Historical Fiction Readers Advisory

1. Historical FictionReaders Advisory Innovation Experts April 12, 2011 1-4 PM Becky Siegel Spratford bspratford@hotmail.com http://raforall.blogspot.com

2. Surveying The Past • Becky’s Ten Rules of Basic Readers’ Advisory • Historical Fiction Genre Overview • Historical Fiction Trends • Historical Fiction Subgenres and Authors • Resources • Whole Collection Options • Managing Your HF Collection • Questions, Comments, Discussion

3. RA Ground Rules Becky’s Ten Rules of Basic RA Service • Betty Rosenberg: “Never apologize for your reading tastes.” • Suggest don’t Recommend. • Everyone reads a different version of the same book. • Write down adjectives about what you read; plot you can find. • Read widely (at least speed read widely). • Read about books (RSS feeds). • Share what you read- with staff and patrons. • Never let a patron leave unsatisfied. • Get out from behind the desk. • Get involved in creating displays.

4. Historical Fiction Genre Overview • Definitions • Genre History • Appeal • Separating the “History” from the “Fiction” • Working with fans • Please note: much of the information in this section is from the Historical Fiction Genre Guides by Sarah Johnson.

5. Historical Fiction Definitions • Any fiction set in the past, no matter when it was written? • Pride and Prejudice problem • Written at least 50 years after the time portrayed in story? • What if the author is 80? • Set before the author’s birth? • What if it is set when they were 5? • Novels set before the middle of the 20th Century in which the author is writing from research, not personal experience • Suite FrancaisevsSarah’s Key

6. Historical Fiction Genre History • One of oldest forms of storytelling • First HF novel: Waverlyby Sir Walter Scott (1814) • 20th Century– popularity leads to problems of quality • 1990s-Present: HF Renaissance • See Johnson, Sarah L. Historical Fiction: A Guide to the Genre for more details

7. Historical Fiction Appeal • Fun way to learn history • Landscape: place and time • Characters: real or imagined? • Frame: details are key • Level of Historical Content/Realism • Pacing: varies although generally compelling • Language: time specific • Tone: generally celebratory

8. How Real Is It? • Important but not always critical • Judging level of research • Reviews • Bibliographies or footnotes • Authors’ notes • Epilogues • Genealogical tables • Glossaries • Maps

9. Helping Readers • Forget my definition—listen to theirs • Narrow down their preferences • Use subject headings where available • Offer “big name” choices to see if you are on the right rack • Use the resources

10. Historical Fiction Trends • Multiple Time Periods • Strong Female Characters • Nontraditional settings: both time and place • Genre Blending • Inclusion of social history has led to many prestigious awards for HF titles

11. Historical Fiction Subgenres • Traditional Historicals by Time Period • Historical Mystery and Thriller • Historical Adventure • Saga and Multi-Period Epics • Western Historical Novels • Literary Historicals • Historical Romance • Historical Fantasy (including Alternative History)

12. 5 Authors to Know Right Now • Geraldine Brooks: People of the Book (Multiple Time Periods) • W. Michael and Kathleen O’Neal Gear: People of the Wolf (First North Americans) • Philippa Gregory: The Other Boleyn Girl (Tudors) • Edward Rutherfurd: Sarum (England) • Jeff Shaara: Rise to Rebellion (American Revolution

13. Traditional Historicals Appeal • Largest subgenre; most common • 2 goals: realistic and entertaining • Protagonists we root for: real and imagined • Linear plots; sometimes biographical • Long books with steady pacing • Strong female characters • Specific setting requests

14. Traditional Historicals • Prehistoric Europe and Asia • Jean Auel-- Earth’s Children Series • Biblical • Eva Etzioni-Halevy • Other Ancient Civilizations • Michelle Moran (Egypt) • Margaret George– Helen of Troy (Greece) • Steve Pressfield (Greece) • Sam Barone– Empire Series (Mesopotamia) • Robert Harris (Roman) • Colleen McCullough– The Masters of Rome Series (Roman)

15. Traditional Historicals Continued The British Isles • Dark Ages (5th Century to 1066) • Jack Whyte– The CamulodChronicles • High Middle Ages (1066-1485) • Ken Follett– Kingsbridge Series • Stephen Lawhead– King Raven Trilogy • Sharon Kay Penman

16. Traditional Historicals Continued • Tudor (1485-1603): Very popular! • Philippa Gregory • Alison Weir • Stuart Era (1603-1714) • Susan Halloway Scott • Georgian Era (1714-1837) • Amanda Elyot • Jean Plaidy– The Georgian Saga (many eras)

