what makes historical fiction believable

Historical fiction enables readers to step back in time and experience different eras through the eyes of fictional characters. To make historical fiction believable, authors employ several key elements that create an immersive and authentic reading experience. In this article, we will delve into these elements and explore how they contribute to the believability of historical fiction.

1. Thorough Research: Authors of historical fiction devote considerable time to researching the time period they are depicting. This includes studying various aspects such as social norms, clothing, language, customs, and major events. By incorporating accurate historical details, authors can transport readers to a specific era and make the story more believable.

2. Attention to Setting: The setting of a historical fiction novel plays a crucial role in its believability. Authors strive to recreate the historical atmosphere by vividly describing the surroundings, architecture, landscapes, and even the weather. This attention to detail helps readers visualize and immerse themselves in the time period, enhancing the authenticity of the narrative.

3. Authentic Dialogue: Dialogue in historical fiction should mirror the language and speech patterns used during the specific era. Authors research the vocabulary, idioms, and slang of the time period to ensure that the characters' conversations sound realistic and authentic. By using period-appropriate dialogue, authors can transport readers directly into the historical context and make the story more believable.

4. Character Development: Believable characters are essential for any work of fiction, including historical fiction. Authors need to create characters that are relatable and true to the time period. By incorporating historically accurate behaviors, beliefs, and values into their characters, authors can make readers feel connected to the story and its authenticity.

5. Historical Accuracy: While historical fiction involves fictional characters and events, it is crucial to maintain overall historical accuracy. Authors should not alter significant historical events or misinterpret established facts. Being faithful to historical accuracy helps readers trust the narrative and perceive it as a reliable source of information about the time period being depicted.

6. Balancing Fact and Fiction: Historical fiction often combines real historical figures, events, and places with fictional storylines. Authors adeptly blend these elements, seamlessly weaving the fictional narrative into the historical backdrop. This balance between fact and fiction allows for an engaging yet believable story.

7. Evoking the Era's Mindset: Historical fiction not only transports readers to a specific time period but also aims to capture the mindset and worldview of that era. Authors delve into the prevailing attitudes, beliefs, and cultural perspectives of the time, infusing this knowledge into their characters' thoughts and actions. By immersing readers in the era's mindset, authors make historical fiction more believable and relatable.

In conclusion, what makes historical fiction believable is a combination of meticulous research, attention to setting, authentic dialogue, well-developed characters, historical accuracy, a balance between fact and fiction, and a keen understanding of the era's mindset. By incorporating these elements, authors create immersive and authentic narratives that allow readers to experience history through the lens of fiction. So, if you enjoy diving into the past and unraveling the mysteries of history, historical fiction is the perfect genre for you.

For some highly recommended historical fiction novels, authors, and websites, here are a few suggestions:

1. "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett: This captivating novel takes place in 12th-century England and offers a rich tapestry of medieval life, politics, and architecture.

2. "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak: Set in Nazi Germany, this novel follows a young girl's love affair with books and the power of storytelling amidst the horrors of World War II.

3. "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel: This award-winning novel brings to life the court of King Henry VIII through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell, one of history's most influential figures.

For more historical fiction recommendations and information, visit websites like Goodreads (www.goodreads.com) or Historical Novel Society (www.historicalnovelsociety.org) that specialize in this genre. Happy reading!
The Young Scholar of the Great Ming Fiction
The Young Scholar of the Great Ming

Accidentally catching a embroidered ball, but unexpectedly creating a beautiful story. Accidentally taking on a disciple, but ending up in front of Emperor Zhengde. Accidentally playing a tune, but causing the people of a foreign land to surrender helplessly.

59.67 Million words | 2022-08-12 16:08Update

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Twelve Hairpins of the Empress Fiction
Twelve Hairpins of the Empress

At first, it was all fun and games, but suddenly the building collapsed. She only wanted a stable life with food and shelter, but she got caught up in a conspiracy and struggled in vain, only to become an empress in the end. It's harder to gain someone's heart than to reach the heavens. Is it luck or a curse to have transmigrated and been reborn? Among this group of beautiful men, there are those who provoked her, those who betrayed her, and those who were used by her until they reached despair and left... In the first half of the story, the female protagonist drives the car, while in the second half, the male protagonists take charge of the car crash road trip. In this harem of men, the battle for power and schemes in the harem are diverse, with each family relying on their own abilities. Instead of witnessing women tearing each other apart for a man, why not change the flavor? Take a look at how different the world of China would be if the matriarchal society had not been overthrown...

