peters and was hooked on that period.

It is little surprise that my own first novel, Dangerous Deceit, is a historical set in the Regency period, and I also write occasional historical short stories. Good historical fiction still transports me to other times and it must be the ultimate escapism in a novel! So I am delighted that a fellow Champagne Books author, Jude Johnson, is in the Author Spotlight over on my reading and writing blog today. Jude's novel, Dragon & Hawk, is a fascinating journey back to late 19th century Arizona and is full of rich historical detail. Well worth a read!

Romy

4 comments:

Jude Johnson said...

Thank you so much, Rosemary! Glad you enjoyed your visit to the Arizona Territory. ;-) I love learning history through novels. To step into someone's shoes allows us to imagine how much our lives have changed-- and see how little human nature hasn't! Thanks for a fun interview!

Jude
http://jude-johnson.com

Diane Fordham said...

After reading Dangerous Deceit, I do know what you mean now - about learning history through novels. Much more enjoyable! Thank you for opening up that world to me. x

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Great to have you on my blog, Jude -and I certainly learned a lot about a different period and place!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

That's so kind of you, Diane - I always enjoyed bits of history from novels!