17. Traditional Historicals Continued • Victorian Era (1837-1901) • Elisabeth McNeill– Storm Series • Twentieth Century • Morgan Llywelyn– The Irish Independence Series

18. Traditional Historicals Continued Europe • Middle Ages (476-1492) • Donna Woolfolk Cross– Pope Joan • Cecelia Holland– Corban Loosestrife Series • Renaissance and Reformation (1492-1648) • Jeanne Kalogridis • Thomas Quinn– The Venetians Series

19. Traditional Historicals Continued • Early Modern and 20th Century Europe • Robert Alexander (Russia) • Rita Charbonnier– Mozart’s Sister • Carolly Erickson (France) • World Wars I and II • Jeff Shaara-- WWII Trilogy • Mary Doria Russell– A Thread of Grace

20. Traditional Historicals Continued United States • Pre-Contact Native Americans • Kathleen O’ Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear– The First North Americans Series • Colonial America • George Robert Minkoff– In the Land of Whispers Series • American Revolution (1775-1783) • Howard Fast • Jeff Shaara– Revolutionary War Series

21. Traditional Historicals Continued • Early United States: Lots of single titles • Max Byrd • Barbara Chase-Riboud– Sally Hemmings Series • The Civil War: Almost a popular as the Tudors • Michael and Jeff Shaara– The Killer Angels • Shelby Foote– Shiloh • Reconstruction • Patricia O’Brien– Harriet and Isabella • 20th Century • Sandra Dallas and Pete Hamill

22. Traditional Historicals Continued The Middle East and North Africa • Gillian Bradshaw • Jack Whyte– The Templar Trilogy Asia, Africa, and the Antipodes • Thalassa Ali– Paradise Trilogy • John Speed– Temple Dancer Series

23. Historical Mystery and Thriller Appeal • Mystery: puzzle to solve; series; just about every time period possible; no forensics; VERY popular; own reference book • Thriller: may have crime angle; intelligent heroes in perilous situations; compelling pace; moral judgments • For both: consider genre appeals and time period

24. Historical Mystery Key Authors • Lindsey Davis– Marcus DidiusFalco (Rome) • Steven Saylor– Roma Sub Rosa Series (Rome) • British: • Michael Jecks– Medieval West Country • Peter Tremayne– Sister Fidelma Series • Karen Harper– Queen Elizabeth Mystery Series • Anne Perry- multiple series • Laurie King– Mary Russell Series • Charles Todd– Ian Rutledge Series • Jacqueline Winspear– Maisie Dobbs Series

25. HM Key Authors Continued • United States • Victoria Thompson– Gaslight Mysteries • Rys Bowen– Molly Murphy Mysteries • Mideast • Elizabeth Peters– Amelia Peabody • Asia, Africa and the Antipodes • Kerry Greenwood– Phryne Fisher Series (Australia) • JauraJoh Rowland- Sano Ichiro Samurai (Japan)

26. Historical Thrillers Key Authors • Umberto Eco– The Name of the Rose • David Liss– Benjamin Weaver Series • Matthew Pearl • Iain Pears– An Instance of the Fingerposts • Caleb Carr • Ariana Franklin • Dan Simmons • W.E.B. Griffin– Men at War Series • Alan Furst

27. Historical Adventure Appeal • Heroic protagonists • Fast paced • Great settings; often exotic or wartime • Focus on the journey both literal and metaphorical • Protagonists live and die by a code • Characterizations less strong • Men: both writers and readers

28. Historical Adventure Key Authors • Bernard Cornwell • Dorothy Dunnett • Arturo Peres-Reverte– Captain Alatriste Series • David and Stella Gemmell • C.S. Forester and Patrick O’Brien (Naval Adventure) • James Clavell-- Asian Saga • Wilbur Smith

29. Sagas and Multi-Period Epics Appeal • Culture seen from beginnings to today • Chronological “snapshots” or follow something passed down through centuries • Comprehensive picture • Setting and historic detail are key • Large books, big series, but compelling pace • Sagas follow families—emotionally invested

30. Saga and Multi-Period Epics • Key Authors Epics • Steven Saylor (Rome) • Edward Rutherfurd (Whole World) • James Michener (North America) • Key Authors Sagas • Howard Fast– The Immigrants (US) • Catherine Cookson (British) • Alex Haley– Rots (African American) • John Jakes– North and South Trilogy (US)

31. Western Historical Novels Appeal • Time and place • Themes of freedom, opportunity, and strength of character • 2 categories: Historical Westerns and Traditional Westerns • Historical: accurate setting; entire range of western exploration; diversity of subjects • Traditional: end of CW to turn of Century; hero rides in, cleans up town, rides out.