512.09 Million words | 2023-06-28 09:33Update

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Mischievous Chaos of the Three Kingdoms Fiction
Mischievous Chaos of the Three Kingdoms

Surname Zhang, given name Han, courtesy name Bingliang; slapping the Han palace beam with a palm; the Yellow Turbans were originally street performers; I formed an oath brotherhood with Xuan De in a hurry. Meng De here, a friend in need; assisting Jiangdong, making a famous name; establishing a grand hall with three parts of the world; raising nobility and becoming a powerful minister. Seven expeditions in the Central Plains, creating waves; the Three Kingdoms will eventually perish; spending a lifetime lying by the bedside; the hearts of the people hold the world. *************************************************************************** Twisting and pulling + imagination + mischievousness + the truth of history = what you see. Compared to official history, this is an uncensored story! Do you really think that knowing a little history can go back in time and change everything? In fact, the people of that era would tell you that what's written in books is all fake! 【If you love me, please click on me. If you don't love me, please click on me to die. - Nan Nan】

289.93 Million words | 2023-05-30 10:56Update

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The Strongest Veterinarian of the Southern Song Dynasty. Fiction
The Strongest Veterinarian of the Southern Song Dynasty.

Ma Chao, due to a small accident, crossed over to the end of the Southern Song Dynasty and unexpectedly became a lowly veterinarian within the territory of the Jin Dynasty. In this world dominated by bandits and foreign invaders, Ma Chao, relying on his identity as a veterinarian, skillfully deals with enemies, fearlessly facing danger with both wisdom and courage. With his own wisdom, Ma Chao carves out his own territory. By chance, Ma Chao meets Xin Qiji and takes control of the Fei Hu Army. When news reaches the capital, he is immediately summoned and suppressed. However, Ma Chao quietly breaks free from the whirlpool of power by relying on a veterinary clinic. No one could have imagined that this small veterinarian is changing the fate of the entire Southern Song Dynasty...

414.18 Million words | 2022-06-08 21:57Update

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The Revival of South Korea in the Warring States Era. Fiction
The Revival of South Korea in the Warring States Era.

A Korean prince with an extra set of memories, a time of fierce competition! When he woke up, the Qi Kingdom had just regained its independence, weak and feeble; the Chu Kingdom was just starting to decline, but still held some power. The Wei and Yan Kingdoms had already passed their peak and become second-rate powers. With the powerful Qin and Zhao Kingdoms looming externally, and internal struggles and debauchery, he faced the dilemma as the prince of the weakest state among the Seven Warring States. Should he advance or retreat? Should he live or die? Can he rewrite the history of a ruined nation

179.15 Million words | 2021-01-02 12:17Update

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Qing Feng Jun Fiction
Qing Feng Jun

Wearing a red scarf on his head, he picked up a kitchen knife and rebelled. "One-eyed Stone Man, inciting rebellion throughout the Yellow River, is so out of style. Nowadays, it's all about communicating through pictures! With a kitchen knife in hand, I have the world!" Who's that Zhang Jiusi smuggling salt? Xu Shouhui selling cloth? Fang Guozhen, the pirate? Chen Youli

13.91 Million words | 2022-09-03 11:59Update

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I am the Emperor Carpenter Fiction
I am the Emperor Carpenter

It was a dark era with numerous internal crises and formidable external enemies, yet also a glorious Ming Dynasty that never yielded territory, compensation, allegiance, tribute, and where the emperor defended the nation

185.78 Million words | 2023-04-03 06:50Update

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Kill in all directions. Fiction
Kill in all directions.

