The use of fiction in the study of history is designed to accomplish two main goals. First, it will personalize the great sweep of history into the lives of individual characters, men, women and children like the reader himself, who live and act and perhaps die in the making of history. The reader/student will grasp history as something affecting individuals, not as some amorphous notion that has nothing to do with reality. The leprosy of King Balwin IV (Crusader King), the plucky courage of Madeleine (Madeleine Takes Command), Chicco Filippo's child's-eye view of the mountain fighting in Italy in World War II (The Small World of Sergeant Donkey) all make history come alive as the reader/student wraps himself in the lives of the characters. Secondly, nothing beats a good story for making learning enjoyable. These tales are all well written and offer the further advantage of being good models for the budding writer.
We have listed here over fifty of the most popular historical fiction titles. We also carry Let the Authors Speak: A Guide to Worthy Books Based on Historical Setting by Carolyn Hatcher, a guide to 1300 fine books sorted by setting (century and location and reading level). We will be happy to locate (or try to if the book is out of print) any title which she recommends. Just e-mail or call us.