32. Traditional Western Authors • Louis L’Amour • Elmer Kelton • Robert B. Parker • Richard Wheeler • Don Coldsmith– Spanish Bit Series (Native Americans)

33. Western Historical Novels Authors • Sandra Dallas • Ivan Doig • Larry McMutry • Willa Cather • Molly Gloss

34. Literary Historicals Appeal • Combine historical setting, eloquent language, and multi-layered plots • Not always linear • Interesting styles; shifts in pov • Critically acclaimed; great for book discussions • Darker • Character, not plot, driven • Authors not thought of as historical novelists

35. Literary Historicals Key Authors & Titles • Anita Diamant– The Red Tent • Tracy Chevalier • A. S. Byatt– Possession • Sarah Waters • Ian Mcewan- Atonement • Geraldine Brooks • Sarah Dunant • Karen Essex • Salman Rushdie • Sena Jeter Naslund • Anchee Min • Lisa See • Susan Vreeland • Emily Barton– Brookland • Isabel Allende • Jon Clinch • Charles Frazier • E. L. Doctorow • Robert Hicks– The Widow of the South • Thomas Mallon • Arthur Phillips- The Egyptologist

36. Historical Romance Appeal • Celebrate both history and love story • Not always “happily ever after” • 3 major categories • Romantic Epics: sweeping drama, vivid settings, star-crossed romances; often exotic or war; longer • Romantic Historicals: historical (first) with strong romantic elements; real life couples, courtship of past • Historical Romances: formula romances with detailed history; will be “happily ever after;” shorter • Many traditional historicals have strong romantic subplots

37. Historical Romance • Romantic Epics Key Authors • Sara Donati– Wilderness Series • Diana Gabaldon– Outlander Series • Margaret Mitchell– Gone with the Wind • Romantic Historicals Key Authors • Susan Carroll– Daughters of the Earth Series (British) • Lauren Willig– Pink Carnation Series (Napoleonic Wars)

38. Historical Romance • Historical Romance Key Authors • Helen Kirkman– Warriors of the Dragon Banner (Viking) • Roberta Gellis– The Roselynde Chronicles (British) • Monica Mcarty– Highlander Series (Scottish) • Georgian and Regency • Eloisa James; Georgette Heyer; Mary Balogh; Jane Austen sequels • Amanda Quick– (19th Century British) • Linda Lael Miller– Western US Romances

39. Historical Fantasy Appeal • Types • Time Travel • Alternative History: What if? • Arthurian • Specific Time Periods or Sagas • General Appeal: • History with a little something special • Sense of place is key in both genres • Varied pacings and characterizations

40. Historical Fantasy Key Authors • Time Travel: • Diana Gabaldon– Outlander Series • Connie Willis • M. J. Rose– Reincarnationist Series • Alternative History • Harry Turtledove • Newt Gringrich and William Forstchen • Stephen Baxter • Eric Flint

41. Historical Fantasy Authors Continued • Arthurian and Celtic Fantasy • Marion Zimmer Bradley–Avalon Series • Juliet Marillier– The Bridei Chronicles • Time Period Fantasy; including sagas • Susanna Clarke– Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell • Naomi Novik • Sara Douglass– The Troy Game • Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

42. Historical Fiction Resources • One stop shopping at Sarah Johnson’s Reading the Past • Historical Fiction: A Guide to the Genre • Historical Fiction II: A Guide to the Genre • NoveList • “Getting Up to Speed” • Patrons with specific requests • When all else fails…Gnooks

43. Historical Fiction Awards • RUSA Genre Awards • Langum Prize for American Historical Fiction • Walter Scott Prize • Various Western, Mystery, and Romance awards given in their genre

44. Whole Collection Options • Western (mentioned previously) • Fantasy: its all about the created world and the journey– sound familiar? • George R. R. Martin • J.R.R. Tolkien • Nonfiction • Pick a time period, any time period… • Play off subgenre appeals • Like historical adventure…try another adventure

45. Managing Your HF Collection • Stickers don’t work • Lists and displays • Staff training • Genre studies • Use HF in book discussions • Readalikes for popular time periods not just popular authors

46. Back to the Present • What are your favorite HF time periods or authors? • What are your patrons asking for? • Other questions • Share what you learned with your staff and patrons • Go to raforall.blogspot.com for resources • bspratford@hotmail.com to contact me