During the pseudo-Manchurian period in western Liaoning, a series of assassinations targeting the Japanese and collaborators raised high alert within the "Special Higher Police". The note that read "Kill this person, kill in all directions" became the only clue. Who was "Kill in all directions"? Was it the legendary bandit who had supposedly been "shot dead" by the Japanese during their encirclement, Kill in all directions? Or was it Zhang Tao, the refined "Councilor" of Manchukuo and the savior of the Japanese Prince? Perhaps it was the underground anti-Japanese organization in South Manchuria, or the secret agents infiltrating Northeast China for a revival plan! In bustling cities and remote forests, the shadow of Kill in all directions lurked everywhere. When the arsenal exploded, it was Kill in all directions; when a turncoat who had sided with the Japanese was hanged upside down, it was Kill in all directions; and when communist traitors were assassinated, it was also Kill in all directions! When the real bearded Kill in all directions took several shots and remained standing; when Zhang Laicai, the leader of the South Manchuria branch, sacrificed himself; when the entire Liaoxi Anti-Japanese Salvation Army perished while covering the detonation of the munitions ship; and when Zhang Tao and others met their end in a special military train, Kill in all directions immediately assassinated the chief of police. The Japanese finally understood that Kill in all directions was a belief in defending dignity, a totem of this dark land. It was an indomitable flame of resistance against Japan! Let us together enter the sealed realm of the legendary tales of Manchuria and return to that era of the war where blood and fire intertwined!

468.80 Million words | 2021-01-22 08:42Update

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The Strongest Marksman of the Three Kingdoms. Fiction
The Strongest Marksman of the Three Kingdoms.

[The Magnificent Tang Dynasty in the Historical Genre of Creation - Participating Work] The Three Kingdoms is an era filled with passion and heroic figures. Eagles soar across the sky, soaring into the distance. Although he is just a minor character in the Three Kingdoms era, he established systems, pioneered industry, collected forces from across the land, launched a northern campaign against the Xiongnu, and fought against the Baiyue in the south, achieving unparalleled accomplishments.

381.98 Million words | 2022-05-05 08:32Update

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Legend of Earth's Black Technology Fiction
Legend of Earth's Black Technology

Advanced technology stands on the earth, sprawling mega cities cover Northeast Asia, the smiles of happy people inspire the world, the barrels of the Tank Swarm make our enemies tremble, floating battleships overlook the land, our gigantic aircraft carriers dominate the ocean, our army knows no bounds, shattering this decaying and corrupt old world to create a new one, singing the anthem of conquerors, the great flag will last forever, humanity will break free from the earth's atmosphere, the vast universe will be our new home.

555.24 Million words | 2021-02-02 15:33Update

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Datang Express Company Fiction
Datang Express Company

Courier Fang Tang, with his tricycle and a load of packages, accidentally ended up in the Tang Dynasty. He was instantly dumbfounded. "Lao Gan Ma chili sauce," "trendy men's short-sleeved shirts," "women's underwear." Fang Tang was filled with despair. Others who time-traveled usually brought countless treasures, but why did he end up with women's underwear? What made Fang Tang even more hopeless was what happened next. "I am about to go to war. As my subject, shouldn't you make some contributions?" "You're the emperor, the boss. I will do my best." "Brother, my wife wants a divorce recently. Can you make sure the Civil Affairs Bureau doesn't

501.71 Million words | 2022-04-17 14:18Update

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Emperor of the Great Tang Fiction
Emperor of the Great Tang

During the Wu Zhou period, there were internal and external troubles. Internally, there was a struggle for the throne, while externally, there were threats from the Turks, Tibetans, and the Arab Empire... Yang Chen arrived during this turbulent autumn when the Wu family held power and the Li family was in a perilous situation. As a young man named Li Longji, how can he ascend to the throne? How can he create a "prosperous era of the Kaiyuan reign"?

102.91 Million words | 2021-10-31 17:22Update

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Chaotic Ming Fiction
Chaotic Ming

New book released, titled "Eight Thousand Miles", book number: , mainly tells the story of the challenging industrialization in late Qing Dynasty. Your support is highly appreciated!

585.23 Million words | 2022-07-30 18:55Update

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Three Kingdoms Military God Fiction
Three Kingdoms Military God

Chen Xu, who traveled back to the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, was merely an ordinary civilian. In this era filled with influential families, he only wanted to provide a better life for his own family. However, fate had other plans. Oppressed beyond measure, Chen Xu eventually joined the doomed Yellow Turban Rebellion, creating a new chapter in history. Through trials of blood and fire, he transformed from a compassionate individual to a ruthless hero, a military god who conquered all. Book enthusiasts group:

499.25 Million words | 2020-08-22 10:15Update

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Requesting to take leave: The princess intends to remarry. Fiction
Requesting to take leave: The princess intends to remarry.

