- Joined
- Sep 20, 2011
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- 984
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- Bucharest, Romania
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- caribbeandawn1720.jcink.net
Historical fiction is not a historical chronicle. It deals with things which might have been possible, but they aren't mentioned (because most likely they haven't happened). As long as the known facts are respected, I think historical fiction can navigate between them...
For example, in my case I am writing a war story about a hero who put a flag on the cityhall. I think all the wars and places have one. And yes, the young hero had existed. He was a sublieutenant in 1918.
The historical facts are that he brought the troops he commanded, made order in town, chased the enemies away, he put the flag on the cityhall and protected the people until the bigger army arrived, 3 days later. He first lodged at a hotel in the city centre (its name is known), then an university professor who was in the City Committee invited him to stay at his house and he accepted.
All these are known facts, and I am keeping them all. I think I have leeway to add fictional facts to the story which don't change this. Things which might have happened, even if they didn't. (And assumed they were true, nobody could know about them). E.g. a brief, private discussion (brief as in an exchange of 2 phrases) with the waitress who brings him dinner while still at the hotel. Nobody was there to hear and document it. It could have happened, exactly like, in Alexandre Dumas' "Three Mousquetaires", the discussion between Queen Anne and the Duke of Buckingham (diamond jewels offered included) might have happened in reality or, most likely not... and nobody was there to witness and say. (And since at the ball she wore the diamond jewels... they could have been brought back by d'Artagnan indeed, or not having left the palace at all, in reality).
What do you say? I think it is OK. My husband thinks that somebody might object.
For example, in my case I am writing a war story about a hero who put a flag on the cityhall. I think all the wars and places have one. And yes, the young hero had existed. He was a sublieutenant in 1918.
The historical facts are that he brought the troops he commanded, made order in town, chased the enemies away, he put the flag on the cityhall and protected the people until the bigger army arrived, 3 days later. He first lodged at a hotel in the city centre (its name is known), then an university professor who was in the City Committee invited him to stay at his house and he accepted.
All these are known facts, and I am keeping them all. I think I have leeway to add fictional facts to the story which don't change this. Things which might have happened, even if they didn't. (And assumed they were true, nobody could know about them). E.g. a brief, private discussion (brief as in an exchange of 2 phrases) with the waitress who brings him dinner while still at the hotel. Nobody was there to hear and document it. It could have happened, exactly like, in Alexandre Dumas' "Three Mousquetaires", the discussion between Queen Anne and the Duke of Buckingham (diamond jewels offered included) might have happened in reality or, most likely not... and nobody was there to witness and say. (And since at the ball she wore the diamond jewels... they could have been brought back by d'Artagnan indeed, or not having left the palace at all, in reality).
What do you say? I think it is OK. My husband thinks that somebody might object.