Renee Ross
asked
Susanne Alleyn:
Aside from reading Medieval Underpants, which I wouldn't want to write without (the book, not the underpants,) what method of researching do you recommend to writers of historical fiction?
Susanne Alleyn
Hi Renee, and thank you!
I suppose the short answer to your question is simply "Read, read, read." In the end, there's not a lot of difference between researching for HF and for writing nonfiction history. Primary sources are always ideal, always taking into account any possible bias on the part of the author.
Once you know which period you're really passionate about, start general and quickly go specific. Find a corner in a local college library, if you can, and hit the stacks. I started learning about the French Revolution by reading a comprehensive layman's history of the period, cover to cover. Then I branched off by reading about specific people whom I found particularly interesting, biographies cover to cover. Read firsthand period memoirs/autobiographies if you can find them (primary sources rather than secondary sources). I'd begin there.
Then, depending on which period you are researching and the sources available, go into the primary sources -- most useful for our needs are newspapers and/or magazines (if available), and fiction and/or drama, epic poetry, etc -- FROM the period, not ABOUT the period, as I stress in the book. The "Daily Life In ___" books are always helpful; they condense the material you'll find in the primary sources, but don't stop with them.
Newspapers before the mid 19th century are not terribly reliable for facts about the historical events they're reporting, but are great for "daily life" details because the ads, the personal columns, announcements, etc, are perfect little glimpses into the past. Because of 1790s newspapers, I can tell you who was the major seller of sheet music in Paris at the time, or that a certain lady was making enough money from her miracle hair lotion to make it worth her while to advertise it. You can see the progression of attitudes during the Revolution from, in early 1789, court circulars giving fawning details about the king and queen's routines; to, a couple of years later, as the Revolution went on, a review of a play that definitely was about the "little guy" fighting and triumphing over the Establishment; to announcements (during the Terror, after the monarchy was overthrown) of plays that were all about ridiculing kings and aristocrats. This is the sort of research you do that eventually will make you feel entirely at home in the period you're writing about, and once you're that comfortable in the period, the background of your historical fiction will be convincing.
I suppose the short answer to your question is simply "Read, read, read." In the end, there's not a lot of difference between researching for HF and for writing nonfiction history. Primary sources are always ideal, always taking into account any possible bias on the part of the author.
Once you know which period you're really passionate about, start general and quickly go specific. Find a corner in a local college library, if you can, and hit the stacks. I started learning about the French Revolution by reading a comprehensive layman's history of the period, cover to cover. Then I branched off by reading about specific people whom I found particularly interesting, biographies cover to cover. Read firsthand period memoirs/autobiographies if you can find them (primary sources rather than secondary sources). I'd begin there.
Then, depending on which period you are researching and the sources available, go into the primary sources -- most useful for our needs are newspapers and/or magazines (if available), and fiction and/or drama, epic poetry, etc -- FROM the period, not ABOUT the period, as I stress in the book. The "Daily Life In ___" books are always helpful; they condense the material you'll find in the primary sources, but don't stop with them.
Newspapers before the mid 19th century are not terribly reliable for facts about the historical events they're reporting, but are great for "daily life" details because the ads, the personal columns, announcements, etc, are perfect little glimpses into the past. Because of 1790s newspapers, I can tell you who was the major seller of sheet music in Paris at the time, or that a certain lady was making enough money from her miracle hair lotion to make it worth her while to advertise it. You can see the progression of attitudes during the Revolution from, in early 1789, court circulars giving fawning details about the king and queen's routines; to, a couple of years later, as the Revolution went on, a review of a play that definitely was about the "little guy" fighting and triumphing over the Establishment; to announcements (during the Terror, after the monarchy was overthrown) of plays that were all about ridiculing kings and aristocrats. This is the sort of research you do that eventually will make you feel entirely at home in the period you're writing about, and once you're that comfortable in the period, the background of your historical fiction will be convincing.
More Answered Questions
Dona
asked
Susanne Alleyn:
I am reading "A Far Better Rest" and really loving the way you write. I am so afraid that the ending might make me sad because I really like the characters...I am afraid of finishing it...I never felt this way before about a book. I will be reading everything you have written. You are a very gifted writer! Will I be able to finish this book?
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Apr 18, 2016 01:14PM · flag