Ignoring her father's opposition, she married him as the prime minister's legitimate daughter. After the wedding, she exhausted all her efforts to assist him in gradually ascending to high positions. Unexpectedly, along with the imperial edict promoting him, there was also a secret order to massacre the entire prime minister's mansion. Crawling out from a pool of blood, she witnessed a scene of him embracing another woman in his arms. With bruises all over, struggling for breath, she laughed bitterly, "Zhou Mu, as long as I have a breath left, I will make sure to tear your heart out. Even if I become a ghost, I will haunt you day and night, making the Zhou family never

287.63 Million words | 2021-04-10 17:22Update

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Prime Fiction
Prime

Breaking News! Breaking News! That infuriating Lin Ah Zhen has once again ejaculated and traversed both domestic and international territories. Miss Yin, please stop behaving like this, even touching someone's hand can cause a calamity. Can't we be more refined? Oh, no? Well then, close your eyes first, the mountains are still green, the waters are still long... Goodbye! Fairy Miss, I not only excel at undressing people, but I also carry a deadly weapon on me at all times. What? Where's the weapon? Come on! How about this? Is this weapon as powerful as the Golden Cudgel? I guarantee that I can defeat both the Spider Spirit and the White Bone Spirit within three rounds. Smack... What are you staring at? Haven't you seen a man with rouge on his cheeks before? Oh no! Darling Pian'er, did you forget to put the kitchen knife back in the kitchen? Ah Zhen Ge Ge, Pian'er wants to chop someone...

555.96 Million words | 2023-05-01 15:56Update

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Holy Roman Empire Fiction
Holy Roman Empire

Austria's Road to Revival, the Struggle of the Habsburg Family! Neither holy, nor Roman, but the Holy Roman Empire revived! !!! The completed book "The Road to Mediterranean Hegemony" is now available for those who are looking for new books to read! Welcome to join the New Moon Book Club, group chat number: [群聊号码].

372.36 Million words | 2021-01-07 08:50Update

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Tang Dynasty's Bright Moon Fiction
Tang Dynasty's Bright Moon

From the moment Lin Fan set foot in the land of the Tang Dynasty, there was no turning back. Sometimes, that's just how life is - once an arrow is shot, there is no way to retrieve it. But the journey must go on... A thousand readers, a thousand Hamlets. A thousand authors, a thousand versions of the Tang Dynasty. My Tang Dynasty cannot have sorrow, cannot have darkness. It can only have the most touching family bond, the most sincere friendship, the most beautiful love, the heroic spirit of warriors on horseback, and the ambition to surpass all obstacles. Since heaven has granted Lin Fan a golden key, let's see how he builds a thriving

319.46 Million words | 2020-12-31 20:11Update

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Rebirth: Rise of the Republic Era 2 Fiction
Rebirth: Rise of the Republic Era 2

Your dreams linger deep within the kapok trees. Your love rests on Changzhou Island. We have never met, Yet we reunite today. Because of a man's vow, Because of distant pursuit, The barren fields bathe in blood, The icy glaciers quench the thirst of horses. Staining our youth with crimson, The passion of those years, Marching on tirelessly, commanding authority in all directions, Conquering the world, all for the peacefulness of Huaxia.

559.96 Million words | 2021-07-27 08:51Update

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Iron-blooded Cavalry of the Three Kingdoms. Fiction
Iron-blooded Cavalry of the Three Kingdoms.

Modern mercenary Zhang Yan unexpectedly traveled back to the war-torn era of the Three Kingdoms. He helped Tao Qian to drive away Cao Cao, snatched Liu Bei's wife, and took over Tao Qian's territory in Xu Zhou. Zhang Yan recruited fierce warriors, talented scholars, and established the Iron Cavalry. He fought against Cao Cao, drove away Liu Bei, battled Lu Bu, mocked Yuan Shao, destroyed Yuan Shu, challenged the world, dominated the emperor, established hegemony over Hebei, pacified Guanzhong, conquered Jiangnan, marched into Bashu, and conquered the Western Liang. With the invincible Iron Cavalry, Zhang Yan created a path of glory in the Three Kingdoms era.

263.60 Million words | 2020-11-25 13:14Update

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