Is it okay to take a few minor liberties with writing historical fiction?

Question

I am starting to do some research for a historical fiction novel that I intend to write. The research isn't really a problem (my bachelor's degree is in history, specifically with the realm of Modern Europe).

There are a couple of minor details that I would like to leave in the novel that wouldn't necessarily be historically accurate. My major protagonist is a young woman living in the late 19th century England who comes from the upper crust of society and yet, she works as a common schoolteacher (that's not the entire plot of the story, by the way....it's much more than that).

Would it be acceptable to include this or develop it further? I have entertained the idea of having her teach at a private institution or even just Sunday school.

I admit I'm a bit of a Jane Austen wannabe and she's one of my influences, so to speak but I won't be writing the book in that style (considering Austen was before the Victorian era).

Any comments or suggestions?

Answer 1

I know many readers of historical fiction are fanatics about accuracy. I've heard historical authors tell of letters from irate readers berating them for historically inaccurate details, including the type of clothing depicted on the cover of the book! (Which an author has no control over, anyway.)

I'd suggest you have a very convincing reason this woman would be a teacher - and it better not be that she just LOVES kids because your readers aren't going to buy that.

Answer 2

Bernard Cornwell is a master at historical fiction and he changes documented events to make room for his characters all the time. At the end of his novels, he includes a "Historical Note" where he not only describes the actual people and events but where he took liberties in his story.

Your story sounds like it is not worried with historical events, more the historic setting. Cornwell writes about battles primarily and therefor has a bit more constraint put upon him. You will find that many people will not care if the society structures are 100% accurate if the story is good. Certainly some readers will nitpick, but the majority won't worry.

Answer 3

It's common in historical novels to include a preface or author's note at the end that discusses a bit of the research you did, acknowledging "tweaks" you made and why, and letting the reader know which parts of the novel are not necessarily historically accurate. Take a look at the author's note in "Roselynde" by Roberta Gellis as an example.

Answer 4

It's literary license to fudge history for the sake of the story. Most historical novels I've read are not 100% accurate. Some take more liberties than others, but as long as you keep away from substantially changing history, you should be okay.

Answer 5

Historic fiction is my favorite genre. The two greatest writers of historical novels, in my opinion, were the late great James Michener and Patrick O'brian. Both of them acknowledge in author's notes that they took certain liberties with historical details to make their stories flow. That's good enough for me. There are no higher authorities than Michener and O'brian.

Good luck with your book.

Answer 6

As long as you stress to any reader that the piece is fiction, there should be no problem with twisting facts a little. However, you want your story to seem very believable and as many small details you can have that set the scene for the reader, the better.

Answer 7

It is up to you, but people will know it's wrong and they might fault you for it. If it is an essential plot point, you can come up with a way to explain it, or set your story in a different time period. If you don't resolve the anachronism, your critics will notice.

A woman working as a teacher in the 1800s is nothing unusual, particularly if, as you said, she has connections.

Answer 8

There are always exceptions to the common way things are done. If your change of the common acts of history is not so unbelieveable then there is no problem. If you try to do something like say George Washington had teeth made of gold, people are going to have trouble accepting that.

Answer 9

Yes it is alright. Especially in conversations, but in fictional characters they should be observers and must not enter directly into the action involving historical figures.

Answer 10

Anachronisms are fine as long as they are not glaringly obvious, in which case your story will suffer. In fiction, entertainment value trumps historical accuracy.